Upper-level disturbances moving through strong northwest flow aloft combined with ample moisture and instability to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of the Mid-South during the afternoon hour of June 16, 2023. Some storms were severe with large hail and damaging winds.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Upper-level disturbances moving through strong northwest flow aloft combined with ample moisture and instability to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of the Mid-South during the afternoon hour of June 16, 2023. Some storms were severe with large hail and damaging winds.
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 16, 11:42 AM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 1242 PM CDT Fri Jun 16 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 354 AM CDT Fri Jun 16 2023 Seasonally warm and humid conditions will prevail over the Midsouth through the weekend. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible each day, with peak rain chances on Sunday. The severe thunderstorm risk area will extend along and south of a line from Jonesboro to Memphis to Tupelo through Saturday. Sunday will bring a chance of severe storms to most of the Midsouth, ahead of a low pressure trough lifting out of the Great Plains. Large hail and damaging winds will be the primary severe weather threats on Sunday. && .DISCUSSION... (Today through Thursday) Issued at 354 AM CDT Fri Jun 16 2023 Split upper level flow will prevail over the US and southern Canada through the weekend, as a vestigial omega block pattern remains. An upper level height ridge over the central and northern Great Plains will continue to bring dry and warm conditions to those areas. To the south of this ridge, a 75-90kt 250mb subtropical jet will round the main subtropical height ridge, centered over northern Mexico. This subtropical jet axis will extend from the southern plains into the lower MS River valley. Besides influencing the position of the main storm corridor, this upper jet will provide spring-like bulk shear in proximity to summer instability. As an example, last evening's 00Z FWD (Fort Worth, TX) RAOB measured 5100 J/kg of mixed layer instability and 70kt of effective bulk shear. Today's main storm track will extend from the Arklatex into central and southern MS. This afternoon will likely see a secondary storm corridor develop downstream of a weakening upper low moving east/southeast of southern KS. Scattered storms will likely form over central and northern AR by midafternoon, then continue to develop southeast into the Midsouth. Areas along and south of a Jonesboro to Memphis to Tupelo line appear most likely to experience mid/late afternoon thunderstorms. Mixed layer CAPE will prevail near 2000 J/kg over this area, accompanied by 35-45kt effective bulk shear. Steeper midlevel lapse rates and slightly greater instability will favor larger hail over the delta, south and west of Memphis. The aforementioned weakening upper low will drop southeast through the Midsouth tonight, providing a continued chance of storms over north MS. Upper level ridging will limit storm chances over the Midsouth on Saturday. This ridging will be brief, ahead of a progressive trough lifting through the plains. Storms will form over the southern plains Saturday afternoon and likely enter eastern AR in the predawn hours Sunday. This initial round of storms will be tied to an initial shortwave. A second, possibly stronger shortwave will eject through the Midsouth late Sunday afternoon and evening, which will enhance severe thunderstorm chances during peak heating. For early next week, the medium range models are consistent in forming a cut-off low, centered over middle and east TN. Scattered, mainly daytime storms will be possible east of the MS River. To the west, an upper level ridge will build through the plains, providing midsummer like heat and dry conditions. PWB && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1236 PM CDT Fri Jun 16 2023 Upstream convection over northwest and central Arkansas combined with peak afternoon heating will be the focus for showers and thunderstorms at TAF sites this afternoon and evening. Convective initiation is anticipated to occur in the 19-21Z timeframe at TAF sites and last into tonight. Instability may be weak enough to go with prevailing VCSH for a few hours but enough elevated instability justifies a mention of VCTS for the 4-8Z time frame tonight. Mainly VFR conditions outside of thunderstorms and light winds expected through the period. CJC && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. && PUBLIC FORECAST...PWB AVIATION...CJC
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:02 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight-line winds knocked down a tree and powerlines at the intersection of Reid Hooker and Monterey.
Several power poles were knocked down or snapped near the intersection of Pisgah Road and Macon Road.
Several power poles were knocked down or snapped on Macon Road just west of Houston Levee Road in Cordova.
Powerlines fell on a car at Highway 72 and Byhalia Road.
Quarter-size hail fell for several minutes at General Dewitt-Spain Airport.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, 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: 1115240, 1115237, 1115242, 1115244, 1115247, 1115238.