Severe Thunderstorm Watches Hit Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas

The National Weather Service issued multiple severe thunderstorm watches on June 1, 2026 covering parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas. Watch 261 remained active until 7 p.m. CDT for 19 northern Mississippi counties, including DeSoto, Marshall and Tunica, while Watch 263 lasted until 9 p.m. CDT for eastern Arkansas counties such as Craighead, Crittenden and Phillips, affecting towns like Jonesboro and West Memphis. In Arkansas a flood warning on the Cache River near Patterson persisted, with the river at 9.8 feet—above the 9‑foot flood stage—threatening low‑lying roads and pastures.

A separate Storm Prediction Center mesoscale discussion highlighted a marginal risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe wind and hail across southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, southwestern Indiana, western Kentucky and northwestern Tennessee, with gusts up to 60 mph possible. The National Weather Service in Birmingham, Alabama, noted a marginal risk for damaging winds and large hail across central Alabama, emphasizing the potential for tree damage after recent rainfall.

Kansas City and the surrounding Midwest also remained under a severe thunderstorm watch, warning of hail, damaging winds and flash‑flooding risks to urban infrastructure. Overall, the coordinated watches and flood alerts reflect a broad swath of the Mid‑South and Midwest facing heightened severe‑weather hazards on the same day.