Afternoon heating combined with modest instability resulted in isolated to scattered thunderstorms across north Mississippi by late afternoon on September 21, 2025. Weak shear resulted in pulse-type storms, a few of which were strong with gusty winds.
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.
Afternoon heating combined with modest instability resulted in isolated to scattered thunderstorms across north Mississippi by late afternoon on September 21, 2025. Weak shear resulted in pulse-type storms, a few of which were strong with gusty winds. One such storm damaged the roof of a gymnasium in Walls, MS.
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 Sep 21, 11:23 AM CST, 5 hours 7 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 1223 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025 ...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1220 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025 -Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon, with an unsettled pattern bringing daily rain chances through the week. -An increasing potential for strong to severe thunderstorms and heavy rain exists for Wednesday and Thursday, especially for areas along and west of the Mississippi River. -A significant pattern change late next week will bring much cooler, fall-like temperatures to the Mid-South. && .DISCUSSION... (This afternoon through next Saturday) Issued at 1220 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025 The latest radar scan shows mostly clear returns across the region. The exception is a few trailing showers near the TN River. The latest GOES visible satellite shows a weak MCV over southeast Missouri moving east with some trailing mid level stratus over northern portions of the Mid-South. Hi-res guidance is consistent with another round of diurnally- driven scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, mainly along and north of the I-40 corridor. With weak shear in place and only pockets of up to 1000 J/kg of MLCAPE, only short-lived convection is expected. The large majority of convection will taper off around sundown with a few isolated percolating storms continuing through about midnight. Unsettled weather will begin early Monday and persist through late week across the Mid-South as a few shortwaves pivot through the region. The first wave will be weak and slow to move through on Monday into Tuesday. Largely scattered and disorganized showers and thunderstorms are expected in the morning and afternoon hours. A Marginal Risk (1/5) for severe thunderstorms is in effect for Tuesday, but overall parameters remain on the lower end at best. Up to 1000 J/kg of MLCAPE will be available in the afternoon with only 15 to 20 knots of shear. Better shear will arrive after sundown, but instability will be waning. Despite the low-end shear, a few strong thunderstorms may develop in the afternoon. The weather pattern for Wednesday and Thursday presents an increasingly complex scenario with respect to strong to severe thunderstorms and rainfall totals. The upper level pattern remains quite complicated and while uncertainty remains in the details, model consensus is growing. An upper level low will roll down the front side of the Rockies and eject into the Southern Plains on Wednesday morning. LREF guidance supports a surface low developing to our west and advecting a pocket of higher 70F+ dewpoints poleward along the Mississippi River. The potential for severe weather is increasing for Wednesday with joint probabilities of SBCAPE >500 J/kg, CIN <-25 J/kg, and >25 knots of bulk shear in the 30-40% range for areas along and west of the Mississippi River. Storm mode is hard to predict at this range, but damaging winds, large hail, and a low tornado risk look to be in play if all the parameters continue the current trend. Early rainfall totals are in the 1 to 3 inch range Tuesday night through Thursday morning with LREF probabilities for 2 inches or more between 40 and 70% along and north of I-40. This would be very beneficial rain for areas in the worst drought conditions in the Mid-South. The long range forecast will be dominated by an expanding upper level low over the Lower Mississippi Valley. Several lobes of energy will rotate around the upper low keeping rain chances elevated and temperatures cool. This pattern will bring a definitive shift to cooler, fall-like conditions late next week. AC3 && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1220 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025 VFR conditions will prevail across the airspace. Isolated thunderstorms will move over the Mid-South this afternoon through early evening. Confidence was only high enough to brush PROB30s across all TAF sites. Another round of isolated showers and thunderstorms will impact terminals beginning tomorrow morning. South/southwest winds sub 10 kts will continue over the next 30 hours or so. AEH && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1220 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025 Wetting rain chances will tick upwards early next week with widespread rainfall returning by the middle of next week with a cold front. Drought improving rainfall will occur for areas along and north of the I-40 corridor. Conditions will trend cooler behind the front late next week. && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. && PUBLIC FORECAST...AC3 AVIATION...AEH
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
200 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025
TNZ020-021-052-054-211930-
Carroll TN-Henderson TN-Madison TN-Gibson TN-
200 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN HENDERSON...
SOUTHEASTERN GIBSON...CARROLL AND NORTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTIES
THROUGH 230 PM CDT...
At 200 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Milan, moving northeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea 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...
Milan, McKenzie, Huntingdon, Atwood, Trezevant, Clarksburg,
McLemoresville, Howley, Hickory Flat, Hillard, Ledbetter, Leach,
Sitka, Tate, Palmer Shelter, Wingo, Westport, Jarrell, New Zion, and
West.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3573 8869 3590 8881 3612 8854 3612 8853
3615 8850 3586 8827
TIME...MOT...LOC 1900Z 243DEG 11KT 3585 8866
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AEHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
245 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025
MSZ013>015-212015-
Lafayette MS-Pontotoc MS-Union MS-
245 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL LAFAYETTE...
SOUTHWESTERN UNION AND NORTHWESTERN PONTOTOC COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM
CDT...
At 245 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Pinedale, or 12 miles west of New Albany. This thunderstorm was
nearly stationary.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea 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...
New Albany, Pinedale, Cambridge, Etta, Keel, Poolville, Martintown,
and Old Myrtle.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3442 8941 3451 8928 3450 8926 3450 8925
3453 8924 3457 8919 3447 8904 3430 8922
TIME...MOT...LOC 1945Z 042DEG 1KT 3442 8923
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CJCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
424 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025
TNZ053-091-212200-
Chester TN-McNairy TN-
424 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN MCNAIRY AND CHESTER
COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM CDT...
At 424 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Henderson, moving northeast at 5 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Henderson, Chickasaw State Forest, Chickasaw State Park, Silerton,
Jacks Creek, Masseyville, Mifflin, Robertson, McNairy, Finger,
Woodville, Hickory Corners, Deanburg, and Montezuma.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3533 8844 3525 8877 3528 8879 3533 8879
3538 8884 3540 8884 3545 8878 3549 8868
3554 8863 3557 8859
TIME...MOT...LOC 2124Z 242DEG 5KT 3539 8870
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CJCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
526 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025
MSZ001-TNZ088-212300-
DeSoto MS-Shelby TN-
526 PM CDT Sun Sep 21 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN DESOTO AND
SOUTHWESTERN SHELBY COUNTIES THROUGH 600 PM CDT...
At 525 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Walls, or near Horn Lake, moving north at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea 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...
Southaven, Horn Lake, T O Fuller State Park, Memphis, Walls, Lake
Cormorant, Southwest Memphis, Lynchburg, Whitehaven, Eudora, Newport,
Alden, Twin Lakes, Frees Corners, West Days, Presidents Island, Lake
View, Glover, Plum Point, and Norfolk.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 240 between mile markers 24 and 26.
Interstate 55 in Tennessee between mile markers 1 and 10.
Interstate 55 in Mississippi between mile markers 287 and 292.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3490 9026 3491 9025 3495 9025 3503 9023
3502 9021 3504 9019 3506 9020 3511 9018
3513 9016 3505 8990 3478 9008 3482 9020
3486 9020 3486 9027
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 199DEG 16KT 3496 9013
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JABThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 51 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:31 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A microburst removed the roof membrane from the gymnasium at Walls Elementary School.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, September 2025
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: 1294405.