A strong low pressure system moved into the Midsouth during the afternoon and evening hours of December 9th, 2008. Showers and thunderstorms developed over West Tennessee in advance of the system.
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.
A strong low pressure system moved into the Midsouth during the afternoon and evening hours of December 9th, 2008. Showers and thunderstorms developed over West Tennessee in advance of the system. Some thunderstorms became severe and produced flash flooding.
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 Dec 9, 4:00 PM CST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
400 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008
.DISCUSSION...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL THROUGH 7 PM CST ACROSS NORTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI AS WELL AS HEAVY RAINFALL POTENTIAL THIS EVENING ARE
THE FIRST CONCERNS. THE NEXT CONCERN MAY BE POSSIBLE ACCUMULATING
SNOW SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40 LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY.
LATEST MODELS WERE IN FAIR AGREEMENT. USED A BLEND MAINLY OF THE
GFS/ECMWF MODELS...BUT DID NOT PREFER ONE MODEL OVER ANOTHER.
THE BIGGEST CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST WERE TO CANCEL THE
WIND ADVISORY FOR ALL AREAS EXCEPT THE WARM SECTOR ACROSS NE MS
AND INCREASED PRECIPITATION CHANCES WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY
SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40.
AT 345 PM CST ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH AND FORECAST AREA...NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL WERE OCCURRING OVER
MUCH OF THE AREA WITH RAINFREE CONDITIONS NORTH OF A WYNNE AR TO
UNION CITY TN LINE AS WELL AS SOUTHEAST OF A HOUSTON TO IUKA MS
LINE. TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM THE MID 50S OVER WEST TN TO LOWER
70S NEAR ABERDEEN MS. A COLD FRONT WAS JUST MOVING INTO NE AR.
THROUGH 7 PM CST...A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
CONTINUES SOUTHEAST OF A COFFEEVILLE TO IUKA MS LINE WHERE
DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH IS THE MAIN HAZARD AND THERE IS A
SMALL CHANCE OF NICKEL HAIL OR TORNADO. LIFTED INDICES 0 TO -1
SUPPORT A MARGINAL CHANCE FOR SEVERE. ANY SEVERE REPORTS IN THIS
AREA WOULD BE ISOLATED AND LOCALIZED...IF ANY SEVERE WEATHER
OCCURS AT ALL. THE THREAT WILL END AFTER 7 PM WITH RAIN STABILIZING
THE AIR.
AS FAR AS THE WIND ADVISORY...CANCELLED IT IN MOST PLACES EXCEPT
NE MS AS WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND STORMS HAVE STABILIZED THE AIR AND
PREVENTED MIXING OF STRONG WINDS ALOFT. WINDS OVER NE MS MAY GUST
TO 40 MPH THROUGH 6/7 PM CST WHERE THE AIR IS DRIER. THERE MAY BE
GUSTY WINDS BEHIND COLD FRONT TONIGHT...BUT GUSTS WILL ONLY BE
AROUND 30 MPH AT BEST...BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA.
AS FOR HEAVY RAINFALL...AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE
EXPECTED MAINLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40 THROUGH MIDNIGHT CST BEFORE
THE RAIN ENDS. THIS MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. NE MS MAY
EXPERIENCE THE HEAVIEST RAIN THIS EVENING.
OTHERWISE...COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA...FROM WALNUT
RIDGE AT 4 PM CST TO THE MS RIVER AROUND 7 PM CST...THEN EXITING
NE MS BY 1 AM CST. THE FRONT WILL BRING MUCH COLDER AIR AS WELL
AS PUSH MOST OF THE RAIN EAST WITH IT. WENT SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW
MODEL GUIDANCE FOR LOWS AS COLD AIR IS VERY SHALLOW. LOWS SHOULD
RANGE FROM THE UPPER 20S OVER NE AR TO LOWER 40S IN NE MS. PATCHY
FOG/DRIZZLE ARE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT...WHICH SOME MAY FREEZE
NORTH OF JONESBORO AR TO KENNETT MO LINE LATE. WILL MONITOR THIS
POTENTIAL...BUT CONFIDENCE OF OCCURRENCE REMAINS LOW.
WEDNESDAY WILL BE A CLOUDY AND COLD DAY. KEPT LOW RAIN CHANCES
SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40 WHERE DEEPEST MOISTURE WILL RESIDE. AGAIN
WENT BELOW MODEL GUIDANCE WITH SHALLOW COLD AIR IN PLACE. HIGHS
WILL BE IN THE 36 TO 42 DEGREE RANGE.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY...WILL HAVE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE
PROGRESSION AND IMPACT OF UPPER LOW MOVING NEAR THE AREA AS THIS
MAY PRODUCE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TO AREAS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40.
LATEST MODELS DIFFER CONSIDERABLY WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THIS
SYSTEM...PARTICULARLY WITH THE AMOUNT OF COLD AIR AND MOISTURE
AVAILABLE. REGARDLESS...ALL MODELS NOW HINT THAT A BAND OF RAIN OR
SNOW WILL DEVELOP ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE UPPER LOW...MAINLY OVER
NORTH MS LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. IF ENOUGH COOLING
COULD OCCUR...SOME WET SNOW ACCUMULATIONS MAY OCCUR. RIGHT
NOW...JUST INCREASED PRECIPITATION CHANCES AND KEPT RAIN/SNOW
MIX LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY.
THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITH TEMPERATURES WARMING UP EACH DAY.
SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...LATEST MODELS SUGGEST RAIN CHANCES WILL
INCREASE DURING THIS TIME FRAME WITH INCREASED MOISTURE AND
FRONT NEARBY. GFS/ECMWF DIFFER CONSIDERABLY...SO USED A
BLEND...GENERALLY KEEPING LOW RAIN CHANCES AND NEAR NORMAL
TEMPERATURES.
MBS
&&
.AVIATION...
18Z TAF CYCLE
RAIN HAS KEPT WINDS DOWN. HAVE DECREASED SPEEDS TO 12-15KT WITH
HIGHER GUSTS THIS AFTERNOON WHICH IS STILL HIGH CONSIDERING MOST
CURRENT OBS. EXPECT HIGHER SPEEDS WILL NOT MOVE INTO AREA UNTIL
BEHIND THE FRONT. CEILINGS WILL LOWER TO 500-800 FT EVERYWHERE BY
00Z. WENT WITH A MORE PESSIMISTIC CEILING FCST BEHIND FRONT AND
KEPT 800 FT THROUGH END OF TAF SET. BEST CHANCES OF LOWER VSBYS
WILL OCCUR WITH HEAVIER TSRA BAND EXPECTED RIGHT ALONG FRONT.
FRONTAL PASSAGE STILL EXPECTED AROUND 20Z KJBR...00-02Z
KMEM...KMKL AND 04Z AT KTUP.
KRM
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM 36 39 33 46 / 100 20 30 30
MKL 35 39 31 44 / 100 20 30 30
JBR 32 37 27 48 / 60 10 10 10
TUP 42 44 35 42 / 100 30 70 70
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...NONE.
MO...NONE.
MS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR ALCORN-CALHOUN-
CHICKASAW-ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LEE MS-MONROE-PONTOTOC-
PRENTISS-TIPPAH-TISHOMINGO-UNION-YALOBUSHA.
TN...NONE.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 326 PM CST TUE DEC 9 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>092-102330- 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- 326 PM CST TUE DEC 9 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 THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH 7 PM CST SOUTHEAST OF A COFFEEVILLE TO IUKA MISSISSIPPI LINE. DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH IS THE MAIN HAZARD...THOUGH HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND A TORNADO MAY BE POSSIBLE AS WELL. HEAVY RAINFALL OF ONE TO THREE INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED MAINLY EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGH MIDNIGHT CST. THIS MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING AS WELL AS PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ACCUMULATING SNOW IS POSSIBLE SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40... PARTICULARLY ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY AS ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. AT THIS TIME...THERE REMAINS MUCH UNCERTAINTY CONCERNING THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM AND THE AMOUNT OF COLD AIR THAT WILL EXIST. STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST INFORMATION REGARDING THIS POTENTIAL WINTER WEATHER SITUATION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH 7 PM CST SOUTH OF A COFFEEVILLE TO IUKA MISSISSIPPI LINE. MBS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1242 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008 MSZ010-091915- COAHOMA MS- 1242 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... SOUTHERN COAHOMA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 29 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DUBLIN AT 1242 PM CST... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 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 COAHOMA COUNTY...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR CLARKSDALE... SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. .A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1247 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008 MSZ012-020-021-091915- PANOLA MS-YALOBUSHA MS-TALLAHATCHIE MS- 1247 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... SOUTH CENTRAL PANOLA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... TALLAHATCHIE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... NORTHWESTERN YALOBUSHA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 10 MILES SOUTH OF WEBB AT 1247 PM CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 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 PANOLA...TALLAHATCHIE AND YALOBUSHA COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR CHARLESTON AND GEORGE PAYNE STATE PARK...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES ENID LAKE AND GRASSY LAKE. .A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 113 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008 MSZ010-011-091945- COAHOMA MS-QUITMAN MS- 113 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... SOUTHEASTERN COAHOMA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... QUITMAN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 7 MILES WEST OF DUBLIN AT 113 PM CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 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 COAHOMA AND QUITMAN COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR CLARKSDALE...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. .A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
235 PM CST TUE DEC 09 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0230 PM FLASH FLOOD SENATOBIA 34.62N 89.97W
12/09/2008 TATE MS FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
SEVERAL STREETS IN TOWN ARE FLOODED ALONG WITH OTHER
REPORTS OF FLOODING ON ROADS ACROSS THE COUNTY
&&
JABThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding around Parsons. Bible Hill Road was|flooded as a result.
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, December 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: 146262.