Mississippi, 2008

Flash Flooding and Hail in Mississippi, August 2 to 3, 2008

August 2 to 3, 2008 · NWS MEG · 22 events in 10 counties and zones

Diurnal Convection fired up across portions Northeast Mississippi during the late afternoon and evening hours of August 2nd, 2008. Some of the thunderstorms produced flash flooding, large hail and damaging winds.

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
$135,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
22

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 MEG wrote it up.

Diurnal Convection fired up across portions Northeast Mississippi during the late afternoon and evening hours of August 2nd, 2008. Some of the thunderstorms produced flash flooding, large hail and damaging winds. The storms eventually died off, but re-fired over Northwest Mississippi during the late afternoon and early evening hours of August 3rd, 2008. Some of these storms produced damaging winds as well.

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 Memphis, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 2, 1:41 PM CST, 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 2, 1:41 PM CST, 59 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
241 PM CDT SAT AUG 2 2008

.DISCUSSION...

ITS BEEN A VERY HOT DAY ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA AS TEMPERATURES
IN THE 90S AND LOWER 100S COMBINED WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE 70S TO
PRODUCE HEAT INDEX READINGS ABOVE 110. WILL KEEP EXCESSIVE HEAT
WARNING GOING UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING. SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE POPPED UP IN THIS VERY HOT AND HUMID AIR BUT
HAVING BEEN DYING OUT VERY QUICKLY AFTER THEY DEVELOP. COVERAGE IS
VERY LIMITED SO WILL NOT MENTION IN THE FORECAST FOR TONIGHT.
UPPER LEVEL RIDGE REMAINS IN PLACE OVER THE REGION THROUGH
WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL MEAN TEMPERATURES AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WILL
REMAIN IN THE MID 90S TO LOWER 100S FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
DEWPOINT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE A LITTLE LOW OVER THE
NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS SO NOT EXPECTING HEAT INDEX VALUES TO BE QUITE
AS HIGH AS THEY WERE TODAY. STILL HAVE HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR
ENTIRE FORECAST AREA FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 8 PM SUNDAY
EVENING AS HEAT INDEX VALUE WILL STILL REACH 105 OR HIGHER. SOME
RELIEF FROM THE HEAT MAY ARRIVE BY WEDNESDAY AS A WEAK COLD FRONT
APPROACHES THE FORECAST AREA. THE FRONT SHOULD BRING AT LEAST SOME
CLOUDS AND SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS STARTING WEDNESDAY. THE
FRONT SHOULD HANG AROUND FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHICH WILL KEEP AT LEAST
A SMALL CHANCE OF RAIN AROUND FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH NEXT
SATURDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN CLOSER TO NORMAL DURING THIS
TIME PERIOD AS WELL.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM  78 100  76 100 /  10   0   0   0
MKL  70  98  68  99 /  10   0   0   0
JBR  74 101  73 102 /  10   0   0   0
TUP  74 100  70  98 /  10   0   0   0

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR CLAY-
     CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-
     MISSISSIPPI-PHILLIPS-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.

     HEAT ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM CDT SUNDAY FOR CLAY-
     CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-
     MISSISSIPPI-PHILLIPS-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.

MO...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR DUNKLIN-
     PEMISCOT.

     HEAT ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM CDT SUNDAY FOR
     DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.

MS...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR ALCORN-
     BENTON MS-CALHOUN-CHICKASAW-COAHOMA-DESOTO-ITAWAMBA-
     LAFAYETTE-LEE MS-MARSHALL-MONROE-PANOLA-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-
     QUITMAN-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-UNION-
     YALOBUSHA.

     HEAT ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM CDT SUNDAY FOR
     ALCORN-BENTON MS-CALHOUN-CHICKASAW-COAHOMA-DESOTO-ITAWAMBA-
     LAFAYETTE-LEE MS-MARSHALL-MONROE-PANOLA-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-
     QUITMAN-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-UNION-
     YALOBUSHA.

TN...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR CARROLL-
     CHESTER-CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-HARDEMAN-
     HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-
     MCNAIRY-OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.

     HEAT ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM CDT SUNDAY FOR
     CARROLL-CHESTER-CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-
     HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-
     MADISON-MCNAIRY-OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 2, 12:35 PM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
135 PAM CDT SAT AUG 2 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>092-031015-
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-
135 PM CDT SAT AUG 2 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS...
THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

CONTINUED HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST TODAY ACROSS THE
MIDSOUTH. HEAT INDEX VALUE WILL LIKELY EXCEED 110 DEGREES. AN
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING FOR THE
ENTIRE MID SOUTH. A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT AFTER 8 PM THIS
EVENING.

AN ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORM OR TWO WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER NORTH
MISSISSIPPI THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM
BATESVILLE TO FULTON. STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT DOES DEVELOP.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

HOT AND HUMID WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND INTO
EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH AFTERNOON HEAT INDEX VALUES AT OR ABOVE 105
DEGREES. A HEAT ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE MID-SOUTH IS IN EFFECT
THROUGH 8 PM SUNDAY EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:40 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 thunderstorm wind, 9 hail, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Tishomingo

When
August 2, 2:40 PM CST to 2:45 PM CST
Where
Tishomingo County, 0.93 mi NE of Golden
Measured
0.88 in hail
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.489, -88.188

Hail, Tishomingo

When
August 2, 2:45 PM CST to 2:50 PM CST
Where
Tishomingo County, 0.62 mi NW of Tishomingo Co Arpt
Measured
1.5 in hail
Property damage
$4,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.507, -88.207

Hail, Itawamba

When
August 2, 2:45 PM CST to 2:50 PM CST
Where
Itawamba County, 0.34 mi SSE of Fairview
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.365, -88.319

Thunderstorm Wind, Tishomingo

When
August 2, 4:37 PM CST to 4:42 PM CST
Where
Tishomingo County, 0.8 mi SSE of Luke to 0.73 mi E of Luke
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.810, -88.193

Straight line winds knocked down power lines in Downtown Iuka.

Hail, Itawamba

When
August 2, 5:10 PM CST to 5:15 PM CST
Where
Itawamba County, 2 mi E of Mantachie
Measured
0.88 in hail
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.330, -88.465

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When
August 2, 5:10 PM CST to 5:15 PM CST
Where
Lee County, Tupelo to 1.34 mi SSW of Tupelo
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$4,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.270, -88.720

Straight line winds knocked four trees down in Tupelo.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When
August 2, 5:15 PM CST to 5:20 PM CST
Where
Lee County, Plantersville to 1.21 mi SSE of Plantersville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.220, -88.670

Straight line winds knocked down trees in Plantersville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Itawamba

When
August 2, 5:20 PM CST to 5:25 PM CST
Where
Itawamba County, Fulton to 1.32 mi ESE of Fulton
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.270, -88.420

Straight line winds knocked a few trees down in Fulton.

Hail, Alcorn

When
August 2, 5:40 PM CST to 5:45 PM CST
Where
Alcorn County, 1.2 mi ESE of Biggersville
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
34.825, -88.560

Nickel to golf ball size hail fell on Highway 45 between Corinth and Booneville.

Hail, Union

When
August 2, 5:49 PM CST to 5:51 PM CST
Where
Union County, 1.66 mi W of Fairfield
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.424, -88.859

Quarter size hail fell at the intersection of Highway 9 and County Road 197, outside of Blue Springs.

Hail, Lee

When
August 2, 6:00 PM CST to 6:05 PM CST
Where
Lee County, 1.78 mi ESE of Belden
Measured
1.25 in hail
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.315, -88.789

Hail, Pontotoc

When
August 2, 6:10 PM CST to 6:15 PM CST
Where
Pontotoc County, Cherry Creek
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.350, -89.000

Flash Flood, Pontotoc

When
August 2, 6:15 PM CST to 7:45 PM CST
Where
Pontotoc County, Furrs to 0.73 mi E of Furrs
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
34.230, -88.870

Heavy rain produced flash flooding between Pontotoc and Tupelo. Highway 6 was flooded as a result.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pontotoc

When
August 2, 6:15 PM CST to 6:20 PM CST
Where
Pontotoc County, Pontotoc to 0.55 mi SW of Pontotoc
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$12,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.250, -89.000

Straight line winds blew trees down on a couple of houses in Pontotoc.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chickasaw

When
August 2, 6:35 PM CST to 6:50 PM CST
Where
Chickasaw County, Okolona to Houston
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.000, -88.750

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down from straight line winds across much of Chickasaw County. Damage occurred to several houses from fallen trees.

Hail, Lafayette

When
August 2, 7:12 PM CST to 7:17 PM CST
Where
Lafayette County, 5 mi NW of Oxford
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.421, -89.582

Thunderstorm Wind, Lafayette

When
August 2, 7:43 PM CST to 7:53 PM CST
Where
Lafayette County, Denmark to Paris
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.320, -89.350

Straight line winds knocked several trees and power lines down across Southern Lafayette County.

Flash Flood, Pontotoc

When
August 2, 7:45 PM CST to 8:45 PM CST
Where
Pontotoc County, 1 mi W of Pontotoc to 1.23 mi W of Pontotoc
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.250, -89.017

Heavy rain produced flash flooding near Pontotoc. Six inches of water covered the Highway 15 Bypass as a result.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yalobusha

When
August 2, 7:55 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where
Yalobusha County, 1.3 mi E of Water Vly Muni Apt to 0.49 mi E of Water Vly Muni Apt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.171, -89.657

Straight line winds knocked trees down on County Road 106, outside of Water Valley.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lafayette

When
August 2, 8:30 PM CST to 8:35 PM CST
Where
Lafayette County, 3 mi SW of Taylor to Paris
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.239, -89.637

Straight line winds knocked numerous trees down across Southern Lafayette County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yalobusha

When
August 2, 9:02 PM CST to 9:07 PM CST
Where
Yalobusha County, 2.67 mi E of Oakland to 3.8 mi NE of Oakland
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.057, -89.874

Straight line winds blew trees down on County Road 232, outside of Oakland.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tunica

When
August 3, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Tunica County, 0.79 mi SSW of Tunica Arpt
Measured
59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.660, -90.376

Tunica ASOS reported a 68 MPH wind gust.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
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

More

Every storm in Mississippi in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, August 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: 130570, 130571, 130572, 130574, 130575, 130576, 130577, 130578, 130579, 130581, 130582, 130583, 130584, 130585, 130586, 130587, 130588, 130589, 130590, 130591, 130592, 130593.