A strong cold front triggered a squall line which tracked across east Tennessee on the afternoon hours on the 11th. Most of the storm reports were for damaging thunderstorm winds.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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 MRX wrote it up.
A strong cold front triggered a squall line which tracked across east Tennessee on the afternoon hours on the 11th. Most of the storm reports were for damaging thunderstorm winds.
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 Morristown, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 11, 12:55 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 255 PM EDT FRI APR 11 2008 .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT)...STRONG CONVECTION WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS EVENING. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE MAIN THREAT. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE. COLD WEATHER ON TAP FOR THE SHORT TERM. COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH AREA OVERNIGHT. CORE OF UPPER JET WILL PASS THROUGH THE AREA SAT DRYING OUT THE LAYER FAIRLY WELL. BREEZY WSW WINDS WILL RESULT IN WIND CHILLS READINGS IN THE 50S. A SPOKE OF CAA MOVES SE THROUGH THE AREA SATURDAY NIGHT. THIS RESULTS IN A STRENGTHENING INVERSION AROUND 6000 FT WHICH WILL TRAP STRATO-CU DECK. THIS WILL HOLD TEMPS UP SOME SAT NGT. YET ANOTHER SPOKE OF CAA WITH DEEPER MOISTURE MOVES IN ON SUNDAY. FREEZING LEVEL DROPS DOWN TO AROUND 3000 FT. BY SUNDAY EVENING LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. IT WILL BE MUCH COLDER THAN NORMAL SUNDAY NIGHT BUT CURRENTLY APPEARS MOST VALLEY LOCATIONS WILL REMAIN ABOVE FREEZING THANKS MAINLY TO CLOUD COVER. .LONG TERM (MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)...UPPER LOW TRACKING ACROSS THE CWA ON MONDAY BRINGING COLD AIR WITH IT. SUFFICIENT MOISTURE IS ALSO INDICATED TO KEEP CHANCE POPS GOING FOR MONDAY....THE HIGHEST CHANCES SHOULD BE IN THE NORTH WHERE THE BEST LIFT IS INDICATED. THICKNESS ANALYSIS INDICATE SNOW POSSIBLE FOR THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS INTO MORNING MORNING. STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY ON THE TRACK OF THE UPPER LOW WHICH WILL AFFECT TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. LOW SHIFTS EAST OF THE AREA ON MONDAY NIGHT. RIDGE BUILDS INTO THE REGION ON TUESDAY BRINGING DRY WEATHER FOR TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. MODELS INDICATING A WEAK FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NORTH ON FRIDAY. WITH STILL UNCERTAINTY ON INTENSITY AND TIMING WILL KEEP FRIDAY DRY FOR NOW. STAYED NEAR MEX/HPC GUIDANCE NUMBERS FOR TEMPERATURES. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... CHATTANOOGA AIRPORT, TN 55 66 40 53 35 / 80 10 10 40 30 KNOXVILLE MCGHEE TYSON AIRPORT, TN 55 65 37 50 33 / 80 10 20 50 40 OAK RIDGE, TN 52 64 36 49 35 / 80 10 30 50 40 TRI CITIES AIRPORT, TN 55 65 37 49 31 / 90 20 30 50 40 && .MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. TN...NONE. VA...NONE. && SON/GH
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 459 AM EDT FRI APR 11 2008 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-120900- CHEROKEE-CLAY-SCOTT TN-CAMPBELL-CLAIBORNE-HANCOCK-HAWKINS- SULLIVAN-JOHNSON-MORGAN-ANDERSON-UNION-GRAINGER-HAMBLEN- NORTHWEST COCKE-COCKE SMOKY MOUNTAINS-NORTHWEST GREENE- SOUTHEAST GREENE-WASHINGTON TN-UNICOI-NORTHWEST CARTER- SOUTHEAST CARTER-ROANE-LOUDON-KNOX-JEFFERSON-NW BLOUNT- BLOUNT SMOKY MOUNTAINS-NORTH SEVIER-SEVIER SMOKY MOUNTAINS- SEQUATCHIE-BLEDSOE-RHEA-MEIGS-MCMINN-NORTHWEST MONROE- SOUTHEAST MONROE-MARION-HAMILTON-BRADLEY-WEST POLK-EAST POLK-LEE- WISE-SCOTT-RUSSELL-WASHINGTON- 459 AM EDT FRI APR 11 2008 /359 AM CDT FRI APR 11 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION TODAY AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ...WITH A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN SEVERE THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH...AND HAIL OF PENNY SIZE OR LARGER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY COLDER AIR AND A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE IN FOR THE WEEKEND ...AND IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE SNOW SHOWERS OVER HIGHER TERRAIN WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS. TEMPERATURES AT OR BELOW FREEZING WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY MORNINGS. OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED FROM TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. TG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 318 PM EDT FRI APR 11 2008 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-120330- CHEROKEE-CLAY-SCOTT TN-CAMPBELL-CLAIBORNE-HANCOCK-HAWKINS- SULLIVAN-JOHNSON-MORGAN-ANDERSON-UNION-GRAINGER-HAMBLEN- NORTHWEST COCKE-COCKE SMOKY MOUNTAINS-NORTHWEST GREENE- SOUTHEAST GREENE-WASHINGTON TN-UNICOI-NORTHWEST CARTER- SOUTHEAST CARTER-ROANE-LOUDON-KNOX-JEFFERSON-NW BLOUNT- BLOUNT SMOKY MOUNTAINS-NORTH SEVIER-SEVIER SMOKY MOUNTAINS- SEQUATCHIE-BLEDSOE-RHEA-MEIGS-MCMINN-NORTHWEST MONROE- SOUTHEAST MONROE-MARION-HAMILTON-BRADLEY-WEST POLK-EAST POLK-LEE- WISE-SCOTT-RUSSELL-WASHINGTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MURPHY...HAYESVILLE...ONEIDA... LA FOLLETTE...TAZEWELL...SNEEDVILLE...ROGERSVILLE...KINGSPORT... BRISTOL...MOUNTAIN CITY...WARTBURG...CLINTON...OAK RIDGE... MAYNARDVILLE...RUTLEDGE...MORRISTOWN...NEWPORT...COSBY... GREENEVILLE...CEDAR CREEK...JOHNSON CITY...ERWIN...ELIZABETHTON... ROAN MOUNTAIN...KINGSTON...LENOIR CITY...KNOXVILLE...DANDRIDGE... MARYVILLE...CADES COVE...SEVIERVILLE...GATLINBURG...DUNLAP... PIKEVILLE...DAYTON...DECATUR...ATHENS...MADISONVILLE... COKER CREEK...JASPER...CHATTANOOGA...CLEVELAND...BENTON... DUCKTOWN...JONESVILLE...WISE...GATE CITY...LEBANON...ABINGDON 318 PM EDT FRI APR 11 2008 /218 PM CDT FRI APR 11 2008/ ...STORMY WEATHER THIS EVENING TO BE FOLLOWED BY UNSEASONABLY COLD AIR FOR THE WEEKEND... A STRONG COLD FRONT ACROSS THE TENNESSEE RIVER VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON WILL MOVE EAST INTO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS TONIGHT. BREEZY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF THIS COLD FRONT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THIS FRONT APPROACHES. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP...BRINGING THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE. UNSEASONABLY COLD AIR WILL THEN MOVE INTO THE REGION THIS WEEKEND AND LINGER INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING SOME FIFTEEN TO TWENTY DEGREES BELOW NORMAL BY MONDAY. IN FACT... TEMPERATURES COULD FALL TO AROUND FREEZING BY MONDAY AND TUESDAY MORNINGS ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION. SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. SOME SNOW SHOWERS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS...ESPECIALLY DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS. SOME LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS. PLEASE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE TV OR RADIO STATION...FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE ADVISORIES OR WARNINGS.
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:16 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Law enforcement reported pea to nickel size falling in and around Monteagle.
A trained spotter reported three funnel clouds near the Morgan and Cumberland county lines.
Law enforcement reported quarter-size hail falling near Fredonia mountain.
A utility company reported several trees and powerlines downed by thunderstorm winds in the Harriman area.
Law enforcement reported one tree downed by thunderstorms winds on Old Highway 28 just south of Pikeville.
The highway department reported one tree downed by thunderstorm winds on Evensville Mountain Road.
The utility company reported one tree and powerlines downed by thunderstorm winds near Coalfield.
The utility company reported a few trees and powerlines downed by thunderstorm winds across the northern portions of the county.
Law enforcement reported one tree downed by thunderstorm winds on Little Dogwood Road.
The highway department reported a few trees downed by thunderstorm winds across the northwest portion of the county.
The utility company reported several trees downed by thunderstorm winds along Norris Freeway.
The utility company reported numerous trees and powerlines downed by thunderstorm winds in Lenoir City.
The utility company reported one tree and a few powerlines downed by thunderstorm winds in the Pinecrest community near Jacksboro.
Law enforcement reported one tree downed by thunderstorm winds on Hansard Road south of Maynardville.
The utility company reported several trees and powerlines downed by thunderstorm winds in the extreme southwest portion of the county.
Law enforcement reported one tree downed by thunderstorm winds on Bowen Road.
Law enforcement reported two trees downed by thunderstorm winds in Cleveland.
The utility company reported numerous trees and powerlines downed by thunderstorm winds countywide...especially in the Benton area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, April 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: 89661, 89660, 89662, 89663, 89664, 89665, 89666, 89667, 89668, 89669, 89670, 89671, 89672, 89673, 89838, 89839, 89840, 89841.