Southern Severe Weather
One of the severe storm disasters on NOAA’s billion-dollar list: $1.5 billion in losses at 2024 prices ($1.0 billion at the time) and 2 deaths.
What the offices filed during it
The 91 most significant severe storm episodes filed in these dates, colored by kind.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Losses, 2024 dollars
- $1.5 billion
- Losses at the time
- $1.0 billion
- Deaths
- 2
The losses and deaths are NCEI’s, counting everything the disaster did. The episodes below are only what the Weather Service filed in its Storm Events record, which counts damage differently and often not at all, so the two never add up and are shown apart.
By state, as filed
| State | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 199 | 0 | 9 | $53 million |
| Tennessee | 55 | 0 | 1 | $5.6 million |
| Oklahoma | 205 | 0 | 0 | $5.0 million |
| Arkansas | 102 | 2 | 0 | $4.2 million |
| Kentucky | 52 | 0 | 4 | $2.6 million |
| Alabama | 49 | 0 | 0 | $2.3 million |
| Mississippi | 24 | 0 | 0 | $1.2 million |
| Missouri | 112 | 2 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| Iowa | 34 | 0 | 0 | $963,000 |
| Ohio | 12 | 0 | 0 | $524,000 |
| Georgia | 8 | 0 | 0 | $385,000 |
| Michigan | 44 | 0 | 0 | $370,000 |
| North Carolina | 20 | 0 | 0 | $284,000 |
| West Virginia | 18 | 0 | 1 | $216,000 |
| New York | 5 | 0 | 0 | $204,000 |
| Louisiana | 8 | 0 | 0 | $180,000 |
| Illinois | 7 | 0 | 0 | $150,000 |
| Maryland | 1 | 0 | 0 | $25,000 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 0 | 0 | $15,000 |
| Kansas | 71 | 0 | 0 | $5,000 |
| Virginia | 2 | 0 | 0 | $5,000 |
| Delaware | 1 | 0 | 0 | $2,000 |
| Indiana | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Montana | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| South Carolina | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Connecticut | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Episode by episode
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, April 7 to 8, 2008Although the day started off cool with temperatures in the 50s and dew point temperatures in the 30s and 40s, significant changes happened by afternoon.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, April 7 to 8, 2008Severe thunderstorms occurred across northeast Oklahoma during the late evening and early morning hours of the 7th and 8th.
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Kansas, April 7 to 8, 2008Marginally severe thunderstorms produced a few hail reports.
- Hail in Kansas, April 7 to 8, 2008Strong thunderstorms developed on the nose of the low level jet late the 7th, and during the early morning hours the 8th. Convection was more organized further south, but two storms over east central Kansas produced hail up to one inch in diameter.
- Damaging Wind in Missouri, April 8, 2008Showers and a few thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a cold front that was moving through southern Missouri. A few of the storms became severe, producing wind damage.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Arkansas, April 8, 2008A storm system passed to the north of Arkansas on the 8th, and dragged a cold front into the state. Scattered severe thunderstorms developed along the front during the afternoon and evening hours, especially in southwest Arkansas.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 8, 2008Severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a dry line across south central Oklahoma and north central Texas and moved eastward into portions of northeast Texas...southeast Oklahoma...southwest Arkansas and northwest Louisiana.
- Hail in Oklahoma, April 8, 2008Severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a dry line across south central Oklahoma and north central Texas and moved eastward into portions of northeast Texas...southeast Oklahoma...southwest Arkansas and northwest Louisiana.
- Flash Flood and Hail in Arkansas, April 8, 2008Severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a dry line across south central Oklahoma and north central Texas and moved eastward into portions of northeast Texas...southeast Oklahoma...southwest Arkansas and northwest Louisiana.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Texas, April 8 to 10, 2008Several rounds of storms moved across north Texas on April 8th through 10th. Numerous reports of large hail were received on Tuesday evening. A lone supercell evolved during the afternoon hours of the 9th, producing tornadoes and large hail along its path.
- Hail in Louisiana, April 8, 2008Severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a dry line across south central Oklahoma and north central Texas and moved eastward into portions of northeast Texas...southeast Oklahoma...southwest Arkansas and northwest Louisiana.
- Hail in Texas, April 8, 2008Isolated thunderstorms initiated along a stalled front north of our county warning area and moved east and east-southeast off of the boundary.
- Tornadoes in Michigan, April 9, 2008A National Weather Service storm survey determined that damage in the southeast corner of Allegan county northeast into Barry county was caused by an EF-1 tornado.
- Flash Flood in Texas, April 9, 2008Severe thunderstorms that developed during the evening hours of April 8th, continued during the overnight hours and into the morning hours of April 9th. These thunderstorms continued to produce large hail along with damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
- Flash Flooding in Arkansas, April 9, 2008Severe thunderstorms that developed during the evening hours of April 8th, continued during the overnight hours and into the morning hours of April 9th. These thunderstorms continued to produce large hail along with damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, April 9, 2008A weather system moved away from the state well to the north and east during the night of the 8th and early on the 9th. A front became parallel to the wind flow aloft, which gave the front little push.
- Hail in Texas, April 9, 2008Scattered thunderstorms developed as warm and moist air moved north over the South Plains of west Texas in advance of a strong upper air storm system during the morning hours of the 9th.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, April 9 to 10, 2008Increasing low level winds preceeding and approaching upper level storm system brought abundant moisture to the area. Despite relatively cool surface temperatures, elevated storms were able to develop.
- Hail in Texas, April 9, 2008During the morning hours...severe thunderstorms developed across the east central Texas Panhandle and produced large hail. No damage or injuries were reported.
- Hail in Texas, April 9, 2008A cold front that moved through north Texas on the 8th began lifting back north during the day on the 9th. South of the front temperatures warmed into the 60s and 70s and increasingly better moisture.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, April 9 to 10, 2008A cold front that moved through Oklahoma on the 8th began lifting back north during the day on the 9th. North of the front, temperatures were cool with readings in the 40s and 50s. South of the front, temperatures eventually warmed into the 60s and 70s.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, April 9 to 10, 2008The combination of a strong upper level storm system and a dryline triggered widespread severe thunderstorms which moved east across West Central Texas Wednesday afternoon into early Thursday morning.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, April 9 to 10, 2008Severe thunderstorms occurred across eastern Oklahoma from the evening of the 9th into the morning of the 10th.
- Tornado in Montana, April 9, 2008Cool upper level trough triggered two land spouts near the Kalispell area that lasted for around 10 minutes.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, April 9, 2008Severe thunderstorms that developed during the evening hours of April 8th, continued during the overnight hours and into the morning hours of April 9th. These thunderstorms continued to produce large hail along with damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
- Hail in Texas, April 9, 2008Scattered convection again developed over the South Plains of west Texas during the evening hours of the 9th. Some thunderstorms became severe and produced large hail up to the size of golfballs. No significant damage was reported.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, April 9 to 10, 2008Severe thunderstorms occurred across Northwest Arkansas during the evening and early morning hours on the 9th and 10th.
- Tornado and Flooding in Missouri, April 9 to 14, 2008A cold front moved across the area, and caused a severe weather outbreak across the area. Large hail and damaging wind gusts were observed. An isolated tornado was also observed.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Missouri, April 9 to 10, 2008Repeated development of storms along and north of an advancing warm front led to a large swath of greater than three inches of rain south of a line from Stockton to West Plains. This excessive rain occurred on wet soil conditions from record rainfall in February and March.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, April 9 to 11, 2008Early on the 10th, there was widespread heavy rain in northern and western Arkansas. A weather system in Texas dragged a cold front toward the region, with a severe weather outbreak across Arkansas.
- Flash Flooding in Kansas, April 10, 2008Repeated development of storms along and north of an advancing warm front led to a large swath of greater than three inches of rain over extreme southeast Kansas. This excessive rain occurred on wet soil conditions from record rainfall in February and March.
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 10, 2008A strong pressure gradient initially across northeast Texas and northwest Louisiana during the pre dawn hours of April 10th produced non-thunderstorm wind gusts responsible for downing trees and power lines.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Arkansas, April 10, 2008A powerful upper level low pressure system moved into the Midsouth during the evening hours of April 10, 2008 and continued moving through the area during the day on April 11, 2008.
- Lightning Strike in Oklahoma, April 10, 2008A thunderstorm during the early morning hours produced lightning which knocked out power. No other damage and no injuries were reported.
- Flash Flood and Flooding in Missouri, April 10 to 15, 2008The last in a long series of river flooding events occurred. This flooding was due to a round of thunderstorms with heavy rainfall.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Missouri, April 10, 2008A storm system moved through the region during the day and into the evening hours of April 10th. Numerous reports of flash flooding, hail, wind damage and one tornado were reported with this system.
- Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, April 10, 2008A strong pressure gradient initially across northeast Texas and northwest Louisiana during the pre dawn hours of April 10th produced non-thunderstorm wind gusts responsible for downing trees and power lines.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, April 10, 2008A cold front caused severe thunderstorms across extreme eastern Kansas|on April 10th. Large hail and damaging winds were reported.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, April 10, 2008Two rounds of severe weather defined the evening hours of April 10th. Discrete thunderstorms developed out ahead of a surface front during the late afternoon. Large hail, up to one inch in diameter, was the primary reported event with this convection.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, April 10, 2008A powerful low pressure moved across the Central Plains spawning several severe thunderstorms across South Central Kansas along the trailing cold front.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, April 10, 2008An intense spring storm took shape over the central U.S. during the day on the 10th. The surface low formed over the southern Rockies the previous night and moved into Kansas during the day, then moved into southwest Iowa during the evening of the 10th.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Tennessee, April 10 to 11, 2008A powerful upper level low pressure system moved into the Midsouth during the evening hours of April 10, 2008 and continued moving through the area during the day on April 11, 2008.
- Damaging Wind in Missouri, April 10, 2008Heavy rain-producing thunderstorms moved across Northeast Missouri, Eastern Iowa, and west central & northwest Illinois during the late afternoon and evening hours of April 10th. Some of the storms produced damaging winds, funnel clouds, and tornadoes.
- Tornado and Damaging Wind in Illinois, April 10, 2008A storm system moved through the region during the day and into the evening hours of April 10th. Numerous reports of flash flooding, hail, wind damage and one tornado were reported with this system.
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Iowa, April 10, 2008Heavy rain-producing thunderstorms moved across Northeast Missouri, Eastern Iowa, and west central & northwest Illinois during the late afternoon and evening hours of April 10th. Some of the storms produced tornadoes ranging in intensity from EF0 to EF2.
- Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in Illinois, April 10, 2008Heavy rain-producing thunderstorms moved across Northeast Missouri, Eastern Iowa, and west central & northwest Illinois during the late afternoon and evening hours of April 10th. Some of the storms produced tornadoes ranging in intensity from EF0 to EF1.
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Missouri, April 10, 2008A powerful upper level low pressure system moved into the Midsouth during the evening hours of April 10, 2008 and continued moving through the area during the day on April 11, 2008.
- Hail in Illinois, April 10, 2008Thunderstorms fired ahead of a cold front during the afternoon hours. One of these storms produced severe hail.
- Damaging Wind in Tennessee, April 10, 2008Pre-cursor to a major severe weather outbreak on April 11 with storms on April 10, 2008.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Tennessee, April 11, 2008There were six confirmed tornadoes on April 11, 2008. Large hail and straight line winds were also reported.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Indiana, April 11, 2008A cold front and an upper level trough set off some severe thunderstorms and produced some heavy rains over parts of south central Indiana.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kentucky, April 11, 2008A line of severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds and small hail across South Central Kentucky.
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Ohio, April 11, 2008A severe thunderstorm producing damaging winds in northwest Fairfield County.
- Flash Flood and Hail in Mississippi, April 11, 2008A powerful upper level low pressure system moved into the Midsouth during the evening hours of April 10, 2008 and continued moving through the area during the day on April 11, 2008.
- Hail in Texas, April 11, 2008A supercell thunderstorm organized along a cold front across Dimmit County and moved east into La Salle County.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, April 11, 2008A large surface cyclone and upper level low developed over the Mid West on April 11th and pushed a cold front through the region. Scattered thunderstorms developed ahead and along this front and produced scattered severe thunderstorms as they moved east.
- Hail in Michigan, April 11, 2008A round of severe thunderstorms resulted in numerous reports of large hail during the afternoon hours of April the eleventh. Hail briefly covered the ground at several locations and there were several reports of broken windshields from hail in Parma in Jackson county.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Kentucky, April 11, 2008Severe thunderstorms moved into south central Kentucky from Tennessee, including a super cell thunderstorm that produced four separate tornadoes that damaged numerous homes in Clinton County.
- Tornado and Flash Flood in Kentucky, April 11, 2008A slow moving cold front approached the area during the afternoon hours of April 11th. Severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of the front. The storms first moved into Eastern Kentucky shortly before 2 PM EDT. These storms affected the areas near Monticello and Somerset.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, April 11 to 12, 2008An advancing cold front caused numerous severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes across Central Alabama.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, April 11, 2008A strong cold front pushed into northwest Alabama during the early afternoon hours on April 11th and moved east into Georgia after midnight. Unstable air and strong wind fields lead to numerous severe thunderstorms which produced large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, April 11, 2008Severe thunderstorms produced large hail and high winds that blew down trees across parts of southwest Alabama.
- Damaging Wind in Tennessee, April 11, 2008A strong cold front pushed into southern middle Tennessee during the early to mid-afternoon hours on the 11th. Unstable air and a strong wind field ahead of this system produced severe thunderstorms including damaging winds in Franklin County.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, April 11, 2008A cold front moved through the area during the early evening hours, triggering widespread marginal severe thunderstorms along and north of the M-59 corridor.
- Hail in Michigan, April 11, 2008A strong cold front worked across the area during the afternoon and evening hours of the 11th. Strong wind fields were in place along with modest instability to support narrow lines of thunderstorms.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, April 11, 2008A strong cold front triggered a squall line which tracked across east Tennessee on the afternoon hours on the 11th. Most of the storm reports were for damaging thunderstorm winds.
- Damaging Winds in West Virginia, April 11, 2008A warm front moved north of the region April 11th. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed in the wake of the warm front in advance of a strengthening cold front to the west.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Louisiana, April 11, 2008Two tornadoes touched down in Evangeline and St. Landry Parishes, causing minor damages.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in West Virginia, April 11, 2008Rain fell into the midday period on the 11th, from Huntington and Charleston vicinity on north. This laid down a boundary, with much warmer temperatures to its south. Dew points reached near 60 degrees over the southern coal field counties during the afternoon.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, April 11, 2008A strong cold front and deep upper-level trough were moving from the central U.S. into the eastern U.S. on the 11th.
- Damaging Wind in West Virginia, April 11, 2008Winds from a severe thunderstorms downed trees.
- Damaging Wind in North Carolina, April 11, 2008A strong cold front triggered a squall line which tracked across extreme southwest North Carolina during the afternoon hours on the 11th. The storm reports were for damaging thunderstorm winds.
- Damaging Wind in Ohio, April 11, 2008A strong cold front worked across the area during the afternoon and evening hours of the 11th. Strong wind fields were in place along with modest instability to support narrow lines of thunderstorms.
- Tornado and Hail in Ohio, April 11, 2008An area of low pressure passed to the north of Lake Erie during the evening of April 11th. A cold front trailing the low swept east across Ohio. Showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of this front with a few of them becoming severe.
- Damaging Wind in Virginia, April 11, 2008Winds from a severe thunderstorm downed several trees.
- Damaging Wind in Virginia, April 11, 2008A warm front moved north of the region April 11th. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed in the wake of the warm front in advance of a strengthening cold front to the west.
- Flash Flooding in Alabama, April 11, 2008Heavy rains on April 11 caused temporary street flooding. Rainfall totals of three to four inches caused several streets across rural parts of southwest Alabama to temporary flood. The streets had to be closed for several hours due to the high water.
- Damaging Wind in Mississippi, April 11, 2008A thunderstorm produced high winds that downed trees and powerlines west of Waynesboro.
- Hail in South Carolina, April 11, 2008An isolated severe storm produced large hail in Anderson County.
- Damaging Wind in Maryland, April 11, 2008A warm front moved north of the region April 11th. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed in the wake of the warm front in advance of a strengthening cold front to the west.
- Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, April 11, 2008A warm front moved north of the region April 11th. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed in the wake of the warm front in advance of a strengthening cold front to the west.
- Hail in Pennsylvania, April 11, 2008An area of low pressure passed to the north of Lake Erie during the evening of April 11th. A cold front trailing the low swept east across northwestern Pennsylvania. Showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of this front with a few of them becoming severe.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in New York, April 12, 2008A line of severe thunderstorms moved through the area in the wee hours of the morning of the 12th. In addition to hail up to three-quarters of an inch in diameter, downburst winds brought down trees and power lines.
- Damaging Wind in New York, April 12, 2008A low pressure system tracked northeast through the Great lakes, dragging a cold front through the region. Isolated storms across north-central New York produced wind damage.
- Hail in Connecticut, April 12, 2008An approaching cold front triggered an isolated severe thunderstorm, producing penny size hail in New London County.
- Hail in Massachusetts, April 12, 2008A wave of low pressure, a warm front, a shortwave, and a low level jet all combined to produce severe thunderstorms on Cape Cod.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 12, 2008Severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds that downed trees. Nickel size hail also was reported with one of the storms.
- Lightning Strike in Delaware, April 12, 2008A lightning strike caused a shed fire on Avalon Road near Georgetown on the 12th. The shed was fully involved with the fire when the two fire companies arrived. Damage was estimated at $1,500. No injuries were reported.
- Tornadoes and Hail in North Carolina, April 12, 2008A low topped mini-supercell developed when an line of convection moved along and across a surface boundary. The supercell produced large hail and a weak EF-0 tornado.
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 12, 2008A cold front crosses eastern North Carolina during the afternoon and evening hours of April 12th 2008. Warm temperatures ahead of the front produced an unstable atmosphere and showers and thunderstorms developed just ahead of the front during the afternoon hours.
- Hail in North Carolina, April 12, 2008Isolated severe thunderstorm produced large hail across portions of northeast North Carolina.
More
Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 2008Tornadoes in 2008
Sources
NOAA NCEI, U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025), https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.