Tornadoes of 2008

Tornadoes of 2008

Tornado Reports in 2008 compared to previous years.
Timespan	January 2008 to date
Maximum rated tornado	EF5 tornado Parkersburg, Iowa area on May 25
Tornadoes in U.S.	≥728
Fatalities (U.S.)	112
Fatalities (worldwide)	114

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2008, primarily (but not entirely) in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally, particularly in parts of neighboring southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season. Some tornadoes also take place in Europe, e. g. in the United Kingdom or in Germany.

As of June 7, 1,330 tornadoes have been reported in the United States (of which at least 728 have been confirmed), with 112 confirmed fatalities. This already makes 2008 the deadliest year since 1998. Two other fatalities have been reported elsewhere in the world - both in Bangladesh.

Synopsis

The winter months of January and February (usually a fairly quiet time of year for severe weather) were unusually active in 2008 in the US, with several major outbreaks taking place. The first major outbreak took place on the week of January 7, which was unusually far north for January. February was also extremely active, with one of the most prolific outbreaks in recent years (and the deadliest since 1985) taking place on February 5, and three smaller outbreaks also taking place later in the month.

March saw activity come down somewhat to near normal levels, although a significant outbreak still took place in mid-month. April also saw near normal activity due to persistent activity throughout the month, although no fatalities were reported that month. May was extremely active and one of the most active months ever recorded, with three large and deadly tornado outbreaks surrounded by several smaller outbreaks which still produced some significant tornadoes.

The peak season for tornado activity is from March to May in the Southern United States, while activity shifts northward to the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions in the summer months from June to August. A secondary peak occurs in October and especially November farther south. In addition, during hurricane season, many tropical storms and hurricanes produce tornadoes across the southern and eastern U.S.

However, there is no real "tornado season"; tornadoes, including violent ones, can happen at any time of year if the conditions are favorable.

Events

US total tornadoes for 2008 - through June 4

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating

EFU	EF0	EF1	EF2	EF3	EF4	EF5	Total
0	273	280	99	39	8	1	728

January

There were 136 tornadoes reported in the US in January, of which 84 were confirmed.

January 7-10

Main article: January 2008 Tornado Outbreak Sequence

Extensive tornado damage was common across many areas of the Midwest and Southern States in early January including in Kenosha County, Wisconsin

A rarity for January in the Midwest, the first significant severe weather event of the year developed in the Central U.S on January 7. Over 70 tornadoes were reported that day, including major tornadoes dominated by two supercell areas.

In the late afternoon, a rare series of tornadoes took place in northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin with major structural damage reported in the Wheatland, Wisconsin area. WISN reported that 11 homes were destroyed or flattened and nine others heavily damaged. 15 people were injured there. That was only the second January tornado on record in Wisconsin, the other being on January 24, 1967 during the 1967 St. Louis tornado outbreak. The community of Lawrence, Illinois was evacuated after a tornado derailed railroad cars, including two carrying hazardous materials. Five people were injured in Illinois.

Another round of tornadoes took place in the Springfield, Missouri area. A tornado emergency was declared for Springfield as a large tornado tracked across the area in the early evening. Two people were killed near Marshfield and another was killed near Strafford, both in or near mobile homes as additional tornadoes developed across southwestern Missouri in the late evening hours.

On January 8, more severe weather took place, including a tornado near Appleton, Arkansas where one person was killed.

A tornado lifted a school bus and flipped it on top of a damaged elementary school in Caledonia, Mississippi on January 10, 2008.

Hot on the heels of the previous outbreak, another severe weather event occurred across the Southern United States on January 10 as a new system moved across the region. The Storm Prediction Center upgraded the threat to a moderate risk late that morning as tornadoes were expected, particularly in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. 20 tornadoes were reported and four EF3 tornadoes were confirmed including in Attala, Lowndes County in Mississippi and Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. A tornado emergency was also issued for Lamar County, Alabama after one tornado caused extensive damage across the Mississippi-Alabama state line at an elementary school in Caledonia and areas west of Vernon.

In the entire outbreak, 72 tornadoes were confirmed.

January 10 (Northwest US)

Main article: 2008 Vancouver tornado

Template:Infobox Tornado event Also on the afternoon of January 10, a rare tornado took place in the Hazel Dell, Washington area. The initial touchdown was at 12:14 pm PST (2014 UTC), near the intersection of NW 78th St. and NW Hazel Dell Blvd. The tornado was an EF1 that touched down intermittently over a 2 mile (3.2 km) path. It knocked down about 200 trees and left minor damage to 12 houses.

January 21

A high end F1 (T3) tornado touched down in Limburg, Belgium late on January 21. The tornado was on the ground for a short time, traveling 1.4 miles per hour (2.3 km/h) with an average width of 55 yards (50 m). Substantial damage was caused to roofs and barns.

January 29

Template:Infobox Tornado event A very powerful cold front tracked across the central US on January 29, with extremely cold weather behind the front. A moderate risk of severe weather was issued for parts of the lower Ohio Valley. Five tornadoes were reported across the region, although most of the damage was due to straight-line winds from a serial derecho which caused significant and widespread damage across the Ohio Valley region with winds of up to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) .

It was later found that two people were killed in a mobile home in Posey County, Indiana by an isolated EF2 tornado embedded in the squall line. A third fatality took place in Clark County, Indiana due to an EF1 tornado. Other tornadoes hit Speedway, Indiana and a suburban area in Louisville, Kentucky, both were EF1. Two other deaths took place in Arkansas from straight-line wind damage.

February

There were 232 tornadoes reported in the US in the month of February, of which at least 148 were confirmed.

February 5-6

Main article: 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak

Extensive damage from a tornado was observed across southern section of Memphis.

A powerful low pressure system across the central Plains started to move eastward beginning on February 4. On the morning of February 4, the Storm Prediction Center issued a slight risk of severe weather from central Texas to the lower Ohio River Valley. At the same time, a moderate risk of severe weather for February 5 was issued for parts of the lower Mississippi River Valley and the lower Ohio River Valley westward to the Ozarks, which was surrounded by a large slight risk area. However, on February 4, the thunderstorm cells remained elevated and linear, and no tornadoes were reported.

On the morning of February 5, a high risk was issued for part of the region, particularly Arkansas, for the threat of strong to violent tornadoes. Later that morning, the high risk area was expanded to cover the lower Ohio Valley as well. It was the first high risk issued in February since 1998.

Aerial view of a destroyed boat plant in Van Buren County, Arkansas

135 tornadoes were reported (81 confirmed). At 5:30 pm CST (2330 UTC), several tornadoes were reported in the Memphis area and a tornado emergency was declared for much of the Memphis metropolitan area after a large and dangerous tornado was reported near Horn Lake, Mississippi. Major damage was reported across Southaven and southeast Memphis, including industrial buildings destroyed and severe damage to Hickory Ridge Mall. At Memphis International Airport, an airline hangar had its roof removed, and the FedEx fire station suffered roof damage. Four fatalities were reported, three in a metropolitan Memphis office complex and one in Somerville, Tennessee.

Another tornado emergency was declared around 7:00 pm CST (0100 UTC) for Jackson, Tennessee, followed by another one around 7:30 pm CST (0130 UTC) for areas to the northeast. Union University sustained heavy damage and was closed until February 18. Two fatalities were reported in Huntersville, Tennessee and two were killed near Morris Chapel in Hardin County, Tennessee as a result of the severe weather. Across Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, 55 people were confirmed dead by tornadoes.

Portions of Jackson County, Alabama hit by an EF4 tornado during the morning of February 6, 2008, causing extensive damage

Massive damage was reported in Sumner County, Tennessee after a tornado sparked a natural gas explosion at a gas pumping plant in Macon County, Tennessee just northeast of Nashville. Seven fatalities were confirmed in Sumner County and 13 were killed in Macon County, with reports of injuries numbering in the hundreds. Two additional deaths were reported in nearby Trousdale County. All 22 deaths were caused by one tornado, rated an EF3, making this the deadliest single tornado to hit Middle Tennessee in 75 years (deadliest in the US since Evansville Tornado of November 2005).

February 12-13

Template:Infobox Tornado event Another low pressure system tracked across the Gulf Coast and Florida on February 12. 21 tornadoes were reported across the region after a squall line broke into bow echo segments. One EF1 and five EF0 tornadoes were confirmed. A woman was killed in Independence, Louisiana when she was picked up and thrown outside a hospital. Other tornadoes took place in Cocoa Beach, Florida and Everglades City, Florida.

February 16-18

Damage to a subdivision by the Prattville-Millbrook EF3 tornado

A cold front moved across the southern United States beginning on February 16. One confirmed tornado in Louisiana's Pointe Coupee Parish left damage over an 8 miles (13 km) long track with one home severely damaged. There were no reported deaths or injuries. Additional activity took place in Texas that afternoon, but far less than expected. This event continued into February 17 with the presence of a longwave trough and strong upper-level winds over the central Gulf Coast states, and new supercells developed later that day, producing tornadoes across the Florida Panhandle and Alabama. 24 tornadoes were confirmed out of 50 reports (however, some were later confirmed as straight-line winds). Severe damage was also reported in Prattville, Alabama, however no fatalities were reported. An EF2 tornado in Greene, North Carolina injured three people. Two mobile homes had their roofs torn off and a two story home was leveled.

In the mid-afternoon, a tornado emergency was issued for the area around Prattville, Alabama, and a long-track EF3 tornado was confirmed in the area, with 50 injuries but no fatalities.

February 25-26

Another system tracked across the Deep South beginning late on February 25 and continuing into February 26. Several tornadoes took place embedded in a serial derecho which hit the region hard with 90 miles per hour (140 km/h) winds. The strongest tornado was an EF3 near Carrollton, Georgia in the early morning of February 26.

One person was killed in Leeds, Alabama after a tree crashed into a mobile. Initially thought to have been straight-line winds, it was later confirmed as an EF1 tornado.

March

There were 150 tornadoes reported in the United States in the month of March, of 118 were confirmed.

March 2-4

Template:Infobox Tornado event On the morning of March 2, the SPC issued a moderate risk of severe weather across parts of the lower Mississippi River Valley for March 3, as a significant severe weather event was expected. The Day 2 Convective Outlook cited the potential for strong tornadoes in the moderate risk area, as well as the potential for large hail and damaging winds. The threat carried over to Day 1 and was extended to the central Gulf Coast.

The first round of activity began on the afternoon of March 2, with several supercells developing across Oklahoma with isolated severe weather reports, and a couple unconfirmed tornadoes in what was primarily a wind event. More activity took March 3, with a notable tornado reported near Liberty, Mississippi with several houses destroyed and several other scattered tornado reports. However, overall activity was much lower than expected. The severe weather continued on March 4 across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic States, where several more tornado reports and widespread wind damage was reported. One person was killed in a mobile home in Blount County, Tennessee by straight-line winds.

At least 19 tornadoes have been confirmed, the strongest being an EF2 in Clarke County, Mississippi.

March 6-7

Main article: North American blizzard of 2008

File:Florida Tornado.jpg

Squall line shaped storm over Florida with one or more funnel clouds forming from within itself.

Another low pressure system tracked across the southern US on March 6 and 7. It produced several tornadoes along the immediate Gulf Coast, including an EF1 in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 6. In the overnight and early morning of March 7, a squall line tracked across the Gulf of Mexico and emerged in northern Florida, with several supercells forming within it. A notable tornado took place in Capitola, Florida; initially two people were reported to have been killed but that was later confirmed false, although significant damage was reported there. Other tornadoes took place near Lake City, Florida where two people were killed, in Keaton Beach, Florida where an EF2 tornado was confirmed, and in Douglasville, Georgia where a tornado touched down damaging many homes, downing many trees and damaging a grocery store. One house was ripped in half by the storm. Arbor Place Mall in Douglasville reported windows blown out from the storm

March 14-15

Main article: 2008 Atlanta tornado outbreak

The Atlanta tornado severely damaged this Loft building on March 14, 2008

An isolated supercell developed in west-central Georgia in the evening of March 14. An EF2 tornado was reported in downtown Atlanta, which caused damage to several buildings, including the Georgia Dome (while a SEC Tournament basketball game was underway), the World Congress Center, Philips Arena (during an Atlanta Hawks game), and CNN Center. Many windows were blown out of the Omni Hotel, which was evacuated. A building collapse was also reported according to CNN coverage, and at least nine people were injured (one critically)and there was one reported death. Several buildings were also flooded. The tornado was later confirmed as an EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale and had a path length of a about 6 miles long and 200 yards wide and caused at least several millions of dollars in damage.

On March 15, a moderate risk of severe weather was issued for the same area, with more tornadoes possible. At midday, the risk area was extended to the Carolina Coast. Later that day, a high risk was issued for Northern Georgia and part of South Carolina. Several tornadoes have been reported with fatalities and damage reported across a swath from Alabama eastward. A tornado emergency was also issued on the afternoon of March 15 for Atlanta and its immediate suburbs for a tornado that did not occur.

March 30-31

Template:Infobox Tornado event A low pressure system tracked across the southern Great Plains on the evening of March 30. Isolated supercells developed along the dryline in western Oklahoma in the late evening hours, continuing into the overnight hours. The storms approached the Oklahoma City metro area after dark, and produced an EF1 tornado in Edmond, Oklahoma, around 1:50 AM CDT on March 31. There were several other unconfirmed tornadoes in the evening and overnight hours.

The Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk for severe weather from northeastern Texas to southwestern Missouri on the morning of March 31. Despite modest instability and shear, tornado activity was lower than expected, with only 7 tornadoes reported on March 31. There were 9 tornadoes confirmed in southwest Missouri, with strongest being an EF2 near Buffalo, Missouri.

April

There were 190 tornadoes reported in the United States in the month of April, of which at least 111 were confirmed.

April 3-4

The Little Rock Metropolitan Area, including the Hidden Creek Subdivision, was particularly hard hit by severe weather on April 3, 2008

On April 3, an EF2 tornado struck the Little Rock, Arkansas metropolitan area, passing directly over the weather office at the North Little Rock Airport, where it toppled a fuel truck and damaged airplanes in a hangar. Downed trees were reported across the area, from Benton (where an automobile dealership's security camera caught the storm on tape), to Cabot. Police went door-to-door in the village of Cammack Village, Arkansas to check on civilians after the storm, while the suburb of Jacksonville reported minor damage. The University of Central Arkansas in Conway reported very minimal damage unrelated to the tornado, but from the same storm. After the first tornadic storm line passed through the Little Rock area, a weaker second line of storms rolled through, producing no tornadoes. A trailer park just south of Little Rock, in the town of Bryant also saw damage from electrical power poles being toppled onto trailers. There have been no reports of fatalities. According to the National Weather Service Office in Little Rock, at least 12 tornadoes touched down in the state during that day.

Several more supercells developed on April 4 across the South. At least four tornadoes have been reported in southern Mississippi, where significant damage was reported near Vicksburg and north of Jackson, where at least 20 were injured by an EF2 tornado in the area.

April 8-11

Template:Infobox Tornado event Several days of scattered severe weather took place in the second week of April. A small severe weather event occurred on April 8 across the Southern Plains and parts of Michigan. At least 4 tornadoes were reported with a confirmed EF1 tornado in Allegan County, Michigan. The SPC issued a moderate risk of severe weather for both April 9 and April 10 (in the Mississippi Valley) as the system tracks eastward. The severe threat may also extend into April 11 into the Ohio Valley and southern Great Lakes (where a slight risk of severe weather exists).

Reflectivity image of the Breckenridge, Texas tornadic supercell that prompted a tornado emergency

Cells began to develop across parts of West Texas on the afternoon of April 9. An intense supercell in the late afternoon developed near Breckenridge, Texas, where a tornado emergency was declared. The tornado reportedly hit the southern edge of the town, and injuries were reported. Several other tornadoes were reported across both Texas and Oklahoma ahead of a powerful squall line, and significant wind damage from a serial derecho was reported in the overnight hours. At least 8 tornadoes were confirmed on April 9 and the early morning hours of April 10, including two EF0, four EF1 and two EF2.

The same storm complex continued to have the potential to produce more tornadoes in the Mississippi Valley on April 10. The system was forecast to bring high winds over a large area of the Great Plains as well as near-blizzard condition in the northern states. During the afternoon, at least two tornadoes were reported with both of them being confirmed as EF0 tornadoes which touched down in southeastern Missouri with several others reported during the evening across southern Iowa where there were reports of damage. Five tornadoes were reported across the Des Moines, Iowa coverage area including two EF0 and three EF1 Six other tornadoes including one EF2, two EF1 and three EF0 were confirmed in the Quad Cities coverage area

While no tornadoes were reported across most of the areas of Arkansas and Tennessee during the afternoon and evening hours, as a forecasted major tornado outbreak did not materialize; one EF1 tornado was later confirmed in Grant and Saline Counties but for earlier storms. One EF0 tornado in St. Joseph, Missouri left some minor damage and at least one person injured.

Another round of severe weather began on the morning of April 11, with two main supercell areas - one stretching from central Kentucky to central Mississippi, and another in the central Great Lakes. One confirmed EF3 tornado caused extensive damage to some homes and buildings as well as one injury north of Lawrenceburg in Lawrence County, Tennessee and continued into Wayne County, Tennessee. Another tornado, rated a high end EF1 in Warren County, Tennessee either significantly damaged or destroyed about 60 homes from 11 miles west of to 5 miles northeast of McMinnville. At least 10 tornadoes were reported from Alabama to Kentucky. Damaging wind gusts as high as 86 mph (139 km/h) caused significant structural damage in downtown Gadsden, Alabama while in Hoover, Alabama parts of the roof of an apartment complex collapsed. Eleven tornadoes including five in Kentucky (2 EF1 and 3 EF2), four in Alabama ( all of them EF0) and two in Tennessee (an EF1 and an EF3) were later confirmed. On the evening of April 11, tornado watches were reported as far north as central Michigan and the extreme southwestern Ontario, Canada. No damages or injuries were reported.

No fatalities were reported during the week.

April 9 (Southwest Europe)

Template:Infobox Tornado event Europe's first significant tornado event of 2008 took place early on April 9 across the Iberian Peninsula. The strongest tornado, a high-end F2 (T5), tracked through parts of Amiãis de Baixo east of Torres Novas in eastern Portugal. Six people were injured in that tornado and significant damage was reported among a 10 km (6 miles) long path. Furthermore, at least two other tornadoes struck areas in Portugal (near Póvoa e Meadas) and near El Batán in the western Extremadura region in western Spain.

April 18-20

Another smaller tornado event began on April 18 and spread eastward through April 20. On April 18, tornadic activity was concentrated in central Mississippi, where several tornadoes took place and one person was injured near Louisville, Mississippi. Only two tornadoes were reported on April 19, one of which caused significant damage in and around Lincolnton, North Carolina.

On April 20, numerous tornadoes were confirmed in the Washington, DC area, in southeastern Virginia and in eastern North Carolina. None were stronger than EF1 though.

April 23-25

At least 10 tornadoes were reported across northern and central Texas on April 23. One tornado, rated low-end EF2, produced extensive damage to some homes in Crowley, Texas.

On April 24, several severe storms spawned a few tornadoes in the Midwest, most of the activity occurring in northern Kansas. At least four tornadoes were confirmed across Iowa and Wisconsin on the following day with the strongest being an EF2 in Muscatine County, Iowa

April 28

Damage from a tornado in Suffolk, Virginia

File:Tornado Suffolk.jpg

View of the tornado near Suffolk, Virginia

There were 9 confirmed tornadoes on April 28 as low-topped supercells developed in eastern Virginia and eastern North Carolina. The 3 stronger tornadoes were in Suffolk, Virginia, Colonial Heights, Virginia, and Brunswick County, Virginia near Freeman. The other 3 tornadoes were located in the Claremont area of Surry County, Virginia, Carrsville in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, and the border of Mathews County, and Gloucester County, Virginia. These tornadoes were less damaging than the ones mentioned above. The tornadoes are reported to have injured more than 200 people. Many houses were damaged or destroyed. Also, the Southpark Mall in Colonial Heights and one elementary school were heavily damaged. Damage was also reported to a Suffolk hospital after cars were tossed around by the winds. One fatality was reported, but was found to not be storm-related.

At least eight tornadoes in Virginia and one in North Carolina were confirmed and rated including the EF3 storm that hit Suffolk. The Brunswick County tornado as well as the storm in Colonial Heights were found to be both rated EF1.

May

There were 595 tornadoes reported in the United States in the month of May, of which at least 253 were confirmed.

May 1-2

Main article: May 1-2, 2008 tornado outbreak

The Storm Prediction Center issued a Moderate Risk of severe weather for eastern Kansas from east of Wichita to near Kansas City on May 1 and later was extended to northeastern Oklahoma. Scattered tornadoes were reported from Iowa to Oklahoma. There were reports of a wedge tornado near Ralston, Oklahoma according to KOCO-TV and KFOR-TV coverage and storm chasers. A total of 19 tornadoes were reported, although no significant damage from tornadoes were reported.

EF2 tornado in Chicot County, Arkansas

In the overnight hours, a strong squall line/serial derecho formed across the central US. Widespread tree and building damage was reported across the Kansas City metropolitan area. Winds as strong as 85 mph (136 km/h) were reported, and many power outages also took place, impacting about 50,000 customers. About 200 buildings were destroyed and many others damaged.

The SPC had also issued a moderate risk for Day 2 for the Mississippi River Valley area from Springfield, Illinois to near Shreveport, Louisiana and was revised further south on May 2. The SPC lists six fatalities in Arkansas from three possible tornadoes in Conway, Van Buren, and Pulaski Counties. At least 50 tornadoes have been reported, most of them in central and southern Arkansas

May 5

A deadly tornado took place in the Barisal and Magura districts of Bangladesh on May 5. Two people were killed and seven others were injured as a result of a tornado that hit some corrugated structures. Straight-line winds caused numerous other fatalities in the area.

May 7-15

Main article: May 2008 tornado outbreak sequence

Radar scan of the tornadic thunderstorms over North Carolina during the late evening of May 8, 2008

A moderate risk was also issued for southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas on May 7. A possible tornado reported in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area produced some damage according to KFOR-TV and KOCO-TV including to the roof of a Sam's Club store but mostly to trees and some power lines cutting power to 16,000 customers including in Bethany and north Oklahoma City. A gas line in Bethany also ruptured causing a gas leak in the area. One report indicated a tornado near Wiley Post Airport and was previously filmed as a wall cloud and funnel near 164th Street in South Oklahoma City. KOCO reported a wind of up to 124 mph (200 km/h) at the station snapping a tree. Damage was also reported to trees near KFOR-TV's station. Near Yukon another tornado was reported causing localized roof damage. Widespread wind damage was also reported across eastern Oklahoma during the evening hours and one person was injured near Paoli A total of ten tornadoes were reported including one in Casper, Wyoming. Five tornadoes including four EF0 and an EF1 were confirmed. On May 8, severe weather shifted east of the Mississippi River and produced a tornado in the Tupelo area causing some damage to some buildings including a Department of Transportation building at the Mall at Barnes Crossing. Damage was also reported near the Tupelo Regional Airport as well as at the Tupelo Furniture Market. Residential damage was minimal with only portions of roofs removed from several homes. A tornado near the Alabama-Tennessee state line also caused some structural damage. 21 tornadoes were reported across three different areas including Kansas and Ohio and at least eight have been confirmed and rated including the EF3 in Tupelo, three EF0, three EF1 and an EF2

More tornadoes developed that evening across North Carolina with unconfirmed reports in Virginia and Maryland as well. Central North Carolina was hardest hit, with several communities sustaining severe damage. Late on the 8th or early on the 9th, one person was killed and three were injured by a confirmed tornado near Greensboro, North Carolina. It was given a preliminary rating of EF2, with windspeeds of around 130 miles per hour. Planes at the Piedmont Triad International Airport and several buildings including warehouses and businesses were damaged. A confirmed EF3 tornado was reported to have hit Forsyth County, North Carolina, with windspeeds of up to 140 miles per hour. The worst damage occurred near Frye Bridge Road and Moss Creek Lane near Clemmons, an area was also hit by an F3 almost exactly 10 years earlier causing major damage throughout the town. Two other tornadoes including an EF1 and an EF2 were confirmed in southwestern Virginia.

Major damage occurred across Lonoke, Prairie and Arkansas Counties on May 10, 2008

Hot on the heels of the previous severe weather event, another severe weather event developed May 10 and 11. A moderate risk of severe weather was forecasted from the Carolina Coast southward through most of Georgia. Significant tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds have been reported, with at least 23 people killed.

The activity was slow to develop with only elevated hail-producing cells, but late in the afternoon, several supercells developed across eastern Oklahoma with reports of large and dangerous tornadoes. Significant damage has been reported in several communities, with at least 23 deaths reported (21 by tornadoes) - Thirteen people were killed in Newton County, Missouri, one near Purdy, Missouri, one near Carthage, Missouri, 6 deaths near Picher, Oklahoma, and one in Laurens County, Georgia. More are feared dead or trapped in the rubble. Another death was reported near Carthage, Missouri due to straight-line winds.

May 17

On May 17, an EF0 tornado touched down near Camden, New York in Oneida County. One barn was destroyed and the siding from one home was torn off as well as damage to many trees.

May 20

Template:Infobox Tornado event A frontal system produced widespread severe weather, especially over Georgia and the Carolinas. While most of the reports were for wind or hail, several tornadoes touched down in the region. The most notable tornado was in the area of Holly Springs, Georgia, where about 250 houses were damaged by a weak (low-end EF1) but very large wedge tornado. Four people were injured there.

May 22-25

Main article: Late-May 2008 tornado outbreak sequence

The Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk of severe weather for May 22 in the Central Plains, including a risk of strong tornadoes and destructive hail. A slight risk of severe weather was issued from May 23-26 throughout the Memorial Day weekend for various regions across the Great Plains and Midwest, including the risk for further tornadoes. The risk area was upgraded to a high risk for parts of Kansas later in the afternoon of May 22. The Storm Prediction Center stated that "a regional tornado outbreak appears likely".

Radar image of a tornadic supercell thunderstorm near Greeley, Colorado at 1744 UTC

At about 11:30 am MDT (1730 UTC) on May 22, a powerful tornado touched down in Weld County, Colorado moving through the towns of Gilcrest and Milliken, about 45 miles (72 km) north of Denver. A preliminary damage survey indicated that the tornado was likely an EF3. Weld County officials closed U.S. 85 at Highway 60 after two semi-trailers were blown over at that location. The truck drivers were not believed to be injured. As many as 60,000 customers were without electrical power in Greeley and other communities in the area. The tornado slammed into a business park in Windsor, reportedly flattening several buildings, and knocked a cut of rail cars off their axles. The area was described as "total destruction" by an emergency responder. A 52-year-old man was killed at a campground near Greeley, while thirteen people were treated at hospitals, and more than 100 others received medical attention for minor injuries. 596 homes were damaged, with 102 deemed unsafe to occupy Tornadoes were also reported in the Laramie, Wyoming area with damage reported to two schools and a Wal-Mart, and parts of Interstate 80 were closed due to many accidents. The Governor of Colorado Bill Ritter has declared a state of emergency and activated the Colorado National Guard in Weld County, due to the tornado. Many more tornadoes took place in western Kansas and southwestern Nebraska later in the afternoon and evening, but most were in open country and no fatalities were reported.

Image of the Parkersburg tornado after it struck the town (NWS Des Moines)

On May 23, the Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk of severe storms for most of the same areas affected by the previous day's tornadoes, including central Kansas, southwestern Nebraska, far northeastern Colorado and far southeastern Wyoming. Strong tornadoes and damaging hail are again expected in these and surrounding areas.

Tornadoes ripped through western and central Kansas. An estimated 20 tornadoes touched down in Gove, Sheridan, Ness, Rooks and Ellis counties. Two people were injured in the Quinter area. In Ellis, The town was struck by two confirmed tornadoes that ripped a hole in a high school roof, broke windows, severely damaged small structures and left the town without power, but no homes were flattened and there were few injuries. The storm also wreaked havoc on Interstate 70, as numerous tractor trailers were overturned, and one was even carried across the road to land on the other side.

On May 24, tornadoes battered Oklahoma and Kansas. A tornado destroyed three barns at a hog farm near Lacey in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, about 75 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. No injuries were reported at the farm or elsewhere in the state. In Garfield County, Oklahoma, a trailer was blown onto State Highway 74 near Covington and power lines were downed. In Kansas, two people were killed when their car was blown about 150 yards off a highway near Pratt.

Parkersburg, Iowa was particularly hard hit by tornadic activity on May 25

On May 25, tornadoes touched down in Cedar Falls, Dunkerton, Parkersburg, and on the Butler/Grundy County line in Iowa. Residents in Parkersburg were evacuated because of a gas leak. The damage in Parkersburg was extensive with damage to at least four major businesses and a high school, with more than 400 homes damaged and 222 of them destroyed Twenty-one commercial buildings, including City Hall, were also destroyed in Parkersburg. A tornado was also spotted in Dunkerton that caused considerable damage. In Cedar Falls, trees were uprooted, but there was no further damage. Seven people (five in Parkersburg and two in New Hartford) were killed and at least 50 people were injured in Iowa. The damage in Parkersburg and New Hartford was rated EF5 while damage was rated EF2/EF3 further east. An EF1 tornado touched down in Coon Rapids, Minnesota and tracked six miles. An EF3 then touched down in Hugo, killing a 2-year-old and seriously injuring nine others. 50 homes were destroyed and another 150 were damaged.

May 29-31

Main article: Late-May 2008 tornado outbreak sequence

File:Waverly, Illinois tornado.jpg

An EF1 tornado near Waverly, Illinois on May 30, 2008

A major severe weather outbreak was expected over the Midwest, stretching eastward into the Great Lakes region. The Storm Prediction Center issued a high risk of severe weather for portions of eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and extreme southeast South Dakota for May 29 with a moderate risk stretching from north central Kansas to southwestern Minnesota. Later during the day, a moderate risk was issued for May 30 from northeastern Missouri to northern Indiana.

Tornadoes struck central Nebraska, causing damage to businesses and homes. A tornado touched down near Aurora, damaging a few businesses and at least one house on the outskirts of town. Tornadoes were also reported in Kearney, where 90 rail cars were blown off the tracks outside the city limits. There were reports of downed trees and power lines throughout Kearney, and reports of damage on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus and at a county fairgrounds. A tornado also swept through a rural area near Belleville in north-central Kansas, damaging about six homes, but no injuries were reported. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman declared a state of emergency, which allowed access to state and federal resources for storm cleanup. On May 30, 18 people were injured as an EF2 tornado tore through the east side of Indianapolis. A line of storms also hammered Illinois, spawning at least one tornado that damaged four homes, several outbuildings, and a grain bin near Waverly and Auburn.

On May 31, a moderate risk of severe weather was issued for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. Activity was mostly limited to hail and damaging wind events although a few tornadoes were reported.

June

As of June 7, 51 tornadoes have been reported in the US, of which at least 38 have been confirmed.

June 3-8

Main article: June 2008 tornado outbreak sequence

More severe weather took place in the central US in the first week of June. A moderate risk was issued for June 3 across the Ohio Valley, with both significant tornadoes and a derecho event possible. In Indiana, an EF3 tornado ripped through Moscow at about 10:30 pm EDT (0330 UTC). 10 people were injured in Moscow, with one victim critically injured after getting impaled in the upper chest by a 3-inch (7.6 cm) diameter tree limb. Fifty buildings were damaged, along with military and civilian vehicles in Camp Atterbury, with two soldiers suffering minor injuries. A covered bridge was also destroyed. There were 18 reported tornadoes on June 3. The threat continued on June 4 with another moderate risk in the Mid-Atlantic States, where a derecho event developed in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area that afternoon, knocking out power to 200,000 customers. In Annandale, Virginia, a woman was killed when a tree fell on top of her vehicle. The death was caused by straight-line winds. A tornado also struck Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, injuring four people and damaging 14 homes and one business.

As that system passed, another unseasonably strong low pressure area tracked across the Great Plains. The Storm Prediction Center anticipated a tornado outbreak beginning June 4 through June 6, including possible "strong...long-tracked tornadoes". A moderate risk of severe storms was issued for both June 4 and 5. In Nebraska, farm buildings were damaged or destroyed by a tornado that hit Ulysses. Residents of Ceresco were evacuated from their homes because of downed power lines and trees caused by two EF1 tornadoes that hit the area. Tornadoes also touched down in southern Iowa, causing isolated damage in rural areas. A tornado seriously damaged one house near Emerson. On June 4, 40 tornadoes were reported (not including those related to the eastern systems).

In the 1300 UTC outlook on June 5, the Storm Prediction Center issued a large high risk area for much of the Great Plains and Upper Midwest, with the potential for many strong to violent tornadoes and/or a large derecho event. Forecasters had warned of a potentially historic outbreak, as computer forecasting models for June 5 resembled those on June 8, 1974, when 39 tornadoes raked the southern Plains and killed 22 people. Wichita State University canceled evening classes because of the weather predictions. In Craig, Missouri, three semi-trailer trucks were blown over by a tornado on Interstate 29. One of the drivers needed to be extricated. 35 tornadoes were reported, but most were in sparsely populated areas. Winds as strong as 92 mph (148 km/h) were also reported.

While the threat was much lower on June 6, a tornado raked a half-mile (0.80 km) wide path of destruction in northwestern Minnesota, which caused widespread damage in Park Rapids. A house overlooking Pickerel Lake near Emmaville was destroyed. A turkey farm near Blueberry Lake was destroyed and a small housing development suffered minor damage.

A large tornado in Will County, Illinois

More severe weather developed on June 7. A slow-moving tornado left a path of destroyed and damaged homes, downed power lines, and overturned semi-trailer trucks across Chicago's south and southwest suburbs and Northwest Indiana. At 2:45 pm CDT (1945 UTC), a tornado touched down near Dwight, Illinois in Livingston County. Later, a tornado touched down near Wilmington and stayed on the ground for 12 miles through rural sections of Will County, Illinois. In Wilmington and Symerton, search and rescue operations were conducted and several people with minor injuries had to be evacuated from their damaged homes. As the tornado moved northeast, it flattened a barn in Frankfort and over-turned semi-trailer trucks on Interstate 57, where one person was injured. As the storm moved into more densely populated southern Cook County, it destroyed homes in Richton Park and caused extensive damage in University Park. The last report of a funnel cloud associated with this storm occurred in Schererville, Indiana at around 7:15 pm CDT (0015 UTC). Later, at 2:45 am CDT on June 8th, the far east-central portion of the city of Omaha, Nebraska was struck by a tornado imbedded in a squall line.

See also

• List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
  • List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• List of tornadoes striking downtown areas
• Fujita scale
  • Enhanced Fujita scale
• List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes

External links

• Storm Prediction Center monthly tornado stats
• Storm Prediction Center deadly tornado stats
• Annual Severe Weather Report Summary 2008 (SPC)
• European Severe Weather Database (ESWD)
• Video of tornadoes flipping cars in Alabama