A weakening upper ridge combined with peak heating led to scattered afternoon thunderstorms across West Tennessee on May 15, 2023. A couple of storms became severe with damaging winds and large hail.
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.
A weakening upper ridge combined with peak heating led to scattered afternoon thunderstorms across West Tennessee on May 15, 2023. A couple of storms became severe with damaging winds and large hail.
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 May 15, 5:30 PM CST, 0 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
630 PM CDT Mon May 15 2023
...New AVIATION...
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 311 PM CDT Mon May 15 2023
Scattered thunderstorms are ongoing across portions of the Mid
South this afternoon. These storms may produce strong winds, locally
heavy rainfall, and small hail. Rain chances will increase on
Tuesday, ahead of an upper level disturbance and surface cold
front.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
(This evening through next Sunday)
Issued at 311 PM CDT Mon May 15 2023
Most of the afternoon/evening convection is slowly moving out of
the area. We could still see some other development this evening.
Rain chances will increase for tomorrow as a cold front is
expected to move through the region. This will increase the
coverage and intensity of storms. We do not expect any severe
weather with this passage. A shortwave trough will drop
southeast from the Ozarks on Wednesday, likely aiding convection
over southern and and central MS on Wednesday. A few storms may
extend into north MS Wednesday afternoon. Much cooler temperatures
are expected the remainder of the week as highs dip into the 70s
and 80s. Expect dry conditions through Friday before another front
impacts the area this weekend. Another round of showers and storms
are possible Friday into Saturday morning. Another pleasant and
cool weekend is expected.
&&
.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 624 PM CDT Mon May 15 2023
Mostly VFR conditions through the TAF set. VCTS this evening and
again tomorrow afternoon/evening could cause some MVFR vsbys. Wind
is generally SSW, however outflows from storms could cause
direction to be rather variable. Wind may gust up to 20kts
tomorrow afternoon and with any storms. Once the cold front comes
through expect the wind to veer more northerly by the end of the
TAF cycle.
SMW
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...None.
MO...None.
MS...Flash Flood Watch through Saturday afternoon for MSZ001-007-008-
011-012-020.
TN...None.
&&
PUBLIC FORECAST...MJH
AVIATION...SMWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
435 PM CDT Mon May 15 2023
MSZ024-152200-
Monroe MS-
435 PM CDT Mon May 15 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Monroe
County through 500 PM CDT...
At 435 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Prairie, or near Aberdeen, moving southwest at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Prairie, Binford, Strong and Muldon.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3378 8872 3385 8863 3374 8847 3368 8851
3368 8872
TIME...MOT...LOC 2135Z 038DEG 17KT 3374 8861
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
SirmonSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
436 PM CDT Mon May 15 2023
TNZ002-152215-
Obion TN-
436 PM CDT Mon May 15 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Obion County
through 515 PM CDT...
At 435 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Reelfoot Lake State Park, moving northeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Troy, Obion, Cloverdale, Hornbeak, Samburg, Roneys Store, Elbridge,
Wolverine, Lassiter Corner, Minnick, Jacksonville and Glass.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3633 8911 3622 8935 3631 8941 3632 8940
3635 8940 3647 8923
TIME...MOT...LOC 2135Z 242DEG 8KT 3633 8932
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
SMWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
453 PM CDT Mon May 15 2023
TNZ002-152230-
Obion TN-
453 PM CDT Mon May 15 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central Obion
County through 530 PM CDT...
At 452 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Cloverdale, or 11 miles southeast of Reelfoot Lake State Park, moving
east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Obion, Cloverdale, Sharps Ferry, Mason Hall, Elbridge, Wolverine and
Glass.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3621 8933 3626 8934 3634 8911 3621 8906
TIME...MOT...LOC 2152Z 264DEG 10KT 3625 8928
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
SMWThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 111 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:28 UTC.
2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were uprooted or snapped in Trenton. At least one home was damaged by a downed tree.
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, May 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: 1103440, 1103441, 1103442.