National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rainfall Today from the Central Plains into the Tennessee Valley

Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds will be possible from the Ozark Plateau east into portions of the Southeast today. Rounds of heavy thunderstorms ahead of a slow moving front will continue locally heavy rainfall and scattered flash flooding potential from the Ozarks to the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys today. Read More >

3/19/2003 - Event Summary

At the surface, a strong area of low pressure was centered over eastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas on the morning of the 19th. A stationary front extended from the low into the Ohio Valley. A strong cold front trailed from the low into northeastern Arkansas and Mississippi. Storms developed in the late morning into the early afternoon hours as the cold front pushed near and east of the I-65 corridor. Some of these as seen below produced damaging winds, hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter, and tornadoes.  

 
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March 19th, 2003 Surface Analysis at 7 AM March 19th, 2003 500 mb Analysis at 7 AM