Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in North Carolina, May 8 to 9, 2008

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in North Carolina, May 8 to 9, 2008
Start: 2008-05-08T19:44
End: 2008-05-09T00:53
Location: North Carolina

May 8 to 9, 2008 · NWS RAH · 15 events in 6 counties and zones

A strong upper level low moving east-northeast across Kentucky and Tennessee, triggered several instances of severe damaging winds and two tornadoes across the Triad region in the northwest piedmont of North Carolina.

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: 1
Injuries: 5
Property damage: $6.5 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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 RAH 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 Raleigh, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 8, 6:50 PM EST, 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 8, 6:50 PM EST, 54 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
750 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008

.SYNOPSIS...A STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS
TONIGHT AND INTO THE POTOMAC RIVER AREA ON FRIDAY. THE ASSOCIATED
COLD FRONT WILL WAVER ACROSS CENTRAL NC FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY... THEN PRESS SOUTHWARD SATURDAY NIGHT.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
AS OF 0700 PM THURSDAY...

...TORNADO WATCH #282 IS IN EFFECT FROM 700 PM THROUGH 100 AM...

JUST A QUICK UPDATE TO REFLECT THE LATEST THOUGHTS CONCERNING THE
LATEST MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE TRENDS. A BROAD ZONE OF 1.5-3 MB/3HR
SURFACE PRESSURE FALLS FROM NEAR ALBANY GA TO HICKORY NC HAS
PERSISTED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS... IN ADVANCE OF A SUBTLE MID
LEVEL VORT LOBE EXTENDING FROM EASTERN TN TO EASTERN AL. SURFACE
WINDS ACROSS THE NC PIEDMONT AND FOOTHILLS HAVE ACCORDINGLY BACKED
SOME 30 DEGREES DURING THAT TIME... WHICH HAS PRODUCED A PERSISTENT
AREA OF LOW LEVEL CONFLUENCE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL NC AND SC. THERE
HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN BOTH COVERAGE AND INTENSITY OF THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY IN THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE STATE... WHERE FORCING
ATTENDANT THE MID LEVEL WAVE AND PERHAPS OROGRAPHIC EFFECTS ARE
AIDING CONVERGENCE AND ASCENT. THE STRONGER FORCING FOR ASCENT IS
EXPECTED TO SPREAD INTO WESTERN AND CENTRAL NC AFTER 03Z... WHEN THE
EXIT REGION OF A 100+ KNOT UPPER LEVEL JET OVERSPREADS THE CAROLINAS
AND GEORGIA. NOT COINCIDENTALLY... THAT WILL ALSO BE WHEN THE LOW
LEVEL RETURN BRANCH OF THE THERMALLY INDIRECT CIRCULATION WITHIN THE
UPPER JET EXIT REGION DRAMATICALLY INTENSIFIES THE LLJ IN EXCESS OF
45 KNOTS.

THUS... EXPECT THAT MOST OF THE ACTIVITY DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF
HOURS WILL POSE MAINLY A DAMAGING WIND AND HAIL THREAT... AS RUC
ANALYZED 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR OF 50 KNOTS WILL PROMOTE STORM
ORGANIZATION AND ROTATION IN A PLUME OF 7.0 TO 8.0 C/KM LOW LEVEL
LAPSE RATES. THEREAFTER... THE TORNADO THREAT WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE
AS THE LLJ ACCELERATES ACROSS THE AREA AND INITIALLY MARGINAL 15-20
KNOT 0-1 KM SHEAR VALUES INCREASE IN EXCESS OF 30 OR 35 KNOTS
BETWEEN 03 AND 09Z.  -MWS

WITH PW VALUES IN EXCESS OF 1.40 INCHES...CONVECTION HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT RAIN. STORM CELLS SHOULD BE
PROGRESSIVE WITH VIGOROUS LOW LEVEL FLOW BUT TRAINING CELLS WOULD
RESULT IN A FLASH FLOOD THREAT.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 300 PM THURSDAY...

CONVECTION WILL LIKELY BE ADVANCING EASTWARD ACROSS THE COASTAL
PLAIN TOWARD DAYBREAK FRIDAY AND THEN DIMINISHING DURING THE
MORNING. THE SURFACE BOUNDARY WILL LIKELY BE IN THE VICINITY OF THE
US 1 CORRIDOR ON FRIDAY WITH A DRIER AND MORE STABLE AIR MASS IN THE
W PIEDMONT AND A MORE MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS ACROSS THE COASTAL
PLAIN. SMALL CHC OF CONVECTION W OF THE BOUNDARY ON FRI WITH A
GREATER CHANCE ACROSS THE COASTAL PLAIN. EXTREME SE PORTION OF RAH
CWA IS IN THE DAY 2 BUT UPPER FLOW RELAXES AND SHEAR IS NOT THAT
IMPRESSIVE...SO WIDESPREAD SEVERE THREAT APPEARS REDUCED.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM THURSDAY...

STALLED FRONT ACROSS THE REGION ON SATURDAY WILL PRODUCE A STRONG
NORTH-SOUTH TEMP GRADIENT WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS ALONG AND SOUTH
OF THE FRONT. WILL KEEP THE CHANCES IN THE SLIGHT CATEGORY ACROSS
THE SOUTHERN TIER WITH HIGHS GRADUATED FROM LOWER 70S NORTH TO
UPPER 70S SOUTH. WEAK SHORT WAVE RIDGING ALOFT WILL BUILD ACROSS THE
AREA ON SATURDAY NIGHT...FURTHER HAMPERING ANY ATTEMPTS AT
CONVECTION.

DYNAMICS WILL BE GREATLY ENHANCED SUNDAY AS A 120KT JET ROUNDS THE
BASE OF A NEGATIVELY TILTED SHORT WAVE TROF DIGGING SOUTHEAST ACROSS
THE OHIO VALLEY. MODEL CONSENSUS IS QUITE GOOD CONCERNING THE TIMING
OF THIS SYSTEM...WHICH IS FASTER AND FURTHER NORTH THAN PREVIOUS
RUNS...LOW AND UPPER LEVELS ARE PHASED NICELY...BUT THERE IS SOME
DISSENTION ON THE STRENGTH OF THE LOW LEVEL H8 JET...45 KNOTS ON THE
NAM VS 70 KNOTS ON THE GFS...THUS SHEAR AND HELICITY ARE STILL IN
QUESTION. IN ANY EVENT...POPS WILL BE RAISED TO LIKELY AND
CATEGORICAL SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING. TEMPS SHOULD
RANGE WIDELY...70 NORTHWEST TO 80 SOUTHEAST.

AS THE SYSTEM ROTATES OUT...SOME WRAP AROUND MOISTURE WILL LINGER
ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...ONLY SMALL POPS.
MUCH COOLER TEMPS ARE ON TAP IN STRONG NORTHWEST FLOW BEHIND THE
SYSTEM...HIGHS MONDAY WILL BE IN THE 60S.

UPPER RIDGE BUILDS IN FROM THE MIDWEST TUE THROUGH EARLY WED...DRY
WITH HIGHS RECOVERING INTO THE MID AND UPPER 70S. ANOTHER SYSTEM
APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL INCREASE MOISTURE ADVECTION AND BEGIN
INDUCING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS/TSTMS IN THE FAR WEST AS EARLY AS WED
AFTERNOON...WITH ACTIVITY SPREADING EAST ACROSS THE AREA WED NIGHT.
SKIES WILL BE CLEARING BEHIND THIS SYSTEM FOR THURSDAY.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 740 PM THURSDAY...

CONDITIONS AT THE TERMINALS TONIGHT WILL ULTIMATELY HINGE ON
CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE
DEVELOPING RAPIDLY IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE MOUNTAINS WHERE UPSLOPE
FLOW AND INCREASING UPPER LEVEL FORCING IS COMBINING WITH FAVORABLE
INSTABILITY. EXPECT ACTIVITY TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING AND SPREADING
EAST INTO THE WESTERN PIEDMONT THIS EVENING. BEST TIMING FOR
CONVECTION AT INT/GSO AFTER 01Z AND LASTING WELL INTO THE NIGHT.
INCLUDED A BROAD -SHRA/VCTS MENTION FOR SEVERAL HOURS TO ACCOUNT FOR
THE POTENTIAL...WILE FOCUSING ON THE LATE EVENING/EARLY MORNING
HOURS AS THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR DETERIORATING CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE CONVECTION. FURTHER EAST... ACTIVITY NOT LIKELY TO SPREAD
INTO RDU/RWI/FAY UNTIL WELL AFTER MIDNIGHT AND LIKELY AFTER 06Z WHEN
THE BEST FORCING ARRIVES INTO THE AREA. CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL WILL
PERSIST PAST 12Z AT FAY/RWI. AMENDMENTS WILL BE NEEDED OVERNIGHT AS
CONVECTION DEVELOPS AND MOVES INTO THE AREA. WE WILL BE PROACTIVE IN
TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT THE BEST POTENTIAL TIMING FOR THUNDER AND
ASSOCIATED MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS.

LIKELY TO SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN CONDITIONS BY MID MORNING AS THE
MAIN SHORTWAVE ENERGY PASSES OFF TO THE EAST. HOWEVER... THE
ASSOCIATED FRONT WILL LAG BEHIND... TAKING MOST OF THE DAY TO PUSH
THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. ENOUGH MOISTURE PRESENT DOWN AT FAY
TO MAINTAIN A CHANCE OF CONVECTION FOR MOST OF THE DAY... SO A CB
WAS INCLUDED FOR THE AFTERNOON AS INSTABILITY WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF
THE FRONT. OTHERWISE EXPECT PREDOMINANT VFR CONDITIONS WITH BROKEN
CUMULUS CEILINGS AT RDU/RWI/FAY...MAINLY DIURNALLY DRIVEN. LESS
MOISTURE IN THE TRIAD SHOULD RESULT IN JUST A FEW TO SCATTERED
DIURNAL CUMULUS. MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT INTO
SATURDAY... ALTHOUGH THE LINGERING FRONTAL BOUNDARY IN THE SOUTHERN
PORTION OF THE AREA COULD LEAD TO MVFR CONDITIONS IN STRATUS/FOG
NEAR FAY SATURDAY MORNING.

SUNDAY...EXPECT WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AS A
POWERFUL NEGATIVELY TILTED SHORT WAVE DIVES SOUTHEAST INTO THE MID
ATLANTIC. THIS SYSTEM WILL LIFT NORTH OF THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT WITH
CLEARING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH SUNDAY NIGHT. MAINLY CLEAR AND BREEZY
MONDAY.

&&

.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...MWS
NEAR TERM...MWS
SHORT TERM...BLAES
LONG TERM...MLM
AVIATION...JFB

Hazardous weather outlook, May 8, 7:43 PM EST, 1 minute before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
843 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008

NCZ011-027-028-042-043-077-078-085-086-088-089-091000-
HALIFAX-NASH-EDGECOMBE-JOHNSTON-WILSON-HARNETT-WAYNE-SCOTLAND-HOKE-
CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON-
843 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT.

THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA VERY LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT. DAMAGING
WINDS... LARGE HAIL... AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE.
THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE GREATEST BETWEEN 11 PM AND 7 AM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

LINGERING SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING EAST OF
INTERSTATE 95. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP
FRIDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE COASTAL PLAIN AND SANDHILLS. THE
PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL.

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON
AND SUNDAY NIGHT...AS YET ANOTHER STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
APPROACHES CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA FROM THE WEST.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED OVERNIGHT.
SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT SEVERE WEATHER AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO
SO. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LATER WATCHES AND WARNINGS.

NCZ007-021>024-038>040-073>075-083-084-091000-
PERSON-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-ORANGE-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM-
STANLY-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-ANSON-RICHMOND-
843 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008

...TORNADO WATCH 282 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   TORNADO WATCH.

THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA THIS EVENING. DAMAGING WINDS... LARGE HAIL... AND A FEW
TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE
GREATEST BETWEEN 8 PM AND 5 AM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON
AND SUNDAY NIGHT...AS YET ANOTHER STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
APPROACHES CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA FROM THE WEST.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.
SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT SEVERE WEATHER AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO
SO. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LATER WATCHES AND WARNINGS.

NCZ008>010-025-026-041-076-091000-
GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-DURHAM-FRANKLIN-WAKE-LEE-
843 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008

...TORNADO WATCH 283 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EDT FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   TORNADO WATCH.

THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA VERY LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT. DAMAGING
WINDS... LARGE HAIL... AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE.
THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE GREATEST BETWEEN 11 PM AND 7 AM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

LINGERING SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING EAST OF
INTERSTATE 95. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP
FRIDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE COASTAL PLAIN AND SANDHILLS. THE
PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL.

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON
AND SUNDAY NIGHT...AS YET ANOTHER STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
APPROACHES CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA FROM THE WEST.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.
SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT SEVERE WEATHER AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO
SO. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LATER WATCHES AND WARNINGS.

JFB

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 8, 7:00 PM EST, 44 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
800 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008

NCZ023-024-090100-
ALAMANCE-ORANGE-
800 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS ALAMANCE AND ORANGE
COUNTIES THROUGH 900 PM EDT...

AT 800 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
SNOW CAMP...OR ABOUT 7 MILES NORTH OF SILER CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 28 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...SUTPHIN...
SAXAPAHAW...SWEPSONVILLE...GRAHAM...HAW RIVER...MEBANE.

GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS
CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

VINCENT

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 136 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:42 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Randolph

When: May 8, 7:44 PM EST
Where: Randolph County, 1.32 mi ENE of Martha
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.630, -80.000

Nickel size hail was reported at the intersection of Highway 49 and Old Highway 49.

Hail, Randolph

When: May 8, 8:05 PM EST
Where: Randolph County, 4.12 mi NNW of Asheboro Muni Arpt
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.700, -79.920

Hail, Randolph

When: May 8, 8:12 PM EST
Where: Randolph County, 0.56 mi E of North Asheboro
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.750, -79.810

Penny size hail occurred at North Fayetteville Street and Balfour Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Person

When: May 8, 8:35 PM EST
Where: Person County, 2.35 mi NNW of Mt Tirzah
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.310, -78.920

One tree was blown down onto Kermit Duncan Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Granville

When: May 8, 8:40 PM EST
Where: Granville County, 2.17 mi SW of Berea
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.300, -78.760

A tree was blown down onto George Sherman Road, Ben Thorpe Road, and Days Mill Road.

Tornado, Forsyth

When: May 8, 9:23 PM EST to 9:24 PM EST
Where: Forsyth County, 2.05 mi SSW of Clemmons Station to 1.78 mi SSW of Clemmons Station
Rating: EF2
Path length: 0.34 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.975, -80.400

An EF-2 tornado tracked northeast out of Davie County and crossed the Yadkin River into Forsyth County. After crossing the Yadkin River, the tornado touched down near the Old Clemmons Water Treatment Plant along Idols Dam Road. The tornado tracked northeast through a heavily wooded area for just over one quarter of a mile and then lifted off the ground. The parent supercell thunderstorm went on to produce another tornado approximately one mile northeast of the first tornado's ending point. This second tornado went on to produce significant damage to the Clemmons community in Forsyth County.

Tornado, Forsyth

When: May 8, 9:25 PM EST to 9:34 PM EST
Where: Forsyth County, 1.17 mi SSE of Clemmons Station to 0.83 mi SSW of Muddy Creek
Rating: EF3
Path length: 2.9 mi
Path width: 300 yd
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $2.5 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.983, -80.375

This tornado originated from the same parent supercell that produced the tornado in Davie County which lifted in Forsyth County just across the Yadkin River. This second tornado touched down just southwest of Hampton Road. Three metal barns sustained major damage around the 4800 block of Hampton Road with minor damage to two homes. The tornado continued northeast through wooded farmland before hitting the Bridgepoint Subdivision where the tornado strengthened to EF-3 intensity. Three homes were destroyed and approximately thirty homes sustained moderate damage. There were only two minor injuries in the subdivision.

The tornado continued to track to the northeast across Frye Bridge Road and through a heavily wooded area. It then dissipated near the intersection of Cooper Road and Fraternity Church Road. A few homes suffered damage, primarily due to fallen trees. Hardwood tree damage in the area was consistent with EF-2 intensity as tree trunks were snapped in a 200 to 300 yard path. The overall path length of the tornado was around 3 miles with a maximum width of 300 yards.

Tornado, Guilford

When: May 8, 10:29 PM EST to 10:37 PM EST
Where: Guilford County, 3.46 mi NW of Deep River to 1.68 mi W of Greensboro Arpt
Rating: EF2
Path length: 3.85 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $4.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.059, -80.021

The tornado, originally an EF-0, initially touched down just north of Squire Davis Park near the intersection of Sandy Ridge Road and Johnson Street. From there the tornado tracked northeast and intensified to EF-1 intensity as it approached the Farmers Market and Interstate 40. The tornado overturned several cars and tractor trailers as it crossed Interstate 40. A roof was blown off of an office building just north of the interstate as the tornado continued to intensify.

As the tornado moved further northeast into an industrial complex, it further strengthened to EF-2 with winds estimated around 130 mph based on damage to warehouses. Numerous warehouses along Little Santee Road, Capital Drive, and West Market Street sustained significant damage. Numerous vehicles and tractor trailers were also overturned in the industrial complex. At its widest point, the tornado was just over 200 yards wide. The tornado quickly lifted off of the ground after crossing West Market Street near the post office. The tornado was on the ground for about four miles.

One fatality occurred along West Market Street next to the Lamination Service Building located at 8717 West Market Street. The fatality occurred as a 51 year old man slept in the rig of his tractor trailer. Three other injuries were reported, two of which occurred in automobiles and another in the I.H. Caffey Warehouse Distribution Center.

Hail, Guilford

When: May 8, 10:30 PM EST
Where: Guilford County, 1.49 mi SSW of Browns Summit
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.200, -79.730

Thunderstorm Wind, Guilford

When: May 8, 10:33 PM EST
Where: Guilford County, 0.08 mi NNW of (Gso)greensboro Rgnl
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 36.101, -79.930

The Piedmont Triad International Airport ASOS recorded a measured wind gust of 62 mph. Planes and hangers were damaged at the airport. The severe straight line winds occurred on the eastern periphery of the tornadic circulation that passed just to the west of the airport.

Flash Flood, Forsyth

When: May 8, 11:00 PM EST to May 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Forsyth County, 1.01 mi W of Hanes to 1.02 mi W of Hanes
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.079, -80.318

Flash flooding caused the evacuation of apartments on Johnsborough Court in the western portion of Winston-Salem. In total, five water rescues were conducted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Guilford

When: May 8, 11:20 PM EST to 11:25 PM EST
Where: Guilford County, 2 mi SW of Monticello
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 36.200, -79.705

Straight line winds blew down several trees in the Lake Jennette area.

Hail, Guilford

When: May 8, 11:35 PM EST to 11:40 PM EST
Where: Guilford County, 1.07 mi ENE of Battle Ground
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.125, -79.812

Nickel to golf ball size hail covered the ground up to two inches in depth at Pisgah Church Road and Willoughby Boulevard.

Flash Flood, Forsyth

When: May 8, 11:53 PM EST to May 9, 12:53 AM EST
Where: Forsyth County, 1.42 mi SE of Swaintown to 1.24 mi SE of Swaintown
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 36.034, -80.265

Heavy rain caused flash flooding on Peters Creek Parkway.

Thunderstorm Wind, Alamance

When: May 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Alamance County, 2.82 mi NNE of Altamahaw
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.220, -79.490

Straight line winds blew a tree down onto Jimmy Bowles Road.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tornado, Guilford	2008-05-08	51	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct

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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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 North Carolina in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history The tornado archive for North Carolina, 2008 Warnings in North Carolina, May 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: 98515, 98518, 98521, 98525, 98529, 98538, 98573, 98549, 98542, 98552, 98554, 98557, 98558, 98560, 98559.