Hail in Arkansas, February 15, 2023

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Memphis TN
556 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 313 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

A nocturnal severe weather outbreak is setting up over the Mid
South this evening. Showers and storms will develop later on this
evening and last through Thursday morning. This will be a long
duration severe event with the possibility of multiple waves of
storms. Dry and cooler conditions return Friday as surface high
pressure shifts across the area. Expect some sub freezing morning
lows Friday and through the weekend. High temperatures will trend
warmer through the weekend, back to near 60 by Sunday and in the
70s early next week. Warm conditions are expected to continue into
next week as showers and thunderstorms return to the forecast.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(This evening through next Tuesday)
Issued at 313 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

A long duration severe weather outbreak looks poised to occur
tonight into Thursday for the Mid South. Now is the time to prepare
for adverse weather. Nighttime severe weather can be particularly
dangerous. All the ingredients are in place shear, moisture,
instability, and lift will all be in place over the region for an
extended period of time. Dewpoints across the region range from
the mid 60s across north MS to the upper 50s and lower 60s across
E AR and W TN. Dewpoints should continue to surge into the region
ahead of the front tonight. Temperatures will remain mild and
winds will remain elevated keeping the area prime for storm
development. Shear will not be an issue either as we will be in a
favorable position under a jet streak as well as 0-3 KM SRH
values will be anywhere between 300-500 m2/s2 over the region
tonight. We have been capped for the most part today, and that is
why we have been mostly quiet on the radar. Looking at the current
vis sat there is a large area of cloud streaks across the Lower
Mississippi Valley. This is indicative of horizontal shear and
the atmosphere starting to uncap and destabilize. Latest guidance
suggests that we could have between 1000-2000 J/KG of CAPE over
the Mid South tonight...this is concerning as this event we should
have the instability in place. This has been the missing link
over the last few systems. With all of that being said the Storm
Prediction Center has a large portion of the forecast area in an
Enhanced Risk of Severe weather tonight. All modes of severe
weather will be on the table. Tornadoes will be possible...some of
those tornadoes could be strong meaning EF2 or better. I am
concerned with this aspect of the threat. Large hail and damaging
winds will be possible.

Storm mode will also be important as this event should start out
as supercells, and possibly congealing into a QLCS or cluster of
storms. The supercells pose the greatest threat for the stronger
tornadoes early in the event. The best time for that is from 7PM
tonight through about 2AM tonight. The mode should congeal to a
large area of storms and tornadoes could be embedded in that, but
the heavy rain and damaging wind threat then increases during that
timeframe. Rainfall totals through tomorrow should mostly stay
just under 2 inches, but any locally higher amounts could result
in localized flooding issues. The WPC has included most of the
Midsouth in a marginal risk for Excessive Rainfall for tonight.
Portions of northeast MS and west TN near the TN river are also
included in a Slight Risk for Day 2.

The severe threat continues into Thursday as the front finally
starts to really push through the region. Storms should develop
along the front again on Thursday. Strong to severe storms will
continue and may redevelop especially across NE Mississippi. This
would be the reason why the enhanced risk remains in the area
through Thursday. Storms should be completely out of the region
by Thursday afternoon. Needless to say this is a formidable system
and everyone should stay weather aware overnight and Thursday.

Cooler and dry air will filter across the Midsouth Friday and
remain in place through the weekend. Some sub-freezing
temperatures are expected Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Highs will trend warmer; from the 40s on Friday, to the 50s on
Saturday and near 60 by Sunday.

Warm conditions are expected early next week but showers and maybe
a few thunderstorms are expected to return to the area.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 543 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

Primary aviation concern remains timing of TSRA this evening.
Expect TSRA initialization to occur ahead of a secondary warm
frontal surge. CAMs are fairly close on timing and location, but
begin to diverge after 06z, when focusing features become more
nebulous. May see the bulk of TSRA north of MEM after 07Z, with
the warm front well north of the terminal. For the 00Z MEM TAF,
confidence in this scenario is too low to forgo a continuation of
VCTS through the night.

Expect another TSRA peak in the late morning/early afternoon,
with the passage of surface cold front. HRRR depicts a broken to
solid line of TSRA, with maximum intensity at TUP during the
afternoon.

PWB

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...None.
MO...None.
MS...None.
TN...None.
&&

PUBLIC FORECAST...MJH
AVIATION...PWB

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
835 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

ARZ036-049-MSZ001-007-008-160300-
Lee AR-Crittenden AR-Tunica MS-DeSoto MS-Tate MS-
835 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central Lee,
south central Crittenden, southwestern DeSoto, northern Tunica and
northwestern Tate Counties through 900 PM CST...

At 835 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
North Tunica, or 17 miles southeast of Hughes, moving northeast at
40 mph.

HAZARD...Pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Hernando, Tunica, Horseshoe Lake, Pinckney, Lake Cormorant, Phillipp,
Eudora, North Tunica, Robinsonville, Little Texas, Newport, Clack,
Trinity, Frees Corners, Commerce, Prichard, Bruins, Beck, Banks and
Bowdre.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3462 9029 3474 9053 3500 9034 3481 9001
TIME...MOT...LOC 0235Z 213DEG 42KT 3472 9033

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
837 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

MSZ002-008-012-013-160300-
Lafayette MS-Marshall MS-Panola MS-Tate MS-
837 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Lafayette, southwestern Marshall, eastern Tate and northeastern
Panola Counties through 900 PM CST...

At 836 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Sardis, or near John W Kyle State Park, moving northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.

Locations impacted include...
John W Kyle State Park, Sardis, Como, Barr, Harmontown, Laws Hill,
Abbeville, Wakefield, Blackwater, Teckville, Looxahoma, Aiken,
Wyatte, Crossroad, Tyro, Chulahoma, Glenville, Thyatira, Hayes
Crossing and Bett.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3436 8993 3444 9002 3477 8973 3452 8949
TIME...MOT...LOC 0236Z 227DEG 40KT 3442 8991

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH