Alabama, 2008Tropical Depression in Alabama, August 23 to 24, 2008
August 23 to 24, 2008 · NWS MOB · 4 events in 4 counties and zones
Fay weakened to a tropical depression as it moved across the north parts of coastal Alabama bringing heavy rains and above normal tides.
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Fay weakened to a tropical depression as it moved across the north parts of coastal Alabama bringing heavy rains and above normal tides.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 23, 7:01 PM CST, 3 hours 59 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 23, 7:01 PM CST, 3 hours 59 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
801 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008
.UPDATE...NOTED MESOSCALE MODELS ARE INCREASING 0 TO 3 KM HELICITY IN
THE SHORT TERM...AND RADAR VELOCITY DATA IS INDICATING SOME FAINT HINTS
OF ROTATION IN CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS. GIVEN THIS SITUATION...SPC AND
MOBILE OFFICE IN AGREEMENT THAT A TORNADO WATCH IS WARRANTED FOR
BUTLER...CRENSHAW... AND WILCOX COUNTIES...TO CONTINUE THROUGH 3 AM.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 415 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008/
.SHORT TERM TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...SORRY FOR THE DELAY AS WAS
AWAITING THE VERY LATEST ADVISORY BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ON
FAY. FAY HAS WOBBLED TO THE NORTHWEST TODAY WITH RADAR AND
OBSERVATIONS SHOWING A DIFFUSE CENTER...INLAND OVER WALTON COUNTY
FLORIDA NEAR THE EGLIN RADAR SITE AT RED BAY. DUE TO THE SLOW
MOVEMENT OF FAY...THE LEGACY CONTINUES WITH THE MAIN IMPACTS BEING
HEAVY RAINS. WE HAVE TWEAKED THE RAINFALL AMOUNTS LOWER GIVEN THE
LATEST POSITION AND WHAT WE ARE OBSERVING. FORECASTERS ARE NOW
CALLING FOR RAINFALL AMOUNTS TOTALING 7 TO 10 INCHES OVER THE
INTERIOR AND 5 TO 8 INCHES ALONG THE COAST WITH LOCALLY HIGHER
AMOUNTS WHERE +RA BANDS PERSIST AND MOVE OVER THE SAME AREAS. WE
ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS WITH REGARD TO SMALL STREAM...CREEK AND RIVERINE
FLOODING. LOW LYING ROADWAYS NEAR DRAINAGE CULVERTS WILL LIKELY
BECOME INUNDATED AS STORM WATER RUNOFF FILLS THESE STRUCTURES
QUICKLY. FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE AREA. THE
LATEST FORECAST TRACK HAS SHIFTED SLIGHTLY NORTH OF THE PREVIOUS
TRACK. THE FORECAST STILL CALLS FOR A SLOW AND GENERAL WEST OR WEST
NORTHWEST MOTION TO FAY ACROSS THE COASTAL COUNTIES IN THE SHORT
TERM.
A FAIRLY LARGE WIND FIELD EXISTS WITH FAY AS 25 TO 35 MPH SPEEDS ARE
OBSERVED IN SQUALLS WELL REMOVED FROM THE CENTER. CLOSER TO THE
COAST...FORECASTERS EXPECT TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH OF AROUND 40 MPH
IN SQUALLS AT TIMES.
ANOTHER CONCERN WILL BE TORNADOES LATER TONIGHT AND INTO SUNDAY AS
FORECAST AREA WILL BECOME UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE MORE FAVORABLE
EAST SIDE OF FAYS CIRCULATION. /10
.LONG TERM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...EXPECT TO STILL BE DEALING
WITH REMNANT LOW OF FAY WHICH IS FORECAST TO BE TO OUR WEST AND NORTHWEST
NEAR THE BORDER OF SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA...STARTING
TO LIFT TO THE NORTHEAST ON TUESDAY. QUITE A BIT OF MOISTURE AND LIFT
WILL BE ROTATING AROUND THE LOW. THUS...MODERATE TO HIGH CHANCES OF
RAIN WILL REMAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT WEEK.
WITH FAYS REMNANT LOW FORECAST TO CONTINUE LIFTING NORTHEAST AND AWAY
FROM THE AREA BY WEDNESDAY...CHANCES OF RAIN WILL RETURN TO NEAR
CLIMO FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE PERIOD. /10
&&
.AVIATION...FORECAST GOVERNED BY THE WOBBLING OF FAY ROUGHLY
WEST-NORTHWESTWARD. COASTAL SITES SEEING STRONGER NORTHERLY WINDS
BECOMING SOUTHERLY LATE TONIGHT AS THE CENTER OF FAY MOVES PAST. CIGS
WILL BE BOUNCING AROUND BETWEEN IFR AND LIFR THROUGH THE FORECAST. IF
FAY TAKES A MORE NORTHWESTERLY TRACK...VFR CONDITIONS MAY BE
POSSIBLE. /16
&&
.MARINE...THE CENTER OF FAY WILL CONTINUE TO MEANDER NORTHWESTWARD
OVER THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND SOUTHWEST ALABAMA TONIGHT TO
OVER MS BY NOON SUNDAY. SOME TWEAKING DONE TO NHC WINDS TO BETTER
FIT THE CURRENT SITUATION...BUT STILL EXPECTING UPPER END SMALL
CRAFT...LOW END TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ALABAMA/WESTERN FLORIDA
PANHANDLE WATERS INTO THIS EVENING...ESPECIALLY NEAR SHORE FL
PANHANDLE ZONES.
SOME QUESTION EARLY MONDAY ON WITH THE TRACK OF WEAKENED FAY...AND
STRENGTH. CURRENT FORECAST IS CARRYING STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW
INTO TUESDAY. CHANGES FOR SUNDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY WILL BE
DEPENDENT UPON NEXT NHC UPDATE.
TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...GUIDANCE IS ADVERTISING FAY GETTING DRAWN
NORTHEAST...WITH WEAKENING SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW OVER COASTAL WATERS. /16
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...NO HEADLINES. RAIN AND WIND WITH FAY OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE DAYS. /10
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MOBILE 70 81 74 81 / 90 70 70 80
PENSACOLA 72 83 74 83 / 80 70 60 80
DESTIN 74 83 75 84 / 80 70 60 70
EVERGREEN 71 82 71 82 / 100 70 60 80
WAYNESBORO 70 81 71 81 / 100 100 90 80
CAMDEN 69 81 70 82 / 100 100 70 80
&&
.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
BUTLER...CHOCTAW...CLARKE...CONECUH...COVINGTON...
CRENSHAW...ESCAMBIA...LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER MOBILE...
MONROE...UPPER BALDWIN...UPPER MOBILE...WASHINGTON...AND
WILCOX.
TROPICAL STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER MOBILE...UPPER BALDWIN...AND
UPPER MOBILE.
FL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
COASTAL ESCAMBIA...COASTAL OKALOOSA...COASTAL SANTA ROSA...
INLAND ESCAMBIA...INLAND OKALOOSA...AND INLAND SANTA ROSA.
TROPICAL STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: COASTAL ESCAMBIA...COASTAL OKALOOSA...COASTAL SANTA
ROSA...COASTAL WALTON...INLAND ESCAMBIA...INLAND OKALOOSA...
AND INLAND SANTA ROSA.
MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
GEORGE...GREENE...PERRY...STONE...AND WAYNE.
GM...TROPICAL STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20
NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT
20 NM...MOBILE BAY...WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL
FROM 20 TO 60 NM...AND WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO
PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM.
&&Tropical Depression, Lower Mobile
- When
- August 23, 11:00 PM CST to August 24, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Lower Mobile forecast zone
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
Fay weakened to a depression as it moved into Baldwin county during the evening of August 23. The center of Fay moved into southeast Mississippi during the early morning of August 24. Coastal Alabama was put under a Tropical Storm watch at 900 AM CST on August 22. The watch was upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning at 900 PM CST on August 22. All tropical watches and warnings were dropped at 900 PM CST on August 23. Storm total rainfall across southwest Alabama was generally between 5 and 10 inches. The highest amounts were in Crenshaw county where 12.16 inches fell in Highland Home. Across Mobile and Baldwin counties 5-6 inches of rain fell. This brought street flooding to several areas. Sustained winds remained near tropical depression storm strength with the highest winds being recorded after Fay had moved well west of the area on August 25. The lowest sea level pressure was 1002 mb at Mobile Regional Airport. Coastal storm tides of 2-3 feet above astronomical tide levels were observed, with moderate beach erosion reported. The west end of Dauphin island was flooded. The Causeway across Mobile Bay was closed due to high water. Along the Dog River and Bayou Sara, higher than normal tides and excessive runoff from rains caused water to rise to near the foundations of several homes. No injuries or deaths occurred. All the associated effects of Fay resulted in $700K in property damage.
Tropical Depression, Upper Mobile
- When
- August 23, 11:00 PM CST to August 24, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Upper Mobile forecast zone
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
Fay weakened to a depression as it moved into Baldwin county during the evening of August 23. The center of Fay moved into southeast Mississippi during the early morning of August 24. Coastal Alabama was put under a Tropical Storm watch at 900 AM CST on August 22. The watch was upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning at 900 PM CST on August 22. All tropical watches and warnings were dropped at 900 PM CST on August 23. Storm total rainfall across southwest Alabama was generally between 5 and 10 inches. The highest amounts were in Crenshaw county where 12.16 inches fell in Highland Home. Across Mobile and Baldwin counties 5-6 inches of rain fell. This brought street flooding to several areas. Sustained winds remained near tropical depression storm strength with the highest winds being recorded after Fay had moved well west of the area on August 25. The lowest sea level pressure was 1002 mb at Mobile Regional Airport. Coastal storm tides of 2-3 feet above astronomical tide levels were observed, with moderate beach erosion reported. The west end of Dauphin island was flooded. The Causeway across Mobile Bay was closed due to high water. Along the Dog River and Bayou Sara, higher than normal tides and excessive runoff from rains caused water to rise to near the foundations of several homes. No injuries or deaths occurred. All the associated effects of Fay resulted in $700K in property damage.
Tropical Depression, Lower Baldwin
- When
- August 23, 11:00 PM CST to August 24, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Lower Baldwin forecast zone
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
Fay weakened to a depression as it moved into Baldwin county during the evening of August 23. The center of Fay moved into southeast Mississippi during the early morning of August 24. Coastal Alabama was put under a Tropical Storm watch at 900 AM CST on August 22. The watch was upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning at 900 PM CST on August 22. All tropical watches and warnings were dropped at 900 PM CST on August 23. Storm total rainfall across southwest Alabama was generally between 5 and 10 inches. The highest amounts were in Crenshaw county where 12.16 inches fell in Highland Home. Across Mobile and Baldwin counties 5-6 inches of rain fell. This brought street flooding to several areas. Sustained winds remained near tropical depression storm strength with the highest winds being recorded after Fay had moved well west of the area on August 25. The lowest sea level pressure was 1002 mb at Mobile Regional Airport. Coastal storm tides of 2-3 feet above astronomical tide levels were observed, with moderate beach erosion reported. The west end of Dauphin island was flooded. The Causeway across Mobile Bay was closed due to high water. Along the Dog River and Bayou Sara, higher than normal tides and excessive runoff from rains caused water to rise to near the foundations of several homes. No injuries or deaths occurred. All the associated effects of Fay resulted in $700K in property damage.
Tropical Depression, Upper Baldwin
- When
- August 23, 11:00 PM CST to August 24, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Upper Baldwin forecast zone
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
Fay weakened to a depression as it moved into Baldwin county during the evening of August 23. The center of Fay moved into southeast Mississippi during the early morning of August 24. Coastal Alabama was put under a Tropical Storm watch at 900 AM CST on August 22. The watch was upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning at 900 PM CST on August 22. All tropical watches and warnings were dropped at 900 PM CST on August 23. Storm total rainfall across southwest Alabama was generally between 5 and 10 inches. The highest amounts were in Crenshaw county where 12.16 inches fell in Highland Home. Across Mobile and Baldwin counties 5-6 inches of rain fell. This brought street flooding to several areas. Sustained winds remained near tropical depression storm strength with the highest winds being recorded after Fay had moved well west of the area on August 25. The lowest sea level pressure was 1002 mb at Mobile Regional Airport. Coastal storm tides of 2-3 feet above astronomical tide levels were observed, with moderate beach erosion reported. The west end of Dauphin island was flooded. The Causeway across Mobile Bay was closed due to high water. Along the Dog River and Bayou Sara, higher than normal tides and excessive runoff from rains caused water to rise to near the foundations of several homes. No injuries or deaths occurred. All the associated effects of Fay resulted in $700K in property damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Alabama, August 23 to 25, 20081 death · $473,000 · EF2 · 52 events
- Flash Flooding in Georgia, August 23 to 24, 20081 death · $11 million · 7 events
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Superior, August 23, 20081 death · 1 event
- Flash Flooding in Florida, August 23, 2008$11 million · 8 events
- Lightning Strike in Wisconsin, August 23, 2008$8.0 million · 1 event
- Tornadoes in Colorado, August 23, 20085 injured · $32,000 · EF1 · 2 events
- Tornadoes in Georgia, August 23 to 25, 2008$100,000 · EF1 · 2 events
- Tropical Storm in Alabama, August 23 to 25, 2008$100,000 · 5 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Nebraska, August 23 to 24, 2008$70,000 · 0.75 in hail · 3 events
- Tornado in Colorado, August 23, 2008$20,000 · EF1 · 1 event
- Lightning Strike in Arkansas, August 23, 2008$40,000 · 1 event
- Lightning Strike in Arkansas, August 23, 2008$40,000 · 1 event
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 132475, 132719, 132720, 132721.