Possible tornado reported near Parsons as storms threaten Decatur County

A possible tornado was reported over Parsons as a strong thunderstorm swept through Decatur County and nearby areas, raising the stakes for residents already facing a damaging-weather threat. The National Weather Service office in Memphis issued a special weather statement at 6:44 p.m. CDT on Monday, June 1, 2026, warning that the storm could bring wind gusts up to 40 mph, pea-size hail and torrential rainfall that could cause localized flooding.

The broader severe-weather outlook for that evening carried a Slight Risk, level 2 out of 5. The National Weather Service said damaging winds were the primary threat, with large hail and heavy rainfall listed as secondary concerns. A cold front was then expected to push through and bring drier weather and near-normal temperatures beginning Tuesday, June 2, with highs staying in the 80s through the workweek.

Decatur County sits inside the Memphis forecast office’s 59-county warning area, which covers parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. The office’s severe-weather climatology shows that tornado risk is not confined to Memphis itself. More than 80 percent of the tornadoes reported in the office’s area from 1950 to 1993 occurred in Shelby County, a concentration that underscores how sharply severe weather can vary across the region even within the same warning area.

The Parsons area also has recent history with violent straight-line wind damage. On February 16, 2023, the Memphis office documented a microburst south of Parsons along Mays Town Road that caused significant damage to a large garage, including roof uplift and partial collapse of walls. That kind of damage is one reason the Weather Service relies on SKYWARN volunteers, whose on-the-ground reports help improve warning decisions and public safety during fast-changing storms.

The Memphis office continues to use its severe-weather page to track current hazards, the latest storm reports and safety information as storms move across West Tennessee. With the evening threat centered on wind, hail and flooding rain, Parsons and the rest of Decatur County remained under a close watch as the front approached and the worst of the weather was expected to pass.