A stationary surface boundary and differential afternoon heating were the key ingredients for thunderstorm development across portions of southwest Arkansas during the early evening hours of July 4th. These thunderstorms produce isolated damaging wind gusts which downed some trees.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS SHV wrote it up.
A stationary surface boundary and differential afternoon heating were the key ingredients for thunderstorm development across portions of southwest Arkansas during the early evening hours of July 4th. These thunderstorms produce isolated damaging wind gusts which downed some trees.
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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 4, 2:01 PM CST, 2 hours 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA 301 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 .DISCUSSION... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE PUSHED A LITTLE FURTHER SOUTH AND EAST SINCE THIS MORNING...AND THE BOUNDARY TO THE NORTH HAS PRETTY MUCH ANCHORED ITSELF THERE. SOME NWD MOVEMENT OF THE BOUNDARY MAY OCCUR TONIGHT AS THE SLY LLJ PICKS UP...BUT SHOULD WASH OUT BY TOMORROW. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY SHOULD REMAIN IN THE NRN PORTIONS OF THE CWA AND SCATTERED IN NATURE. A FEW SHOWERS MAY HANG ON THROUGH NIGHTFALL...SO SOME PLANS FOR FIREWORKS MAY BE HINDERED...MAINLY ACROSS SW AR. IN THE S...OUTFLOW FROM SEA BREEZE ACTIVITY HAS GENERATED SOME SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS TO THE S OF THE SHV CWA...AND DEVELOPMENT FURTHER N IS EXPECTED AS THE AFTERNOON GOES ON. MOST OF THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD DISSIPATE SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET. NO LARGE SYSTEMS ARE DEPICTED BY THE MODELS THROUGH THE LONG TERM...HOWEVER THEY ARE IN SOME DISAGREEMENT AS TO THE EWD EXTENT OF THE RIDGE OVER THE SWRN US. FOR NOW...WILL GO WITH AFTN/SEA BREEZE CONVECTION JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY THROUGH THE END OF THE FCST PD...AS GULF MOISTURE SHOULD BE ABUNDANT. && .AVIATION... SURFACE FRONT REMAINS TO OUR N THIS AFTERNOON...WITH SHRA/TSRA CONTINUING AROUND OUR N TAF SITES ALONG AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY. WHILE THERE COULD BE SOME SHRA OR TSRA LINGER INTO THE EVENING...MOST OF THE CONVECTION SHOULD GRADUALLY DISSIPATE AFTER SUNSET. MOST CIGS SHOULD RESULT IN FLIGHT CATEGORIES REMAINING VFR THROUGH 06/0000 UTC. THERE COULD BE FLIGHT CATEGORY REDUCTIONS IN VICINITY OF CONVECTION OR DUE TO BR IN RA COOLED AREAS. /21/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SHV 73 93 72 94 / 20 10 10 20 MLU 72 93 71 93 / 20 20 10 20 DEQ 70 91 70 93 / 40 20 10 10 TXK 71 92 72 93 / 30 10 10 10 ELD 71 93 71 93 / 50 20 10 20 TYR 73 94 72 94 / 20 10 10 10 GGG 72 94 72 94 / 20 10 10 10 LFK 71 93 71 95 / 20 20 20 20 && .SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. LA...NONE. OK...NONE. TX...NONE. && 12/21
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA 235 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-OKZ077- TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167-051945- SEVIER-HOWARD-LITTLE RIVER-HEMPSTEAD-NEVADA-MILLER-LAFAYETTE- COLUMBIA-UNION AR-CADDO-BOSSIER-WEBSTER-CLAIBORNE-LINCOLN- UNION LA-DE SOTO-RED RIVER-BIENVILLE-JACKSON-OUACHITA-SABINE LA- NATCHITOCHES-WINN-GRANT-CALDWELL-LA SALLE-MCCURTAIN-BOWIE- FRANKLIN-TITUS-CAMP-MORRIS-CASS-WOOD-UPSHUR-MARION-SMITH-GREGG- HARRISON-CHEROKEE-RUSK-PANOLA-NACOGDOCHES-SHELBY-ANGELINA- SAN AUGUSTINE-SABINE TX- 235 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS...SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA... NORTHWEST LOUISIANA...SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...EAST TEXAS AND NORTHEAST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ACROSS PORTIONS OF EXTREME NORTHEAST TEXAS...SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...AND SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...IN ADVANCE OF A STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY. BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS MAY BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP...HOWEVER STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SEVERE LIMITS. ELSEWHERE...SEA BREEZE OUTFLOW WILL AGIAIN GENERATE ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF EAST TEXAS...AND NORTH LOUISIANA...MAINLY SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR. THESE AND THE STORMS TO THE NORTH WILL LIKELY DISSIPATE SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTER...HAM RADIO OPERATOR...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ACTIVATION...WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT. 12
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
1208 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008
ARZ060-061-041800-
HEMPSTEAD-NEVADA-
1208 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ALERT...EFFECTIVE UNTIL 100 PM CDT...FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...
IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...
NORTHERN NEVADA AND NORTHERN HEMPSTEAD.
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
BLEVINS...PRESCOTT...AND WASHINGTON.
AT 1207 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR WASHINGTON...OR 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
NASHVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 32 MPH.
HAIL SMALLER THAN PENNIES...WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...AND RAINFALL
AMOUNTS UP TO AN INCH PER HOUR ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND STAY AWAY
FROM WINDOWS.
STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER UPDATES FROM YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
SHREVEPORT.
LAT...LON 3395 9351 3397 9348 3397 9337 3392 9330
3385 9328 3382 9318 3382 9313 3381 9311
3372 9310 3374 9382 3401 9382 3401 9372
TIME...MOT...LOC 1708Z 264DEG 28KT 3384 9369
BUTTSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
100 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008
ARZ060-061-070>072-041900-
COLUMBIA-HEMPSTEAD-LAFAYETTE-MILLER-NEVADA-
100 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ALERT...EFFECTIVE UNTIL 200 PM CDT...FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...
IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...
NEVADA...SOUTHERN HEMPSTEAD...NORTHERN COLUMBIA...LAFAYETTE...
AND EASTERN MILLER.
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
BLUFF CITY...BODCAW...BUCKNER...EMMET...FULTON...GARLAND...
HOPE...LEWISVILLE...PERRYTOWN...PRESCOTT...ROSSTON...STAMPS AND
WILLISVILLE
AT 1258 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WHELEN SPRINGS TO
EMMET TO FULTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 16 MPH.
HAIL SMALLER THAN PENNIES...WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...AND RAINFALL
AMOUNTS UP TO AN INCH PER HOUR ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND STAY AWAY
FROM WINDOWS.
LAT...LON 3385 9328 3382 9313 3378 9309 3345 9310
3338 9322 3320 9369 3357 9396 3356 9394
3357 9393 3357 9390 3361 9386 3360 9382
3363 9387 3378 9350 3390 9330
TIME...MOT...LOC 1800Z 329DEG 14KT 3385 9319 3370 9345
3355 9382
BUTTSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
438 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008
ARZ060-061-070-071-042245-
HEMPSTEAD-LAFAYETTE-MILLER-NEVADA-
438 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A SPECIAL
WEATHER STATEMENT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES
IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
NEVADA...HEMPSTEAD...LAFAYETTE AND MILLER
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
BODCAW...BUCKNER...CANFIELD...GARLAND...LEWISVILLE...ROSSTON AND
STAMPS
AT 436 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BODCAW...OR 10
MILES NORTH OF STAMPS...STRETCHING BACK INTO GARLAND...MOVEMENT WAS
EAST NEAR 20 MPH.
WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG VERY
SMALL...PEA SIZED HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. SEEK SHELTER FROM
THIS STORM IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE.
LAT...LON 3360 9326 3307 9360 3334 9377 3358 9361
TIME...MOT...LOC 2138Z 256DEG 16KT 3351 9348
24SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
455 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008
ARZ061-042245-
NEVADA-
455 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A SPECIAL
WEATHER STATEMENT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTY
IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
NEVADA
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
BLUFF CITY...BODCAW...EMMET...ROSSTON AND WILLISVILLE
AT 453 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SUTTON AND BODCAW...OR 11 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF HOPE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM ALONG WITH PEA SIZED
HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER
INDOORS.
LAT...LON 3377 9312 3346 9312 3346 9321 3344 9322
3345 9347 3353 9347 3373 9346
TIME...MOT...LOC 2155Z 262DEG 22KT 3361 9340
24The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were downed...including one on Flower Street and another on First Street.
A tree was downed along Hwy 79 south.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, July 2008
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: 116776, 116777.