Rain fall of 2 to 4 inches caused widespread urban and small stream flooding.
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 LSX wrote it up.
Rain fall of 2 to 4 inches caused widespread urban and small stream 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 St. Louis, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 7, 11:48 AM CST, 1 hour 42 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1248 PM CDT WED MAY 7 2008
.UPDATE...
/1247 PM CDT WED MAY 7 2008/ CURRENT FLASH FLOOD WATCH AREA LOOKS
GOOD TO GO IN EFFECT AT 1 PM BASED ON CURRENT RADAR TRENDS AND
LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE. SHRA/TSRA WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD THIS
AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT AS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE
CONVERGENCE WILL BECOME FOCUSED OVER THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CWA
ALONG STALLED BOUNDARY. TIME CROSS SECTIONS SHOW A LONG DURATION
OF IMPRESSIVE DEEP ASCENT THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.
HEAVIEST RAIN AXIS LOOKS TO STAY ACROSS THE CENTRAL PART OF THE
CWA...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE WHETHER FAR SOUTHERN PART OF
THE CWA WILL NEED TO BE ADDED TO WATCH. HAVE ADDED MENTION OF
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IN THESE AREAS ANYWAY BASED ON RADAR
TRENDS. LATEST OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS ALSO SHOWS ELEVATED MUCAPES AOA
500 J/KG ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-70...AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR IS
EXPECTED TO INCREASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THIS MAY
CONTINUE TO POSE THE RISK OF LARGE HAIL IN THE SLIGHT RISK AREA
INTO THE EVENING HOURS.
BRITT
&&
.DISCUSSION...
/422 AM CDT WED MAY 7 2008/
WKNG MCS MOVG EWD THRU THE NRN AND WRN PTN OF THE CWA ATTM. THIS IS
THE FIRST BATCH OF RAIN TO AFFECT THE CWA BUT MORE IS EXPECTED THIS
AFTN THRU THU AS A CDFNT EXTDG FM SFC LOW OVR WI SW THRU NWRN MO
MOVES SEWD THRU THE NWRN PTN OF THE CWA TDA. AT THE SAME TIME A MID
LVL LOW CURRENTLY OVER WRN TX SRN NM MOVES NEWD INTO OK BY 00Z
THU. UPR LVL DIVERGENCE WILL INCRS OVER THE CWA THIS AFTN AHD OF
THE APPROACHING MID-UPR LVL LOW AND BTWN AN UPR LVL JET STREAK
MOVG THRU THE GRT LKS REGION AND ANOTHER UPR LVL JET STREAK MOVG
THRU THE SRN PLAINS GULF COAST STATES S OF THE MID-UPR LVL LOW. A
SFC LOW WILL DVLP AHD OF THIS MID-UPR LVL LOW WHICH WILL MOVE EWD
ACRS THE MO AR BRDR LT TGT AND THU. A STRENGTHENING SLY LLJ AHD OF
AN 850 MB LOW MOVG E-NEWD THRU OK THIS AFTN WILL BRING STG 850 MB
WAA AND MOISTURE CNVG TO AT LEAST THE SRN HALF OF THE CWA THIS
AFTN AND THIS EVNG. BOTH THE NAM AND GFS MDLS ARE FAIRLY
CONSISTANT THAT THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL OCCUR OVER CNTRL MO THIS
AFTN...AND THEN FM NR COU TO JUST N OF STL THIS EVNG JUST N OR
LEFT OF THE TRACK OF THE UPR LVL AND ASSOCIATED SFC LOW...AND NR
THE NOSE OF THE LLJ. WILL ISSUE A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THIS AFTN
AND TGT ACRS MOST OF THE CWA BTWN UIN AND FAM. THE PCPN SHOULD
TAPER OFF FM NW TO SE ACRS THE CWA ON THU AS THE CLOSED MID-UPR
LVL LOW OPENS UP AND WKNS AS IT MOVES E OF THE CWA AND AS THE SFC
LOW MOVES INTO THE TN VLY REGION WITH COOLER AND DRIER LOW LVL AIR
FILTERING SWD INTO THE CWA BHND THE SFC AND 850 MB LOWS. WILL
FCST MUCH COOLER MAX TEMPS ON THU WITH CLOUD CVR...PCPN AND AT
LEAST WK LOW LVL CAA WITH NLY SFC WNDS BHND THE SFC LOW. THE RAIN
SHOULD SHIFT E OF THE ENTR CWA BY THU NGT AS A WK SFC RDG BLDS SWD
INTO THE CWA WITH AT LEAST PARTIAL CLRG. ALTHOUGH SHRTWVS WILL
CONT TO MOVE EWD THRU THE REGION LT THU NGT AND FRI MRNG IT APRS
THAT ANY RAIN WILL OCCUR W AND S OF THE CWA WITH LOW LVL DRYING
AND SUBSIDENCE OVER THE CWA DUE TO SFC RDGG EXTDG FM THE NRN
PLAINS AND GRT LKS REGION S-SW THRU THE CWA.
GKS
&&
.AVIATION...
/1247 PM CDT WED MAY 7 2008/ FOR THE 18Z TAFS...
EXPECT LONG DURATION OF SHRA AT KCOU/KSTL/KSUS FROM 19-20Z
THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. KSTL/KSUS WILL LIKELY ALSO SEE TSRA
THIS AFTERNOON...WITH LESSER CHANCES AT KCOU/KUIN. THINK CEILINGS
AND VISIBILITIES WILL GRADUALLY DETERIORATE IN THE RAIN...WITH IFR
CONDITIONS DEVELOPING LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. WINDS WILL
LIKELY GO LIGHT AND VARIABLE FOR A TIME AT KCOU/KSTL/KSUS AS FRONT
STALLS VERY NEAR THEM THIS AFTERNOON/THIS EVENING...BUT THEN TURN
OUT OF THE NORTH- NORTHEAST ONCE THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH.
BRITT
&&
.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING FOR AUDRAIN-BOONE-
CALLAWAY-COLE-CRAWFORD-FRANKLIN-GASCONADE-JEFFERSON-LINCOLN-
MONITEAU-MONROE-MONTGOMERY-OSAGE-PIKE-RALLS-ST. CHARLES-ST.
LOUIS-ST. LOUIS CITY-WARREN-WASHINGTON.
IL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING FOR BOND IL-CALHOUN
IL-CLINTON IL-FAYETTE IL-GREENE IL-JERSEY IL-MACOUPIN IL-
MADISON IL-MARION IL-MONROE IL-MONTGOMERY IL-PIKE IL-ST.
CLAIR IL-WASHINGTON IL.
&&
WFO LSXHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO 143 PM CDT WED MAY 7 2008 ILZ095-096-MOZ018-019-026-027-072300- ADAMS IL-BROWN-KNOX-LEWIS-MARION-SHELBY- 143 PM CDT WED MAY 7 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. MODERATE AND MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. PLEASE REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE FLOOD PRODUCT FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND ALSO ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. MODERATE AND MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. PLEASE REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE FLOOD PRODUCT FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT (LOWERCASE)... HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LSX/?N=HWO1 ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-097>102-MOZ034>036-041-042-047>052- 059>065-072-073-072300- AUDRAIN-BOND IL-BOONE-CALHOUN IL-CALLAWAY-CLINTON IL-COLE-CRAWFORD- FAYETTE IL-FRANKLIN-GASCONADE-GREENE IL-JEFFERSON-JERSEY IL-LINCOLN- MACOUPIN IL-MADISON IL-MARION IL-MONITEAU-MONROE-MONROE IL- MONTGOMERY-MONTGOMERY IL-OSAGE-PIKE-PIKE IL-RALLS-ST CHARLES- ST CLAIR IL-ST LOUIS-ST LOUIS CITY-WARREN-WASHINGTON-WASHINGTON IL- 143 PM CDT WED MAY 7 2008 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS...WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...CENTRAL MISSOURI...EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE NIGHT AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM APPROACHES THE REGION. HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH SOME OF THE STORMS. A FEW STORMS MAY PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND STRONG WIND GUSTS. MODERATE AND MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. PLEASE REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE FLOOD PRODUCT FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AND AGAIN TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. MODERATE AND MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. PLEASE REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE FLOOD PRODUCT FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT HEAVY RAINFALL...ANY FLOODING OR SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT (LOWERCASE)... HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LSX/?N=HWO1 ILZ079-MOZ074-075-084-085-099-072300- IRON-MADISON-RANDOLPH IL-REYNOLDS-ST FRANCOIS-STE GENEVIEVE- 143 PM CDT WED MAY 7 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM APPROACHES THE REGION. A FEW STORMS MAY BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS AS WELL AS LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. MODERATE AND MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. PLEASE REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE FLOOD PRODUCT FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ON THURSDAY. THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AND AGAIN ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. MODERATE AND MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. PLEASE REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE FLOOD PRODUCT FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER OR HEAVY RAINFALL TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT (LOWERCASE)... HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LSX/?N=HWO1 BRITT
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches from May 7 into May 8 caused flooding of small streams and low lying areas. Several roads in Salem, including Highway 50 were covered with up to a foot of water. Flooding was also reported along Route 37 just south of Salem. In Centralia, numerous city streets were covered with water making travel difficult.
Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches caused localized flooding of roads and some small streams across much of central St. Clair County. Water was reported over roads in Belleville, Shiloh, and Smithton.
Heavy rain caused localized flooding of roads and small streams across most of central to eastern Washington County. Roads were reported covered with water from Okawville to Irvington. Highway 177 was closed due to water from Little Crooked Creek.
Widespread rain of 2 to 4 inches caused localized flooding of roads and small streams across much of Clinton County. Water was reported to be 6 inches deep on Highway 50 near Trenton and over Jallas Bridge Road just west of Centralia. Roads were also covered with water in the Posey area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, May 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: 100227, 100243, 100231, 100234.