Tropical Storm Fay (2008)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

August 15, 2008 to August 28, 2008

Peak strength

Tropical Storm, 60 kt (69 mph)

Lowest pressure

986 mb (29.12 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

7.3

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

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

Eyewall radius at its peak

20 nmi (37 km, 23 mi)

Overall size

250 nmi (463 km, 288 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

65 kt (75 mph)

Fastest the center moved

23 kt (26 mph)

Identifier

AL062008

Radar at KBYX as it neared land, Aug 18, 20:30 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

15 (6 direct, 9 indirect)

Injuries

12

Property damage

$270 million

Crop damage

$26 million

Events recorded

541 in 59 reports from 13 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

228 tropical storm, 87 flash flood, 80 tropical depression, 51 tornado, 22 heavy rain, 21 thunderstorm wind, 14 flood, 11 funnel cloud, 9 marine thunderstorm wind, 5 strong wind, 3 hail, 3 storm surge/tide, 2 debris flow, 1 high surf, 1 rip current, 1 marine high wind, 1 marine strong wind, 1 waterspout.

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

The Weather Prediction Center attributes 4,430 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 27.65 inches (702 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.

Periods of heavy rain with low visibilities were recorded at the San Juan airport. Light rain began around 2300 AST on the 14th of August and varied between light and moderate through the night and ended around 1100 AST on the 15th of August. Rainfall accumulations of around 2.27 inches were recorded.

San Juan and Vicinity, Puerto Rico · Heavy Rain · Aug 15, 06:00 UTC

River Fajardo overflowed its banks and flooded Highway 3 and its intersection with PR-53 at Barrio Cilito, traffic was blocked in both directions. A car and its occupant were overtaken by the flood waters but the person was rescued unharmed. During the height of the rain, the river increased its flow to approximately 10 feet, which is 2 feet above flood stage.

Northeast, Puerto Rico · Flash Flood · Aug 15, 08:30 UTC

Rainfall amounts ranged 7 to 10 inches over northern Collier, Hendry and Glades counties near the path of the center of Fay. Isolated areas in northeastern Hendry and southeastern Glades counties received well in excess of 10 inches, with Moore Haven recorded the highest storm total rainfall of 16.17 inches recorded in the 48-hour period ending at 8 AM on Wednesday, August 20th. Extensive flooding was observed over the areas with the highest totals, especially over Hendry and Glades counties. Hardest hit areas were the Felda and Montura areas in Hendry County, and the Muse and Moore Haven areas in Glades counties. Dozens of homes sustained damage from water intrusion, primarily in the Muse community and some roadways were closed for a few days. Nearly 40 homes were flooded in Glades County with most water intrusion occurring in the Muse area.

Glades, Florida · Flood · Aug 20, 03:00 UTC

Tropical Storm Fay caused a peak wind gust of 43 knots from the west at 11:09 AM EDT at the C-MAN station on Cedar Key. Winds at the COMPS station at the mouth of the Homosassa River reached 41 knots from th ewest at 8:30 AM EDT the same day.

Tarpon Springs To Suwannee River Fl Out 20nm, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Strong Wind · Aug 22, 16:00 UTC

Rainfall from Fay varied between nine and 18 inches. Numerous trees and power lines were down throughout the county. Numerous county roads were closed and several dirt roads were washed out. U.S. Highway 319 at State Road 375 (Painted Bridge Road) in Sopchoppy was closed. Flooding along the St Marks River set a record with a stage of 13.88 feet, or 2.1 feet above the previous record stage. The Ochlockonee River south of the C.H. Corn Hydro dam rose to flood stage in the western part of the county. Storm tides of four feet on the morning of the 24th at St Marks caused flooding of several buildings in St Marks, with four to six inches of water near the time of high tide. Twenty-nine homes were damaged and two were destroyed by fallen trees and flooding. Seven homes were inaccessible due to high water.

Wakulla, Florida · Tropical Storm · Aug 22, 17:00 UTC

Rainfall from Fay ranged from 16 to nearly 28 inches in Thomasville. Numerous downed trees and power lines were reported throughout the county. Eleven homes in the Plantation Woods subdivision near Thomasville were inundated by flood waters, some with as much as five feet inside. Several other homes were damaged or destroyed by fallen trees. Several Thomasville businesses and public facilities were affected by the flooding. A few county roads were washed out. U.S. Highway 84 flooded near the Grady County line. Four vehicles passed state patrol road blocks and were swept away by flood waters. All six occupants were rescued. Over 5,000 residents were affected by power outages. A state of emergency was declared by the Governor.

Thomas, Georgia · Tropical Storm · Aug 22, 17:00 UTC

The tornado touched down near the south shore on the eastern end of Inland Lake, directly across the lake from the boat launch. It then moved northwestward across the lake, across the boat launch area, and lifted about a quarter mile northwest of there just off of Boat Landing Road. Numerous trees were snapped off or were uprooted. Two structures sustained light damage and a few power poles were knocked down. The tornado was witnessed by a Blount County Sheriff's Deputy and a Birmingham Water Works employee. These witnesses were aware of a tornado warning and took cover quickly as the tornado formed. This tornado was associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay.

Blount, Alabama · Tornado · Aug 25, 16:25 UTC

The tornado touched down on Cross Creek Road, just east of Choccolocco Road. It then moved north-northwestward, roughly parallel to Choccolocco Road, and lifted near the intersection of Choccolocco Road and Cobb Road. One auto shop was destroyed and two houses sustained moderate damage. Additionally, one home suffered light damage and 50 to 100 trees were snapped off or uprooted along the path. This tornado was associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay.

Calhoun, Alabama · Tornado · Aug 25, 17:19 UTC

Heavy rain produced flash flooding in Midtown Memphis. The underpass at East Parkway and Union Avenue was flooded. Water covered a few vehicles and drivers had to be rescued from the flood waters.

Shelby, Tennessee · Flash Flood · Aug 25, 22:00 UTC

This tornado tracked from Oconee County into extreme western Pickens County. The tornado lifted just after crossing the campus of Clemson University. The intermittent damage path was mainly limited to downed trees and power lines, although some minor structural damage was noted, especially on the Clemson campus near Memorial Stadium. Some trees and large limbs fell on and damaged automobiles in the Clemson area.

Pickens, South Carolina · Tornado · Aug 26, 18:47 UTC

A tornado damage path extended from northwest Anderson County, into extreme southern Pickens County, affecting the research area on the south side of the Clemson University campus. Damage was limited to downed trees and power lines. Numerous large trees were snapped off on a ridge very close to the Pickens, Anderson County line, where wind speeds were estimated at close to 120 mph, earning the tornado an EF2 rating.

Pickens, South Carolina · Tornado · Aug 26, 19:45 UTC

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City and the Hall County Emergency Management Agency confirmed that yet a third tornado associated with the remnants of tropical storm Fay touched down in Hall county. This brief tornado touched down just southwest of Gillsville in the extreme northeast part of Hall county and lifted just before reaching the Banks county line. The majority of the damage along this 3/4 mile-long path was done near the city of Gillsville. At least 20 trees were uprooted or blown over along the path of tornado. In addition, the roof was blown off one home at the intersection of Timber Ridge and Hewell Road. Three other homes sustained minor to moderate damage from the wind and downed trees. The maximum path width was determined to be 100 yards. Maximum wind within the tornado was estimated to be 90 mph.

Hall, Georgia · Tornado · Aug 26, 20:20 UTC

Flooding began with closing of highway 152 and Atwell Rd in the southwest part of the county. Flooding quickly expanded to Salisbury and the Kannapolis area, with vehicles trapped in flood water on Old Concord Rd near Salisbury. A rest home was evacuated on Lush Dr in Salisbury when water began entering the building. Two families required rescue when their homes were flooded with at least a foot of water from Cane Creek near the intersection of Faith Rd and Byrd Rd. At least one motorist required rescue when water from Town Creek overflowed East Innes St at I-85. Floodwater in this area was several feet deep, causing damage to quite a few businesses. Poor drainage also caused deep standing water to form on N Long St, where at least one vehicle was submerged. By mid-morning numerous rescues were underway on Old Beatty Ford Rd in the Landis, Kannapolis area.

Rowan, North Carolina · Flash Flood · Aug 27, 08:30 UTC

A weak tornado initially touched down along Jesse Bridges Road between Smith Hudson Road and Rufus Brewer Road. Most of the damage occurred along Jesse Bridges Road with very large trees blown down in different directions. There was considerable damage to an outbuilding and in one case a window screen was torn from a porch and placed on a weathervane on the roof of a home. Some homes had experinced peeled aluminum siding. Several downed trees were noted near the intersection of Rufus Brewer and Silk Hope Liberty Roads and on Will Brown Road.

Chatham, North Carolina · Tornado · Aug 27, 20:08 UTC

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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: Tropical Storm Fay