Editor’s note: This story is being offered free to all readers as a public service. 

With Memphis at risk for severe weather starting Wednesday evening, April 2, the Memphis Police Department offered tips to help residents stay safe. 

The Memphis area could see heavy rain, in addition to strong winds, hail and even tornadoes, after 6 p.m.

MPD spokesperson Theresa Carlson encouraged Memphians to have emergency supplies on hand and to charge all needed electronic devices. She also said to sign up for emergency alerts from local news stations. 

With the National Weather Service anticipating severe weather and flooding Wednesday evening, some suburban school districts are adjusting their schedules.

The NWS in Memphis used the term “generational flooding” to describe Wednesday’s events. By Wednesday morning, Shelby County was placed at the highest risk for severe weather — a 5 out of 5.

While some suburban municipal systems had announced plans, Memphis-Shelby County Schools had not made any announcement of changes to its regular or after-school schedule as of 2 p.m., just before dismissals begin at many schools.

Collierville has announced all campuses will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday. While after-school activities and athletics are allowed, they must conclude by 5 p.m. Y-Care must also finish by the time campuses close. Buses will run as normal.

Editor’s note: This story is being offered free to all readers as a public service. 

The folks in charge of predicting the weather in Memphis are worried.

That’s because the storms bearing down on Memphis on Wednesday, April 2, are expected to be at the top of the National Weather Service’s risk scale, which goes from 1 (marginal) to 5 (high risk).

This is the first time the forecast has hit a 5 since 2023, said John Sirmon, a meteorologist with the NWS Memphis office. That was when tornadoes hit the Covington area, killing one person and destroying a school.