A strong storm system swept across the Mid-South on December 9, 2023, driven by a deep longwave trough and closed upper-level low-pressure system. In the early morning hours, a cold front slowly began moving east across Arkansas and Tennessee. Ahead of this boundary, warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico was efficiently transported to the Mid-South as surface dew points climbed into the low and mid-60s by 9 am. By mid-morning, a line of sub-severe storms formed in northeast Arkansas. As this line pushed east of the Mississippi River, storms encountered an environment favorable for severe weather.  A strong supercell went on to produce large hail and an EF-1 tornado in Gibson and Weakley counties in Tennessee. New supercells formed in southeast Arkansas by late morning and immediately began producing large hail as they moved east into northern Mississippi. Hailstones of golf ball size and larger were the main attributes of these supercells. Most notable were several baseball size (2.75 inch) reports across portions of northwest Mississippi and a softball size hailstone (4.0 inch) report near Byhalia, MS. Baseball size hail is not uncommon in the Mid-South, but it tends to occur mainly in the springtime. This hail event entered the record books as the largest outbreak of significant hail (2.0 inches or greater) in December history across the Mid-South.

Hail in COAHOMA, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 14:45:00 to 09-DEC-23 14:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLARKSDALE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in COAHOMA, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 14:48:00 to 09-DEC-23 14:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: LYON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in TATE, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 14:30:00 to 09-DEC-23 14:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: COLDWATER ARPT
Magnitude: 2.50 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Tennis ball-sized hail fell in Coldwater.

Hail in TUNICA, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 13:50:00 to 09-DEC-23 13:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: TUNICA
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Quarter to ping pong-sized hail fell on Academy Drive.

Hail in DE SOTO, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 14:20:00 to 09-DEC-23 14:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOVE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Golf ball-sized hail fell at Highway 51 and Thunderbird Drive.

Hail in MARSHALL, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 14:48:00 to 09-DEC-23 14:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: WARSAW
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Quarter-sized hail fell at Moore Crossing and Highway 309.

Hail in MARSHALL, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 15:00:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: RED BANKS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in PANOLA, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 15:40:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: BATESVILLE
Magnitude: 2.75 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in BENTON, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 15:55:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ASHLAND
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in MONROE, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 19:33:00 to 09-DEC-23 19:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: ABERDEEN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Thunderstorm Wind in LEE, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 18:18:00 to 09-DEC-23 18:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: (TUP)LEMONS ARPT TUP
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A utility pole was snapped at Natchez Trace Parkway and Cliff Gookin Boulevard.

Hail in TIPPAH, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 16:11:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: WALNUT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in YALOBUSHA, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 16:42:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: WATER VLY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in UNION, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 17:08:00 to 09-DEC-23 17:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: BAKER
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Half dollar-sized hail fell east of New Albany on Highway 30.

Hail in ITAWAMBA, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 18:45:00 to 09-DEC-23 18:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: BALLARDSVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in CHICKASAW, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 19:00:00 to 09-DEC-23 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: MC CONDY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in MARSHALL, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 15:20:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLLY SPGS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in LAFAYETTE, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 16:20:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: YOCONA
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Half dollar-sized hail fell at Highway 6 and County Road 409.

Hail in PONTOTOC, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 17:50:00 to 09-DEC-23 17:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: RANDOLPH
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Half dollar-sized hail fell near Highway 341 and Cossey Road.

Hail in TATE, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 15:05:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: INDEPENDENCE
Magnitude: 2.00 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in LEE, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 18:00:00 to 09-DEC-23 18:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: SALTILLO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Quarter-sized hail fell at the 911 call center in Saltillo.

Hail in LEE, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 18:20:00 to 09-DEC-23 18:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: VERONA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Quarter-sized hail fell in the Palmetto area.

Hail in LEE, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 18:20:00 to 09-DEC-23 18:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: TUPELO
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Ping-pong-sized hail fell in the Lee Acres neighborhood of Tupelo.

Hail in CHICKASAW, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 18:40:00 to 09-DEC-23 18:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLEASANT RIDGE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Ping-pong-sized hail fell on Highway 15 between Houston and Woodland.

Thunderstorm Wind in MONROE, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 19:25:00 to 09-DEC-23 19:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: LACKEY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Trees were knocked down in the Lackey Community on Old Columbus Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in PANOLA, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 15:39:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: BATESVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Straight-line winds were estimated at 60 mph near Batesville. Power flashes from nearby transformers were observed.

Hail in MARSHALL, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 15:07:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: RED BANKS
Magnitude: 4.00 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Softball-sized hail fell near Red Banks.

Hail in MARSHALL, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 15:10:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAHON
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in PONTOTOC, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 17:12:00 to 09-DEC-23 17:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: TOCCOPOLA
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in PONTOTOC, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 17:30:00 to 09-DEC-23 17:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: ECRU
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in DE SOTO, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 14:23:00 to 09-DEC-23 14:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOVE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter-sized hail fell in the Love community.

Hail in YALOBUSHA, MISSISSIPPI
From 09-DEC-23 16:50:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: SCOBEY
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Ping-pong-sized hail was reported along I-55 near Scobey in southern Tallahatchie County.