Flash Flooding in Mississippi, April 5, 2008

Name: Flash Flooding in Mississippi, April 5, 2008
Start: 2008-04-05T03:00
End: 2008-04-05T06:00
Location: Mississippi

April 5, 2008 · NWS MOB · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Heavy rains fell across the area on April 5. The heavy rainfall caused several streets across the area to flood.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

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.

Heavy rains fell across the area on April 5. The heavy rainfall caused several streets across the area to flood. The streets had to be closed for an hour or so because of the high water. Rainfall totals across the area were between two and six inches.

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 Apr 4, 2:42 PM CST, 12 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 2:42 PM CST, 12 hours 18 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
342 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

.SYNOPSIS...FOR THE CURRENT FORECAST...BIGGEST ITEM TO DEAL WITH IS
THE ONGOING WEATHER OVER THE LOWER MISS RIVER VALLEY. THE UPPER
DYNAMICS PART OF THIS WEATHER IS A COUPLE OF SHORTWAVES MOVING OVER
THE SOUTHERN/CENTRAL PLAINS AT THIS TIME. IN ADDITION TO THESE
SHORTWAVES...THERE IS A CLOSED LOW MOVING OVER THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST AND A SHORTWAVE SYSTEM OVER THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN/EASTERN
GULF OF MEX. RIDGE HAS BUILT NORTH OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC TO OVER
EASTERN CA. WITH THE RIDGE A BIT FARTHER EAST THAN ANTICIPATED
YESTERDAY...THE EFFECT OF THE UPPER DYNAMICS IS AFFECTING MORE OF THE
FA THIS AFTERNOON. IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE TROPOSPHERE...THE
SURFACE FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM IS STRETCHING FROM THE TX
GULF COAST TO NEAR KERI. SURFACE TEMPS SOUTH OF THE I-20 CORRIDOR
OVER THE LOWER MISS RIVER VALLEY AND WESTERN SE-RN CONUS WERE
HOVERING AROUND 80(COOLER ALONG THE GULF COAST)...WITH DEWPOINTS IN
THE MID 60S AHEAD OF THE MOST ACTIVE AREA...RESULTING IN GOOD
INSTABILITY TO FEED THE WEATHER FIRE. HELPING TO MAINTAIN ON ONSHORE
FLOW IS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER THE WESTERN
ATLANTIC.....STRETCHING WEST OVER THE SC/GA/N-RN FL ATLANTIC
SEABOARD.

&&

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT)...THIS CURRENT WEATHER IS
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY AS THE UPPER DYNAMICS SWING
EAST...THEN NORTHEAST AS THE UPPER RIDGE COMES INTO PLAY...WITH THE
TRAILING FRONT SLOWING AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE FA BEGINNING LATE THIS
EVENING. THIS FRONT IS BEING FORECASTED TO STALL JUST SOUTH OF THE
20-60NM MARINE ZONES SATURDAY NIGHT...PROVIDING THE FOCUS FOR PRECIP
AS A SHORTWAVE SYSTEM MOVES OVER THE GULF SOUTH OF THE AREA SUNDAY AS
THIS SYSTEM MOVES SOUTHEAST OF THE FA. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BEHIND
THIS SYSTEM SHIFTS TO OFF THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD...HELPING TO
MAINTAIN AN OFFSHORE FLOW INTO MONDAY.

HAVE KEPT THE SEVERE WORDING OVER MOST OF THE AREA THROUGH THIS
EVENING...BUT AS THE INSTABILITY WEAKENS AND THE UPPER DYNAMICS PULL
AWAY NORTHEAST...AM EXPECTING THE ONGOING PRECIP TO WEAKEN. THERE IS
SOME VARYING INTERPRETATIONS OF HOW FAR THE COLD AIR BEHIND THE
TRAILING FRONT WILL PUSH. GFS IS A LITTLE STRONGER/FASTER THAN THE
NAM/MET...RESULTING IN HIGHS FOR SATURDAY ABOUT 4 DEGREES ON AVERAGE
COOLER....AND THE PRECIP ENDING SOONER (SHOWN IN THE LOWER POPS MOST
OF THE AREA). HAVE WENT WITH A BLENDED APPROACH FOR NOW THROUGH
SATURDAY NIGHT...WHICH AGREES PRETTY MUCH WITH THE ENSEMBLE MEAN.

SUNDAY...STILL HAVE UNCERTAINTY IN HOW FAR NORTH THE PRECIP SHIELD
WILL SPREAD. 12Z GFS HAS PUSHED THE SHIELD FARTHER NORTH FROM THE 00Z
RUN...WHILE THE NAM HAS MAINTAINED MORE CONTINUITY. HAVE BUMPED THE
LATEST GFS SOLUTION DOWN A BIT AS A RESULT.

.LONG TERM (MONDAY ON)...BY THE END OF THE DAY MONDAY...SOUTHERLY
FLOW HAS RE-ASSERTED ITSELF OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN CONUS AS A SYSTEM
MOVES OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS. GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO ADVERTISE UPPER
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER THE EASTERN SEABOARD...DIRECTING THE
UPPER DYNAMICS TOWARDS THE GREAT LAKES AND KEEPING ANY FRONT FROM
APPROACHING THE FA. WITH THE CONTINUED SOUTHERLY FLOW...TEMPS ABOVE
NORMAL ARE EXPECTED...WITH THE BEST CHANCE FOR RAIN BEING OVER THE
WESTERN-MOST PARTS OF THE FA AND POINTS WEST.

&&

.MARINE...SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT AHEAD OF COLD FRONT
APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
AHEAD OF THE FRONT MOSTLY TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY. A LIGHT
NORTHERLY WIND FLOW WILL DEVELOP IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT LATE
SATURDAY THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY BECOMING EAST TO SOUTHEAST IN THE
AFTERNOON. EASTERLY WINDS AND SEAS WILL BUILD SLIGHTLY BY EARLY NEXT
WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE STRENGTHENS ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...A SYSTEM PASSING OVER THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH SATURDAY WILL BRING RAIN TO THE AREA. THIS SYSTEM WILL LEAVE
A TRAILING FRONT OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO LATE
SATURDAY...WITH A LIGHT NORTHERLY FLOW TO THE AREA SATURDAY
NIGHT...BUT WITH SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OFF THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD AND
AN APPROACHING SYSTEM...LOW LEVEL WINDS WILL BECOME SOUTHEASTERLY TO
SOUTHERLY BY MONDAY NIGHT. LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL BE STRONG THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING SYSTEM...WEAK
NORTHERLY BEHIND THE SYSTEM...THEN LIGHT TO MODERATE ONSHORE MONDAY
NIGHT INTO THE COMING WEEK. SOME DRYING OUT IS EXPECTED SUNDAY...BUT
RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN ABOVE CRITERIA
LEVELS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MOBILE      66  76  58  80  61 /  90  70  10  20  10
PENSACOLA   67  73  60  78  63 /  80  80  10  20  10
DESTIN      66  73  62  77  64 /  70  80  10  20  20
EVERGREEN   64  74  53  80  56 /  90  80  05  10  10
WAYNESBORO  58  74  49  80  54 / 100  60  10  10  10
CAMDEN      62  71  52  80  55 / 100  70  10  10  10

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.
FL...NONE.
MS...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 8:18 PM CST, 6 hours 42 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
918 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-GMZ630-650-655-670-675-MSZ067-075-076-078-
079-060400-
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-MOBILE BAY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-WAYNE-PERRY-
GREENE-STONE-GEORGE-
918 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF INLAND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...THE WESTERN FLORIDA
PANHANDLE...AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS OF ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST
FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT
AND EARLY SATURDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHWEST
ALABAMA...AND WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE. THE STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOPED EARLIER ON FRIDAY IN MISSISSIPPI
CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS EVENING. THE
BEST CHANCE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE GENERALLY EAST
OF A LINE FROM LUCEDALE MISSISSIPPI TO GREENVILLE ALABAMA THROUGH
MUCH OF TONIGHT WITH DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED
TORNADOES POSSIBLE WITH SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS. A COOLER AIR
MASS HAS MOVED INTO PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND EXTREME
SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA THIS EVENING...WHICH HAS TEMPORARILY DECREASED
THE CHANCE OF TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS.

ANOTHER AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME STRONG TO POSSIBILITY
SEVERE...WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA BEFORE DAYBREAK AND LINGER INTO
MIDDAY SATURDAY. THE MAIN THREATS WITH THE NEXT APPROACHING SYSTEM
LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY FOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI
...SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...AND WESTERN FLORIDA...APPEARS TO BE LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. SOME MINOR FLOODING MAY ALSO BE POSSIBLE AS
IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. THE AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
BEGIN TO TAPER OFF BY MIDDAY SATURDAY AS THE SYSTEM MOVES EASTWARD.

THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK FOR DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ALONG AREA
BEACHES TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...LATE SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK FOR DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ALONG AREA
BEACHES MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AS EASTERLY WINDS GRADUALLY BUILD
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL LIKELY BE
NEEDED TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 4, 11:39 PM CST, 3 hours 21 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1239 AM CDT SAT APR 5 2008

ALZ057-058-060-050645-
COVINGTON-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LUVERNE...
1239 AM CDT SAT APR 5 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS BEING DETECTED OVER COVINGTON...BUTLER
AND CRENSHAW COUNTIES...

AT 1236 AM CDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM NEAR SOUTH...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND...
GANTT...OAKY STREAK...CLEARVIEW...DOZIER...ROSE HILL AND BRANTLEY
THROUGH 145 AM CDT.

THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THIS STORM ARE SMALL HAIL...DANGEROUS CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING... AND WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH...WHICH COULD
DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS OR BRANCHES AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL
OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED.

THIS STORM COULD PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES IN A
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...RESULTING IN BRIEF PONDING OF WATER AROUND LOW
LYING AREAS. REMEMBER...DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO WATER COVERED
ROADWAYS. THE DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW A SAFE CROSSING.

Local storm report, Apr 5, 2:00 AM CST, 1 hour before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
300 AM CDT SAT APR 05 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0255 AM     FLASH FLOOD      CHICKASAW               30.76N 88.08W
04/05/2008                   MOBILE             AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NUMEROUS ROADS UNDER WATER IN THE CITY OF CHICKASAW
            INCLUDING TELEGRAPH ROAD...12TH AVENUE...AND US HIGHWAY
            43 AT GRANT STREET. ALSO...MULTIPLE REPORTS OF CARS UNDER
            WATER.

&&

DL

Local storm report, Apr 5, 2:08 AM CST, 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
308 AM CDT SAT APR 05 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0305 AM     FLASH FLOOD      SARALAND                30.82N 88.07W
04/05/2008                   MOBILE             AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            WATER OVER SEVERAL ROADS IN THE CITY OF
            SARALAND...ESPECIALLY IN THE SHELTON BEACH ESTATES AREA.
            WATER WAS ENTERING A HOUSE ON COURTAULDS AVENUE.

&&

DL

Local storm report, Apr 5, 2:13 AM CST, 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
313 AM CDT SAT APR 05 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0310 AM     FLASH FLOOD      PRICHARD                30.74N 88.09W
04/05/2008                   MOBILE             AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PRICHARD POLICE REPORTS NUMEROUS ROADS FLOODED ACROSS THE
            CITY. A CAR WAS SUBMERGED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF MARSH
            AVENUE AND HAIG STREET.

&&

DL

Local storm report, Apr 5, 2:36 AM CST, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
336 AM CDT SAT APR 05 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0320 AM     FLASH FLOOD      DOWNTOWN MOBILE         30.69N 88.04W
04/05/2008                   MOBILE             AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MOBILE POLICE REPORTS NUMEROUS FLOODED ROADS IN DOWNTOWN
            MOBILE. PORTIONS OF SOME ROADS ARE BEING
            CLOSED...ESPECIALLY EAST OF I-65... INCLUDING PARTS OF
            OLD SHELL RD...UNION AVE...BAY SHORE AVE...FLORIDA
            ST...JOSEPHINE AVE...HIGHLAND AVE...DAUPHIN ST...SAGE
            AVE...AND STREETS IN THE VICNITY OF THE AIRPORT BLVD/I-65
            INTERCHANGE. SEVERAL CARS WERE SUBMERGED AND IN ONE
            LOCATION PASSENGERS WERE STRANDED ON TOP OF A CAR.

&&

DL

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 2:43 AM CST, 17 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
343 AM CDT SAT APR 5 2008

ALZ058-060-050930-
COVINGTON-CRENSHAW-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ANDALUSIA...
343 AM CDT SAT APR 5 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS BEING DETECTED OVER COVINGTON AND
CRENSHAW COUNTIES...

AT 334 AM CDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM OVER PLEASANT HOME...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND...
LIBERTYVILLE...ANDALUSIA...HEATH...SANFORD...GREEN BAY...BABBIE AND
ONYCHA THROUGH 430 AM CDT.

THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THIS STORM ARE SMALL HAIL...DANGEROUS CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING... AND WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH...WHICH COULD
DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS OR BRANCHES AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL
OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED.

THIS STORM COULD PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES IN A
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...RESULTING IN BRIEF PONDING OF WATER AROUND LOW
LYING AREAS. REMEMBER...DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO WATER COVERED
ROADWAYS. THE DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW A SAFE CROSSING.

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Stone

When: April 5, 3:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Stone County, 5 mi E of Beatrice to 8 mi W of Mc Henry
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.730, -88.866

Flash Flood, Greene

When: April 5, 3:15 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Greene County, 5 mi SE of Leakesville to 5 mi E of County Line
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.099, -88.510

Flash Flood, Perry

When: April 5, 3:15 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Perry County, 3 mi N of Runnelstown to 3 mi E of Good Hope
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.423, -89.120

Flash Flood, George

When: April 5, 3:30 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: George County, Merrill to Benndale
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.980, -88.720

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Mississippi in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Mississippi, April 2008

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: 93038, 93032, 93034, 93029.