Warm, moist air ahead of a developing low pressure system produced showers and thunderstorms during the morning hours of February 4, 2008. One of the thunderstorms produced dangerous lightning that caused a fire at a residence.
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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.
Warm, moist air ahead of a developing low pressure system produced showers and thunderstorms during the morning hours of February 4, 2008. One of the thunderstorms produced dangerous lightning that caused a fire at a residence.
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 Feb 4, 4:21 AM CST, 2 hours 54 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
421 AM CST MON FEB 4 2008
.DISCUSSION...
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK POSSIBLE TUESDAY.
THIS MORNING...VERY MOIST AIR WAS PUSHING NORTHWARD FROM THE GULF
INTO THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY. SURFACE DEWPOINTS HAVE
CLIMBED INTO THE LOWER 60S NORTHWARD TO MEMPHIS. SURFACE LOW
PRESSURE OVER THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES WILL COMBINE WITH HIGH PRESSURE
ALONG THE EAST COAST TO PRODUCE AN INCREASING SOUTH WIND FLOW
ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH. THINK WIND SPEEDS WILL REACH ADVISORY
CRITERIA BY THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHEAST AR AND THE MO
BOOTHEEL...THUS HAVE ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY FOR THIS AREA. THE
ENTIRE MID-SOUTH WILL BECOME FIRMLY ENTRENCHED IN THE WARM SECTOR
TODAY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. MODELS INDICATE AN
UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE IN SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW WILL GIVE MAINLY
NORTHEAST MS A LITTLE BETTER CHANCE FOR CONVECTION THIS MORNING.
THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM PARTS OF
NORTHEAST AR...THE MO BOOTHEEL...INTO EXTREME NORTHWEST TN LATE
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE IS LOW DUE TO
LACK OF ANY SIGNIFICANT LIFTING FORCES. THE NAM MODEL DOES SHOW
CAPES INCREASING TO BETWEEN 1000 AND 1600 J/KG IN THIS AREA THIS
AFTERNOON WITH 0-3 KM HELICITY IN EXCESS OF 400 M2/S2. THUS IF
ENOUGH WARMING OCCURS AND THE INSTABILITY DOES INCREASE AS
FORECAST BY THE NAM...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN
THE SLIGHT RISK AREA. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE THE
MAIN THREATS. ALTHOUGH WITH THE STRONG DIRECTIONAL AND SPEED
SHEAR...ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN NOT BE RULED OUT.
THE GREATER EMPHASIS FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR TUESDAY
AND TUESDAY EVENING. MODELS CONTINUE IN AGREEMENT ON THE POTENTIAL
FOR A WIDESPREAD AND SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK ACROSS
THE MID-SOUTH TUESDAY. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS UPGRADED
MOST OF THE AREA TO A MODERATE RISK FOR TUESDAY. A STRONG UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH WILL APPROACH THE MID-SOUTH GRADUALLY BECOMING MORE
NEGATIVELY TILTED AS IT STRENGTHENS. A SURFACE LOW IS FORECAST TO
MOVE FROM SOUTHERN OK TO SOUTHERN IL DEEPENING TO 998 MB AS
INDICATED BY THE GFS. A COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE INTO EAST
AR DURING THE AFTERNOON REACHING THE TN RIVER BY MIDNIGHT.
UNSEASONABLY WARM...MOIST...UNSTABLE AIR ALONG WITH A STRONG WIND
FIELD WILL OCCUR AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB
INTO THE LOWER AND MID 70S...DEWPOINTS INTO THE 60S. LIFTED
INDICES ARE FORECAST NEAR MINUS 4 WITH CAPES BETWEEN 1000 AND 1500
J/KG. THE AREA WILL BE IN THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF A 130 KT
JET IN THE UPPER LEVELS. SOUTH-SOUTHWESTERLY 850 MB WINDS ARE
FORECAST NEAR 60 KTS. GOOD SPEED AND DIRECTIONAL SHEAR IS
INDICATED WITH 0 TO 1 KM HELICITY AROUND 250 M2/S2 AND 0 TO 3 KM
HELICITY AROUND 350 M2/S2. DISCREET SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS ARE
POSSIBLE ALONG AND WEST OF THE MS RIVER BY NOON...SPREADING ACROSS
THE MID-SOUTH DURING THE DAY. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ALONG
WITH THE THREAT OF TORNADOES CAN EXPECTED FROM THESE SUPERCELLS.
IN ADDITION...A SQUALL LINE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP JUST AHEAD OF
THE COLD FRONT...SWEEPING THROUGH THE MID-SOUTH DURING THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED
TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE SQUALL LINE. MID-SOUTHERNERS
SHOULD KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE LATEST FORECASTS CONCERNING THE
SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL TUESDAY. IN ADDITION...GRADIENT SOUTH
WINDS BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH CAN BE
EXPECTED TUESDAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. AS A RESULT...A WIND
ADVISORY MAY BECOME NECESSARY.
MUCH COOLER AIR IS FORECAST TO SPREAD INTO THE AREA WEDNESDAY WITH
DRY WEATHER THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. A WEAK UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCE IS FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THURSDAY /
THURSDAY NIGHT...AND ANOTHER ONE IS FORECAST FRIDAY / FRIDAY
NIGHT. MODELS AGREE THAT MOISTURE WILL LIMITED WITH THESE SYSTEMS.
THUS AT THIS TIME...WILL ONLY FORECAST AN INCREASE IN CLOUDS WITH
THESE FEATURES.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM 73 65 74 39 / 40 40 100 80
MKL 71 63 75 39 / 40 40 90 100
JBR 71 62 71 35 / 40 60 100 60
TUP 73 63 75 43 / 60 30 70 100
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON
FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-POINSETT-RANDOLPH.
MO...WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON
FOR DUNKLIN.
MS...NONE.
TN...NONE.
&&
JCLHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 512 AM CST MON FEB 4 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>092-051200- 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- 512 AM CST MON FEB 4 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...AND A SMALL PART OF NORTHWEST TENNESSEE. THE RISK AREA IS GENERALLY ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM FORREST CITY ARKANSAS TO TIPTONVILLE TENNESSEE. THE BEST TIME FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS BETWEEN 2 PM AND 10 PM. A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WITH DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. A WIND ADVISORY HAD BEEN POSTED FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM. THE WIND ADVISORY AREA IS GENERALLY ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM WYNNE ARKANSAS TO KENNETT MISSOURI. SOUTHERLY WINDS AROUND 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH TUESDAY. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MOST OF THE MID-SOUTH. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG AND WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AFTER 10 AM...SPREADING EASTWARD DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL END BY MIDNIGHT AS A COLD FRONT MOVES EAST OF THE AREA. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO EAST ARKANSAS TUESDAY AFTERNOON...MOVING EAST OF THE MID-SOUTH BY MIDNIGHT. UNSEASONABLY WARM...MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR WILL OCCUR AHEAD OF THE FRONT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WELL AHEAD OF THE FRONT. IN ADDITION...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...WITH SOME STORMS SEVERE...IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT. SOUTH WINDS BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO NEAR 45 MPH WILL OCCUR ACROSS MUCH OF THE MID-SOUTH TUESDAY. A WIND ADVISORY MAY BECOME NECESSARY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS PARTS OF THE MID-SOUTH...BUT IS MORE LIKELY TUESDAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. JCL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 436 AM CST MON FEB 4 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>092-042200- 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- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ABERDEEN...AMORY...BARTLETT... BATESVILLE...BLYTHEVILLE...BOLIVAR...BOONEVILLE... CARUTHERSVILLE...CLARKSDALE...COLLIERVILLE...CORINTH... COVINGTON...DRESDEN...DYERSBURG...FORREST CITY...GERMANTOWN... HARRISBURG...HELENA...HUMBOLDT...HUNTINGDON...IUKA...JACKSON... JONESBORO...KENNETT...LEXINGTON...MARTIN...MEMPHIS...MILAN... MILLINGTON...NEW ALBANY...OLIVE BRANCH...OXFORD...PARAGOULD... PARIS...SAVANNAH...SOMERVILLE...SOUTHAVEN...TUNICA...TUPELO... UNION CITY...WALNUT RIDGE...WEST MEMPHIS...WYNNE 436 AM CST MON FEB 4 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS POSSIBLE TUESDAY AND TUESDAY EVENING ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTH WINDS WILL PUSH UNSEASONABLY WARM...MOIST...AND UNSTABLE AIR INTO THE AREA AHEAD OF THE FRONT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WELL AHEAD OF OF THE COLD FRONT. IN ADDITION...A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG AND WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AFTER 10 AM...SPREADING EASTWARD DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE COLD FRONT AND THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL MOVE EAST OF THE MID-SOUTH BY MIDNIGHT. MID-SOUTHERNERS SHOULD KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. JCL
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:14 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a home on County Road 112 outside of Tishomingo. The strike produced a fire in the storage shed. The shed was destroyed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, February 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: 85926.