Memphis Weather: First Alert Weather Day covers Tuesday night and Wednesday

Memphis weather is under a First Alert Weather Day for Tuesday night and Wednesday as multiple rounds of rain and thunderstorms move across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. Off and on showers and thunderstorms start Tuesday morning across the Midstate, but there is no severe weather threat through the afternoon.

That changes Tuesday night west of I-65, where a couple of storms in west Middle Tennessee could produce strong wind gusts and heavy downpours. On Wednesday, the primary severe threat shifts along and south of I-40, with additional showers and storms expected through the afternoon.

I-65 and Tuesday night

The first window of concern is Tuesday night, when the strongest storms are expected west of I-65. Any storm in that area could bring heavy downpours, and a couple of storms in west Middle Tennessee could produce strong wind gusts.

For people crossing that part of the region, the timing matters because the threat is not all day. Tuesday starts with off and on showers and thunderstorms, but the severe risk is not expected through the afternoon.

I-40 and Wednesday

Wednesday carries the broader concern. The primary severe threat shifts to areas along and south of I-40, and damaging wind gusts remain the main threat with any storm that develops.

Persistent heavy downpours could also lead to brief, localized flooding in poor drainage areas on Wednesday. A person driving through those spots will see the most trouble if several rounds of storms line up over the same area.

Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky

The alert covers a two-day stretch, not a single burst of weather. That means residents in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky need to plan around repeated rounds of rain and thunderstorms from Tuesday into Wednesday afternoon.

For anyone trying to get through the period with fewer disruptions, the practical move is simple: watch the timing near I-65 on Tuesday night and near I-40 on Wednesday, since those are the areas singled out for the strongest storms and the heaviest rain.