| 2008 Tropical Storm Fay tornado outbreak | |
| Type: | Tornado outbreak |
| Active: | August 18–27, 2008 |
| Tornadoes: | 50 |
| Fujitascale: | EF2 |
| Tornado Duration: | ~10 days |
| Fatalities: | 0 fatalities (5 injuries) |
| Damages: | $4.2 million |
| Enhanced: | yes |
From August 18–27, 2008, Tropical Storm Fay produced 50 tornadoes as it meandered across the Southeastern United States.
On August 6, 2008, a tropical wave emerged over the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa. Tracking westward, the system gradually organized into a tropical depression on August 15 just west of Puerto Rico. After making landfall in the Dominican Republic, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Fay. Turning west-northwestward, the system crossed Haiti and Cuba while gradually intensifying. The system emerged over the Florida Straits on August 18 and struck Key West before turning northeastward and striking the southern Florida Peninsula. Despite moving onshore, the system continued to organize, developing an eye and attaining peak winds just below hurricane-force.
Weakening steering currents caused Fay's motion to become slow and erratic, with the system emerging back over the Atlantic Ocean only to turn westward and strike Florida again by August 21. This slow motion continued for the remainder of the storm's track as it briefly moved back over the Gulf of Mexico before turning inland again. Weakening to a tropical depression, Fay moved slowly northwest before turning northeast over Mississippi. It turned into an extratropical cyclone on August 27 before being absorbed by a larger system over Kentucky the following day.[1]
| Date | Total | Enhanced Fujita scale rating | Deaths | Injuries | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | |||||
| August 18 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| August 19 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| August 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| August 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| August 22 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| August 23 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| August 24 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| August 25 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| August 26 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| August 27 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | 32 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Coord. | Date | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | N of Big Coppitt Key | Monroe | FL | 1655–1657 | 0.24miles | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A waterspout formed north of the Seven Mile Bridge and moved onshore on Big Pine Key and downed a few trees.[2] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | WSW of Summerland Key | Monroe | FL | 1800–1802 | 0.07miles | 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A waterspout was first observed near Ramrod Key before it moved onshore on Summerland Key. Several large tree limbs were snapped, a cable service line was torn from a house, and a 4x4 post was blown off a dock. A weather station recorded a 62mph gust during the event.[3] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | Hallandale Beach area | Broward | FL | 2130–2131 | 0.25miles | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado tracked through Hallandale Beach, damaging a patio screen, flipping several boats, and downing trees.[4] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF2 | SSE of Wellington | Palm Beach | FL | 0529–0533 | 2.72miles | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A strong tornado tracked through several subdivisions of Wellington, causing significant damage. The worst damage occurred at the Palm Beach Equine Clinic where two stables lost their roof, power poles were snapped, and many trees were downed. A heavy trailer at a polo club was tossed 40yd and an apartment building near Folkstone Circle lost 70 percent of its roof tiles. Damage from the tornado amounted to $1.25 million[5] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | Stuart area | Martin | FL | 1411–1412 | 0.02miles | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado touched down in Stuart, damaging a panel truck and a nearby service station awning.[6] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | NW of White City | St. Lucie | FL | 1635–1636 | 0.08miles | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado damaged the roof and interior ceiling of a warehouse in Fort Pierce.[7] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | W of Micco | Brevard | FL | 1745–1750 | 0.33miles | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado struck the community of Barefoot Bay, destroying 9 mobile homes and damaging 59 more. The most severe damage to the homes consisted of collapsed exterior walls and removal of roofs. Dozens of smaller structures were impacted and two people sustained minor injuries. Damage amounted to $420,000.[8] | ||
| align=center colspan=10 style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; font-size: smaller; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | No tornadoes touched down on August 20 and 21 as the right-front quadrant of Fay moved over the Atlantic | |||||||||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | ESE of Bakersville | St. Johns | FL | 1715–1716 | 0.59miles | 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado reported by law enforcement.[9] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | Isle of Palms South | Duval | FL | 1740–1742 | 0.17miles | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado snapped and twisted the tops of pine trees.[10] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | NE of Bostwick | Clay | FL | 2125–2126 | 0.1miles | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A waterspout reported along the St. Johns River briefly moved onshore in Clay County.[11] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | Fleming Island area | Clay | FL | 2140–2147 | 1.32miles | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado caused widespread tree damage and impacted one home in Fleming Island.[12] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | NW of Lake Rosalie | Polk | FL | 2225–2227 | 0.72miles | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Waterspout formed over Lake Rosalie and briefly moved onshore near Camp Rosalie before dissipating. Five structures in the camp sustained minor roof damage.[13] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | N of Staunton | Cook | GA | 2050–2053 | 1.4miles | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado formed near U.S. Route 41 and tracked northwest, passing over Interstate 75. Numerous trees were downed and a barn sustained heavy damage along its path.[14] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | ENE of Palatka Municipal Airport | Putnam | FL | 2153–2201 | 3.74miles | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado began as a waterspout near Highway 17 and tracked north toward Bostwick. Public reports indicated a tornado was on the ground, though no damage occurred.[15] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | ESE of Capps | Jefferson | FL | 2212–2213 | 0.2miles | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A short-lived tornado snapped the tops off many pine trees.[16] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | WNW of Ware | Elmore | AL | 1907–1907 | 0.04miles | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Public report of a brief tornado in the Emerald Valley area of Elmore County; no damage occurred.[17] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | SW of Wetona | Coosa | AL | 1912–1912 | 0.01miles | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Public report of a brief tornado near the Coosa–Elmore County line close to the Coosa River; no damage occurred.[18] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | Arley area | Winston | AL | 2324–2324 | 0.05miles | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado touched down in Arley and downed several street signs, one of which was blown into a power pole and snapped it.[19] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | SSE of Prattville-Grouby Field | Autauga | AL | 1225–1225 | 0.05miles | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado snapped several trees along Interstate 65.[20] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | NE of Corcoran | Pike | AL | 1318–1319 | 0.45miles | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado destroyed an outbuilding and damaged several structures; 15 trees were snapped along its path.[21] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | WNW of Arguta | Dale | AL | 1320–1322 | 0.44miles | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado uprooted several trees and heavily damaged a barn.[22] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | SE of St. Clair Springs | St. Clair | AL | 1556–1606 | 3.38miles | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado touched down northeast of the Saint Clair Correctional Facility and tracked northwest. Numerous trees were downed along its path, some of which fell on homes and caused damage.[23] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | SSE of Allgood | Blount | AL | 1625–1626 | 0.41miles | 60abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado touched down along the shore of Inland Lake and tracked across it before moving back on land. Numerous trees were downed, two buildings sustained minor damage, and a few power poles were downed.[24] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF2 | NW of Chulafinnee | Cleburne | AL | 1706–1707 | 0.46miles | 400abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief but strong tornado caused significant damage to a gas station and convenience store and downed 100–200 trees.[25] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | SW of Old Davisville | Calhoun | AL | 1711–1711 | 0.01miles | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado significantly damaged one home.[26] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | NNE of Choccolocco | Calhoun | AL | 1719–1720 | 1.1miles | 250abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado destroyed an auto shop and damaged three homes. Approximately 50–100 trees were snapped or uprooted along its path.[27] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | ESE of Jacobs | Jackson | FL | 2226–2227 | 0.2miles | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado with no damage.[28] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | SSW of Enon | Pike | AL | 2258–2258 | 0.01miles | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado snapped or uprooted several trees.[29] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | SSE of Gordon | Houston | AL | 0026–0027 | 0.2miles | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado downed several trees, one of which fell on a mobile home and destroyed it.[30] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | N of Enterprise | Miller | GA | 0202–0205 | 0.95miles | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado damaged a barn, mobile home, and irrigation pivot and uprooted trees.[31] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | SW of Percale | Monroe | GA | 1610–1611 | 0.29miles | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado with no damage.[32] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | NW of Fort Lawn | Chester | SC | 1618–1618 | 0.1miles | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado downed several trees and power lines.[33] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | NNE of Gainesville | Hall | GA | 1625–1627 | 1.14miles | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado downed about 200 trees; 20 homes sustained damage from fallen trees.[34] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | S of Reed Creek to NE of Townville | Hart, Anderson | GA, SC | 1818–1836 | 12.44miles | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado moved along an intermittent path near the Georgia–South Carolina border, downing many trees and power lines. Some structural damage occurred near Reed Creek.[35] After crossing Lake Hartwell, the tornado moved into South Carolina and remained over mostly wooded areas before dissipating.[36] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | S of Cherrys | Pickens, Oconee | SC | 1836–1850 | 6.83miles | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado touched down along the Pickens–Oconee County line and downed several trees and power lines along an intermittent path.[37] The tornado caused minor structural damage around the Memorial Stadium in Clemson University.[38] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | NNE of Six Mile | Pickens | SC | 1920–1920 | 0.1miles | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado downed power lines along Highway 137.[39] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF2 | WSW of Sandy Springs | Anderson, Pickens | SC | 1935–1947 | 5.48miles | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado touched down along Highway 187 where it damaged a home and downed trees. Tracking northward, the storm intensified and snapped numerous large trees near the Anderson–Pickens County line. Damage in the area was rated EF2.[40] The tornado continued into the south side of Clemson University campus before dissipating.[41] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | SW of Oakwood | Hall | GA | 1938–1949 | 4.82miles | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | An intermittent tornado first touched down southwest of Oakwood and remained on the ground for 0.75miles. Along this portion of the track, ten homes and the local elementary school sustained minor roof damage. Five minutes later, the tornado touched down again to the southwest of Gainesville and tracked for 2.25miles. Fifteen homes in the El Rancho Estates and the Lyman Elementary School sustained minor damage. Losses from the tornado amounted to $750,000.[42] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | SSW of Donaldson Air Force Base | Greenville | SC | 2005–2017 | 6.09miles | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado destroyed a large garage, removed shingles from homes, and downed trees about 5miles east of Pelzer.[43] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | SW of Gillsville | Hall | GA | 2020–2022 | 0.77miles | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado touched down southwest of Gillsville and removed a roof from a home. Three other homes sustained minor to moderate damage and 20 trees were downed.[44] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF1 | NNE of Arcade | Jackson | GA | 2030–2047 | 7.64miles | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | An intermittent tornado first touched down north-northeast of Arcade where it downed a few tree limbs before lifting. The storm then touched down again in the city of Commerce and tracked for 1.25miles before lifting near the Jackson–Banks County line. Forty trees were downed by the tornado, many of which fell on mobile homes and caused significant damage. Three mobile homes were destroyed, resulting in three injuries, and fifteen others were damaged.[45] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | NE of Shelton | Fairfield | SC | 2242–2248 | 4.85miles | 60abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado caused minor tree damage.[46] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | NNW of Mallorysville | Wilkes | GA | 2255–2307 | 5.06miles | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado moved an anchored mobile home 6feet off its foundation and caused minor shingle damage to another home along Highway 17. Numerous trees were downed along the entire path.[47] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | W of Cornwell | Chester | SC | 2312–2312 | 0.1miles | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado downed trees and power lines.[48] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | S of Salem | Randolph | NC | 1630–1635 | 0.5miles | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado damaged two outbuildings and downed many trees. Cement yard statues and a light carport were tossed across a road.[49] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | ENE of Surf City | Pender | NC | 1705–1706 | 0.02miles | 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Waterspout briefly moved onshore and tossed pool furniture.[50] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | ESE of Archer | Johnston | NC | 1744–1746 | 0.25miles | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado snapped or uprooted many trees in a densely forested area.[51] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | E of Scotts Crossroads | Wilson | NC | 1750–1755 | 4.47miles | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Local law enforcement reported a tornado "bouncing" along a path extending from Highway 42 to Interstate 95, remaining over tobacco and soy fields for its entire duration.[52] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | S of Crutchfield Crossroads | Chatham | NC | 2008–2013 | 2.63miles | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Weak tornado caused significant damage to an outbuilding and minor damage to several other structures. Many large trees were downed along its path.[53] | ||
| bgcolor=# align="center" | EF0 | NE of Fremont | Wayne, Wilson | NC | 0457–0505 | 1.94miles | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado touched down over a corn field before impacting several farms. A barn was destroyed and a nearby home sustained minor damage; debris from the structures was blown up to 100yd away. After crossing a soy field, the tornado caused a second barn to collapse before temporarily lifting. It briefly touched down a short time after and caused minor damage to a few mobile homes and outbuildings before dissipating.[54] [55] | ||