An upper level disturbance moved over the Mid South on the evening of March 31st and showers and thunderstorms developed across western Tennessee. Some of the stronger storms produced flash flooding.
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.
An upper level disturbance moved over the Mid South on the evening of March 31st and showers and thunderstorms developed across western Tennessee. Some of the stronger storms 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 Mar 31, 2:46 PM CST, 34 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
346 PM CDT MON MAR 31 2008
.DISCUSSION...
A SHORTWAVE TROUGH EMBEDDED WITHIN A LARGER BROAD LONGWAVE TROUGH
WAS EJECTING NORTHEASTWARD OUT OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS THIS
AFTERNOON. A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES OVER
SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI SOUTHWEST TO THE DALLAS FORT WORTH METROPLEX
OUT IN ADVANCE OF THIS SHORTWAVE FEATURE. INSTABILITY TO OUR WEST
REMAINS HIGHER WHERE MOIST LOW LEVEL ENVIRONMENT HAS BECOME
COLOCATED UNDER SIGNIFICANT HEIGHT FALLS. LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE
CONTINUES TO INDICATE THAT THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED
GREATEST HEIGHT FALLS WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT NORTHEAST AND MAY ONLY
SKIRT NORTHWEST PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA LATER THIS EVENING.
LOW LEVEL MOIST AXIS WITH LOWER TO MID 60 DEWPOINTS WILL CONTINUE
TO ADVECT INTO AREAS MAINLY ALONG AND WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER THIS EVENING. AS THE UPPER SHORTWAVE GLANCES THIS AREA THIS
EVENING EXPECT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP AS MODEST
INSTABILITY DEVELOPS. MUCAPES BETWEEN 500-1000J/KG WILL EXIST OVER
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL LATER THIS EVENING
AND OVERNIGHT...AND AS DEEP LAYER SHEAR INCREASES IN ASSOCIATION
WITH THE SOUTHERN END OF A 500MB JET CORE...EXPECT THE ENVIRONMENT
TO BECOME SUPPORTIVE OF A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. IN ADDITION...0-1KM
HELICITY VALUES APPROACH 400M2/S2 OVER THESE AREAS. A SLIGHT RISK
WILL BE MAINTAINED ACROSS AREAS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
OVERNIGHT. ANY STORMS THAT BECOME SEVERE MAY PRODUCE DAMAGING
WINDS...MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. FARTHER
EAST...INSTABILITY WILL DROP OFF AS BETTER UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS
MOVE OFF TO THE NORTH. IN ADDITION...STRONG WEDGE OF DRYER AIR
CONTINUES TO INFILTRATE EASTERN AREAS...WITH LOWER SURFACE
DEWPOINTS. THESE FACTORS SHOULD LIMIT/PREVENT SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL
EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. WILL KEEP MENTION OF STRONG STORM
POSSIBILITIES WITH LOW END POTENTIAL.
ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL REMAIN ALONG AND AHEAD OF A COLD
FRONT THAT WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST TO A POSITION ACROSS NORTHWEST
PORTIONS OF OUR FORECAST AREA BY TUESDAY MORNING. CONSIDERING LOW
LEVEL DEWPOINTS SHOULD REMAIN IN THE LOW TO MID 60S OVER THE
NORTHWEST HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA AND PWATS APPROACH 1.5-2.0
INCHES AHEAD OF THE FRONT...EXPECT THE LIKELIHOOD OF HEAVY
RAINFALL WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. THIS WILL RAISE THE
POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING...ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE STORMS
TRAIN OVER THE SAME AREAS. EXPECTING 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN...WITH
ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS. WITH THE GROUND ALREADY SATURATED...FLASH
FLOODING SEEMS INCREASINGLY LIKELY. WILL KEEP FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN
PLACE OVER THE NORTHWEST HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH
TOMORROW MORNING.
THE COLD FRONT SHOULD MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI BY
TOMORROW AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL WILL REMAIN HIGH INTO
THE AFTERNOON ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE FRONT. A STRONG STORM OR TWO
IS STILL POSSIBLE...BUT SEVERE POTENTIAL SHOULD REMAIN LIMITED AS
INSTABILITY REMAINS MODEST AND SHEAR DROPS OFF WITH SOUTHWARD
EXTENT. ALL OF THE CONVECTION SHOULD COME TO AN END TUESDAY NIGHT
AS THE FRONT SETTLES TO THE SOUTH AND STALLS OVER CENTRAL
MISSISSIPPI.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRIEFLY BUILD OVERHEAD FOR WEDNESDAY PROVIDING
FOR A DRY BUT COOLER WEATHER DAY. THE STALLED FRONT WILL BEGIN TO
LIFT BACK NORTH AS A WARM FRONT WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY
BEFORE STALLING JUST NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA BY THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. EXPECT ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
LATER WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...AS MUCH OF THE AREA BECOME
WARM SECTORED AND UNSTABLE. LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE IS HINTING AT
THE POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER EXCESSIVE RAIN EVENT ACROSS NORTHERN
PORTIONS OF THE MID SOUTH THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN AS THE FRONT STALLS AND A
POTENT SHORTWAVE EJECTS EAST AND INITIATES A SURFACE WAVE ALONG
THE FRONT. THIS SCENARIO WILL NEED TO BE CLOSELY WATCHED AS THIS
COULD SIGNIFICANTLY AGGRAVATE OR INITIATE NEW RIVER FLOODING
ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA.
IN ADDITION TO THE FLOOD THREAT...A SEVERE WEATHER EVENT SEEMS
MORE LIKELY ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST AREA...AS THE
POTENT SHORTWAVE MOVES EAST AND STRENGTHEN LOW PRESSURE MOVES
NORTHEAST ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA. THIS SHOULD
INITIATE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOP OVER THE WARM SECTOR WHERE
INSTABILITY SHOULD INCREASE. LATER FORECASTS WILL PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE THREAT FOR ADDITIONAL
FLOODING AND SEVERE WEATHER LATER IN THE WEEK.
A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY BRINGING AN END TO
THE WET AND STORMY WEATHER WITH HIGH PRESSURE RETURNING FOR NEXT
WEEKEND WITH DRY AND SEASONABLE WEATHER.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM 60 67 46 64 / 100 60 10 10
MKL 59 66 43 63 / 100 60 10 10
JBR 53 61 43 59 / 100 40 10 10
TUP 62 71 48 68 / 90 80 20 10
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-
POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.
MO...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.
MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR DESOTO-TUNICA.
TN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR CARROLL-CHESTER-
CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-HARDEMAN-HAYWOOD-
HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-
WEAKLEY.
&&
JLHHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 407 PM CDT MON MAR 31 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>092-012315- 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- 407 PM CDT MON MAR 31 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 A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR AREAS NORTH OF A MARIANNA ARKANSAS...TO OLIVE BRANCH MISSISSIPPI...TO PARSONS TENNESSEE LINE THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AND WILL LIKELY PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL LATER TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WILL BE LIKELY...WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS. THIS WILL KEEP THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING HIGH OVER THESE AREAS AS THE GROUND REMAINS SATURATED FROM PREVIOUS HEAVY RAIN EVENTS. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL TONIGHT. THIS AREA WILL REMAIN NORTHWEST OF A LINE FROM WYNNE ARKANSAS TO STEELE MISSOURI. THE GREATEST THREATS WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL MAY ALSO OCCUR WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS. THE GREATEST RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD OCCUR BETWEEN 8 PM AND 6 AM CDT. OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE MID SOUTH...A FEW STRONG STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY RAIN...AND SMALL HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS...SMALL HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTH MISSISSIPPI ON TUESDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE MID SOUTH. THIS MAY RESULT IN ADDITIONAL FLASH FLOODING AND RIVER FLOODING. FLASH FLOOD WATCHES MAY BE NEEDED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE AGAIN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE MID SOUTH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS MAY BE REQUIRED TONIGHT AND AGAIN FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS. SPOTTERS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO REPORT FLASH FLOODING OR NEW RIVER FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN MEMPHIS TENNESSEE. JLH
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 18 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:19 UTC.
4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A 7 year old boy drowned when he fell into a rain-swollen creek near Steamboat Bend in Northaven.
A nineteen year old man fell from a bridge near McKellar Lake into a swollen ditch near an apartment complex where he lived and drowned.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding in midtown Memphis. Belvedere Boulevard was flooded along with some roadways in Overton Park.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding in southwest Fayette County. Highways 194, 57 and 196 were flooded.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Shelby | 2008-03-31 | 7 | Male | In Water | Direct |
| Flash Flood, Shelby | 2008-03-31 | 19 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
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, March 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: 91661, 98197, 91237, 91239.