A fast-moving severe thunderstorm warning lit up parts of northwest Tennessee and southeast Missouri Saturday evening, as local officials urged residents to take shelter while storms pushed through. The advisory called for damaging wind gusts around 60 mph and the potential for roof, siding and tree damage across the warned area.
What Officials Told Residents
According to National Weather Service Memphis, the warning covered central Pemiscot County in Missouri along with northwestern Dyer, southwestern Obion and southern Lake counties in Tennessee, specifically naming Dyersburg, Caruthersville, Hayti and Ridgely. The radar-indicated storm was reported near Hayti, moving southeast at about 20 mph, with forecasters warning of gusts up to 60 mph that could damage roofs, siding and trees. The NWS also flagged stretches of Interstate 55 in Missouri and a segment near mile marker 13 in Tennessee as falling within the warned corridor.
The City of Dyersburg amplified the NWS alert on its official Facebook page, noting that the warning was in effect until about 8:30 p.m. and urging residents to head indoors and secure loose outdoor items. The post, published at 00:52:34 UTC on July 19, 2026, relayed the NWS details to local followers and asked anyone who observes damage to contact local authorities.
Roads and Safety
Drivers were told to be especially cautious on I-55, where strong gusts can bring down limbs and scatter debris, and officials advised avoiding travel on the listed stretches if possible. “For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building,” the NWS guidance said, while local authorities urged people to stay away from windows and follow updates from city and weather officials until the threat passed. Residents were encouraged to monitor official channels for all-clear messages before resuming normal travel.
