A prefrontal trough pushed into a moist and unstable air mass in Southern Middle Tennessee producing isolated damaging wind.
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 HUN wrote it up.
A prefrontal trough pushed into a moist and unstable air mass in Southern Middle Tennessee producing isolated damaging wind.
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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 26, 2:45 PM CST, 50 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 345 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 .UPDATE... DID QUICK UPDATE TO INCREASE POPS ACROSS THE CWA...AREA OF PCPN HAS EXPANDED MORE THAN EXPECTED. STILL THINK PCPN WILL TAPER OFF ARND MIDNIGHT. COULD SEE A FEW SVR TSRA WITH PENNY HAIL AND STRONG WIND GUSTS...ALSO VERY HEAVY RAIN. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 147 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008/ DISCUSSION... UPPER TROF OVER MO WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARDS THE CWA THIS AFTN AND EVENING. LINE OF STORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TROF ARE MOVING INTO THE NW CORNER OF AL ATTM. SOME STORMS WILL BE STRONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS...THE CHC OF SVR WX LOOKS LOW DUE TO WEAK SHEAR/WEAK LOW LEVEL JET. UPPER TROF SHOULD BE MOVING OUT OF THE CWA ARND MIDNIGHT...WILL KEEP CHC POPS ACROSS THE TN VALLEY MAINLY FOR THE EVENING. EVENING SHIFT CAN EVALUATE IF NEED TO KEEP A POP GOING FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY...WEAK CDFNT IS PROGGED BY THE MODELS TO SAG SLOWLY SOUTH TOWARDS THE CWA DURING THIS TIMEFRAME. THINKING IF TUESDAY WILL BE A CASE OF THE HIGH POPS BUT LOW QPF VALUES. WILL MOST AREAS BE DRY WITH ONLY SCATTERED SHRA/TSRA. STAY TUNED FOR NOW WILL GO WITH CHC POPS BOTH FOR TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. GFS/NAM BOTH HAS CDFNT MOVING ACROSS THE CWA BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. WILL CONTINUE CHC POPS BUT THESE MAY HAVE TO BE INCREASED AS LIFTING/FORCING OF CDFNT SHOULD MAKE WEDNESDAY THE BEST DAY FOR PCPN. THURSDAY THRU SATURDAY...NOT A LOT OF COOL OR DRY AIR BEHIND THE ABOVE MENTIONED CDFNT. WARM/MUGGY CONDITIONS SHOULD CONTINUE IN THIS TIMEFRAME. HIGH PRESSURE WILL KEEP PCPN CHANCES TO A MINIMUM. GFS HINTS AT A LITTLE PCPN IN RETURN FLOW ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...FOR NOW WILL NOT BITE OFF ON THIS. REST OF EXTENDED FCST...ANOTHER WEAK TROF/CDFNT PROGGED BY GFS ON SUNDAY LOOKS REASONABLE...WILL KEEP LOW POPS. MONDAY LOOKS DRY BEHIND CDFNT AS UPPER RIDGE BEGINS TO BUILD IN. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... HUNTSVILLE 68 81 68 82 / 60 50 30 50 SHOALS 69 83 69 83 / 70 50 30 50 CULLMAN 69 84 69 83 / 50 50 30 50 FAYETTEVILLE 66 80 66 79 / 80 50 30 50 ALBERTVILLE 69 83 69 83 / 40 50 30 50 FORT PAYNE 66 81 65 81 / 50 50 30 50 && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && 07
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 358 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-270500- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DE KALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 358 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... A LINE OF STORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY EARLY THIS EVENING...SOME STORMS WILL BE STRONG TO SEVERE. WIND GUSTS AROUND 60 MPH...HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND VERY HEAVY RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED. THE STORMS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH AFTER 8 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... A COLD FRONT WILL SAG SOUTH TOWARD THE CENTRAL TENNESSEE VALLEY ON TUESDAY...WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. A FEW OF THESE STORMS COULD BE STRONG...WITH BRIEF GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN TO THE FORECAST AREA ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AS A WEAK COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 257 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 ALZ002-003-262045- COLBERT-FRANKLIN- 257 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR COLBERT AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT... AT 253 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CHEROKEE ALABAMA TO BELMONT MISSISSIPPI...OR ROUGHLY ALONG THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY SOUTH OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 45 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... CHEROKEE. MYNOT. POGO. BARTON. PLEASANT SITE. RED ROCK. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. BCC
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
304 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0258 PM HAIL CHEROKEE 34.76N 87.97W
05/26/2008 E0.50 INCH COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
HAIL TO THE SIZE OF DIMES REPORTED.
&&
BCCSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 352 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 TNZ076-096-097-262130- FRANKLIN-LINCOLN-MOORE- 352 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FRANKLIN...LINCOLN AND MOORE COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CDT... AT 349 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM LYNCHBURG TO FAYETTEVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... BELLEVILE. MIMOSA. MULBERRY. LOIS. OAK GROVE. WINCHESTER. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. IF ON OR NEAR TIMS FORD LAKE OR WOODS RESERVOIR...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. DONT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 355 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 ALZ001>005-262145- COLBERT-FRANKLIN-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE- 355 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR COLBERT...FRANKLIN...LAUDERDALE... LAWRENCE AND LIMESTONE COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CDT... AT 353 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MINOR HILL TO BELGREEN...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 19 MILES NORTHWEST OF ATHENS TO 12 MILES EAST OF RED BAY...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... ELGIN. GOOD SPRINGS. LESTER. MT ROZELL. WHITEOAK. LEGGTOWN. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. IF ON OR NEAR WHEELER OR WILSON LAKES...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER NOW. DONT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 420 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 TNZ096-097-262200- FRANKLIN-LINCOLN- 420 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FRANKLIN AND LINCOLN COUNTIES EXTENDED UNTIL 5 PM CDT... AT 419 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO TRACK STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM TULLAHOMA TO LINCOLN...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... FLINTVILLE. LEXIE CROSSROADS. WOODS RESERVOIR. MAXWELL. ALTO. WINCHESTER. ST. ANDREWS. SHERWOOD. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. IF ON OR NEAR TIMS FORD LAKE OR WOODS RESERVOIR...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER NOW. DONT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 433 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 ALZ003>007-262215- FRANKLIN-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- 433 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FRANKLIN...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE... MADISON AND MORGAN COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT... AT 433 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO TRACK A BROKEN LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM HAZEL GREEN TO RED BAY...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... RUSSELLVILLE. MOULTON. WHEELER LAKE. DECATUR. MADISON. HUNTSVILLE. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. IF ON OR NEAR WHEELER LAKE...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER NOW. DONT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 27
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:37 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe thunderstorm winds knocked down trees in the Marble Hill and Pleasant Hill communities. Power outages were also reported in the Charity community.
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, May 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: 105999.