Hail and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, May 24, 2024

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, May 24, 2024
Start: 2024-05-24T15:10
End: 2024-05-24T16:42
Location: Arkansas

May 24, 2024 · NWS MEG · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

An active storm pattern as several mid-level shortwaves crossed the region. An MCV lifted east northeast out of the Ozarks across southern Arkansas.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

An active storm pattern as several mid-level shortwaves crossed the region. An MCV lifted east northeast out of the Ozarks across southern Arkansas. The MCV fired up morning convection across the Mid-South with isolated storm coverage in the afternoon. A weak capped environment was broken and steep mid-level lapse rates, roughly 30 knots of shear, and plentiful instability allowed storms to flourish.

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 May 24, 2:27 PM CST, 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 24, 2:27 PM CST, 43 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
327 PM CDT Fri May 24 2024

...New SYNOPSIS, DISCUSSION...

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 323 PM CDT Fri May 24 2024

Unsettled weather will persist through Memorial Day weekend with
multiple rounds of heavy rain anticipated. In addition, severe
weather chances will return on Sunday. The main concern at this
time will be flooding as elevated rainfall rates accompany storms
through Monday morning. Fortunately, dry conditions should return
by Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(This evening through next Thursday)
Issued at 323 PM CDT Fri May 24 2024

3PM radar imagery depicts mostly dry conditions over the Mid-
South with a few pop-up thunderstorms forming over portions of
north Mississippi. Overall confidence for storm coverage this
afternoon and evening is low due to uncertainties regarding how
well the environment will recover from this morning's convection.
However, satellite imagery depicts clearing skies over portions of
the Mid-South, which may further encourage storm development over
the next few hours. If storms do materialize, damaging winds and
large hail will be the main concerns.

Greater confidence exists overnight for a line of showers and
thunderstorms to dive southeast across Missouri, impacting the
Mid-South after midnight. The severe weather threat with this
line will be low due to the presence of a strong Elevated Mixed
Layer. Instead, the greatest concern will be heavy rainfall as
precipitable water values are forecast to be around the 99th
percentile. Prolific rainfall rates are anticipated overnight,
with a few areas forecast to see an additional 1 to 2 inches of
rain. Additional precipitation will further aggravate rivers and
streams, leading to rises above bankfull. We strongly suggest at
this time that you have a flood plan in place through the weekend.
A Flood Watch has been issued for the entire Mid-South through
Monday morning.

A lull in precipitation is possible by midmorning Saturday as the
aforementioned line pushes out of the area. There is a chance for
thunderstorms to redevelop in northeast Mississippi in the late
afternoon hours, but confidence for this remains low. If a storm
does develop, it will be capable of damaging winds.

Additional severe weather chances appear likely on Sunday as a
shortwave trough ejects across the Central Plains. Some model
discrepancies are evident for this forecast package, with the
ECMWF favoring a more progressive system tracking across southern
Missouri. If this solution materializes, severe weather impacts
will be more likely across the Mid-South, especially in areas of
northwest Tennessee. Timing of severe weather appears to be Sunday
evening into the overnight hours. At this time, midlevel lapse
rates are forecast to be around 7.5 C/km. In addition, MLCAPE
around 2500 J/kg and 0-3 km SRH of 250 m2/s2 are forecast.
Therefore, any storm that does develop will be capable of
producing all hazards of severe weather.

By midweek, upper level ridging should put an end to our unsettled
weather pattern with dry conditions returning Wednesday.

ANS

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1143 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

Periods of convection are expected this afternoon and overnight with
a much higher confidence of storms tonight.  Very heavy rainfall
will likely result in brief periods of VFR Vis.  Prevailing wind
will remain from the south to southwest 5-10kts but could be gusty
and variable near thunderstorms. Storms should come to an end
around mid morning with VFR conditions prevailing during the
afternoon hours.

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Flood Watch through Monday morning for ARZ009-018-026>028-035-
     036-048-049-058.

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

MS...Flood Watch through Monday morning for MSZ001>017-020>024.

TN...Flood Watch through Monday morning for TNZ001>004-019>022-
     048>055-088>092.

&&

PUBLIC FORECAST...ANS
AVIATION...JDS

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 24, 2:28 PM CST, 42 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
328 PM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0325 PM     Hail             Troy                    34.17N 88.90W
05/24/2024  E0.88 Inch       Pontotoc           MS   Public

&&

MJ

Local storm report, May 24, 2:31 PM CST, 39 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
331 PM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0310 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Algoma                  34.18N 89.03W
05/24/2024                   Pontotoc           MS   Public

            Trees down in Algoma.

&&

MJ

Local storm report, May 24, 2:34 PM CST, 36 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
334 PM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0328 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SW Troy               34.15N 88.92W
05/24/2024                   Pontotoc           MS   Public

            Hail was at least quarter-sized on Pontocola
            Road at Highway 41.

&&

MJ

Local storm report, May 24, 2:35 PM CST, 35 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
335 PM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0334 PM     Hail             Troy                    34.17N 88.90W
05/24/2024  M1.25 Inch       Pontotoc           MS   Public

&&

MJ

Local storm report, May 24, 2:36 PM CST, 34 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
336 PM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0328 PM     Hail             1 SW Troy               34.15N 88.92W
05/24/2024  E1.00 Inch       Pontotoc           MS   Public

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 1
            SW Troy. Hail was at least quarter-sized on
            Pontocola Road at Highway 41.

&&

MJ

Local storm report, May 24, 2:51 PM CST, 19 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
351 PM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0317 PM     Hail             5 NW Troy               34.14N 88.91W
05/24/2024  E1.50 Inch       Pontotoc           MS   Public

            image sent in with estimated ping pong ball
            sized hail on hwy 41 5 miles northwest of
            Troy.

&&

The radar

The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:12 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Francis

When: May 24, 3:10 PM CST to 3:15 PM CST
Where: St. Francis County, 0.57 mi W of Wheatley
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.920, -91.110

A tree was downed in Wheatley.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Francis

When: May 24, 3:12 PM CST to 3:17 PM CST
Where: St. Francis County, 0.89 mi SW of Wheatley
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.910, -91.110

A tree was knocked down in Wheatley.

Hail, Phillips

When: May 24, 4:35 PM CST to 4:40 PM CST
Where: Phillips County, Lexa
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.600, -90.750

Hail, Phillips

When: May 24, 4:37 PM CST to 4:42 PM CST
Where: Phillips County, 1.38 mi N of Barton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.570, -90.770

Up to Golf ball sized hail reported on Highway 1 between Highway 242 and Barton.

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Arkansas in 2024 Every state in 2024 This day in weather history Warnings in Arkansas, May 2024

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: 1183350, 1182362, 1182360, 1182361.