Tennessee, 2025

Hail and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025 · NWS MEG · 12 events in 4 counties and zones

A mid-level jet moved across the region during the overnight hours, enhancing lift and weakening the capping inversion. Robust development occurred overnight in a very unstable airmass with plentiful shear.

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
$27,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
12

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 mid-level jet moved across the region during the overnight hours, enhancing lift and weakening the capping inversion. Robust development occurred overnight in a very unstable airmass with plentiful shear. These storms moved east of the region by mid-morning.

The airmass was able to quickly recover as warm, moist air, quickly advected into the region. A cold front moved into the region, triggering storms ahead of the front during the late afternoon. Plentiful shear, helicity, and steep lapse rates supported severe storms that produced all hazards.

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 16, 5:35 AM CST, 1 hour earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 629 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025
  • A regional outbreak of severe thunderstorms is likely this afternoon into tonight with strong tornadoes, perhaps long tracked, damaging winds and very large hail.
  • An Enhanced (3 out of 5) to Moderate (4 out of 5) Risk for severe weather is in effect across the northern half of the Mid- South this afternoon into tonight.
  • Saturday will be mostly dry and warm.
  • Scattered showers and thunderstorms will persist from Saturday night through the middle of next week with chances for severe storms each day, especially Tuesday.
Area forecast discussion, May 16, 5:35 AM CST, 1 hour before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
635 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 629 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

- A regional outbreak of severe thunderstorms is likely this
  afternoon into tonight with strong tornadoes, perhaps long
  tracked, damaging winds and very large hail.

- An Enhanced (3 out of 5) to Moderate (4 out of 5) Risk for
  severe weather is in effect across the northern half of the Mid-
  South this afternoon into tonight.

- Saturday will be mostly dry and warm.

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms will persist from Saturday
  night through the middle of next week with chances for severe
  storms each day, especially Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(Today through Thursday)
Issued at 310 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

The active spring continues across the Mid-South. Currently we are
monitoring a mid level jet moving across the region this morning
which will serve to enhance lift and weaken the cap in place
across the region. Convection has been struggling so far but the
latest CAMs indicate robust development over the next few hours.
The airmass is very unstable with MLCAPES of 2500-3500 J/kg. Shear
is plenty sufficient for organized storms with 0-6km bulk shear
values of 60-70 kts. The main threats will be large hail and
damaging winds but the low level thermodynamics could also support
a tornado. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 9 am
roughly north of I-40. This activity will push east in Middle TN
by mid morning as the upper support lifts out.

The airmass almost immediately recovers as gusty SSW winds
continue to advect warm, moist air into the Mid-South. The
airmass becomes very unstable by the afternoon with dewpoints in
the lower 70s and enormous MLCAPEs in excess of 3500 J/kg. A cold
front approaches the region this afternoon as a mid level jet
moves into the Mid-MS Valley. This feature will provide the lift
to trigger storms along and just ahead of the front late this
afternoon. 0-6km bulk shear values of 50-60 kts this afternoon
and evening with 0-1km helicity values increasing to well over 200
m2/s2 will support organized storms. These storms will likely be
discrete with all hazards expected including strong tornadoes,
perhaps long tracked, very large hail and damaging winds. The lift
across the Mid-South is not overwhelming strong which will serve
to keep the storms at least semi-discrete as they gradually form
into a line during the evening. This will keep the strong tornado
threat going well into the evening hours especially along and
north of the TN/MS border. The higher end severe threat will end
by about midnight as storms move into Middle TN. A lower end
severe threat will continue across north MS as convection lingers
there until about 4 am.

The front/boundary along with associated convection will push
well south of the region by Saturday. The Mid-South will be in
between systems and should squeak out a pretty nice, warm day with
highs in the mid to upper 80s Saturday afternoon.

The front/boundary will lift back north into the area starting
Saturday night and remain over the region into early next week.
This will result in unsettled weather and chances for showers and
thunderstorms each day with a low end severe threat. Expect a more
organized severe risk by Tuesday as a potent mid level trough
pushes across the region along with its associated cold front.

Dry and cool weather is expected in the wake of Tuesday's system
as a deep upper trough is carved out across the eastern US with NW
flow developing across the Mid-South.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 629 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

The main concern this TAF period is thunderstorm development
through tonight. Kept PROB30 groups in TAFs for now as confidence
for VC mention remains too low, depending on where storms fire
this evening. CIGs will bounce between VFR and MVFR as storms move
through the area. Otherwise, expect elevated winds today: gusting
to 30kts.

ANS

&&

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

PUBLIC FORECAST...SJM
AVIATION...ANS

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 16, 4:32 AM CST, 2 hours 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
532 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

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

0433 AM     Hail             Mcdougal                36.44N 90.39W
05/16/2025  E1.75 Inch       Clay               AR   Public

            Time is radar estimated.

&&
Local storm report, May 16, 4:43 AM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
543 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

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

0532 AM     Hail             3 SW Walcott            36.01N 90.70W
05/16/2025  M1.00 Inch       Greene             AR   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

&&
Local storm report, May 16, 4:47 AM CST, 1 hour 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
547 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

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

0543 AM     Hail             2 W Paragould           36.06N 90.55W
05/16/2025  M1.00 Inch       Greene             AR   Public

&&
Local storm report, May 16, 4:54 AM CST, 1 hour 41 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
554 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

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

0545 AM     Hail             2 NNE Paragould         36.08N 90.50W
05/16/2025  M2.00 Inch       Greene             AR   Public

            Time is radar estimated.

&&
Local storm report, May 16, 5:02 AM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
602 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

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

0507 AM     Hail             2 SE Malden             36.55N 89.96W
05/16/2025  M1.75 Inch       Dunklin            MO   Public

            Corrects previous hail report from 2 SE
            Malden. Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75
            in.).

&&
Local storm report, May 16, 6:09 AM CST, 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
709 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

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

0625 AM     Hail             5 E Glennonville        36.57N 90.07W
05/16/2025  M1.00 Inch       Dunklin            MO   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

&&

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:34 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lake

When
May 16, 6:35 AM CST to 6:40 AM CST
Where
Lake County, 0.69 mi S of Tiptonville
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.370, -89.480

Hail, Lake

When
May 16, 7:40 AM CST to 7:45 AM CST
Where
Lake County, 0.69 mi S of Ridgely
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
36.260, -89.480

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When
May 16, 8:23 AM CST to 8:28 AM CST
Where
Henry County, 2.62 mi WNW of Routon
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
36.250, -88.420

Trees down at Palestine Rd and Herrondale East Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When
May 16, 8:26 AM CST to 8:31 AM CST
Where
Henry County, 0.56 mi E of Routon
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
36.230, -88.370

A tree is down across Van Dyke Rd at Routon Lane.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When
May 16, 8:40 PM CST to 8:44 PM CST
Where
Henry County, 3.04 mi NW of Nobles
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.400, -88.270

A tree is down on Shady Grove Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When
May 16, 8:45 PM CST to 8:50 PM CST
Where
Henry County, 2.23 mi E of Whitlock
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.370, -88.310

A tree is down near Old Paris Murray Rd and Chapel Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When
May 16, 8:48 PM CST to 8:53 PM CST
Where
Henry County, 0.89 mi SW of Paris
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
36.290, -88.330

A tree was downed onto powerlines on Brown Street in Paris.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When
May 16, 8:50 PM CST to 8:55 PM CST
Where
Henry County, 0.56 mi W of Oak Hill
Measured
58 kt (67 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
36.430, -88.110

Trees downed on both sides of Eagle Nest Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When
May 16, 8:52 PM CST to 8:57 PM CST
Where
Henry County, 1.38 mi S of India
Measured
58 kt (67 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$4,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
36.310, -88.270

Trees down near Fairgrounds Rd and Hummingbird Lane in Paris.

Thunderstorm Wind, Weakley

When
May 16, 9:51 PM CST to 9:56 PM CST
Where
Weakley County, 2.34 mi WNW of Staffords Store
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.110, -88.740

Trees down along Shades Bridge Road.

Hail, Carroll

When
May 16, 10:03 PM CST to 10:08 PM CST
Where
Carroll County, 0.89 mi NE of Mc Kenzie
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.140, -88.510

Hail, Carroll

When
May 16, 10:12 PM CST to 10:17 PM CST
Where
Carroll County, 0.89 mi NE of Mc Kenzie
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.140, -88.510

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

More

Every storm in Tennessee in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, 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: 1260280, 1260281, 1260284, 1260285, 1260286, 1260287, 1260288, 1260290, 1260289, 1260291, 1260282, 1260283.