Convection developed across the Northern Cumberland Plateau in association with an outflow boundary which moved southeast from the Ohio Valley earlier in the day. Wind damage was the verification for these severe thunderstorm warnings.
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.
Convection developed across the Northern Cumberland Plateau in association with an outflow boundary which moved southeast from the Ohio Valley earlier in the day. Wind damage was the verification for these severe thunderstorm warnings.
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 May 31, 1:38 PM EST, 5 hours 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 238 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 .SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT AND SUNDAY)...STILL LOWER THAN USUAL CONFIDENCE IN THE SHORT TERM...AS MODEL AGREEMENT POOR. NAM SLOWER WITH CONVECTION MOVING INTO THE AREA...AND KEEPS FOCUS FURTHER SOUTH. THINK NAM LOOKS MORE REASONABLE OVERALL...BUT GIVEN UNCERTAINTY WILL BLEND IN SOME OF THE FASTER MORE NORTHWARD GFS. LOW LEVEL DRYING HAS MOSTLY SUPPRESSED CONVECTION OVER OUR AREA SO FAR...BUT MAY SEE ENOUGH OF A REBOUND TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL ISOLATED TO SCATTERED CONVECTION LATE TODAY AND THIS EVENING...ESPECIALLY NORTHERN AREAS. THEN WILL CARRY CHANCE POPS SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL...SLIGHT CHANCE NORTHEAST LATER TONIGHT FOR POSSIBLE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM MOVING EAST INTO THE AREA...THEN CHANCE ALL ZONES SUNDAY. GIVEN UNCERTAINTY...WILL NOT TRY TO TIME POPS FOR SUNDAY. WILL STAY CLOSE TO MAV TEMPS. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY)...MODELS/SREF IN REASONABLY GOOD AGREEMENT THAT SURFACE BOUNDARY WILL PUSH SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA BY EARLY IN THE LONG TERM PERIOD. THUS WILL STAY WITH DRY FORECAST THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. UPPER RIDGE BEGINS TO BUILD BACK INTO THE REGION BY TUESDAY INDUCING SURFACE BOUNDARY TO RETURN AS WARM FRONT. WRF INDICATES MORE ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE SURFACE WARM FRONT THAN THE GFS. STAYED WITH SLIGHT CHANCE TO LOW CHANCE POPS ON TUESDAY IN LIGHT OF THIS DISCREPANCY. REMAINDER OF LONG TERM GENERALLY NONDESCRIPT WITH NO MAJOR SYSTEMS PROJECTED TO AFFECT THE AREA. WITH WEAK FEATURES AND SOME TIMING UNCERTAINTIES...AGAIN DID NOT MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO PRECEDING GRIDS/FORECAST. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... CHATTANOOGA AIRPORT, TN 67 86 62 87 64 / 40 50 10 0 10 KNOXVILLE MCGHEE TYSON AIRPORT, TN 65 83 60 85 63 / 30 40 10 0 10 OAK RIDGE, TN 65 85 59 87 62 / 30 40 10 0 10 TRI CITIES AIRPORT, TN 61 80 55 83 56 / 30 30 10 10 10 && .MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. TN...NONE. VA...NONE. && LDW/LCM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 230 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-011100- 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- 230 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 /130 PM CDT SAT MAY 31 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL APPROACH THE AREA LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED DURING THIS TIME FRAME...SOME OF THE STORMS COULD REACH SEVERE LEVELS. THE MAIN THREAT AT THIS TIME APPEARS TO BE LARGE HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A FRONTAL SYSTEM CONTINUING OVER THE REGION ON SUNDAY WILL KEEP THUNDERSTORM OVER THE AREA. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD REACH SEVERE LEVELS. THE MAIN THREAT AT THIS TIME APPEARS TO BE LARGE HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS MAY BE NEED LATE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 650 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 TNZ013-014-312345- CAMPBELL-CLAIBORNE- 650 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CAMPBELL AND CLAIBORNE COUNTIES THROUGH 745 PM... AT 645 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR JELLICO...MOVING SOUTHEAST AROUND 30 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR TAZEWELL BY 735 PM EDT. WINDS UP TO BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH...ALONG WITH PEA SIZE HAIL...WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. IN ADDITION TO SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES PRIMARY KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. DMG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 716 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 TNZ082-010015- BLEDSOE- 616 PM CDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT BLEDSOE COUNTY THROUGH 715 PM CDT... AT 614 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES EAST OF SPENCER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AROUND 25 MPH. WINDS UP TO BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH...ALONG WITH PEA SIZE HAIL...WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. IN ADDITION TO SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES PRIMARY KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. PEOPLE IN BLEDSOE COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN. DMG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 722 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 TNZ013-036-037-010015- ANDERSON-CAMPBELL-UNION- 722 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CAMPBELL...NORTHERN ANDERSON AND UNION COUNTIES THROUGH 815 PM... AT 720 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LA FOLLETTE...MOVING EAST AROUND 30 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... 4 MILES NORTH OF MAYNARDVILLE BY 800 PM EDT. WINDS UP TO AROUND 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. IN ADDITION TO SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES PRIMARY KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. DMG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 729 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 TNZ015-016-010030- HANCOCK-HAWKINS-LEE- 729 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT HANCOCK AND HAWKINS COUNTIES THROUGH 830 PM... AT 725 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12 MILES NORTHEAST OF TAZEWELL...MOVING SOUTHEAST AROUND 25 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... SNEEDVILLE BY 750 PM EDT. SNEEDVILLE BY 755 PM EDT. ROGERSVILLE BY 825 PM EDT. SURGOINSVILLE BY 830 PM EDT. SMALL HAIL AND WINDS UP TO AROUND 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. IN ADDITION TO SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES PRIMARY KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. PEOPLE IN HANCOCK AND HAWKINS COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN. DMG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 743 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 TNZ067-083-084-010045- MEIGS-RHEA-ROANE- 743 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT RHEA...MEIGS AND SOUTHERN ROANE COUNTIES THROUGH 845 PM... AT 637 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTH OF SPRING CITY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AROUND 20 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF SPRING CITY BY 750 PM EDT. WINDS UP TO AROUND 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. IN ADDITION TO SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES PRIMARY KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. PEOPLE IN RHEA...MEIGS AND SOUTHERN ROANE COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN. DMG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 750 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 TNZ012-010045- SCOTT- 750 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN SCOTT COUNTY THROUGH 845 PM... AT 748 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF ONEIDA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AROUND 20 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... BIG SOUTH FORK BY 800 PM EDT. 4 MILES NORTH OF ONEIDA BY 825 PM EDT. WINDS UP TO AROUND 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. IN ADDITION TO SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES PRIMARY KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. PEOPLE IN SCOTT COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN. DMG
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:07 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and limbs fell onto power lines disrupting power in the region.
Trees and large limbs fell onto power lines disrupting power in the region.
A few trees and power lines were reported down across the county.
Several trees and power lines were reported down across the county.
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: 104296, 104295, 104297, 104294.