Excessive Heat and Heat in Mississippi, August 15 to 16, 2024

Name: Excessive Heat and Heat in Mississippi, August 15 to 16, 2024
Start: 2024-08-15T10:00
End: 2024-08-16T19:00
Location: Mississippi

August 15 to 16, 2024 · NWS MEG · 43 events in 22 counties and zones

An intensifying ridge was centered just to the southwest of the region while strong moisture return resulted in dewpoints climbing into the mid-70s to around 80 degrees. High dewpoints combined with hot air temperatures resulted in dangerous heat indices as high as 114 degrees.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 43 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 43

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.

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 Aug 15, 5:58 AM CST, 4 hours 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 15, 5:58 AM CST, 4 hours 2 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
658 AM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024

...New AVIATION...

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 346 AM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024

Dangerous heat will begin today as heat index values climb above
110 degrees for a large portion of the Mid-South. In addition, an
unsettled weather pattern will develop tonight with daily chances
of severe storms through Saturday. By Sunday, a cold front will
bring much more tolerable conditions back to the region.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(Today through Wednesday)
Issued at 346 AM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024

Heat and humidity will plague the Mid-South today as a 594 dam
ridge centers over the ArkLaTex region. Efficient moisture return
will place dewpoints into the upper 70s, with a few areas possibly
hitting the 80 degree mark by this afternoon. Bottom line: this is
dangerous heat with heat index values forecast as high as 114 F.
The Excessive Heat Warning has been expanded to include the
western half of the forecast area, with the remainder of the Mid-
South encompassed by a Heat Advisory. If you must be outdoors
today, we urge that you exercise caution and take frequent breaks
to hydrate and cool off.

Rain chances return late tonight for areas near the Kentucky
border with storms firing along a remnant outflow boundary.
Timing of storms will greatly impact severe weather chances as
SBCAPE and bulk shear values remain lack luster overnight. A few
storms may become strong with gusty winds the primary concern.
Expect Friday morning's convection to fizzle out by midday,
leaving the Mid-South susceptible to another hot and muggy day.
Additional heat headlines may be needed Friday as afternoon highs
soar to the mid and upper 90s.

Also on Friday, a large upper level trough will traverse the
Midwest, ejecting a slow moving cold front towards the Mid-South.
Additional storm development is likely Friday afternoon and
evening. However, exact timing of convective initiation remains
unclear due to uncertainty regarding how Friday morning's
convection influences atmospheric recovery. If a storm can get
going before sunset, a damaging wind and large hail threat may
emerge. In addition, severe weather chances remain on Saturday as
the aforementioned front inches into the region. Overall, the
threat looks relatively mild due to bulk shear remaining below 30
kts. The greatest chance for storm development exists in north
Mississippi, where a damaging wind threat may develop in the
afternoon / evening hours. As such, the Storm Prediction Center
has included the Mid-South in a Marginal Risk for severe storms on
both Friday and Saturday.

By Sunday, the front will push out of the region and bring
slightly cooler temperatures back to the forecast. The beginning
of next week will be much more tolerable with afternoon highs in
the mid to upper 80s.

ANS

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 644 AM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024

VFR conditions will persist through the period. Mainly dry
conditions this afternoon and evening. A decaying complex of
storms will approach the northern sites after midnight. Confidence
of TSRAs or SHRAs on site remains low, but high enough to carry a
VCTS.

AC3

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Excessive Heat Warning from 11 AM this morning to 9 PM CDT this
     evening for ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058.

MO...Excessive Heat Warning from 11 AM this morning to 9 PM CDT this
     evening for MOZ113-115.

MS...Excessive Heat Warning from 11 AM this morning to 9 PM CDT this
     evening for MSZ001-007-008-010>012-020-021.

     Heat Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 9 PM CDT this evening
     for MSZ002>006-009-013>017-022>024.

TN...Excessive Heat Warning from 11 AM this morning to 9 PM CDT this
     evening for TNZ001-002-019-048-049-088.

     Heat Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 9 PM CDT this evening
     for TNZ003-004-020>022-050>055-089>092.

&&

PUBLIC FORECAST...ANS
AVIATION...AC3

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

22 excessive heat, 21 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Excessive Heat, De Soto

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: De Soto forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.875, -89.992 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Tunica

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Tunica forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.652, -90.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Tate

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Tate forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.650, -89.945 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Coahoma

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Coahoma forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.229, -90.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Quitman

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Quitman forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.251, -90.289 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Tallahatchie

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Tallahatchie forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 33.951, -90.173 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Panola

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Panola forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.364, -89.951 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Yalobusha

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Yalobusha forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.028, -89.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Heat, Marshall

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.762, -89.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Lafayette

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Lafayette forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.357, -89.485 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Calhoun

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 33.937, -89.336 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Chickasaw

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Chickasaw forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 33.921, -88.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Monroe

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 33.892, -88.480 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Itawamba

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Itawamba forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.280, -88.361 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Pontotoc

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Pontotoc forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.225, -89.037 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Union

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.491, -89.004 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Benton

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Benton forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.817, -89.188 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Tippah

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Tippah forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.768, -88.909 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Alcorn

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Alcorn forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.881, -88.580 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Tishomingo

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Tishomingo forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.740, -88.239 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Prentiss

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Prentiss forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.618, -88.520 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Lee

When: August 15, 10:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 34.290, -88.680 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Excessive Heat, De Soto

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: De Soto forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.875, -89.992 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Tate

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Tate forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.650, -89.945 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Tunica

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Tunica forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.652, -90.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Coahoma

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Coahoma forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.229, -90.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Quitman

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Quitman forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.251, -90.289 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Panola

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Panola forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.364, -89.951 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Tallahatchie

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Tallahatchie forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 33.951, -90.173 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Yalobusha

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Yalobusha forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.028, -89.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Calhoun

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 33.937, -89.336 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Chickasaw

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Chickasaw forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 33.921, -88.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Monroe

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 33.892, -88.480 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Itawamba

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Itawamba forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.280, -88.361 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Pontotoc

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Pontotoc forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.225, -89.037 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Lee

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 34.290, -88.680 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in excess of 110 degrees.

Heat, Alcorn

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Alcorn forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.881, -88.580 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Tishomingo

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Tishomingo forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.740, -88.239 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Prentiss

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Prentiss forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.618, -88.520 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Union

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.491, -89.004 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Marshall

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.762, -89.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Benton

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Benton forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.817, -89.188 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

Heat, Tippah

When: August 16, 10:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Tippah forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 34.768, -88.909 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat indices in between 105 and 109 degrees.

What these are

Excessive Heat: Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.
Heat: Heat below excessive heat criteria that still caused deaths, injuries or significant impacts.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Mississippi in 2024 Every state in 2024 This day in weather history Warnings in Mississippi, August 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1212429, 1212430, 1212431, 1212432, 1212433, 1212434, 1212435, 1212436, 1212437, 1212438, 1212439, 1212440, 1212441, 1212442, 1212443, 1212444, 1212445, 1212446, 1212447, 1212448, 1212449, 1212450, 1212596, 1212597, 1212598, 1212599, 1212600, 1212601, 1212602, 1212603, 1212604, 1212605, 1212606, 1212607, 1212608, 1212609, 1212611, 1212612, 1212613, 1212614, and more.