A strong upper level shortwave moved eastward across Oklahoma and Arkansas during the late evening and overnight hours of May 7th. A storm environment consisted of moderate instability but very strong shear present in the lower and mid levels of the atmosphere.
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 strong upper level shortwave moved eastward across Oklahoma and Arkansas during the late evening and overnight hours of May 7th. A storm environment consisted of moderate instability but very strong shear present in the lower and mid levels of the atmosphere. A dry line moved just east of the Interstate 35 corridor of north central Texas before stalling out. Supercells developed along the dryline across central Texas...moving northeast into northeast Texas and merged with a pre-frontal trough which set up across northeast Texas into southeast Oklahoma and southwest Arkansas. The result was severe thunderstorms across mainly the southern half of northeast Texas...and much of northwest and north central Louisiana. Storms contained strong and damaging wind gusts which downed numerous trees and power lines.
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 May 7, 2:53 PM CST, 4 hours 57 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
353 PM CDT WED MAY 7 2008
.DISCUSSION...
STRONG UPPER LOW WILL BOWL EASTWARD TONIGHT AND PRODUCE POSSIBLY
TWO VERSIONS OF SEVERE WEATHER. FIRST WILL BE CONVECTION ALONG AND
AHEAD OF DRY LINE THIS EVENING TIL MIDNIGHT...THEN SECOND TYPE MAY
OCCUR NEAR THE COLD CORE OF UPPER LOW WITH SCATTERED HAILERS.
AFTER TONIGHT...LOOKING AT FAIR AND ALMOST HOT WEATHER THROUGH
FRIDAY WITH MAX TEMPS FRIDAY NEAR 90 DEGREES I 20 SOUTHWARD.
NEARLY ZONAL FLOW WILL ALLOW DISTURBANCES TO INTERACT WITH THE
WARM AND SOMEWHAT MUGGY AIR MASS WE/LL REMAIN UNDER...THUS LOW CHC
POPS REMAIN IN FCST THIS WEEKEND. FRONTAL PASSAGE SUNDAY WILL
USHER IN ANOTHER BRIEF PERIOD OF INACTIVE WEATHER SUNDAY NIGHT
THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...BEFORE NEXT CHC OF PRECIP ARRIVES WITH
ANOTHER FRONT TUESDAY. /17/
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF BRIEF PERIODS OF TSTMS AS THEY PROPAGATE NE DURING LATE
THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EVENING DURING THE 21Z THROUGH 06Z
TIME FRAME. VIII.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV 65 86 65 90 / 50 10 0 10
MLU 66 86 65 90 / 40 20 0 10
DEQ 61 81 59 85 / 60 10 10 10
TXK 64 82 63 86 / 60 10 10 10
ELD 65 83 61 88 / 60 20 10 10
TYR 63 86 66 89 / 40 0 0 10
GGG 64 84 64 90 / 40 10 0 10
LFK 65 89 66 91 / 30 0 0 10
&&
.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
COLUMBIA...HEMPSTEAD...HOWARD...LAFAYETTE...LITTLE RIVER...
MILLER...NEVADA...SEVIER...AND UNION AR.
LA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
BIENVILLE...BOSSIER...CADDO...CALDWELL...CLAIBORNE...DE SOTO...
GRANT...JACKSON...LA SALLE...LINCOLN...NATCHITOCHES...OUACHITA...
RED RIVER...SABINE LA...UNION LA...WEBSTER...AND WINN.
OK...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
MCCURTAIN.
TX...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
ANGELINA...BOWIE...CAMP...CASS...CHEROKEE...FRANKLIN...GREGG...
HARRISON...MARION...MORRIS...NACOGDOCHES...PANOLA...RED RIVER...
RUSK...SABINE TX...SAN AUGUSTINE...SHELBY...SMITH...TITUS...
UPSHUR...AND WOOD.
&&
17/08HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA 1200 PM CDT WED MAY 7 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>167-081100- 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- 1200 PM CDT WED MAY 7 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...TODAY AND TONIGHT... THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ACROSS NORTHEAST TEXAS...SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...EXTREME SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...AND EXTREME NORTHWEST LOUISIANA. THIS MODERATE RISK AREA INCLUDES TYLER...LONGVIEW...IDABEL...TEXARKANA...AND SHREVEPORT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE FOUR STATE AREA. THIS SLIGHT RISK AREA INCLUDES LUFKIN...MONROE...AND EL DORADO. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WILL BE THE MOST COMMON SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. HOWEVER...TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE MODERATE RISK AREA. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TODAY...POSSESSING AMPLE JET STREAM DYNAMICS. THIS SYSTEM WILL ENCOUNTER UNSTABLE AIR AND STRONG LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR OVER OUR FOUR STATE AREA. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON NEAR OR EAST OF I 35 IN NORTH TEXAS...AND MOVE EAST NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH TONIGHT ACROSS THE FOUR STATE AREA. THE SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD EXIT OUR AREA TOWARD SUNRISE THURSDAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS...IS LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. 17
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
347 PM CDT WED MAY 7 2008
ARZ059-060-070-TXZ097-072115-
BOWIE-HEMPSTEAD-LITTLE RIVER-MILLER-
347 PM CDT WED MAY 7 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A SPECIAL
WEATHER STATEMENT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES
IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
LITTLE RIVER...HEMPSTEAD AND MILLER
IN NORTHEAST TEXAS
BOWIE
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
FULTON...MANDEVILLE...OGDEN...TEXARKANA...HOOKS...MAUD...NASH...
REDWATER AND WAKE VILLAGE
AT 347 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MAUD...OR 8 MILES EAST OF SIMMS...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 70 MPH.
SMALL HAIL...AND WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LAT...LON 3375 9402 3359 9363 3334 9405 3326 9435
3334 9452
TIME...MOT...LOC 2047Z 231DEG 61KT 3337 9431
15PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
749 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0723 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 W JACKSONVILLE 31.97N 95.28W
05/07/2008 CHEROKEE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN ALONG FM 3301
&&
CSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
810 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0723 PM TSTM WND DMG RUSK 31.80N 95.15W
05/07/2008 CHEROKEE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
WINDS BLEW DOOR IN ON A HOME AS WELL AS WINDOWS BLOWN OUT
&&
CSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
836 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0805 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 E LONGVIEW 32.52N 94.68W
05/07/2008 HARRISON TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN AT LANSING AND LIGHTHURST ST...JUST EAST OF
THE GREGG COUNTY LINE IN LONGVIEW.
&&
CSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
844 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0825 PM TSTM WND DMG MARSHALL 32.54N 94.35W
05/07/2008 HARRISON TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN IN MARSHALL
&&
CSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
845 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0827 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 E MARSHALL 32.54N 94.33W
05/07/2008 HARRISON TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWNED ON US HWY 80.
&&
CSThe Shreveport radar (KSHV), 20 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:48 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were downed in the Spring Ridge community southwest of Shreveport, Louisiana.
Three trees were downed at a residence on Whispering Pines Road.
A tree was downed on Pines Road.
A tree was down on a home on Mackey Lane in Shreveport.
A tree was downed blocking Hwy 175 near Mansfield, Louisiana.
Trees were downed on a home on Pine Street.
A tree was downed on Bethel Road.
Trees were downed along Bistineau Lake Road.
Trees were downed along Hwy 534 near Haynesville, Louisiana.
Trees were downed in Zwolle, Louisiana.
Trees were downed in the Martin community.
Trees were downed along Hwy 120.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, 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: 95708, 95714, 95718, 95707, 95712, 95711, 95716, 95720, 95724, 95725, 95727, 95729.