Tropical Storm Fay tornado outbreak

From August 18–27, 2008, Tropical Storm Fay produced 50 tornadoes as it meandered across the Southeastern United States.

2008 Tropical Storm Fay tornado outbreak

Damage from an EF1 tornado in Brevard County, Florida
Type	Tornado outbreak
Duration	August 18–27, 2008
Tornadoes confirmed	50
Max. rating1	EF2 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak2	~10 days
Fatalities	0 fatalities (5 injuries)
Damage	$4.2 million
1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Background

Track of Tropical Storm Fay

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.^[1]

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]

Daily statistics

Daily statistics

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

List of tornadoes

List of confirmed tornadoes during the 2008 Tropical Storm Fay tornado outbreak^{[nb 1]}

F#	Location	County / Parish	State	Coord.	Date	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Summary
EF0	N of Big Coppitt Key	Monroe	FL	24.71°N 81.37°W / 24.71; -81.37 (Big Coppitt Key (August 18, EF0))	August 18	1655–1657	0.24 miles (390 m)	50 yd (46 m)	A waterspout formed north of the Seven Mile Bridge and moved onshore on Big Pine Key and downed a few trees.[2]
EF0	WSW of Summerland Key	Monroe	FL	24.66°N 81.47°W / 24.66; -81.47 (Summerland Key (August 18, EF0))	August 18	1800–1802	0.07 miles (110 m)	10 yd (9.1 m)	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 62 mph (100 km/h) gust during the event.[3]
EF0	Hallandale Beach area	Broward	FL	25.98°N 80.13°W / 25.98; -80.13 (Hallandale Beach (August 18, EF0))	August 18	2130–2131	0.25 miles (0.40 km)	25 yd (23 m)	A brief tornado tracked through Hallandale Beach, damaging a patio screen, flipping several boats, and downing trees.[4]
EF2	SSE of Wellington	Palm Beach	FL	26.62°N 80.23°W / 26.62; -80.23 (Wellington (August 19, EF2))	August 19	0529–0533	2.72 miles (4.38 km)	100 yd (91 m)	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 40 yd (37 m) and an apartment building near Folkstone Circle lost 70 percent of its roof tiles. Damage from the tornado amounted to $1.25 million[5]
EF0	Stuart area	Martin	FL	27.15°N 80.22°W / 27.15; -80.22 (Stuart (August 19, EF0))	August 19	1411–1412	0.02 miles (32 m)	30 yd (27 m)	A brief tornado touched down in Stuart, damaging a panel truck and a nearby service station awning.[6]
EF0	NW of White City	St. Lucie	FL	27.39°N 80.37°W / 27.39; -80.37 (White City (August 19, EF0))	August 19	1635–1636	0.08 miles (130 m)	30 yd (27 m)	A brief tornado damaged the roof and interior ceiling of a warehouse in Fort Pierce.[7]
EF1	W of Micco	Brevard	FL	27.88°N 80.51°W / 27.88; -80.51 (Micco (August 19, EF1))	August 19	1745–1750	0.33 miles (0.53 km)	30 yd (27 m)	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]
No tornadoes touched down on August 20 and 21 as the right-front quadrant of Fay moved over the Atlantic
EF0	ESE of Bakersville	St. Johns	FL	29.88°N 81.43°W / 29.88; -81.43 (Bakersville (August 22, EF0))	August 22	1715–1716	0.59 miles (0.95 km)	10 yd (9.1 m)	Brief tornado reported by law enforcement.[9]
EF0	Isle of Palms South	Duval	FL	30.26°N 81.44°W / 30.26; -81.44 (Isle of Palms South (August 22, EF0))	August 22	1740–1742	0.17 miles (270 m)	100 yd (91 m)	Brief tornado snapped and twisted the tops of pine trees.[10]
EF0	NE of Bostwick	Clay	FL	29.85°N 81.60°W / 29.85; -81.60 (Bostwick (August 22, EF0))	August 22	2125–2126	0.1 miles (160 m)	100 yd (91 m)	A waterspout reported along the St. Johns River briefly moved onshore in Clay County.[11]
EF0	Fleming Island area	Clay	FL	30.04°N 81.71°W / 30.04; -81.71 (Fleming Island (August 22, EF0))	August 22	2140–2147	1.32 miles (2.12 km)	100 yd (91 m)	Tornado caused widespread tree damage and impacted one home in Fleming Island.[12]
EF0	NW of Lake Rosalie	Polk	FL	27.94°N 81.42°W / 27.94; -81.42 (Lake Rosalie (August 22, EF0))	August 22	2225–2227	0.72 miles (1.16 km)	30 yd (27 m)	Waterspout formed over Lake Rosalie and briefly moved onshore near Camp Rosalie before dissipating. Five structures in the camp sustained minor roof damage.[13]
EF1	N of Staunton	Cook	GA	31.29°N 83.47°W / 31.29; -83.47 (Staunton (August 23, EF1))	August 23	2050–2053	1.4 miles (2.3 km)	75 yd (69 m)	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]
EF0	ENE of Palatka Municipal Airport	Putnam	FL	29.66°N 81.66°W / 29.66; -81.66 (Palatka Municipal Airport (August 23, EF0))	August 23	2153–2201	3.74 miles (6.02 km)	100 yd (91 m)	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]
EF0	ESE of Capps	Jefferson	FL	30.41°N 83.93°W / 30.41; -83.93 (Capps (August 23, EF0))	August 23	2212–2213	0.2 miles (320 m)	50 yd (46 m)	A short-lived tornado snapped the tops off many pine trees.[16]
EF0	WNW of Ware	Elmore	AL	32.46°N 86.11°W / 32.46; -86.11 (Ware (August 24, EF0))	August 24	1907–1907	0.04 miles (64 m)	20 yd (18 m)	Public report of a brief tornado in the Emerald Valley area of Elmore County; no damage occurred.[17]
EF0	SW of Wetona	Coosa	AL	32.76°N 86.36°W / 32.76; -86.36 (Wetona (August 24, EF0))	August 24	1912–1912	0.01 miles (16 m)	20 yd (18 m)	Public report of a brief tornado near the Coosa–Elmore County line close to the Coosa River; no damage occurred.[18]
EF0	Arley area	Winston	AL	34.09°N 87.22°W / 34.09; -87.22 (Arley (August 24, EF0))	August 24	2324–2324	0.05 miles (80 m)	20 yd (18 m)	Brief tornado touched down in Arley and downed several street signs, one of which was blown into a power pole and snapped it.[19]
EF0	SSE of Prattville-Grouby Field	Autauga	AL	32.16°N 86.43°W / 32.16; -86.43 (Prattville-Grouby Field (August 25, EF0))	August 25	1225–1225	0.05 miles (80 m)	20 yd (18 m)	Brief tornado snapped several trees along Interstate 65.[20]
EF0	NE of Corcoran	Pike	AL	32.86°N 85.95°W / 32.86; -85.95 (Corcoran (August 25, EF0))	August 25	1318–1319	0.45 miles (0.72 km)	75 yd (69 m)	Brief tornado destroyed an outbuilding and damaged several structures; 15 trees were snapped along its path.[21]
EF1	WNW of Arguta	Dale	AL	31.58°N 85.16°W / 31.58; -85.16 (Arguta (August 25, EF1))	August 25	1320–1322	0.44 miles (0.71 km)	75 yd (69 m)	Brief tornado uprooted several trees and heavily damaged a barn.[22]
EF1	SE of St. Clair Springs	St. Clair	AL	33.75°N 86.38°W / 33.75; -86.38 (St. Clair Springs (August 25, EF1))	August 25	1556–1606	3.38 miles (5.44 km)	100 yd (91 m)	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]
EF1	SSE of Allgood	Blount	AL	33.86°N 86.47°W / 33.86; -86.47 (Allgood (August 25, EF1))	August 25	1625–1626	0.41 miles (0.66 km)	60 yd (55 m)	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]
EF2	NW of Chulafinnee	Cleburne	AL	33.58°N 85.68°W / 33.58; -85.68 (Chulafinnee (August 25, EF2))	August 25	1706–1707	0.46 miles (0.74 km)	400 yd (370 m)	Brief but strong tornado caused significant damage to a gas station and convenience store and downed 100–200 trees.[25]
EF1	SW of Old Davisville	Calhoun	AL	33.64°N 85.68°W / 33.64; -85.68 (Old Davisville (August 25, EF1))	August 25	1711–1711	0.01 miles (16 m)	50 yd (46 m)	Brief tornado significantly damaged one home.[26]
EF1	NNE of Choccolocco	Calhoun	AL	33.68°N 85.69°W / 33.68; -85.69 (Choccolocco (August 25, EF1))	August 25	1719–1720	1.1 miles (1.8 km)	250 yd (230 m)	Brief tornado destroyed an auto shop and damaged three homes. Approximately 50–100 trees were snapped or uprooted along its path.[27]
EF0	ESE of Jacobs	Jackson	FL	30.88°N 85.36°W / 30.88; -85.36 (Jacobs (August 25, EF0))	August 25	2226–2227	0.2 miles (320 m)	50 yd (46 m)	Brief tornado with no damage.[28]
EF0	SSW of Enon	Pike	AL	31.81°N 85.73°W / 31.81; -85.73 (Enon (August 25, EF0))	August 25	2258–2258	0.01 miles (16 m)	20 yd (18 m)	Brief tornado snapped or uprooted several trees.[29]
EF1	SSE of Gordon	Houston	AL	31.12°N 85.08°W / 31.12; -85.08 (Gordon (August 25, EF1))	August 25	0026–0027	0.2 miles (320 m)	20 yd (18 m)	Brief tornado downed several trees, one of which fell on a mobile home and destroyed it.[30]
EF0	N of Enterprise	Miller	GA	31.17°N 84.83°W / 31.17; -84.83 (Enterprise (August 25, EF0))	August 25	0202–0205	0.95 miles (1.53 km)	75 yd (69 m)	Tornado damaged a barn, mobile home, and irrigation pivot and uprooted trees.[31]
EF0	SW of Percale	Monroe	GA	33.06°N 83.80°W / 33.06; -83.80 (Percale (August 26, EF0))	August 26	1610–1611	0.29 miles (0.47 km)	50 yd (46 m)	Brief tornado with no damage.[32]
EF0	NW of Fort Lawn	Chester	SC	34.72°N 80.92°W / 34.72; -80.92 (Ft. Lawn (August 26, EF0))	August 26	1618–1618	0.1 miles (160 m)	20 yd (18 m)	Brief tornado downed several trees and power lines.[33]
EF1	NNE of Gainesville	Hall	GA	34.37°N 83.36°W / 34.37; -83.36 (Gainesville (August 26, EF1))	August 26	1625–1627	1.14 miles (1.83 km)	200 yd (180 m)	Tornado downed about 200 trees; 20 homes sustained damage from fallen trees.[34]
EF1	S of Reed Creek to NE of Townville	Hart, Anderson	GA, SC	34.44°N 82.92°W / 34.44; -82.92 (Reed Creek (August 26, EF1))	August 26	1818–1836	12.44 miles (20.02 km)	30 yd (27 m)	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]
EF1	S of Cherrys	Pickens, Oconee	SC	34.59°N 82.87°W / 34.59; -82.87 (Cherrys (August 26, EF1))	August 26	1836–1850	6.83 miles (10.99 km)	30 yd (27 m)	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]
EF0	NNE of Six Mile	Pickens	SC	34.83°N 82.81°W / 34.83; -82.81 (Six Mile (August 26, EF0))	August 26	1920–1920	0.1 miles (160 m)	30 yd (27 m)	Brief tornado downed power lines along Highway 137.[39]
EF2	WSW of Sandy Springs	Anderson, Pickens	SC	34.58°N 82.81°W / 34.58; -82.81 (Sandy Springs (August 26, EF2))	August 26	1935–1947	5.48 miles (8.82 km)	30 yd (27 m)	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]
EF1	SW of Oakwood	Hall	GA	34.21°N 83.89°W / 34.21; -83.89 (Oakwood (August 26, EF1))	August 26	1938–1949	4.82 miles (7.76 km)	200 yd (180 m)	An intermittent tornado first touched down southwest of Oakwood and remained on the ground for 0.75 mi (1.21 km). 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 2.25 mi (3.62 km). Fifteen homes in the El Rancho Estates and the Lyman Elementary School sustained minor damage. Losses from the tornado amounted to $750,000.[42]
EF1	SSW of Donaldson Air Force Base	Greenville	SC	34.64°N 82.38°W / 34.64; -82.38 (Donaldson Air Force Base (August 26, EF1))	August 26	2005–2017	6.09 miles (9.80 km)	30 yd (27 m)	A tornado destroyed a large garage, removed shingles from homes, and downed trees about 5 mi (8.0 km) east of Pelzer.[43]
EF1	SW of Gillsville	Hall	GA	34.33°N 83.71°W / 34.33; -83.71 (Gillsville (August 26, EF1))	August 26	2020–2022	0.77 miles (1.24 km)	100 yd (91 m)	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]
EF1	NNE of Arcade	Jackson	GA	34.12°N 83.55°W / 34.12; -83.55 (Arcade (August 26, EF1))	August 26	2030–2047	7.64 miles (12.30 km)	100 yd (91 m)	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 1.25 mi (2.01 km) 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]
EF0	NE of Shelton	Fairfield	SC	34.52°N 81.40°W / 34.52; -81.40 (Shelton (August 26, EF0))	August 26	2242–2248	4.85 miles (7.81 km)	60 yd (55 m)	Tornado caused minor tree damage.[46]
EF0	NNW of Mallorysville	Wilkes	GA	33.90°N 82.78°W / 33.90; -82.78 (Mallorysville (August 26, EF0))	August 26	2255–2307	5.06 miles (8.14 km)	100 yd (91 m)	Tornado moved an anchored mobile home 6 ft (1.8 m) off its foundation and caused minor shingle damage to another home along Highway 17. Numerous trees were downed along the entire path.[47]
EF0	W of Cornwell	Chester	SC	34.60°N 81.20°W / 34.60; -81.20 (Cornwell (August 26, EF0))	August 26	2312–2312	0.1 miles (160 m)	20 yd (18 m)	Brief tornado downed trees and power lines.[48]
EF0	S of Salem	Randolph	NC	35.82°N 79.80°W / 35.82; -79.80 (Salem (August 27, EF0))	August 27	1630–1635	0.5 miles (0.80 km)	50 yd (46 m)	Brief tornado damaged two outbuildings and downed many trees. Cement yard statues and a light carport were tossed across a road.[49]
EF0	ENE of Surf City	Pender	NC	34.43°N 77.53°W / 34.43; -77.53 (Surf City (August 27, EF0))	August 27	1705–1706	0.02 miles (32 m)	10 yd (9.1 m)	Waterspout briefly moved onshore and tossed pool furniture.[50]
EF0	ESE of Archer	Johnston	NC	35.71°N 78.33°W / 35.71; -78.33 (Archer (August 27, EF0))	August 27	1744–1746	0.25 miles (0.40 km)	50 yd (46 m)	Brief tornado snapped or uprooted many trees in a densely forested area.[51]
EF0	E of Scotts Crossroads	Wilson	NC	35.73°N 78.03°W / 35.73; -78.03 (Scotts Crossroads (August 27, EF0))	August 27	1750–1755	4.47 miles (7.19 km)	50 yd (46 m)	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]
EF0	S of Crutchfield Crossroads	Chatham	NC	35.78°N 79.42°W / 35.78; -79.42 (Crutchfield Crossroads (August 27, EF0))	August 27	2008–2013	2.63 miles (4.23 km)	100 yd (91 m)	Weak tornado caused significant damage to an outbuilding and minor damage to several other structures. Many large trees were downed along its path.[53]
EF0	NE of Fremont	Wayne, Wilson	NC	35.58°N 77.93°W / 35.58; -77.93 (Fremont (August 27, EF0))	August 27	0457–0505	1.94 miles (3.12 km)	100 yd (91 m)	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 100 yd (91 m) 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]

See also

• Tropical cyclones portal

• Tornadoes of 2008
• List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
  • List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
  • List of tropical cyclone-spawned tornadoes
• 2008 Atlantic hurricane season

Notes

1. All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.