Early in September, soil moisture was well below normal, and river flows were below typical values due to lack of beneficial rainfall. Severe (D2) Drought conditions expanded and worsened to Extreme (D3) Drought conditions for a brief period.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Early in September, soil moisture was well below normal, and river flows were below typical values due to lack of beneficial rainfall. Severe (D2) Drought conditions expanded and worsened to Extreme (D3) Drought conditions for a brief period. By late September, conditions improved somewhat in terms of soil moisture and crop indices, yet underlying water-resource concerns (streams/rivers) and elevated fire risk remained. Beneficial rainfall resulted in the improvement of drought conditions by the end of the month.
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 8, 9:46 PM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 1046 PM CDT Mon Sep 8 2025 ...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1043 PM CDT Mon Sep 8 2025 - Hot and dry conditions return this week with temperatures climbing back into the 90s. - Ongoing drought conditions will worsen by the end of the week. && .DISCUSSION... (Tonight through next Monday) Issued at 1043 PM CDT Mon Sep 8 2025 Summertime temperatures return to the Mid-South today as an Omega Block pushes into central CONUS. Southerly surface winds will advect much warmer air into the region today with highs reaching the upper 80s and lower 90s. Unfortunately, temperatures will continue to warm through the end of the week as the aforementioned Omega Block dominates the synoptic pattern. By Thursday, afternoon highs will be in the mid to upper 90s. The good news in relation to this forecast: dewpoints will remain in the lower 60s. As such, heat indices will remain well below heat headline threshold. Precipitation chances are few and far between for the next week or so as surface high pressure prevails. Given prolonged dry conditions, areas of the Mid-South will likely see an upgrade to D2 severe drought conditions by the end of the week. ANS && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1043 PM CDT Mon Sep 8 2025 VFR conditions continue across the area. Light winds overnight will veer to the SE during the daytime, generally around 5 kts. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1043 PM CDT Mon Sep 8 2025 Elevated fire danger will exist this week as MinRH values remain in the 30 percent range. This, combined with dry fuels, will produce conditions conducive for easy fire development. The good news: 20ft winds will remain 5-10 mph, so any fire that does ignite should not spread quickly. && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. && PUBLIC FORECAST...ANS AVIATION...CMA
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe (D2) Drought conditions were present at the beginning of September before worsening to Extreme (D3) conditions for a brief period mid-month. Slight improvement occurred by the end of the month as D3 conditions ended, but D2 conditions prevailed and continued into early October.
Severe (D2) Drought conditions were present at the beginning of September before worsening to Extreme (D3) conditions for a brief period mid-month. Slight improvement occurred by the end of the month as D3 conditions ended, but D2 conditions prevailed and continued into early October.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, 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: 1293056, 1293057.