A tornado warning for parts of eastern Arkansas has expired, but the First Alert Weather team is still tracking the storm as it moves into Shelby County.
A congregation of more than 100 people in Lake City, Arkansas, is devastated after their church was destroyed by a tornado, part of the remnants of Hurricane Laura.
Though weakened from the Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in Cameron, Louisiana Wednesday night, Laura still poses a small tornado threat for the Mid-South.
A broadcast tower over 300 feet tall was toppled by the winds from Hurricane Laura as the Category 4 storm made landfall in southwest Louisiana during the early morning hours of Thursday, Aug. 26.
As Laura moves inland, it is rapidly weakening thanks to the impact land is having on the storm itself. Even with the weaning of Laura as it approaches the Mid-South, we will see have to watch out for several impacts.
All eyes are on the tropics, as two tropical systems are churning in the Atlantic Hurricane Basin, both with forecasted paths pushing them into the Gulf of Mexico and eventually onshore along the Gulf Coast States.
Edouard became the earliest fifth named storm in the Atlantic. The previous record was held by Emily. Emily was formed July 12, 2005 and was a Category 5 hurricane.
The storm produced hail, strong winds, lightning and very heavy rain. As of about 5 p.m., MLGW was reporting nearly 10,000 customers without power across Shelby County. prompting Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for multiple counties.
With the center of what will become Tropical Depression Cristobal moving just west of the Mid-South, we are watching for potential impacts from this system on Monday and Tuesday.
The newest NHC path shows Cristobal weakening to a topical depression as it moves up the state of Louisiana and then into Arkansas. This track pushes it close enough to the Mid-South that we will could potentially have impacts from this system.
The First Alert Weather team is tracking a complex system of showers and storms north of the Mid-South that is expected to roll into the region this afternoon and evening and provide strong to severe storms across parts of the area.
Currently churning over the Yucatan Peninsula, Cristobal has been downgraded to a Tropical Depression due in part to the storm being impacted by the land.
NOAA explains that the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season, there is a 60% chance of an above-average season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of ra below-normal season. The next update to the predictions from NOAA will come in early August.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 10 p.m. for the northern half of the Mid-South, including the city of Memphis and Shelby County. It includes all of west Tennessee, far northeastern Arkansas and the far northern counties in Mississippi.
A cold front will bring the potential for a few strong to severe storms across parts of the Mid-South. With locations north of I-40 having the greatest risk to see any severe weather.
The active spring pattern looks to continue as we track our next storm system that will roll into the Mid-South late Friday into the morning hours on Saturday.
April is one of the busiest times for storms across the southeast and the First Alert Weather team is again tracking the potential for strong to severe storms this evening and overnight.
One of the violent EF-4 tornadoes that touched down in South Mississippi on Easter has been given an official width of at least 2 miles. That report is according to surveys conducted by the National Weather Service out of Jackson, Mississippi.
April is one of the busiest times for storms across the Southeast and meteorologist across the Deep South are preparing for more severe weather that will roll into the region this weekend.
The severe weather risk for the Mid-South continues to lower but we are not out of the woods just yet. A few strong thunderstorms are possible with gusty winds, hail and even a tornado cannot be ruled out.
It is a unique time across the county with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and now the potential for severe storms, many people are wondering how to safely seek shelter during these usual times.
