December 10, 2021, was unseasonably warm over the region. Temperatures broke several long-standing records. Memphis hit 80��F which broke a 103-year-old high-temperature record.
A strong upper-level trough was approaching from the west, providing strong lift within the unseasonably warm and unstable air mass.  MLCAPE reached the 1500-2000 J/kg range by 6 PM. The wind field was impressive with plenty of vertical wind shear needed for organized thunderstorms. Effective 0-1 km storm-relative helicity values ranged from 300-400 m2/s2 with effective bulk shear values of 70 knots - more than sufficient to support discrete supercells in the warm sector ahead of the cold front.
The first supercell developed in central Arkansas and tracked into northeast Arkansas producing a few weak tornadoes initially before intensifying across eastern Craighead and Mississippi Counties and killing two people. The tornado eventually strengthened into an EF-4 while moving through the Missouri Bootheel, resulting in 2 direct and one indirect fatality in Pemiscot County. The tornado then tracked across the Mississippi River into northwest Tennessee, producing an additional 4 fatalities near Reelfoot Lake. This tornado lifted for a brief time in Obion County, reorganized, and then moved into Kentucky. All told, the mesocyclone tracked for over 300 miles and was producing tornadoes for over 250 miles. This storm was responsible for at least 9 fatalities and many injuries in the NWS Memphis CWA along with millions of dollars of damage.
As the initial supercell was crossing the state line into Kentucky, a string of supercells was moving into eastern Arkansas. A few brief tornadoes produced minor damage near Cash in western Craighead County and in the Fisher area of western Poinsett County. As the dominant supercell moved into eastern Poinsett County, the mesocyclone quickly intensified and the storm produced an EF-2 tornado in Trumann with several injuries and widespread damage.
A new supercell developed in Mississippi County causing straight-line wind damage initially. This supercell intensified as it crossed the Mississippi River and produced another long-track tornado starting in Dyer County,  Tennessee. This tornado tracked east-northeast across northwest Tennessee into Henry County, and eventually into Kentucky. This tornado was rated EF-3 and resulted in several injuries with Kenton and Dresden, Tennessee being the hardest hit.
The convection eventually evolved into a QLCS as it moved east. A mesovortex developed south of I-40 near Jackson that resulted in 3 tornadoes across eastern Madison, Henderson, and Decatur Counties including an EF-2. Non-tornadic storms moved across the Memphis metropolitan area, producing straight-line wind damage as a mesovortex moved through the city. A fatality was reported in Shelby County after a large tree fell on a home in South Memphis. Later that night, an EF-1 tornado occurred in Prentiss County before the severe weather threat began to wind down around 6 AM on December 11, 2021.
In total, there were 18 tornadoes across the NWS Memphis CWA.  Along with tornadoes, several incidents of wind damage and minor flash flooding also occurred.

Tornado in PEMISCOT, MISSOURI
From 10-DEC-21 20:13:00 to 10-DEC-21 20:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: GAYOSO
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado tracked along the oxbows of the Mississippi River between Pemiscot County, Missouri, and Lake County, Tennessee. Aerial and satellite imagery showed ground scouring marks in this area across the Mississippi River.

Tornado in PEMISCOT, MISSOURI
From 10-DEC-21 19:50:00 to 10-DEC-21 20:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAMFORD
Tornado F-scale: EF4
Property damage: 1.25M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado seemed to reach its peak intensity as it moved into Pemiscot County, Missouri from Dunklin County, Missouri. A home along County Road 454 was substantially damaged. Further northeast, near Highway J and County Road 407, two homes were completely destroyed with debris carried off to the northeast. A fatality occurred in one of these homes. Several vehicles, including semi-tractor-trailers, were blown off of the road as the tornado crossed Interstates 55 and 155, resulting in another fatality. An indirect fatality occurred when a vehicle struck a downed utility pole. Aerial and satellite imagery showed ground scouring marks in this area across the Mississippi River. The tornado then moved into Lake County, Tennessee. Peak winds in Pemiscot County were estimated at 170 mph.

Tornado in DUNKLIN, MISSOURI
From 10-DEC-21 19:37:00 to 10-DEC-21 19:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: HORNERSVILLE MEM ARP
Tornado F-scale: EF3
Property damage: 1.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado crossed from Mississippi County, Arkansas into Dunklin County, Missouri near the Little River area south of Hornersville, near the Arkansas/Missouri state line.  Several homes and mobile homes were heavily damaged or destroyed along State Line Road. Several vehicles and a boat were tossed or overturned. Additional debarking of trees was noted. After exiting the Little River area, the tornado damaged six metal electric transmission line towers. Five of the towers had their top sections collapse, and one tower completely collapsed. Several center pivot irrigation systems were overturned. The tornado then crossed into Pemiscot County, Missouri. Peak winds in Dunklin County were estimated at 140 mph.