Showers and thunderstorms developed in association with several upper level disturbances that quickly moved through northwest upper level flow. The thunderstorms quickly became severe due to daytime heating especially during the afternoon and evening hours.
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 MEG wrote it up.
Showers and thunderstorms developed in association with several upper level disturbances that quickly moved through northwest upper level flow. The thunderstorms quickly became severe due to daytime heating especially during the afternoon and evening hours. The thunderstorms produced large hail, damaging winds, and locally heavy rain which produced flash flooding.
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 Memphis, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 1, 10:13 AM CST, 4 hours 42 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1113 AM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 .DISCUSSION...SURFACE ANALYSIS THIS MORNING INDICATES A QUASI- STATIONARY BOUNDARY LOCATED FROM KENTUCKY BACK THROUGH MISSOURI AN INTO THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS. VISIBLE SATELLITE/REGIONAL WSR-88D TRENDS INDICATE AN MCS PRESENT ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA. ACROSS THE MID SOUTH...TEMPERATURES WERE PRIMARILY IN THE 80S WITH MOSTLY SUNNY TO PARTLY SUNNY SKIES. SHORT TERM CONVECTIVE ANALYSIS/MODEL SOUNDINGS INDICATE PULSE TYPE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF DAMAGING WINDS/LARGE HAIL. ONGOING FORECAST ON TRACK AT THIS TIME AND THINK BEST CHANCE FOR CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY SHOULD BE FROM MID AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA. NO CHANGES PLANNED AT THIS TIME. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 314 AM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008/ DISCUSSION... THUNDERSTORMS WERE FIRING EARLY THIS MORNING OVER THE OZARKS AND MIDDLE TN. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE EMBEDDED IN NORTHWEST FLOW...AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF A 500MB HEIGHT RIDGE CENTERED OVER SOUTHWEST TX AT 5930M. THE THUNDERSTORMS APPEARED TO BE ANCHORED ALONG A AN ELEVATED LOW LEVEL FRONT...ORIENTED ROUGHLY PARALLEL TO THE MID LEVEL FLOW. 00Z LZK SOUNDING SHOWED A PRONOUNCED WARM LAYER FROM 550MB THROUGH 850 MB...EFFECTIVELY CAPPING DEEP CONVECTION. THIS WARM LAYER WAS ABSENT ON THE 00Z SGF SOUNDING. THE UPPER LEVEL PATTERN SHOULD AMPLIFY TODAY. THE SUBTROPICAL HEIGHT RIDGE WILL BUILD NORTH UP THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE...WHILE DOWNSTREAM HEIGHTS LOWER OVER THE EASTERN U.S.. THIS WILL PLACE THE MIDSOUTH UNDER WEAKER CONVECTIVE CAPPING AND SLIGHTLY STRONGER FLOW ALOFT. FOR THIS MORNING...EXPECT A FEW OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE MO OZARKS TO MOVE INTO NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE MIDSOUTH. AS SURFACE HEATING BUILDS AND UPPER LEVEL FLOW STRENGTHENS...EXPECT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE MIDSOUTH DURING THE AFTERNOON. PULSE SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE... WITH CAPES IN EXCESS OF 2000 J/KG AND WEAK DIRECTIONAL SHEAR. NAM AND GFS MOS GUIDANCE DIFFER GREATLY ON SECOND PERIOD POPS... RANGING FROM NO MENTION AT ALL TO LIKELY. REALITY LIKELY LIES SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. 00Z GFS BRINGS AN MCS FROM SOUTHERN MO INTO THE MIDSOUTH THIS EVENING. 00Z NAM LIKEWISE DEVELOPS AN MCS...BUT MUCH LATER...ON MONDAY MORNING LATE. THE GFS DEVELOPMENT OF THE MCS EARLY ON APPEARS TO BE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY A MESOSCALE 250MB DIVERGENCE MAXIMUM. THESE FEATURES CAN CHANGE QUITE A BIT FROM RUN TO RUN. A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO HANG LIKELY POPS FOR TONIGHT BASED ON THIS AND WILL THUS AIM FOR A COMPROMISE CLOSER TO THE 00Z NAM. UPPER LEVEL FLOW BECOMES ZONAL AND SLIGHTLY FAST FOR EARLY JUNE... AS THE MID LEVEL HEIGHT RIDGE CENTER DROPS TO NORTHERN MEXICO IN THE MIDWEEK. SOUTHERLY SURFACE WINDS OVER THE MIDSOUTH SHOULD RESPOND TO THE FASTER FLOW ALOFT...KEEPING DEWPOINTS AND OVERNIGHT TEMPS UP. POPS BECOME MORE OF A CHALLENGE IN MIDWEEK...WITH THE TIMING OF SUBTLE EMBEDDED SHORTWAVES DIFFICULT TO PIN DOWN. GFS KEEPS THE LOW LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE TO THE NORTH OF THE MIDSOUTH...WILL THUS KEEP POPS BELOW MENTIONABLE LEVELS OVER MOST AREAS. THE GFS AND ECMWF REMAIN CONSISTENT IN DROPPING A HIGH AMPLITUDE LONGWAVE TROF INTO THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION ON THURSDAY...WHICH WILL ALLOW THE UPPER LEVEL SUBTROPICAL HEIGHT RIDGE TO BUILD INTO THE SOUTHEAST STATES. RAIN CHANCES WILL BE LIMITED UNTIL SOME WEAKENING OF THE UPPER RIDGE OCCURS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. LATE WEEK TEMPS WILL REMAIN WELL ABOVE NORMAL...WITH AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES LIKELY TOPPING 100 DEGREES OVER PORTIONS OF THE MIDSOUTH. PWB && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 91 72 91 74 / 30 30 30 10 MKL 88 67 88 69 / 30 30 30 10 JBR 89 68 90 71 / 30 30 30 10 TUP 89 69 89 70 / 30 40 30 10 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 327 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-021100- ALCORN-BENTON MS-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CHESTER-CHICKASAW-CLAY-COAHOMA- CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROCKETT-CROSS-DESOTO-DECATUR-DUNKLIN-DYER- FAYETTE-GIBSON-GREENE-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY- ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-LEE MS-MADISON- MARSHALL-MCNAIRY-MISSISSIPPI-MONROE-OBION-PANOLA-PEMISCOT- PHILLIPS-POINSETT-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-QUITMAN-RANDOLPH-SHELBY- ST. FRANCIS-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TIPTON-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA- UNION-WEAKLEY-YALOBUSHA- 327 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE ENTIRE MID SOUTH LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. THE TIME OF GREATEST THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS BETWEEN 300 PM AND 900 PM. ANY THUNDERSTORMS WHICH BECOME SEVERE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY MONDAY WILL SEE A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER...PRIMARILY ACROSS WEST TENNESSEE...ARKANSAS AND THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. FRIDAY WILL ALSO SEE A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...MOSTLY LIKELY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 40. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED THROUGH LATE SUNDAY EVENING...AND AGAIN ON MONDAY. PWB/CJC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 303 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 TNZ053>055-092-012030- DECATUR TN-HENDERSON TN-CHESTER TN-HARDIN TN- 303 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... SOUTHERN DECATUR COUNTY IN TENNESSEE... EAST CENTRAL CHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... NORTHERN HARDIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTHERN HENDERSON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SARDIS AT 303 PM CDT... MOVING EAST AT 29 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN CHESTER...DECATUR...HARDIN AND HENDERSON COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM CDT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 313 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 MSZ007-012045- TUNICA MS- 313 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... CENTRAL TUNICA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 3 MILES SOUTH OF TUNICA AT 313 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN TUNICA COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT. .A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 314 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 MSZ013-012045- LAFAYETTE MS- 314 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... LAFAYETTE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED OVER BURGESS AT 314 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 21 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY...INCLUDING THE CITY OF OXFORD...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT. .A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 315 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 ARZ058-012045- PHILLIPS AR- 315 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHERN PHILLIPS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF MARVELL AT 315 PM CDT... MOVING EAST AT 21 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN PHILLIPS COUNTY...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF MARVELL AND WEST HELENA...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT. .A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 335 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 TNZ020-051-012100- CROCKETT TN-GIBSON TN- 335 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHERN CROCKETT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTHERN GIBSON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 4 MILES WEST OF EATON AT 335 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 29 MPH. DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN CROCKETT AND GIBSON COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF HUMBOLDT AND TRENTON...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 343 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 TNZ088-089-012115- FAYETTE TN-SHELBY TN- 343 PM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... FAYETTE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... EAST CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 7 MILES EAST OF ARLINGTON AT 343 PM CDT... MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN FAYETTE AND SHELBY COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT. .A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:56 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight line winds blew several trees and power lines down near Helena-West Helena.
Straight line winds blew several trees and power lines down in Marianna.
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, June 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: 119560, 119646.