The Mid-South was pinched in the warm sector of two frontal boundaries in the early afternoon hours allowing a few strong to severe thunderstorms across Tennessee. A strong cold front aimed to cross the Mid-South later that evening with a primed environment that featured steep lapse rates, plentiful instability, curved hodographs, and plenty of effective shear.
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.
The Mid-South was pinched in the warm sector of two frontal boundaries in the early afternoon hours allowing a few strong to severe thunderstorms across Tennessee. A strong cold front aimed to cross the Mid-South later that evening with a primed environment that featured steep lapse rates, plentiful instability, curved hodographs, and plenty of effective shear. Strong upper level divergence and an intensifying low level jet combined with the environment to produce damaging winds and large hail. Convection continued until shortly after midnight.
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 8, 1:47 PM CST, 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 247 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 ...New SYNOPSIS, DISCUSSION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 247 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 Showers and thunderstorms will increase and intensify tonight under a Moderate Risk for severe weather. Destructive winds, very large hail, tornadoes, and heavy rainfall are all possible. The main line window of severe weather is from 7 PM tonight to 6 AM tomorrow morning. After the line exits the region, most of the region will see dry conditions. North Mississippi may see a shower or thunderstorm tomorrow afternoon associated with a upper level disturbance, but a beautiful and dry weekend is in store. Our next chance of widespread showers and thunderstorms will come early next week. && .DISCUSSION... (This evening through next Tuesday) Issued at 247 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 Convection has started to fire up across West Tennessee as of 2 PM. Pinched in the warm sector of two boundaries is the Mid-South which has allowed convection to initiate. Showers and thunderstorms will become more widespread and increase in intensity this evening ahead of a strong cold front. Strong upper level divergence with a primed environment will allow convection to intensify later tonight. Mesoanalysis from the RAP shows plentiful CAPE values 3000-4000 J/kg, lapse rates around 7 C/km that will continue to steepen, 40-50 kts of effective shear, and curvature to hodographs. The threats for tonight's severe weather threat include destructive winds of 80+mph, quick spin up tornadoes that could be strong, and significant hail of 2" or greater. Most likely timing for the main line arrival is as early as 6 PM in northeast Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel, and northwest Tennessee. The main severe weather window for the entire Mid-South is 7 PM to 6 AM Thursday. Once the sun sets, the LLJ will begin to intensify and quickly push the line on a south/southeast track across northwest Alabama and northern Mississippi. A Flood Watch is in effect for the northeast corner of our CWA in West Tennessee (Benton, Carroll, Weakley, and Henry counties) as this area has higher probabilities (40-50%) of receiving 2 or more inches of rain tonight. Elsewhere, generally 1.5-2" is forecast through tomorrow morning. Locally higher amounts are possible in any intense updrafts. As storms have begun to fire up as mentioned above, be sure to secure loose outdoor items, prepare for power outages, and have your safe place ready to shelter in when a warning is issued. It is not safe to be in a manufactured home this evening. Please reach out to friends, family, neighbors, or local city/county officials to locate your nearest storm shelter or stay with a friend for a safe space. The line of storms should clear the area by 7 AM at the latest Thursday morning. Another upper level disturbance from the Gulf Region may bring some showers and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening, mainly along and south of Interstate 40. Some thunderstorms may be strong to severe. On the brighter side, the weekend looks beautiful with dry and seasonable temperatures in the 70s. Temperatures and dewpoints will be on a slow rise as return flow settles in ahead of our next system. Widespread showers and thunderstorms will return Monday afternoon into Tuesday. Currently, no severe weather is anticipated with this system. DNM && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 121 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 Ceilings are hovering right around 3 kft AGL this afternoon and will likely stay that way through the overnight period. TEMPOs were added at all sites for brief strong TSRA with the potential for very strong gusty winds and reduced visibilities given the linear storm mode. 40+ KT gusts are possible starting around midnight, which may warrant an AWW at MEM. After the storms move through by sunrise, a brief post frontal stratus deck may linger for a few hours through mid morning, creating intermittent MVFR ceilings. Most areas should be back to VFR by 15Z at the latest. Expect elevated southwest winds in the 10-15 kt range (gusting to 20-25 kt) today, shifting more to the west after sunrise tomorrow. CAD && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...Flood Watch through Thursday morning for TNZ003-004-021-022. && PUBLIC FORECAST...DNM AVIATION...CAD
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1009 AM CDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0552 AM Hail 5 ENE Moro 34.83N 90.91W
05/08/2024 M1.00 Inch Lee AR Public
Quarter-sized hail observed in the Holub
Crossing area.
&&
MJSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
146 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
TNZ001-002-081930-
Lake TN-Obion TN-
146 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN OBION AND LAKE
COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM CDT...
At 146 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Ridgely, or near Reelfoot Lake State Park, moving northeast at 40
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Union City, Reelfoot Lake State Park, Tiptonville, Ridgely, Clayton,
Hornbeak, Woodland Mills, Samburg, Wynnburg, Wright, Cronanville,
Roneys Store, Sunkist Beach, Blue Bank, Proctor City, Fremont, Madie,
Spout Springs, Mooring, and Walnut Log.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3650 8901 3622 8946 3625 8954 3627 8954
3630 8960 3634 8958 3634 8954 3636 8951
3638 8951 3643 8955 3646 8952 3650 8952
3650 8949 3647 8949 3646 8947 3650 8942
3651 8930
TIME...MOT...LOC 1846Z 235DEG 36KT 3630 8948
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
218 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
TNZ004-081945-
Henry TN-
218 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN HENRY COUNTY
THROUGH 245 PM CDT...
At 217 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles south of Murray, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Puryear, Foundry Hill, Mill Creek, Conyersville, and Crossland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3637 8834 3648 8849 3650 8847 3650 8811
TIME...MOT...LOC 1917Z 225DEG 30KT 3648 8835
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
225 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
TNZ002-082000-
Obion TN-
225 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL OBION COUNTY
THROUGH 300 PM CDT...
At 225 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Clayton, or 7 miles south of Hickman, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Union City, Fulton, Clayton, Woodland Mills, Walnut Log, Old Fremont,
Fremont, and Crystal.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3650 8887 3636 8921 3648 8932 3651 8928
TIME...MOT...LOC 1925Z 240DEG 26KT 3646 8917
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
259 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
TNZ053>055-082045-
Henderson TN-Chester TN-Decatur TN-
259 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN HENDERSON...
NORTHEASTERN CHESTER AND DECATUR COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM CDT...
At 259 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Jacks Creek, or 11 miles east of Henderson, moving northeast at 35
mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Lexington, Parsons, Decaturville, Sardis, Reagan, Jacks Creek,
Darden, Scotts Hill, Enville, Busseltown, Haney, Rock Hill, Roby,
Mount Tabor, Cabo, Middle Fork, Cozette, Lick Skillet, Perryville,
and Gumdale.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for west
Tennessee.
&&
LAT...LON 3538 8849 3555 8858 3580 8802 3576 8800
3572 8803 3570 8803 3568 8802 3566 8802
3562 8804 3552 8798
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 245DEG 41KT 3549 8845
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
CADThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 148 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:17 UTC.
10 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail fell south of Chesterfield, TN along Highway 114 approximately two miles south of Highway 412.
Media reports 2.00 inch hail.
Spotter reports 1.00 inch hail.
Public reports 1.75 inch hail.
Public reports 1.00 inch hail.
Public reports 1.75 inch hail.
Several manufactured homes were damaged along with downed trees between Hornbeak and Obion.
Five utility poles were broken just north of Obion.
Trees reported down in Sharon.
A large tree and powerlines down on Fonville Street. Another tree blocked Jackson Street.
A tree was knocked down on to Highway 431.
Tree fell on a home in Halls.
AWOS at the radar site in Millington reported at 59 MPH wind gust.
Trees and powerlines down on Mudville Rd (north of Millington).
Several trees downed along Wilkinsville Road.
Two large trees downed on Pleasant Hill Road. A fallen tree also caused a power pole to come down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, May 2024
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: 1180659, 1180661, 1180662, 1180666, 1180663, 1180665, 1180677, 1180683, 1180667, 1180672, 1180670, 1180675, 1180668, 1180680, 1180674, 1180681.