Many Mid-Southerns will remember July 2009 as the month that ended with tornados in the Wolfchase area of Cordova in Shelby County and Olive Branch in DeSoto County.  But others will remember it as being one of the coolest and wettest Julys in recent memory.  And, that it was.

July 2009 was not your typical summer month in the Mid-South.  There was more than twice the average amount of rainfall and overall temperatures were 5 degrees below average. 

We end the month with 8.46″ of rain from July 1 to 31.  That’s 4.35″ above average.  Eleven days of July 2009 had measurable rainfall.  Four days in July had rainfall totals above one inch.  Yesterday, July 3o,  a record daily maximum rainfall was set in Memphis with 2.02″, breaking the old record of 1.77″ set in 1925.  Those are some pretty impressive numbers, but it’s not tops.  The wettest July on record was July 1998 when 9.98″ of rain fell in Memphis.  The wettest month on record was also a summer month, June 1877 when 18.16″ of rain fell on Memphis. 

It wasn’t just wet this month, it was cool too.  The average overall temperature for the month was 78 degrees.  That’s 5 degrees cooler than the ten year average for the month and eleven degrees cooler than July last year.  There were only eleven days with high temperatures at or above 90 degrees.  The warmest temperature recorded for the month was 94 degrees on July 3 and 9.  By the way, the average daily high temperature for the month is 92 to 93 degrees.  Three days this month had high temperatures that only reached the upper seventies. 

This month will not not break any overall records for temperature or rainfall but it will long be remembered as not being a typical July in the Mid-South.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT…SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
239 AM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

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

0348 PM     TORNADO          5 SW HARRISBURG         35.51N 90.78W
07/30/2009                   POINSETT           AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            GRAIN BINDS DAMAGED. FARM HOUSE AND SHED ALSO DAMAGED.
            POSSIBLE TORNADO.

0352 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG WYNNE                   35.23N 90.79W
07/30/2009                   CROSS              AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            OFFICIAL REPORTS MINOR DAMAGE TO HOTEL…RESTAURANT AND
            STORES. ALSO WINDOWS BLOWN OUT.

0402 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SW DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS   35.09N 90.10W
07/30/2009                   SHELBY             TN   PUBLIC

            18 WHEELER TRAILER BLOWN OVER AT RIVERPORT ROAD AND PAUL
            LOWRY DR.

0414 PM     TSTM WND DMG     E HARRISBURG            35.56N 90.72W
07/30/2009                   POINSETT           AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            LIMBS DOWN NEAR BAY LANE.

0430 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 N HARRISBURG          35.59N 90.72W
07/30/2009                   POINSETT           AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WATER OVER ROADWAYS AND ROADS WERE CLOSED NORTH OF
            HARRISBURG ARKANSAS.

0432 PM     TORNADO          4 E DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS    35.13N 89.98W
07/30/2009                   SHELBY             TN   PUBLIC

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND NEAR I-240 AND SOUTH PARKWAY. ALSO
            LIMBS ON EXPRESSWAY.

0451 PM     TORNADO          5 SW LAKELAND           35.19N 89.79W
07/30/2009  F0               SHELBY             TN   NWS STORM SURVEY

            TORNADO CONFIRMED. PRELIMINARY PATH 250 YDS WIDE AND 5
            MILES LONG. ESTIMATED WINDS OF 80 TO 90 MPH. DAMAGE TO
            CAR DEALERSHIP AND RESTAURANT.

0500 PM     TORNADO          4 SE OLIVE BRANCH       34.91N 89.78W
07/30/2009                   DESOTO             MS   NWS EMPLOYEE

            BRIEF TOUCHDOWN 1 MILE SOUTH OF FAIRHAVEN MISSISSIPPI.
            ALSO POWER POLES DOWN.

0500 PM     TORNADO          4 SE OLIVE BRANCH       34.91N 89.78W
07/30/2009  F1               DESOTO             MS   NWS STORM SURVEY

            TORNADO DAMAGE NEAR BETHEL ROAD AND US 78. DAMAGE TO
            NUMEROUS HOMES. PRELIMINARY WIDTH 300 YARDS AND LENGTH 4
            MILES. PRELIMINARY RATING OF AN EF-1 WITH WINDS ESTIMATE
            AT 105 MPH.

0501 PM     TORNADO          2 SSE OLIVE BRANCH      34.93N 89.82W
07/30/2009                   DESOTO             MS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO SOUTH OF RTE 78 NEAR HIGHWAY 305. CARS
            OVERTURNED.

0502 PM     TORNADO          2 SE OLIVE BRANCH       34.93N 89.80W
07/30/2009                   DESOTO             MS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO ON GROUND NEAR HACKS CROSS ROAD AND RTE 78.

0507 PM     TORNADO          10 NW CLARKSDALE        34.30N 90.70W
07/30/2009                   COAHOMA            MS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN INSIDE MISSISSIPPI RIVER LEVEE WEST
            OF FARREL. HUNTING CABINS DAMAGED.

0507 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 S RIPLEY              35.64N 89.53W
07/30/2009  M86.00 MPH       LAUDERDALE         TN   MESONET

            86 MPH FROM MESONET OBSERVATION

0515 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 N HERNANDO            34.84N 89.99W
07/30/2009                   DESOTO             MS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FLOODING AT GOODMAN AND GREENBROOK ROAD.

0553 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 N COLLIERVILLE        35.08N 89.68W
07/30/2009                   SHELBY             TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            WATER ON COLLIERVILLE-ARLINGTON ROAD NEAR STEWART RD.
            WATER ABOUT 1 FOOT DEEP.

0553 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 N COLLIERVILLE        35.07N 89.68W
07/30/2009                   SHELBY             TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            WATER OVER CURB ABOUT ONE FOOT DEEP.

0600 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 N COLLIERVILLE        35.07N 89.68W
07/30/2009                   SHELBY             TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            CREEK OUT OF BANK NORTH OF SHELTON ROAD

0625 PM     FLASH FLOOD      COLLIERVILLE            35.06N 89.68W
07/30/2009                   SHELBY             TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WATER OVER ROAD AT ROWLETT AND CENTER ROADS. DEBRIS
            FLOATING IN STREET. FULL BLOCK IS IMPASSABLE.

0642 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BOLIVAR                 35.26N 89.00W
07/30/2009                   HARDEMAN           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POWER OUTAGES IN CITY. TREES DOWN IN CITY AND THROUGHOUT
            HARDEMAN COUNTY.

0642 PM     TSTM WND GST     BOLIVAR                 35.26N 89.00W
07/30/2009  E80.00 MPH       HARDEMAN           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WIND ESTIMATED AT 70 TO 80 MPH AS STORM MOVED THROUGH
            BOLIVAR.

0656 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SILERTON                35.35N 88.82W
07/30/2009                   HARDEMAN           TN   PUBLIC

            POWER LINES AND TREES DOWN.

0740 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SW LEXINGTON          35.60N 88.46W
07/30/2009                   HENDERSON          TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS.

0752 PM     TORNADO          LEXINGTON               35.65N 88.39W
07/30/2009                   HENDERSON          TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            PROBABLE TORNADO. NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN.
            TRACK FROM SOUTHWEST OF LEXINGTON THROUGH LEXINGTON THEN
            TO THE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE NATCHEZ TRACE. AREA HAD
            NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS.

0757 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     LEXINGTON               35.65N 88.39W
07/30/2009                   HENDERSON          TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FUNNEL CLOUD IN LEXINGTON NEAR HIGHWAY 114 AND STANFORD
            ROAD.

0845 PM     FLASH FLOOD      ARLINGTON               35.28N 89.66W
07/30/2009                   SHELBY             TN   NWS EMPLOYEE

            8 INCHES OF WATER COVERING HAYES ROAD IN ARLINGTON. ABOUT
            125 YARDS OF ROAD COVERED IN WATER.

As of this writing, round two scattered showers are in eastern Arkansas and are posed to push across the river.

Currently there’s very little in the way of lightning, but the Flash Flood Watch continues through tonight.  There could be pockets of heavy rainfall.

Click here for the latest traffic updates to assist with your afternoon commute.

A large portion of the Action News 5 coverage area was under a flash flood watch yesterday. Fortunately, it was cancelled before it expired and there were no flooding problems despite the day long rain.  You may have noticed that there have been several flash flood watches and warnings issued lately; not your typical July.  Did you know that flooding is among the most common and widespread of all natural hazards?  More importantly, flooding is the number one weather-related killer.  Floods have enough power to change the course of rivers and bury homes in mud.   Flash floods are the most dangerous kind of floods, because they combine the destructive power of a flood with incredible speed and unpredictability.  In this post we will explore the  difference between floods and flash floods. 

A flood is a high flow or overflow of water from a river or body of water, occurring over a period of time.  It can occur at anytime of the year but is more common in the spring when winter snows melt and combine with excessive spring rains.  The increased flow of water fills river basins, lakes, ponds, etc. and then overflows its banks.  Often the land around the body of water will be covered and extend short distances from the banks or in extreme cases can extend for miles around and can last for days on end.  This type of flooding typically poses more threat to property than life. 

 A flash flood is quick-rising water usually occurring as the result of heavy rain over a short period of time; often lasting only several hours or even less.  A flash flood is just that, it doesn’t call ahead and let you know it’s coming, it can happen in a flash.  Flash flooding can also lead to rapidly flowing water through streams, creeks, ditches, and streets.  This situation can be very dangerous to life and property.  As the often underestimated power of water can sweep away anything in its path. 

 There are many safety tips and ways to prepare yourself in case of a flood or flash flood.  It’s always good to stay tuned to WMC TV and WMCTV.COM for watches, advisories, and warnings.  A watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding or flash flooding to occur.  An advisory is issued when minor problems related to flooding begin to take place, such flooding of low lying areas or side streets.  Finally, a warning is issued when widespread flooding begins posing a dangerous threat.  If you happen to be outdoors when flooding occurs you should quickly get to higher ground and stay away from any low lying areas that may be susceptible to flood.  If you are in your car drive slowly pay close attention to roadways and if at anytime you see portions of the road are covered in water and the road itself is no longer visible it would be best to go in the opposite direction.  It only takes six inches of moving water to sweep a vehicle off the road.  Always remember that problems from flooding can happen in a flash.

Our forecast typically includes the next seven days.  Rarely do we discuss weather patterns beyond this time period.  It is very difficult to predict with precision the specific details past seven days.  As one of my college professors use to say, “Weather past three days is magic”.  There is a grain of truth to that statement. 

The map I am posting below offers a glimpse of what will occur past the next seven days.  It actually includes days 8-14.  Keep in mind this is not necessarily a forecast but rather a trend prediciton.

The “A” stands for above normal.  Every area shaded in the grayish orange and brown will have above normal temperatures, at least that is the trend outlook anyway.  Only time will tell.  It’ll certainly be interesting to watch.  Have a great day.  Thank you for reading our blog.

Tuesday has started out to be a cloudy and rainy day.   Storm Track Doppler 5 HD is showing showers and storms moving through the Action News 5 coverage area this morning and this pattern will continue throughout the day.  These storms could bring some heavy rainfall at times so a Flash Flood WATCH has been issued for portions of southern and eastern Arkansas, north Mississippi, and the counties that border Missississippi in West Tennessee. The clouds and rain will keep temperatures down well below normal for this time of year.  Here in Memphis we expect our high to only reach 80 today.  Late this afternoon  into the overnight hours the heavier rain will move out and we should only have a few lingering showers. Lows tonight should reach the lower 70′s. 

Keep your umbrella handy and scotchguard the kids because it is going to be a wet one for the rest of the week.  Expect scattered rain and thunderstorms through Saturday.  We will have several disturbances moving through the Mid-South bringing chances of rain each day.  This will not be continuous rain but by the end of the week everyone should have recieved rain at some point and possibly on more than one occassion.  Some of these storms could be on the strong side depending on daytime heating but locally heavy rain is the biggest threat with this pattern.  Highs for the week should stay around the mid  to upper 80′s which is well below normal for this time of year. 

Current forecast data is indicating a warm and drier pattern returning by the end of the weekend and the beginning of next week, but that could change.  So tune in later for this continuing saga of soggy weather.

In meteorology we often use the term shortwave to describe a disturbance in the Mid-levels of the atmophere.  It is basically a “kink” in our flow patterns above the surface.  These systems can be difficult to detect sometimes, not only for us but for the computer models as well.  I believe we will see a series of these this week and will keep the pattern unsettled as a result.  Here is a more detailed description of this weather phenomena.  I have also included a chart.  See if you can find Memphis below one of these shortwaves.

http://grid.expertglossary.com/science/definition/shortwave/source/noaa-national-weather-service

Many of you probably awoke to the sound of intense thunder this morning.  Here is a link to storm reports across the area.  Thankfully, damage seemed to be minimal.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/meg/productview.php?pil=lsr

Each day, several times a day in fact, the National Weather Service issues a detailed forecast discussion.  Here is a link to this afternoon’s discussion.  It gets kinda technical, so if you have any questions please feel free to ask by leaving a comment right here on our blog.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/docs/sr-getprodversion.php?pil=AFD&sid=MEG&version=1

While I am not an astronomer, (I’m a Meteorologist), I do find astronomy pretty cool.  Here is a picture from NASA that shows a black hole in a galaxy about 50 million light years away from Earth.  The black hole is black because matter and light get trapped in it.  I find that fascinating but I don’t totally understand it.

We would love to hear from you.  Send us your comments and/or questions.  I hope you have a great weekend.