Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, May 2, 2025

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, May 2, 2025
Start: 2025-05-02T10:23
End: 2025-05-02T19:17
Location: Mississippi

May 2, 2025 · NWS MEG · 17 events in 6 counties and zones

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: $38,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 17

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.

A mesoscale convective vortex moved across the Lower Mississippi Valley during the early morning hours. A second area of convection developed over Central Arkansas and approached the Mid-South during the late morning to early afternoon. Surface-based instability flourished across the region along with supportive shear and steep lapse rates, resulting in damaging winds and large hail across north Mississippi.

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 2, 9:55 AM CST, 28 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Updated at 1018 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025
Severe thunderstorms will be possible over the Midsouth today. During the early morning, large hail will be the primary severe threat, mainly west of the Mississippi River. After midmorning, damaging winds will become the primary severe weather threat.
Scattered showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms will continue late tonight through Sunday afternoon, mainly to the north and east of Memphis.
Cool temperatures will prevail Saturday through early Monday. Most of the Midsouth will see highs in the 60s Sunday, and lows in the upper 40s Sunday night.

Area forecast discussion, May 2, 9:55 AM CST, 28 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1055 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025

...New MESOSCALE UPDATE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1018 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025

- Severe thunderstorms will be possible over the Midsouth today.
  During the early morning, large hail will be the primary severe
  threat, mainly west of the Mississippi River. After midmorning,
  damaging winds will become the primary severe weather threat.

- Scattered showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms will continue
  late tonight through Sunday afternoon, mainly to the north and
  east of Memphis.

- Cool temperatures will prevail Saturday through early Monday.
  Most of the Midsouth will see highs in the 60s Sunday, and lows
  in the upper 40s Sunday night.

&&

.MESOSCALE UPDATE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS... Issued at 1054 AM
CDT Fri May 2 2025

GOES Satellite trends show an MCV moving across the Lower
Mississippi Valley late this morning. Regional WSR-88D radar
trends indicate the first cluster of showers and thunderstorms
beginning to approach the Tennessee River. A second area of
convection is over central Arkansas and beginning to approach
areas west of the Mississippi River.

Latest mesoanalysis indicates surface-based CAPE values at or
above 2000 J/kg near the Tennessee River, and across much of
north Mississippi and east Arkansas south of I-40. This
instability combined with 0-6 km Bulk Shear values around 40 kts,
and moderately steep to steep mid-level lapse rates will support
the potential for severe thunderstorms into this afternoon.
Damaging winds and large hail are the main threats for any
thunderstorms that become severe. Probabilities for tornadoes
remain very low given less than ideal hodographs. Severe
thunderstorm potential across portions of extreme northeast
Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel is somewhat lower given less
than ideal instability.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(Today through Thursday)
Issued at 415 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025

The primary forecast concern remains thunderstorm coverage and
timing through this evening.

An east/west band of storms had formed along an elevated warm
front over central AR early this morning. These storms were semi-
discrete, presenting a marginal hail threat as they lifted northeast.

06Z HRRR depicted ample mixed layer CAPE, in excess of 2500 J/kg
over much of the Midsouth by late morning. A belt of 50+kt 700mb
winds are depicted along and north of the I-40 corridor by midday,
coinciding with 0-6 km bulk shear of 45+ knots. However the 06Z
HRRR missed the aforementioned early morning storms over AR,
limiting confidence in short term convective evolution. Where the
airmass isn't modified, midlevel lapse rates around 7.5 C/km will
support large hail where storms remain discrete.

The steep lapse rates will weaken through the morning, and expect
the primary threat to shift to damaging winds as the stronger
kinematics arrive. The wind threat will push to the TN River by
mid-afternoon. With the continuation of upstream height falls,
the severe weather threat will shift south of I-40 this evening,
focused near an advancing surface cold front. Severe threat should
end over northeast MS mid/late evening, as the low level warm
sector moves into AL.

The Midsouth will remain under an upper level cut-off low through
the weekend. This low will be centered over the mid-Mississippi
and lower Ohio River Valley, and will constitute the eastern leg
of an Omega blocking pattern. Diurnally-enhanced showers will be
possible under this low, especially to the north and east of
Memphis through Sunday. Cloud cover and cold air aloft will
result in surface temperatures around 10 degrees below normal.

The Omega blocking pattern will shift slightly east early next
week, placing the Midsouth under brief ridging aloft on Tuesday.
Tuesday's highs should average near normal.

Medium range guidance is consistent in depicting an ejecting
shortwave from Texas into the lower MS River Valley Tuesday
night. With PWATs around 1.8 inches and diffluent flow aloft,
thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall will be possible,
especially south of I-40.

Unsettled weather will likely continue late next week, as the
western U.S. upper low moves into the Great Plains and the
Midsouth remains under the subtropical branch of the upper jet.

PWB

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 643 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025

An upper low pressure system will bring several distinct rounds of
SHRA/TSRA over the next 18 hours or so. The first wave of ongoing
thunderstorms is associated with an elevated warm front. This will
be closely followed by the main event, a large bowing thunderstorm
segment along the cold front that will push through early
afternoon. After the main line of thunderstorms has exited the
region, a broad area of showers will rotate about the upper low as
it tracks directly over the airspace. These three distinct
features are the reason the precip groups in the TAFs at all sites
are quite messy.

With respect to ceilings, confidence in post-frontal IFR
increases the farther east you go. Have not included anything
lower than MVFR at MEM for now but there may be a brief 2-3 hour
window after 00Z tonight where CIGs drop below 1 kft. Overall, the
general trend of ceilings is VFR through midday and a gradual
decline to MVFR/IFR as the upper low approaches this evening.
Winds generally remain southwesterly 5-10 kts through tomorrow
morning. Behind the front, a gradual shift around to the northwest
will take place after sunrise Saturday as all sites return to
VFR.

CAD

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...None.
MO...None.
MS...None.
TN...None.
&&

MESOSCALE UPDATE...CJC
PUBLIC FORECAST...PWB
AVIATION...CAD

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 2, 9:47 AM CST, 36 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1047 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025

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

1041 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 W Paris               36.30N 88.33W
05/02/2025                   Henry              TN   Emergency Mngr

            Tree down on vehicle on W Blythe St and
            utility pole down on W Wood St.

&&

MJ

Local storm report, May 2, 9:49 AM CST, 34 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1049 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025

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

1040 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 W Paris               36.30N 88.38W
05/02/2025                   Henry              TN   Emergency Mngr

            Multiple trees down on Highway 54 at Gate 3
            Rd.

&&

MJ

Local storm report, May 2, 10:05 AM CST, 18 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1105 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025

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

1046 AM     Hail             Jacks Creek             35.47N 88.53W
05/02/2025  M1.25 Inch       Chester            TN   Public

&&

MJ

Local storm report, May 2, 10:17 AM CST, 6 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1117 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025

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

1112 AM     Hail             Lexington               35.65N 88.39W
05/02/2025  E0.88 Inch       Henderson          TN   Public

            Pea to nickel-sized hail.

&&

MJ

Local storm report, May 2, 10:21 AM CST, 2 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1121 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025

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

1050 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 W Puryear             36.44N 88.40W
05/02/2025                   Henry              TN   Emergency Mngr

            Trees down at Mill Creek Rd and Highway 140.

&&

MJ

Local storm report, May 2, 10:23 AM CST, 0 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1123 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025

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

1048 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 SE Puryear            36.39N 88.26W
05/02/2025                   Henry              TN   911 Call Center

            Several trees down along Shady Grove Rd.

&&

MJ

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:22 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 thunderstorm wind, 7 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Itawamba

When: May 2, 10:23 AM CST to 10:28 AM CST
Where: Itawamba County, 0.69 mi S of Fairview
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.360, -88.320

Hail, Marshall

When: May 2, 11:02 AM CST to 11:07 AM CST
Where: Marshall County, 1.49 mi NNE of Watson
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.800, -89.690

Hail, Lee

When: May 2, 11:37 AM CST to 11:42 AM CST
Where: Lee County, 2.37 mi SSW of Tupelo
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.240, -88.740

Hail, Lee

When: May 2, 11:41 AM CST to 11:46 AM CST
Where: Lee County, 0.9 mi SW of Tupelo
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.260, -88.730

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: May 2, 12:10 PM CST to 12:15 PM CST
Where: Lee County, Baldwyn
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.500, -88.630

Tree down on Jumper Macon Street in Baldwyn.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coahoma

When: May 2, 12:20 PM CST to 12:25 PM CST
Where: Coahoma County, 1.79 mi NE of Clarksdale Fltchr Ar
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.320, -90.500

Semi truck overturned on Hwy 61, north of Clarksdale.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: May 2, 12:39 PM CST to 12:44 PM CST
Where: Lee County, 2.94 mi WSW of Shannon
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 34.110, -88.770

Trees down along CR 506.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: May 2, 12:45 PM CST to 12:50 PM CST
Where: Lee County, 1.34 mi WSW of Verona
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 34.190, -88.720

A tree fell on an occupied vehicle. No injuries.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: May 2, 12:52 PM CST to 12:57 PM CST
Where: Lee County, 0.57 mi E of Nettleton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.100, -88.620

Tree down along Rhudy Drive.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: May 2, 1:00 PM CST to 1:05 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, 4.14 mi SSW of Smithville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.020, -88.440

Trees down along Elliot Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: May 2, 1:05 PM CST to 1:10 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, 2.07 mi N of Bigbee
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.050, -88.520

Trees down along Guyton Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: May 2, 1:11 PM CST to 1:16 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, 3.25 mi NNW of Hatley
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.020, -88.400

Trees down along Appaloosa Dr.

Hail, Monroe

When: May 2, 1:15 PM CST to 1:20 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, 2.86 mi W of Hatley
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.980, -88.420

Hail, Monroe

When: May 2, 1:20 PM CST to 1:25 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, 3.18 mi ESE of Smithville
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.050, -88.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: May 2, 1:35 PM CST to 1:40 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, 1.38 mi S of Lackey
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 33.800, -88.470

Multiple trees down along Hwy 45, about 3 miles south of Aberdeen.

Hail, Calhoun

When: May 2, 2:25 PM CST to 2:30 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County, 0.69 mi N of Vardaman
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.880, -89.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Calhoun

When: May 2, 7:12 PM CST to 7:17 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County, 1.38 mi N of Bruce
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.000, -89.350

Trees down along Hwy 9W in Bruce blocking both lanes of traffic.

What these are

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

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Mississippi in 2025 Every state in 2025 This day in weather history Warnings in Mississippi, May 2025

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: 1259846, 1259847, 1259848, 1259849, 1259857, 1259858, 1259861, 1259863, 1259866, 1259868, 1259869, 1259870, 1259851, 1259850, 1259871, 1259852, 1259872.