Hurricane Dolly (2008)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

July 20, 2008 to July 27, 2008

Peak strength

Category 2, 85 kt (98 mph)

Lowest pressure

963 mb (28.44 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

5.4

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

150 nmi (278 km, 173 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

30 nmi (56 km, 35 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

20 nmi (37 km, 23 mi)

Overall size

240 nmi (444 km, 276 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

100 kt (115 mph)

Fastest the center moved

21 kt (24 mph)

Identifier

AL042008

Radar at KBRO as it neared land, Jul 23, 20:00 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

1 (1 direct, 0 indirect)

Injuries

4

Property damage

$1.1 billion

Crop damage

$339 million

Events recorded

101 in 17 reports from 8 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

22 hail, 18 flash flood, 15 thunderstorm wind, 11 tropical storm, 9 heavy rain, 6 tornado, 6 storm surge/tide, 4 flood, 3 funnel cloud, 3 tropical depression, 2 hurricane (typhoon), 1 waterspout, 1 lightning.

6 tornadoes and 1 waterspout recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The Weather Prediction Center attributes 2,122 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 15.00 inches (381 mm).

WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

Sustained tropical storm force likely edged into southeastern Kenedy County along and just west of Padre Island during the mid morning hours of the 23rd, based on observations from the Texas Coastal Ocean Observing Network, which showed sustained winds inching above 39 mph around 9 AM CDT at the Rincon del San Jose buoy, located in Laguna Madre within the Kenedy County line. Wind gusts just over hurricane force occurred around 1 PM CDT at the same location. Fortunately, the strongest winds remained largely over unpopulated portions of the King Ranch, and effects in Sarita, in the extreme northwest portion of the county, were minimal. These areas only received gusts to tropical storm force, and rainfall directly associated with the cyclone of less than 4 inches.

Kenedy, Texas · Tropical Storm · Jul 23, 14:00 UTC

Starr County experienced a long duration of impact from Dolly, particularly with persistent heavy rains from late afternoon and early evening on the 23rd, which continued right until late morning of the 24th, and dropped copious rainfall in portions of the county, with local high totals not too much below some of those reported or estimated in northern Cameron and southern Willacy Counties during the 23rd. Much of central and northern Starr County was in the remnant southern and western eyewall, where winds were likely 35 to 45 mph with frequent gusts between 50 and 60 mph, particularly during the late evening of the 23rd and into the pre dawn hours of the 24th. Because most of the stronger winds remained north of the larger population areas along the Rio Grande, reported damage and power outages due to wind along was relatively minor.

Starr, Texas · Tropical Storm · Jul 24, 01:30 UTC

Widespread, serious flooding occurred from the upper canyon of the Rio Ruidoso downstream through the towns of Ruidoso, Hollywood and Ruidoso Downs as far east as Fox Caves. Flooding also occurred along the Rio Bonito from the dam at Bonito Lake downstream to State Road 48. Flooding was extensive in Ruidoso, not only along the Rio Ruidoso, Cedar Creek and other small streams, but also throughout the town from the 6 to 7 inches of rainfall that fell there. One man was killed when we was swept away by the raging Rio Ruidoso, but no other substantial injuries were reported. A total of 500 structures, including campers and mobile homes were damaged. Around 200 houses were damaged, and some were completely destroyed. At least 13 bridges were washed out and several cars were washed downstream. Several dozen recreational vehicles and campers were damaged at an RV park at Ruidoso Downs.

Lincoln, New Mexico · Flood · Jul 27, 06:30 UTC

Moisture associated with the remnants of Dolly resulted in very heavy rain over the South Tularosa Canyon Fire burn scar. Flood waters over-topped containment ponds leading to a widespread flash flood event. Parts of U.S. 70 were closed, the road to the Mescalero Fire Station was washed out, and numerous secondary roads were closed die to high water. Two dams failed at Mud Canyon. Several buildings were affected by the flood waters.

Otero, New Mexico · Flash Flood · Jul 27, 15:00 UTC

Fourteen large trees were downed as a result of strong thunderstorm winds during the late afternoon/early evening hours along Hackberry Creek.

Cheyenne, Kansas · Thunderstorm Wind · Jul 28, 23:00 UTC

A combination of large hail and microburst straight-line winds caused extensive damage across south-central and southwest portions of Sumner County. At least two outbuildings, one of which was newly constructed, were heavily damaged. A residence sustained roof, siding and window damage, and a few vehicles sustained hail damage. Eight to ten power poles were snapped across the area, and five-inch diameter tree limbs were downed.

Sumner, Kansas · Thunderstorm Wind · Jul 28, 23:15 UTC

Between 2 and 4 inches of rain fell in a short amount of time on already saturated soils causing flash flooding. Several roads were flooded including Highway 15 both north and south of Edina.

Knox, Missouri · Flash Flood · Jul 29, 20:26 UTC

Between 2 and 4 inches of rain fell in a short amount of time on already saturated soils causing flash flooding. Several roads were flooded including U.S. Highway 36 east of Lakenan near the North Fork of the Salt River.

Shelby, Missouri · Flash Flood · Jul 29, 20:45 UTC

Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree onto power lines with both landing onto U.S. Highway 24 near Missouri Street in Camp Point.

Adams, Illinois · Thunderstorm Wind · Jul 29, 21:15 UTC

The Gwinnett Extra portion of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that caused nine structural fires in the Buford area. The most significant incident was a home set on fire in the 900 block of Creekview Bluff Way in Buford. The roof of the two-story home was completely destroyed.

Gwinnett, Georgia · Lightning · Jul 29, 21:45 UTC

Two separate thunderstorm cells produced severe hail. The first cell occurred south-southeast of Commerce around 710 pm EDT where the public observed nickel-sized hail. The second cell moved along the Banks/Jackson county line north of Commerce where the public observed quarter-sized hail in the Banks Crossing area around 720 pm EDT.

Jackson, Georgia · Hail · Jul 29, 23:10 UTC

• Tropical Storm ArthurNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm40 kt · 1004 mb
• Hurricane BerthaNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 3110 kt · 952 mb
• Tropical Storm CristobalNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm55 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm EdouardNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm55 kt · 996 mb
• Tropical Storm FayNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm60 kt · 986 mb
• Hurricane GustavNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 4135 kt · 941 mb
• Hurricane HannaNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 175 kt · 977 mb
• Hurricane IkeNorth Atlantic · 2008 · 195 deaths · $38 billionCat 4125 kt · 935 mb
• Tropical Storm JosephineNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm55 kt · 994 mb
• Hurricane KyleNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 175 kt · 984 mb
• Hurricane LauraNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 170 kt · 990 mb
• Tropical Storm MarcoNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm55 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm NanaNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm35 kt · 1004 mb
• Hurricane OmarNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 4115 kt · 958 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Depression25 kt · 1004 mb
• Hurricane PalomaNorth Atlantic · 2008 · 19 deathsCat 4125 kt · 944 mb

A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Wikipedia article: Hurricane Dolly