Flash Flood and Hail in Missouri, April 3 to 4, 2008

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Missouri, April 3 to 4, 2008
Start: 2008-04-03T22:43
End: 2008-04-04T02:00
Location: Missouri

April 3 to 4, 2008 · NWS MEG · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

A warm front lifted north over the Midsouth during the late evening hours of April 3, 2008. Showers and thunderstorms developed over the region in association with the front during the late evening hours which continued into the early morning hours on April 4, 2008.

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: $51,000
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 MEG wrote it up.

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 Apr 3, 5:59 PM CST, 4 hours 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 3, 5:59 PM CST, 4 hours 44 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
659 PM CDT THU APR 3 2008

.DISCUSSION...
WE HAVE EXPANDED THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI ROUGHLY FROM ASHLAND TO OXFORD TO COFFEEVILLE. HEAVY
RAIN IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE WHOLE REGION IN THE FLASH FLOOD
WATCH BEGINNING LATER THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

THE WARM FRONT WAS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA.
MEANWHILE...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE WELL WEST AND NORTH OF THE
MIDSOUTH. HOWEVER SURFACE BASED LI/S AROUND -3 TO -5...SBCAPES
AROUND 2500 J/KG WERE NOTED OVER N MS. UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT STILL
LACKING IN THESE AREAS...SO WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPMENT.

ZONES HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE EXPANDED FLASH FLOOD
WATCH.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 320 PM CDT THU APR 3 2008/

DISCUSSION...SURFACE ANALYSIS THIS AFTERNOON PLACES A WARM FRONT
FROM JUST NORTH OF TUPELO BACK THROUGH OXFORD AND SOUTH OF PINE
BLUFF ARKANSAS THEN BACK TO A LOW CENTERED ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL
OKLAHOMA. ACROSS THE MID SOUTH...A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
STILL REMAIN ACROSS PORTIONS OF WEST TENNESSEE. NORTH OF THE WARM
FRONT TEMPERATURES REMAIN IN THE 50S TO LOWER 60S. SOUTH IN THE
WARM SECTOR...TEMPERATURES HAVE ALREADY RISEN INTO THE 70S...AND
EVEN A FEW AREAS REPORTING TEMPERATURES UP TO 80 DEGREES AS FAR
NORTH AS GREENWOOD MS. MAIN CONCERNS IN THIS FORECAST PACKAGE
CONTINUE TO BE HEAVY RAINFALL AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL.

TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED
ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA WHERE BETTER INSTABILITY AND AN 850 MB LOW
LEVEL JET RESIDES. FURTHER EAST ACROSS ARKANSAS...CONVECTIVE
ANALYSIS INDICATES A CAPPING INVERSION PRESENT IN THE 800-750 MB
LAYER. BASED ON SHORT TERM MODEL SOUNDINGS/LAPS ANALYSIS...THINK
THE RUC/GFS HAVE A BETTER HANDLE ON THE CURRENT SITUATION THAN THE
NAM. AT THIS POINT...THINK A MAJORITY IF NOT ALL OF THE CONVECTION
SHOULD HOLD OFF UNTIL AT LEAST THE LATE EVENING HOURS. THE
PREDOMINANT SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT
BECOME SEVERE WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. HOWEVER...THE
LARGER THREAT AT THIS TIME APPEARS TO BE FLASH FLOOD POTENTIAL AS
PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES APPROACH 2 INCHES AND K-INDICIES BETWEEN
35 TO 37. ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAINFALL TONIGHT AND AN
ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY. WILL CONTINUE
FLASH FLOOD WATCH WITH HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL STILL LOOKING GOOD.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT WILL BE FOCUSED MOSTLY SOUTH OF
I-40 ON FRIDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE MID SOUTH. MOST
UNSTABLE CAPE VALUES WILL RANGE AROUND 1400 J/KG...WITH LI/S
AROUND -4. ONCE AGAIN THE PREDOMINANT SEVERE WEATHER THREATS
APPEAR TO BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. ANY ONGOING CONVECTION
AT THE START OF THE PERIOD ON FRIDAY WILL COME TO AN END BY FRIDAY
NIGHT AND CONTINUED POPS INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SURFACE/UPPER
LEVEL RIDGING WILL BRING DRY WEATHER BACK TO THE MID SOUTH FOR
SATURDAY.

LONG RANGE...(SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...12Z GFS/ECMWF MODELS
INDICATE SHORTWAVE RIDGING WEAKENING BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND AS
UPPER LEVEL FLOW TRANSITIONS BACK TO THE SOUTHWEST. TWO UPPER
LEVEL TROUGHS ARE ANTICIPATED TO AFFECT THE MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY...THE FIRST ONE WILL PASS THROUGH TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY
AND THE SECOND ONE BY THE END OF THE WEEK. CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN BY NEXT TUESDAY.

CJC

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM  62  65  47  66 / 100 100  50  10
MKL  60  64  44  64 / 100 100  60  10
JBR  56  61  43  65 / 100  80  30  10
TUP  62  70  50  65 /  50 100  80  10

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
     GREENE-LAWRENCE-MISSISSIPPI-POINSETT-RANDOLPH.

     FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR CRITTENDEN-CROSS-
     LEE AR-PHILLIPS-ST. FRANCIS.

MO...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.

MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR BENTON MS-COAHOMA-
     DESOTO-LAFAYETTE-MARSHALL-PANOLA-QUITMAN-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-
     TUNICA-YALOBUSHA.

TN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR CARROLL-CROCKETT-
     DYER-GIBSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-OBION-WEAKLEY.

     FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR CHESTER-DECATUR-
     FAYETTE-HARDEMAN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-MADISON-SHELBY-TIPTON.

&&

AC

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 3, 2:35 PM CST, 8 hours 8 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
335 PM CDT THU APR 3 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>092-041015-
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-
335 PM CDT THU APR 3 2008

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

EXCESSIVE RAINFALL IS EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF THE MID SOUTH TODAY
AND TONIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 4 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS ACROSS THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL INTO NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE...WITH BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES OF RAIN ELSEWHERE. PLEASE
SEE THE LATEST FLASH FLOOD WATCHES THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR PARTS
OF THE MID SOUTH.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT ACROSS THE
ENTIRE MID SOUTH. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

EXCESSIVE RAINFALL IS ALSO EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF THE MID-SOUTH
ON FRIDAY WITH ANOTHER 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN POSSIBLE. THERE IS
ALSO A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON FRIDAY SOUTH OF A
LINE FROM HARRISBURG ARKANSAS TO HUNTINGDON TENNESSEE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS MAY BE
NEEDED TONIGHT AND AGAIN ON FRIDAY. IN ADDITION...SPOTTERS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO RELAY REPORTS OF FLASH FLOODING AND NEW RIVER FLOODING
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN MEMPHIS.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 3, 4:55 PM CST, 5 hours 48 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
555 PM CDT THU APR 3 2008

ARZ008-009-032330-
CLAY AR-RANDOLPH AR-
555 PM CDT THU APR 3 2008

...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR...

  NORTHWESTERN CLAY COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
  NORTHERN RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF DALTON AT
555 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

PEOPLE IN CLAY AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM
CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM
CDT.

Local storm report, Apr 3, 10:34 PM CST, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1134 PM CDT THU APR 03 2008

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

1040 PM     TSTM WND DMG     POWHATAN                36.08N 91.12W
04/03/2008                   LAWRENCE           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            2 LARGE TREES DOWN

&&

MRM

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:44 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Dunklin

When: April 3, 10:43 PM CST to 10:48 PM CST
Where: Dunklin County, Holcomb
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.400, -90.030

Thunderstorm Wind, Dunklin

When: April 3, 10:43 PM CST to 10:48 PM CST
Where: Dunklin County, Malden to 0.96 mi NNW of Kennett Mem Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.570, -89.970

Straight line winds knocked over an irrigation pivot along Highway 25 between Malden and Kennett.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pemiscot

When: April 3, 10:53 PM CST to 10:58 PM CST
Where: Pemiscot County, 1.31 mi S of Wardell to 1.38 mi N of Stanley
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.351, -89.817

Straight line winds blew a tractor-trailer over on Interstate 55 near exit 27. In addition, the Ross Elementary School in Wardell sustained roof damage.

Flash Flood, Dunklin

When: April 4, 12:00 AM CST to 2:00 AM CST
Where: Dunklin County, 3 mi WNW of Campbell to 1.49 mi NW of Campbell
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.517, -90.120

Heavy rain produced flash flooding on Highway DD outside of Campbell. The road was closed as a result.

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

Every storm in Missouri in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Missouri, 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: 97661, 97662, 97663, 97666.