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.

Tornado in WEAKLEY, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 11:44:00 to 09-DEC-23 12:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: SIDONIA
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado moved from Gibson County into Weakley County northwest of Greenfield where more hardwood tree damage was observed along with snapped wooden power poles. The tornado continued to the northeast, south of Sharon, passing to the north of the Middle Fork Obion River. A concentrated area of damage was noted south of Dresden on Summers Road. A double-wide trailer rolled off its foundation resulting in two injuries. Businesses on Evergreen Street sustained minor roof damage. Minor roof damage was also observed at the National Guard Armory on Highway 22. The tornado dissipated just east of Highway 22. Peak winds were estimated at 110 mph in Weakley County.

Hail in DYER, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 11:25:00 to 09-DEC-23 11:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHURCHTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BENTON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 14:20:00 to 09-DEC-23 14:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAMDEN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in HENDERSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 15:45:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEXINGTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in HAYWOOD, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 13:12:00 to 09-DEC-23 13:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: NUTBUSH
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in CARROLL, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 14:06:00 to 09-DEC-23 14:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLLOW ROCK
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Hail in GIBSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 13:30:00 to 09-DEC-23 13:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: MILAN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BENTON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 15:21:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: GISMONDA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in CARROLL, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 13:36:00 to 09-DEC-23 13:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATWOOD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Thunderstorm Wind in WEAKLEY, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 12:04:00 to 09-DEC-23 12:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEST UNION
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A few tree trunks were snapped along Shobe Road. Large trees were knocked down on Chicken Road and an outbuilding suffered major roof damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in GIBSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 11:32:00 to 09-DEC-23 11:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREGORY
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The rear flank downdraft of the tornado that tracked along Bells Chapel Road overturned a center pivot irrigation system near Jim Dedmon Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in GIBSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 11:34:00 to 09-DEC-23 11:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: RUTHERFORD
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The rear flank downdraft of the tornado that tracked across northern Gibson County produced straight-line wind damage near Rutherford. Trees were snapped on Trimble Highway near Joe Lumpkin Road.  Power poles were snapped on North Trenton Road and trees were uprooted on Walnut Grove Road.

Hail in CROCKETT, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 13:45:00 to 09-DEC-23 13:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: GADSDEN
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter to ping-pong-sized hail fell along Highway 79.

Hail in BENTON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 14:25:00 to 09-DEC-23 14:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAY
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Half-dollar-sized hail fell near Flatwoods Road.

Hail in MADISON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 13:52:00 to 09-DEC-23 13:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: FAIRVIEW
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Half-dollar-sized hail fell in the Three Way area.

Tornado in GIBSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 11:32:00 to 09-DEC-23 11:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREGORY
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 750.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The first evidence of tornado damage was near Bells Chapel Road near Jim Dedmon Road in Gibson County where numerous hardwood trees were snapped. The tornado generally moved east to northeast at times. A home on Bells Chapel Road sustained roof damage and a carport was destroyed. A small barn lost most of its roofing and snapped hardwood trees were also noted nearby. The tornado crossed Highway 105 and produced roof and wall damage to homes on Joe Lumpkin Road. The tornado continued to move to the northeast and crossed Highway 45 hitting the Gibson County Rescue 9 station. A semi-truck and van were overturned as the tornado crossed Highway 45. Significant roof damage and collapsed walls occurred at this location along with numerous snapped hardwood trees. Additional damage was noted on Walnut Grove Road to hardwood trees with some structural damage to a barn and carport.
The tornado moved to the northeast and crossed into Weakley County.

Hail in CARROLL, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 13:55:00 to 09-DEC-23 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUNTINGDON
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter