A tight pressure gradient created strong non-thunderstorm wind gusts ahead of a shortwave trough and cold front that moved across the region during the afternoon and evening of 3/30/2022.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
A tight pressure gradient created strong non-thunderstorm wind gusts ahead of a shortwave trough and cold front that moved across the region during the afternoon and evening of 3/30/2022.
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 Mar 30, 2:12 PM CST, 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
312 PM CDT Wed Mar 30 2022
.DISCUSSION...
Severe weather is ongoing across much of the Midsouth and is
expected to continue in portions of west Tennessee and northeast
Mississippi through 9-10pm. Low-level shear remains quite
strong per regional VWP data -- 850 mb winds are around 50 kts from
Jackson, MS to Memphis. Damaging wind gusts will continue to be a
threat as this line moves into temperatures in the lower 70s and
dewpoints in the low to mid 60. Farther north into northeastern
Arkansas and western Tennessee, buoyancy is less owing to cloud
cover; however, low /mid-level winds remain very strong.
Strong, possibly damaging wind is also ongoing across the
Midsouth, that is not associated with thunderstorms. Numerous
gusts have been observed in the mid to upper 40 mph range. Well
ahead of the line of thunderstorms, a 53 mph gradient wind was
observed at Tupelo, MS.
Showers, thunderstorms and wind should taper off overnight. Lows
will fall into the 40s across most of the Midsouth.
Surface high pressure will build in tomorrow followed by a weak
ridge aloft Friday. As a result, dry conditions are expected.
Morning lows will be in the 40s Thursday and in the mid to upper
30s Friday. Expect high temperatures in the mid 50s to mid 60s
each day.
Temperatures will trend warmer over the weekend. Afternoon highs
should warm back into the mid 60s to mid 70s. There may be a few
showers early Saturday as a quick moving shortwave moves from
southwest Missouri, across the Midsouth and into middle Tennessee.
The warming trend will continue Monday. A trough will deepen over
the western US Sunday into early next week setting up southwest
flow across the Midsouth. Tuesday into Wednesday rain and
thunderstorms are expected to return to the Midsouth as another
dynamic storm system moves across the middle and lower Mississippi
River valley.
30
&&
.AVIATION...18Z TAF Set
Southerly winds are increasing across the Mid-South. Seeing gusts
up to 30 KTS already. Speeds will continue to increase this
afternoon until a line of convection moves through the region.
Did not change the timing of the convection much. Still expecting
line to move through KJBR between 19-22Z, KMEM between 20-23Z,
KMKL between 21-24Z, and KTUP between 22-01Z. MVFR CIGS will
spread into the area behind the convection and will persist at
KMKL and KTUP through 15-17Z. Winds will subside after the
convection but will still remain gusty.
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...High Wind Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for Clay-Craighead-
Crittenden-Cross-Greene-Lee AR-Mississippi-Phillips-
Poinsett-St. Francis.
MO...High Wind Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for Dunklin-
Pemiscot.
MS...High Wind Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for Alcorn-Benton
MS-Calhoun-Chickasaw-Coahoma-DeSoto-Itawamba-Lafayette-Lee
MS-Marshall-Monroe-Panola-Pontotoc-Prentiss-Quitman-
Tallahatchie-Tate-Tippah-Tishomingo-Tunica-Union-Yalobusha.
TN...High Wind Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for Benton TN-
Carroll-Chester-Crockett-Decatur-Dyer-Fayette-Gibson-
Hardeman-Hardin-Haywood-Henderson-Henry-Lake-Lauderdale-
Madison-McNairy-Obion-Shelby-Tipton-Weakley.
&&Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 1159 AM CDT Wed Mar 30 2022 ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017- 020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-311900- 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- 1159 AM CDT Wed Mar 30 2022 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas... the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Severe weather is likely across the entire Mid-South. The greatest risk is across north Mississippi. The primary hazards are damaging wind and tornadoes. A secondary hazard includes flash flooding. Timing of severe storms will be most likely over east Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel during late morning to early afternoon, and over west Tennessee and north Mississippi in the early to late afternoon. In addition to the severe weather threat, very strong non- thunderstorm wind with gusts to 60 mph are expected across the entire Mid-South. The wind will be sufficiently strong to cause tree damage and power outages. It will also make travel difficult, especially for high profile vehicles and particularly on east- west highways. Strong wind may also result in localized blowing dust around freshly plowed fields resulting in diminished visibility. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be needed today.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
138 PM CDT WED MAR 30 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0124 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 ESE JONESBORO 35.81N 90.65W
03/30/2022 CRAIGHEAD AR BROADCAST MEDIA
MEDIAN LIGHT POLE DOWN ACROSS I-555 AT
WILLOW ROAD.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
156 PM CDT WED MAR 30 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0154 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 4 N ECRU 34.41N 89.03W
03/30/2022 UNION MS BROADCAST MEDIA
TWO LARGE TREE BRANCHES DOWN ON A VEHICLE IN
INGOMAR, MS.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
208 PM CDT Wed Mar 30 2022
ARZ027-028-036-301930-
Poinsett AR-Mississippi AR-Crittenden AR-
208 PM CDT Wed Mar 30 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Poinsett, southwestern Mississippi and northwestern Crittenden
Counties through 230 PM CDT...
At 207 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Crawfordsville, or near Earle, moving north at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Lepanto, Wilson, Tyronza, Joiner, Crawfordsville, Dyess, Gilmore,
Bassett, Jennette, Marie, Turrell, Clarkedale, Birdsong, Whitton,
Dimple, Booker, Deckerville, Evadale, Driver and Menesha.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas...and western Tennessee.
&&
LAT...LON 3568 9038 3562 8999 3548 9010 3548 9011
3544 9013 3542 9017 3539 9018 3538 9017
3515 9034 3516 9044
TIME...MOT...LOC 1907Z 200DEG 44KT 3525 9037
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
258 PM CDT WED MAR 30 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0257 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG BRUCETON 36.03N 88.25W
03/30/2022 CARROLL TN LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN ON GENERAL FORREST DRIVE.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
315 PM CDT WED MAR 30 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0311 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 4 W MICHIGAN CITY 34.98N 89.32W
03/30/2022 BENTON MS PUBLIC
BRIEF FUNNEL.
&&
TLSJRSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
333 PM CDT Wed Mar 30 2022
ARZ035-048-049-058-302100-
St. Francis AR-Phillips AR-Cross AR-Lee AR-
333 PM CDT Wed Mar 30 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Lee, eastern St.
Francis, north central Phillips and southeastern Cross Counties
through 400 PM CDT...
At 333 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Haynes to Marianna to near Lexa. Movement
was northeast at 60 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Forrest City, Marianna, Hughes, Parkin, Madison, Palestine, Lexa,
Widener, Rondo, Aubrey, Haynes, Brickeys, New Home, Lagrange, Cody,
Cottonwood Corner, Haleside, New Castle, Soudan and Round Pond.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas...and northwestern Mississippi.
&&
LAT...LON 3528 9058 3517 9050 3515 9050 3514 9048
3510 9045 3490 9044 3488 9048 3486 9048
3445 9082 3465 9087 3484 9101
TIME...MOT...LOC 2033Z 213DEG 51KT 3489 9086 3476 9075 3457 9072
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Roof damage due to downed trees in Blue Goose.
A non-thunderstorm wind gust of 46 mph was measured by the Jackson ASOS. The public reported one-inch tree limbs broken and shingles blown off a roof three miles west-southwest of Blue Goose.
Trees down on General Forrest Drive in Bruceton.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, March 2022
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: 1013815, 1012822, 1013816.