A cold front approached the Mid-South during the afternoon hours of June 25, 2023. A very hot and unstable airmass was in place across the Mid-South with temperatures in mid 90s and dewpoints in the mid to upper 70s.
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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.
A cold front approached the Mid-South during the afternoon hours of June 25, 2023. A very hot and unstable airmass was in place across the Mid-South with temperatures in mid 90s and dewpoints in the mid to upper 70s. Meanwhile, ample wind shear aided storm organization during the event. Supercells developed over north central Arkansas in the afternoon and pushed into the Mid-South late in the day. The cells bowed out causing swaths of wind damage across the Mid-South. The main swath of damaging winds stretched across the entire region from northeast Arkansas through the Memphis metropolitan area into northeast Mississippi. The most significant damage stretched from northern Shelby County into Fayette County where tree damage and power outages were widespread. Another area of significant damage occurred in the Clarksdale area.
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 Jun 25, 2:22 PM CST, 4 hours earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
322 PM CDT Sun Jun 25 2023
...New SYNOPSIS, DISCUSSION...
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 238 PM CDT Sun Jun 25 2023
Thunderstorms are expected to develop across the Mid-South tonight
ahead of a slow moving cold front. Some of the thunderstorms may
become severe with damaging winds as the main threat. As the cold
front moves through north Mississippi Monday morning, thunderstorms
will move out of the region. Drier air will filter into much of
the region through Wednesday, keeping the heat at bay. Excessive
heat is forecast to move into the region by Thursday as temperatures
climb into the triple digits areawide. Another cold front will
move into the region next weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
(This evening through next Saturday)
Issued at 238 PM CDT Sun Jun 25 2023
Skies are mostly sunny across the Mid-South this afternoon with
temperatures in the 90s. Heat index values are approaching 110
across the entire region. Thunderstorms have developed over
portions of Middle and East Tennessee earlier this afternoon with
a Severe Thunderstorm Watch extending into north Alabama through 6
PM. Thunderstorms have also just started to develop over
northwest Arkansas and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is now in
effect for portions of central and western Arkansas until 10 PM.
Additional watches that could include the Mid-South are possible
late this afternoon and into this evening. A cold front currently
extends from southern Illinois across northwest Arkansas and into
northwest Texas.
As the cold front moves southeast tonight, thunderstorms will
develop ahead of the front and move into the Mid-South late this
afternoon and into this evening. Some of the thunderstorms could
be severe with damaging winds as the main threat. Large hail could
also occur with an isolated tornado not out of the question.
Temperatures will remain on the warm side with lows Monday morning
in the mid 60s to lower 70s.
The cold front will be moving through north Mississippi on Monday
morning with a few thunderstorms possible ahead of the front.
Behind the front, somewhat cooler and much drier air will move
into the region. This will result in a less humid day across the
region with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s. By Monday night,
the cold front will be in central Mississippi with an isolated
thunderstorm possible over the extreme southern portions of the
Mid-South. Temperatures Monday night will be cooler than tonight
with lows Tuesday morning in the mid 60s to lower 70s.
Dry weather and seasonal temperatures are expected for Tuesday and
Tuesday night as high pressure remain in control across the
region. By Wednesday, a warm front will be slowly approaching the
region from the west. Scattered thunderstorms may develop ahead of
the front and move into the region mainly during the morning
hours. Temperatures will be a little warmer on Wednesday and Heat
Index values approaching 100 degrees.
By Thursday, the warm front will be north of the region and the
upper level ridge currently over the southern Plains will spread
eastward toward the Mid-South. As a result, dry and hot weather is
expected across the region for Thursday and Friday. High temperatures
will approach 100 degrees across much of the region both days and
Heat Index values could exceed 110 degrees. A Excessive Heat
Warning may be needed if subsequent forecasts continue to show
such hot conditions.
Another cold front will slowly approach the region on Saturday
with scattered thunderstorms possibly moving into the Mid-South
ahead of the front.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1200 PM CDT Sun Jun 25 2023
Latest model guidance is slowing the arrival of an MCS than
previously forecasted as storms are now projected to fire over
central AR near 21z. The MCS will move into the Mid-South during
the late afternoon and evening hours. Strong cold pools will
result in the potential for very strong winds gusts within bowing
segments with temporary IFR visibility as convection moves through
the area. Exactly where these storms will track is uncertain, but
JBR/MEM are the most likely affected. An AWW may be needed for MEM in
result of gusty winds as guidance is starting to pick up on a
potential LLWS threat as the segment moves through.
Due to uncertainty, TEMPOs remain at all sites and will update as
these storms start to fire up to our west. This is a quick moving
segment and VFR conditions are expected to prevail behind the
storms.
DNM
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for ARZ009-018-026>028-
035-036-048-049-058.
MO...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for MOZ113-115.
MS...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for MSZ001>017-020>024.
TN...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for TNZ001>004-019>022-
048>055-088>092.
&&
PUBLIC FORECAST...ARS
AVIATION...DNMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
647 PM CDT Sun Jun 25 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0635 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 ESE Turrell 35.36N 90.18W
06/25/2023 Crittenden AR Public
Report from mPING: Trees uprooted or
snapped; Roof blown off.
&&
SWBPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
648 PM CDT Sun Jun 25 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Wilson 35.57N 90.04W
06/25/2023 Mississippi AR Emergency Mngr
Tress across railroad.
&&
SWBPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
651 PM CDT Sun Jun 25 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NW Joiner 35.53N 90.17W
06/25/2023 Mississippi AR Emergency Mngr
Semi across I-55 near mile marker 32.
&&
SWBPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
705 PM CDT Sun Jun 25 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0658 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 N Bartlett 35.26N 89.84W
06/25/2023 M60 MPH Shelby TN Public
60 MPH Wind Gust.
0659 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Bartlett 35.22N 89.84W
06/25/2023 M65 MPH Shelby TN NWS Employee
60-70 MPH Sind Gusts. Possilbel trees down
as well.
0703 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Bartlett 35.22N 89.84W
06/25/2023 M70 MPH Shelby TN NWS Employee
70 MPH wind gust recorded in Bartlett.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
710 PM CDT Sun Jun 25 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0708 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 S Lakeland 35.23N 89.73W
06/25/2023 Shelby TN Trained Spotter
Spotter reports numerous trees down on I-40
near mile marker 20. Tree on car.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
720 PM CDT Sun Jun 25 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0719 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Bartlett 35.22N 89.84W
06/25/2023 Shelby TN NWS Employee
Numerous trees down across north Bartlett.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
22 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were snapped and uprooted across northern Marshall County. Powerlines were down in Slayden near Highway 72.
Several trees and powerlines were blown down just northwest of Holly Springs.
Numerous large trees and powerlines were knocked down in Clarksdale. There was damage to street signs, stop lights, and utility poles.
Trees were knocked down across town.
Numerous trees were knocked down across town. A few utility poles were snapped and some structures sustained minor damage to roofs and trim.
Numerous trees were knocked down in the Chalybeate area. There were widespread power outages.
Numerous trees and powerlines were knocked down across Ripley. The roof was blown off a shed.
Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted in the Tiplersville community.
Power poles and large tree limbs were broken near Dublin.
Multiple trees were knocked down within the Sumner city limits.
A large tree fell on a home causing damage to the structure.
Trees were knocked down in Kossuth.
Numerous trees were knocked down across Prentiss County.
Trees were knocked down on County Road 303.
Trees were knocked down on Highway 370 east and west of Baldwyn.
Multiple trees and powerlines were knocked down in Guntown.
A utility pole was snapped on County Road 1543 near Eggville.
A tree was knocked down on County Road 429.
Several trees were knocked down in Iuka.
A few trees were knocked down between Mantachie and Peppertown.
A large tree fell on a home south of Highway 9 near Randolph.
Trees were knocked down across the city of Fulton.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, June 2023
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: 1118054, 1118055, 1118056, 1118057, 1118058, 1118063, 1118066, 1118069, 1118070, 1118071, 1118072, 1118073, 1118080, 1118075, 1118078, 1118085, 1118084, 1118086, 1118088, 1118089, 1118090, 1118087.