Thunderstorms developed over West Tennessee along a cold front during the morning and afternoon hours of August 7th, 2008. Some storms became severe with flash flooding and damaging 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 MEG wrote it up.
Thunderstorms developed over West Tennessee along a cold front during the morning and afternoon hours of August 7th, 2008. Some storms became severe with flash flooding and damaging 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 Memphis, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 7, 9:59 AM CST, 26 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1059 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 .UPDATE... NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE PUSHING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH THIS MORNING AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. FLASH FLOODING APPEARS TO BE THE MAIN CONCERN WITH WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN. INCREASED POPS SLIGHTLY FOR TODAY AND DECREASED HIGH TEMPERATURES IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE WHERE RAIN HAS FALLEN. SEVERE POTENTIAL LOOKS TO BE MORE PROMINENT LATER THIS AFTERNOON ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-40 AS THE FRONT PUSHES INTO A MORE UNSTABLE AIRMASS. UPDATED HWO WILL BE OUT SHORTLY. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 431 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008/ DISCUSSION...08Z SURFACE ANALYSIS PLACES A WEAK COLD FRONT FROM KENTUCKY BACK THROUGH SOUTHERN MISSOURI AND INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. ACROSS THE MID SOUTH THIS MORNING CLOUD COVER HAS BEEN GRADUALLY INCREASING AS THE FRONT BEGINS TO DRIFT SOUTH WITH TEMPERATURES MOSTLY IN THE 70S. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL TODAY IS THE PRIMARY FOCUS IN THIS FORECAST PACKAGE. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE MID SOUTH TODAY. REGIONAL WSR-88D RADAR TRENDS INDICATE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTHERN MISSOURI AND NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS. HOWEVER...THIS ELEVATED CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY HAS BEEN WEAKENING AS IT MOVES INTO THE MID SOUTH WHERE WEAK RIDGING IS STILL IN PLACE. NONETHELESS...EXPECTING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING WITH BEST CHANCES OF RAINFALL MAINLY SOUTH OF I-40 THIS AFTERNOON IN ASSOCIATION WITH DAYTIME INSTABILITY. DESPITE SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY...NOT OVERLY IMPRESSED WITH AN ORGANIZED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT TODAY AS 700-500 MB LAYER MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES WILL AVERAGE BELOW 6 C/KM. IF A COLD POOL CAN DEVELOP ACROSS NORTH MISSISSIPPI THIS AFTERNOON FROM ONGOING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...AN ISOLATED THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS/NICKEL SIZE HAIL MAY BE POSSIBLE...MAINLY ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. THE COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT AND FRIDAY WITH RAIN CHANCES COMING TO AN END BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE MID SOUTH. LONG RANGE MODELS STILL INDICATE THE FRONT MOVING BACK NORTH AS A WARM FRONT SUNDAY THEN STALLING OUT ACROSS THE MID SOUTH FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD. AS A RESULT...KEPT RAIN CHANCES IN THE FORECAST FOR SUNDAY AND BEYOND. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 91 71 91 68 / 70 10 10 0 MKL 88 64 90 59 / 70 10 10 0 JBR 89 65 89 62 / 80 10 0 0 TUP 92 68 90 62 / 70 30 10 10 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. && CCD/CJC
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1113 AM CDT THU AUG 7 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>092-081815- 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- 1113 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT HEAVY RAIN WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN WITH ANY STORMS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PROGRESS SOUTHEAST AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. THE BEST SEVERE POTENTIAL LOOKS TO BE ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-40 THIS AFTERNOON. ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT BECOME SEVERE WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI THIS AFTERNOON.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 833 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 TNZ053>055-091-092-071500- DECATUR TN-HENDERSON TN-CHESTER TN-HARDIN TN-MCNAIRY TN- 833 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... DECATUR COUNTY IN TENNESSEE... CHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... HARDIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... HENDERSON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... MCNAIRY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE LOCATED OVER THESE AFFECTED AREAS AT 833 AM CDT...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 22 MPH. DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. THESE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE AND NO WARNINGS ARE ANTICIPATED. PEOPLE IN CHESTER...DECATUR...HARDIN...HENDERSON AND MCNAIRY COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF HENDERSON...LEXINGTON...SAVANNAH AND SELMER...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 947 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 ARZ026-028-071530- CRAIGHEAD AR-MISSISSIPPI AR- 947 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... EASTERN CRAIGHEAD COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... WESTERN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF BROOKLAND AT 947 AM CDT...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 29 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THIS STORM IS NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE AND NO WARNINGS ARE ANTICIPATED. PEOPLE IN CRAIGHEAD AND MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF BROOKLAND...CARAWAY...GOSNELL...KEISER...LAKE CITY...LEACHVILLE... MANILA AND MONETTE...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 AM CDT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1002 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 ARZ028-MOZ113-071530- MISSISSIPPI AR-DUNKLIN MO- 1002 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... SOUTHERN DUNKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 4 MILES NORTH OF LEACHVILLE AT 1002 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN DUNKLIN AND MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF BLYTHEVILLE...GOSNELL...LEACHVILLE AND MANILA...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY..
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1033 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 ARZ028-MOZ113-115-TNZ048-071600- MISSISSIPPI AR-DUNKLIN MO-PEMISCOT MO-LAUDERDALE TN- 1033 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... MISSISSIPPI COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... SOUTHEASTERN DUNKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI... SOUTHERN PEMISCOT COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI... WESTERN LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WERE LOCATED FROM KENNETT TO 3 MILES NORTH OF DYESS AT 1033 AM CDT... MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE 1 TO 3 INCES OF RAINFALL VERY QUICKLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING. THESE STORMS ARE INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE. PEOPLE IN DUNKLIN...LAUDERDALE...MISSISSIPPI AND PEMISCOT COUNTIES... INCLUDING THE CITIES OF BLYTHEVILLE...GOSNELL...HAYTI...KEISER... KENNETT...LUXORA...MANILA...OSCEOLA...SENATH...STEELE AND WILSON... SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY..
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1050 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 ARZ028-TNZ048-049-071630- MISSISSIPPI AR-LAUDERDALE TN-TIPTON TN- 1050 AM CDT THU AUG 7 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... SOUTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... TIPTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED FROM 17 MILES NORTH OF ASHPORT TO 15 MILES WEST OF FULTON AT 1050 AM CDT...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WHICH COULD RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING. THESE STORMS REMAIN STRONG AND COULD BECOME SEVERE. PEOPLE IN LAUDERDALE...MISSISSIPPI AND TIPTON COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF COVINGTON AND RIPLEY...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1130 AM CDT.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1114 AM CDT THU AUG 07 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1005 AM FLASH FLOOD PARAGOULD 36.06N 90.51W
08/07/2008 GREENE AR BROADCAST MEDIA
SIX TO SEVEN INCHES OF WATER ON SOUTH 27 STREET IN
PARAGOULD. REPORTED BY KAIT-TV.
1105 AM FLASH FLOOD BLYTHEVILLE 35.84N 90.37W
08/07/2008 CRAIGHEAD AR LAW ENFORCEMENT
WATER BEGINNING TO COVER ROADWAYS IN BLYTHEVILLE.
&&
JKTThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:23 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight line winds knocked down a few trees on Curve Nankipoo Road.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding in and around Ripley. Six inches of water covered many roadways.
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, August 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: 130616, 130617.