Tennessee, 2023

Tornado and Flash Flood in Tennessee, March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023 · NWS MEG · 10 events in 6 counties and zones

The first significant event to produce widespread severe weather across the Mid-South for 2023 occurred on March 24, during the afternoon and evening hours. This severe weather episode occurred mainly over portions of the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$269,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MEG wrote it up.

The first significant event to produce widespread severe weather across the Mid-South for 2023 occurred on March 24, during the afternoon and evening hours. This severe weather episode occurred mainly over portions of the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys. Surface analysis for this day depicted a quasi-stationary boundary from the Mid-Atlantic States and Ohio Valley through northern portions of West Tennessee and Arkansas and stretching back through Central Texas. Low pressure tracked along the stalled front into southeast Missouri during the evening. Meanwhile, a potent mid-level trough ejected out of the southwest U.S. Upper air analysis indicated the Lower Mississippi Valley was in the right entrance region of a strong 300 mb upper-level jet streak. This produced sufficient upper-level divergence and lift needed for severe thunderstorm development.

Moderate instability combined with strong wind shear resulted in a QLCS (Quasi-Linear Convective System) convective mode. This northern part of the QLCS initially started over Western Arkansas Friday afternoon and moved east into Eastern Arkansas by early evening and then across West Tennessee. The northern part of QLCS produced scattered wind damage, flash flooding, and a weak tornado. The southern end of this QLCS scraped across north Mississippi with numerous reports of flash flooding, damaging winds, and several weak tornadoes.

The most significant storm of the night occurred during the late evening hours of March 24, as thunderstorms developing in advance of the QLCS streamed northeast Calhoun and Chickasaw Counties. A tight and small circulation developed in Chickasaw County (MS) about 5 miles east-northeast of Trebloc and quickly grew in strength as it moved into Monroe County (MS), producing significant damage from New Wren to Amory and Smithville, with the most significant damage occurring in Amory.

What forecasters said that day

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 24, 5:16 PM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 24, 5:16 PM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
616 PM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 245 PM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023

A low pressure system and associated frontal boundaries are
the root cause of severe weather impacts for the Mid-South to begin
this afternoon. All severe weather hazards are expected as the
system treks east across the region. This quick moving system is
anticipated to exit the region by midnight. A mostly dry weekend is
on tap, with a small chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms on
Saturday afternoon near the Tennessee River valley and again on Sunday
evening across northeast Mississippi. Above normal temperatures
this week and a high pressure system will allot for dry weather
until a late week system approaches.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(This evening through next Thursday)
Issued at 245 PM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023

Favorable conditions across the Mid-South today for
severe weather and all associated hazards. Tornadoes, damaging wind
gusts, flash and areal flooding, and hail are all threats today. The
highest threat of severe thunderstorms is across northwest
Mississippi into far northwest Tennessee. Flooding is most likely in
northwest Tennessee, the Missouri Bootheel, and northeast Arkansas.

Low pressure near the OK/AR border will track northeast along a
current stalled frontal boundary. A mid-level trough will push the
stalled boundary across the region making conditions more
favorable across the Delta region tonight. CAPE values, moisture,
shear, and warm temperatures are allowing more favorable
conditions for discrete cell development ahead of the main line.
If these discrete cells can form in the warm sector, strong
tornadoes are possible. The tornado threat will continue as there
could be embedded tornadoes in the line along with damaging winds.
A Tornado Watch will likely be issued this afternoon. Gusty
southerly winds will support a Wind Advisory until 3am Saturday.

This system should make its exit by midnight tonight and result in a
mainly dry weekend. A lingering cell or two may cause some showers
and an isolated thunderstorm in the northeast corner of west
Tennessee tomorrow afternoon. An active subtropical jet creates a
chance of showers, mostly in the southern portion of northeast
Mississippi, Sunday evening. There may be an isolated thunderstorm
associated with these showers, but severe threat is limited.

The remaining portion of the Mid-South will be warm and dry until late
week as high pressure settles into the region. Above normal
temperatures expected this week with highs mainly in the 60s and
70s with lows in the upper 40s and 50s. Our next chance of rain
appears to come late week.

DNM

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 608 PM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023

Showers and thunderstorms are moving across the area and will
affect sites west to east. Cigs and vsbys will lower and we will
see IFR conditions in the thunderstorms and heavier showers.
Conditions should improve to VFR through the early morning with
low cigs moving in behind the cold front for several hours. By
tomorrow mid morning, conditions everywhere should be VFR. Wind
is quite variable depending on the site. In general, wind should
be southerly 15-20kts with occasional gusts to 30kts possible.
Wind should relax for a short time overnight before picking back
up in the morning and veering WNW by the end of the TAF cycle.

SMW

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Flood Watch through Saturday morning for ARZ009-018-026>028-035.

     Wind Advisory until 3 AM CDT Saturday for ARZ009-018-026>028-035-
     036-048-049-058.

MO...Flood Watch through Saturday morning for MOZ113-115.

     Wind Advisory until 3 AM CDT Saturday for MOZ113-115.

MS...Wind Advisory until 3 AM CDT Saturday for MSZ001>017-020>024.

TN...Flood Watch through Saturday morning for TNZ001>003-019.

     Wind Advisory until 3 AM CDT Saturday for TNZ001>004-019>022-
     048>055-088>092.

&&

PUBLIC FORECAST...DNM
AVIATION...SMW

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:39 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby

When
March 24, 6:39 PM CST to 6:40 PM CST
Where
Shelby County, (Mem)memphis Intl Ar
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
35.050, -89.980

Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby

When
March 24, 6:40 PM CST to 6:42 PM CST
Where
Shelby County, 1.7 mi W of White Station
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$4,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.120, -89.930

One large tree snapped at the base with smaller limbs down around it.

Tornado, Haywood

When
March 24, 7:19 PM CST to 7:20 PM CST
Where
Haywood County, 1.31 mi ESE of Eurekaton to 1.51 mi E of Eurekaton
Rating
EF1
Path length
0.26 mi
Path width
70 yd
Property damage
$140,000
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.425, -89.198

A short-lived tornado touched down near Jim Hardister Road in southeast Haywood County on the evening of Friday, March 24, 2023. This tornado primarily uprooted and/or snapped trees, but roof damage was noted to a house, barn, and outbuilding. The tornado continued to a manufactured home, shifting it off the block piers. The last sign of tornado damage occurred just to the northeast at another residence where numerous trees were uprooted and/or snapped, including one that fell onto the residence and caused significant roof damage. The tornado likely lifted up in a field shortly after. Peak winds were estimated at 95 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Haywood

When
March 24, 7:19 PM CST to 7:22 PM CST
Where
Haywood County, 1.31 mi ESE of Eurekaton to 1.77 mi SSW of Hillville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.424, -89.198

The rear flank downdraft of a tornado caused some roof damage to a house on Jim Hardister Road and knocked down trees along Bruce Road.

Flash Flood, Shelby

When
March 24, 7:53 PM CST to 9:53 PM CST
Where
Shelby County, 1.28 mi W of Berclair to 1.43 mi W of Berclair
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.150, -89.943

Flash flooding occurred at North Highland Street and Summer Avenue.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When
March 24, 7:58 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where
Madison County, 1.69 mi E of Beech Bluff
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
35.600, -88.620

Trees were knocked down four miles north-northwest of Mifflin.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henderson

When
March 24, 7:58 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where
Henderson County, 4.29 mi SSW of Blue Goose
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
35.640, -88.600

Trees and a fence were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When
March 24, 8:05 PM CST to 8:25 PM CST
Where
Carroll County, 1.25 mi N of Terry to Bruceton
Measured
74 kt (85 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.918, -88.572

Numerous trees and several structures received damage from straight-line winds estimated as high as 85 mph. This damage began just southwest of Huntingdon with additional, more widespread damage in the communities of Hollow Rock and Bruceton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henderson

When
March 24, 8:09 PM CST to 8:11 PM CST
Where
Henderson County, 0.54 mi SW of Sand Ridge
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
35.673, -88.485

Powerlines were knocked down with pole damage in the 500-600 block of Sand Ridge Road.

Lightning, Chester

When
March 24, 9:25 PM CST to 9:26 PM CST
Where
Chester County, Henderson
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
35.430, -88.670

A structure on Threadgill Road caught on fire due to a lightning strike.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Tennessee in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Tennessee, 2023Warnings in Tennessee, March 2023

Sources

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: 1087337, 1086747, 1086756, 1087430, 1086748, 1086739, 1086745, 1086737, 1086743, 1087460.