Alabama, 2008

Tropical Storm in Alabama, August 31, 2008

August 31, 2008 · NWS MOB · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Hurricane Gustav moved south and west of the area. Heavy rains and higher than normal tides brought flooding to the coastal areas.

The toll

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MOB wrote it up.

Hurricane Gustav moved south and west of the area. Heavy rains and higher than normal tides brought flooding to the coastal areas.

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 31, 7:59 PM CST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 7:59 PM CST, 1 hour 1 minute before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
900 PM PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

.UPDATE...TOR WATCH 876 ISSUED FOR COUNTIES ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE
EAST/WEST AL/FL STATE LINE AND NEAR SHORE ZONES/MOBILE BAY. THIS
WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM MONDAY AS THE FEEDER BANDS OF GUSTAV
MOVE ONSHORE.

16

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...HURRICANE WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER MOBILE...UPPER BALDWIN...AND UPPER
     MOBILE.

     FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 AM MONDAY TO 7 PM TUESDAY FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER MOBILE...UPPER
     BALDWIN...UPPER MOBILE...AND WASHINGTON.

     TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING FROM 4 AM MONDAY TO 1 AM TUESDAY
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: AND WASHINGTON.

FL...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 FROM 7 AM MONDAY TO 7 PM TUESDAY FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: GEORGE...GREENE...PERRY...STONE...AND
     WAYNE.

     TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING FROM 4 AM MONDAY TO 1 AM TUESDAY
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: GEORGE...GREENE...PERRY...STONE...AND
     WAYNE.

GM...HURRICANE WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20
     NM...MOBILE BAY...AND WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO
     PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM.

     TROPICAL STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20
     NM...AND WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60
     NM.

&&

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 31, 3:37 PM CST, 5 hours 23 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
437 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

ALZ051>056-059-061>064-FLZ001-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-312230-
UPPER
MOBILE-ESCAMBIA-WASHINGTON-CONECUH-MONROE-CLARKE-WILCOX-CHOCTAW-
INLAND ESCAMBIA-GEORGE-STONE-PERRY-GREENE-WAYNE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER
BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LEAKESVILLE...LUCEDALE...BAY MINETTE...
CHATOM...DOWNTOWN MOBILE...GROVE HILL AND MONROEVILLE...
437 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT ESCAMBIA...
WASHINGTON...CONECUH...MONROE...CLARKE...WILCOX...CHOCTAW...GEORGE...
STONE...PERRY...GREENE...WAYNE...BALDWIN AND MOBILE COUNTIES...

AT 434 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED FROM AN OUTER
BAND OF HURRICANE GUSTAV FROM CHESTNUT TO 6 MILES SOUTH OF BAYOU LA
BATRE...MOVING WEST AT 40 MPH.

THIS LINE OF STORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND...
VREDENBURGH...BELLVIEW...WHISTLER...UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA...
COY...SHEPPARD...WHATELY AND WALKER SPRINGS THROUGH 530 PM CDT.

THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THESE STORMS ARE WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50
MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG COULD DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS OR BRANCHES AND
BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR
BUILDING UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 4:34 PM CST, 4 hours 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
534 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

ALZ051>054-061-063-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-312315-
UPPER
MOBILE-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-CHOCTAW-GEORGE-STONE-PERRY-GREENE-
WAYNE-LOWER MOBILE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LEAKESVILLE...LUCEDALE...NEW AUGUSTA...
WAYNESBORO...WIGGINS...BUTLER...CHATOM AND GROVE HILL...
534 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WASHINGTON...CLARKE...
WILCOX...CHOCTAW...GEORGE...STONE...PERRY...GREENE...WAYNE AND MOBILE
COUNTIES...

AT 529 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OUTER
BANDS OF HURRICANE GUSTAV FROM 6 MILES WEST OF MILLERS FERRY TO 16 MILES
SOUTH OF BASIN...MOVING WEST AT 45 MPH.

THIS LINE OF STORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND...
YARBO...TALLAHATTA SPRINGS...LEAKESVILLE...YELLOW PINE...WEST BEND...
MILLRY...WOODS BLUFF AND WOMACK HILL THROUGH 615 PM CDT.

THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THESE STORMS ARE SMALL HAIL...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG COULD
BRING DOWN DEAD OR DISEASED TREES AND LARGE LIMBS RESULTING IN
SERIOUS INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. LOCAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER MAY
RESULT FROM DOWNED POWER LINES. EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN
OUTDOORS DURING SUCH STRONG WINDS...OR SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR
BUILDING UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 5:32 PM CST, 3 hours 28 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
632 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

ALZ051>053-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-010015-
WASHINGTON-CLARKE-CHOCTAW-GEORGE-STONE-PERRY-GREENE-WAYNE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEW AUGUSTA...WAYNESBORO...WIGGINS AND
BUTLER...
632 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

...A LINE OF STRONG SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
OUTER BANDS OF HURRICANE GUSTAV WILL AFFECT
WASHINGTON...CLARKE...CHOCTAW...GEORGE...STONE...PERRY...GREENE AND
WAYNE COUNTIES...

AT 629 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 9 MILES EAST OF LAVACA TO 21 MILES
SOUTH OF ROGERS LAKE...MOVING WEST AT 40 MPH.

THIS LINE OF STORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND...
AVERA...LOU...TOXEY...MT STERLING...BUTLER...WATER VALLEY...WATER
VALLEY AND NEEDHAM THROUGH 715 PM CDT.

THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THESE STORMS ARE SMALL HAIL...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG COULD
BRING DOWN DEAD OR DISEASED TREES AND LARGE LIMBS RESULTING IN
SERIOUS INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. LOCAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER MAY
RESULT FROM DOWNED POWER LINES. EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN
OUTDOORS DURING SUCH STRONG WINDS...OR SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR
BUILDING UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

Event by event

4 tropical storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Tropical Storm, Lower Mobile

When
August 31, 9:00 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Lower Mobile forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Hurricane Gustav moved south and west of coastal Alabama the end of August and the first of September. Only Tropical Storm conditions were felt in coastal Alabama. The storm started impacting coastal Alabama during the evening of August 31 with tropical storm winds moving over the coastal waters. However, the greatest impacts were not felt until the first of September. These impacts will appear in September's Storm Data. Coastal Alabama was put under a Hurricane Watch at 300 PM CST on August 30. This was upgraded to a Hurricane Warning at 300 AM CST on August 31. This hurricane warning remained in effect into the first of September. The only impacts felt across the area in August were above normal tides. These along with the rainfall totals and other impacts will be in September's Storm Data.

Tropical Storm, Upper Mobile

When
August 31, 9:00 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Upper Mobile forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Hurricane Gustav moved south and west of coastal Alabama the end of August and the first of September. Only Tropical Storm conditions were felt in coastal Alabama. The storm started impacting coastal Alabama during the evening of August 31. However, the greatest impacts were not felt until the first of September. These impacts will appear in September's Storm Data. Coastal Alabama was put under a Hurricane Watch at 300 PM CST on August 30. This was upgraded to a Hurricane Warning at 300 AM CST on August 31. This hurricane warning remained in effect into the first of September. The only impacts felt across the area in August were above normal tides. These along with the rainfall totals and other impacts will be in September's Storm Data.

Tropical Storm, Lower Baldwin

When
August 31, 9:00 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Lower Baldwin forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Hurricane Gustav moved south and west of coastal Alabama the end of August and the first of September. Only Tropical Storm conditions were felt in coastal Alabama. The storm started impacting coastal Alabama during the evening of August 31. However, the greatest impacts were not felt until the first of September. These impacts will appear in September's Storm Data. Coastal Alabama was put under a Hurricane Watch at 300 PM CST on August 30. This was upgraded to a Hurricane Warning at 300 AM CST on August 31. This hurricane warning remained in effect into the first of September. The only impacts felt across the area in August were above normal tides. These along with the rainfall totals and other impacts will be in September's Storm Data.

Tropical Storm, Upper Baldwin

When
August 31, 9:00 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Upper Baldwin forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Hurricane Gustav moved south and west of coastal Alabama the end of August and the first of September. Only Tropical Storm conditions were felt in coastal Alabama. The storm started impacting coastal Alabama during the evening of August 31. However, the greatest impacts were not felt until the first of September. These impacts will appear in September's Storm Data. Coastal Alabama was put under a Hurricane Watch at 300 PM CST on August 30. This was upgraded to a Hurricane Warning at 300 AM CST on August 31. This hurricane warning remained in effect into the first of September. The only impacts felt across the area in August were above normal tides. These along with the rainfall totals and other impacts will be in September's Storm Data.

What these are

Tropical Storm
A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph).

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Alabama in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, August 2008The 2008 hurricane season

Sources

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: 131895, 131896, 131897, 131898.