During the evening of July 10, 2021, an upper-level disturbance pushed into the area from the northwest. As a result, a line of thunderstorms developed and pushed across areas along and north of Interstate 40.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MEG wrote it up.
During the evening of July 10, 2021, an upper-level disturbance pushed into the area from the northwest. As a result, a line of thunderstorms developed and pushed across areas along and north of Interstate 40. Later that night the storms stalled across the Memphis metropolitan area causing some flash flooding.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Memphis, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 10, 9:55 PM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 1055 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021 .DISCUSSION... Updated for aviation discussion && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 927 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021/ UPDATE... Convection continues to fire up this evening to the north and west of the Mid-South. The convection is developing along old outflow boundaries leftover from previous convection. Still not exactly sure how the convection will evolve during the overnight hours. The CAMs are consistent on trying to merge the convection over Southern Missouri with the convection over Western Arkansas creating a large line of storms. Right now, think it may end up being clusters of broken line segments moving into the area. Will have to just wait and see. Damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall will be the main threats from the storms. POPS look good. Although, will make some minor tweaks to temperatures. Update will be out shortly. KRM DISCUSSION... /issued 248 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021/ Diurnal thunderstorms are popping up across the area this afternoon. Farther north, ahead of a shortwave which is forecast to dive south into the mid-section of the country and close off on Sunday/Monday, more organized convection is expected to develop. This upper level feature is expected to push a line of thunderstorms into our area this evening spreading southward overnight. A slight risk of severe weather is forecast with these storms over about the north half of our forecast area with damaging winds the main threat. Another threat with these storms is heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding. A slight risk of excessive rainfall is evident for a good portion of the area overnight through Sunday. For now, holding off on a flash flood watch since the storms tonight are expected to move fairly progressively south. Additionally, on Sunday it remains difficult to pinpoint where the boundary will eventually end up resulting in a focus for potential heavy rainfall on Sunday. Nevertheless, there is a continued risk for localized flash flooding. The upper level low is the dominate feature in our weather into early next week. Temperatures will respond with below average readings through Tuesday before the low lifts out. In the wake of the upper low more normal temperature readings and a continued diurnal threat for storms. Later in the period another shortwave swings through in the westerly flow and pushes another front into the area. The overall pattern through the period does not favor prolonged above average temperatures in our forecast area. This is due to a strong upper high over the mountain west and a general trough over the middle of the country. Belles && .AVIATION... Convection organizing across southern MO and northern AR will push across the Mid-South overnight with a period of IFR vsbys/MVFR cigs and gusty winds. Expect a few hours of light SHRAs after the TSRAs roll through followed by a few hours of MVFR cigs Sunday morning. Some CAMS are showing some TSRA redevelopment in the morning hours but we should see some stabilization after tonight's activity. Decided to hold off any redevelopment until the afternoon hours. Afternoon convection should dissipate with loss of heating. Low clouds look likely Sunday night into Monday morning. Winds will generally be SSW around 10 kts with some higher gusts during the afternoon. SJM && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 453 AM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021 ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017- 020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-111200- Alcorn-Benton MS-Benton TN-Calhoun-Carroll-Chester-Chickasaw-Clay- Coahoma-Craighead-Crittenden-Crockett-Cross-DeSoto-Decatur- Dunklin-Dyer-Fayette-Gibson-Greene-Hardeman-Hardin-Haywood- Henderson-Henry-Itawamba-Lafayette-Lake-Lauderdale-Lee AR-Lee MS- Madison-Marshall-McNairy-Mississippi-Monroe-Obion-Panola-Pemiscot- Phillips-Poinsett-Pontotoc-Prentiss-Quitman-Shelby-St. Francis- Tallahatchie-Tate-Tippah-Tipton-Tishomingo-Tunica-Union-Weakley- Yalobusha- 453 AM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas... the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A Marginal to slight risk of severe weather exists for portions of the Mid South on today and through tonight. Clusters of storms will be possible with a few storms being strong or severe. Gusty winds and heavy rain will be the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday A Marginal risk of severe weather exists for portions of the Mid South on Sunday. Clusters of storms will be possible with a few storms being strong or severe. Gusty winds and heavy rain will be the main threats. A Marginal to Slight risk of excessive rainfall exists for portions of the Mid South on Sunday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1116 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021
ARZ026-027-110445-
Poinsett AR-Craighead AR-
1116 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 1145 PM CDT
FOR...
Northeastern Poinsett County in eastern Arkansas...
Eastern Craighead County in eastern Arkansas...
At 1116 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing winds at least 40
mph was located over Brookland, moving southeast at 45 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in northeastern Poinsett and eastern Craighead Counties should
monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3597 9061 3597 9045 3593 9029 3562 9029
3556 9031 3584 9071
TIME...MOT...LOC 0416Z 303DEG 38KT 3588 9057
SMWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1121 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021
ARZ026-028-MOZ113-115-TNZ001-110445-
Craighead AR-Mississippi AR-Pemiscot MO-Dunklin MO-Lake TN-
1121 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 1145 PM CDT
FOR...
Northeastern Craighead County in eastern Arkansas...
Northwestern Mississippi County in eastern Arkansas...
Pemiscot County in southeastern Missouri...
Dunklin County in southeastern Missouri...
Lake County in western Tennessee...
At 1121 PM CDT...strong thunderstorms producing wind gusts up to 50
mph was located along a line extending from near Gideon to near
Senath to near Monette. Movement was east at 60 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in northeastern Craighead...northwestern Mississippi...
Pemiscot...Dunklin and Lake Counties should monitor this storm
closely.
LAT...LON 3640 8997 3639 8997 3639 8975 3643 8973
3641 8960 3634 8954 3650 8954 3650 8949
3646 8947 3650 8936 3630 8946 3619 8956
3618 8963 3614 8959 3609 8968 3587 8982
3594 9045 3628 9008 3651 8996
TIME...MOT...LOC 0421Z 256DEG 53KT 3649 8990 3615 9013 3597 9037
SMWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1130 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021
ARZ018-026>028-MOZ113-TNZ019-048-110515-
Poinsett AR-Greene AR-Craighead AR-Mississippi AR-Dunklin MO-
Lauderdale TN-Dyer TN-
1130 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 1215 AM CDT
FOR...
Central Poinsett County in eastern Arkansas...
Southwestern Greene County in eastern Arkansas...
Craighead County in eastern Arkansas...
Mississippi County in eastern Arkansas...
Southwestern Dunklin County in southeastern Missouri...
Northwestern Lauderdale County in western Tennessee...
Southwestern Dyer County in western Tennessee...
At 1130 PM CDT...strong thunderstorms producing wind gusts up to 50
mph was located along a line extending from near Leachville to near
Harrisburg. Movement was east at 40 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in central Poinsett...southwestern Greene...Craighead...
Mississippi...southwestern Dunklin...northwestern Lauderdale and
southwestern Dyer Counties should monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3588 9103 3588 9087 3599 9085 3600 9078
3601 9058 3600 8947 3555 9004 3544 9015
3544 9035 3568 9104
TIME...MOT...LOC 0430Z 282DEG 37KT 3597 9027 3562 9075
SMWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1146 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021
ARZ009-MOZ113-115-TNZ001-002-019-110530-
Clay AR-Pemiscot MO-Dunklin MO-Lake TN-Obion TN-Dyer TN-
1146 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 1230 AM CDT
FOR...
Southeastern Clay County in eastern Arkansas...
Pemiscot County in southeastern Missouri...
Dunklin County in southeastern Missouri...
Lake County in western Tennessee...
Obion County in western Tennessee...
Dyer County in western Tennessee...
At 1146 PM CDT...strong thunderstorms producing wind gusts up to 50
mph was located along a line extending from near Portageville to
Gosnell. Movement was east at 45 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in southeastern Clay...Pemiscot...Dunklin...Lake...Obion and
Dyer Counties should monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3639 8997 3639 8975 3643 8973 3641 8960
3634 8954 3637 8951 3650 8954 3650 8949
3646 8947 3650 8942 3651 8930 3650 8888
3620 8909 3620 8915 3610 8916 3598 8924
3600 9032 3620 9020 3663 9003 3663 8996
TIME...MOT...LOC 0446Z 273DEG 37KT 3643 8964 3599 8998
SMWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1150 PM CDT SAT JUL 10 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1135 PM TSTM WND DMG HORNERSVILLE 36.04N 90.11W
07/10/2021 DUNKLIN MO AMATEUR RADIO
SIX INCH TREE LIMB DOWN IN HORNERSVILLE. WINDS
ESTIMATED AT 50 MPH.
&&
MJSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1228 AM CDT Sun Jul 11 2021
TNZ001>003-019-020-048-051-110615-
Weakley TN-Lake TN-Crockett TN-Lauderdale TN-Obion TN-Dyer TN-
Gibson TN-
1228 AM CDT Sun Jul 11 2021
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 115 AM CDT
FOR...
Weakley County in western Tennessee...
Lake County in western Tennessee...
Central Crockett County in western Tennessee...
Northeastern Lauderdale County in western Tennessee...
Obion County in western Tennessee...
Dyer County in western Tennessee...
Gibson County in western Tennessee...
At 1228 AM CDT...strong thunderstorms producing wind gusts up to 50
mph was located along a line extending from near Cayce to near Troy
to Unionville. Movement was east at 50 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in Weakley...Lake...central Crockett...northeastern
Lauderdale...Obion...Dyer and Gibson Counties should monitor this
storm closely.
LAT...LON 3650 8852 3644 8852 3579 8894 3592 8965
3597 8972 3600 8973 3600 8971 3602 8969
3610 8967 3611 8962 3613 8959 3615 8959
3618 8962 3624 8958 3625 8954 3627 8954
3628 8956 3646 8945 3650 8942 3651 8930
TIME...MOT...LOC 0528Z 264DEG 41KT 3659 8903 3635 8925 3596 8946
SMWThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 84 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:47 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree down on East Road in Friendship.
Tree knocked down on Key Corner Street in Brownsville.
Tree down northeast of Gadsen.
The intersection of Highway 64 and Airline Road was flooded.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, July 2021
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 976430, 976440, 976445, 976456.