Feb 5 2008 Super Tuesday

Super Tuesday

Tornado Outbreak on

February 5, 2008

On Tuesday, February 5, 2008, there was a large and deadly tornado outbreak across much of the southern United States. The event, which is commonly referred to as the "Super Tuesday Outbreak," refers to the many states across the country that held primary elections on that day. A cold front was located to the west of the Mid-South, with a warm and unstable airmass over the region that was characterized by high temperatures in the 70s and dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s.

Surface Maps from Feb. 5 at Noon to Feb. 6 at Midnight (click on image to enlarge)

Temperature Graphs for Memphis, Jonesboro, Jackson and Tupelo from Feb. 3 - Feb 6, 2008

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued an area of High Risk for severe weather with Memphis being in the center of the high risk area. SPC stated "[The] overall synoptic setup will become quite favorable for an outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, including long-lived tornadic supercells, centered on the Mid-South this afternoon and evening."

Map of "Super Tuesday" Tornado Outbreak across the Southeastern U.S.

Mid-South Synopsis

An outbreak of tornadoes began around 4:30 PM and last nearly four hours until 8:30 PM CST. The first tornado occurred just before 4:30 p.m. and the last one occurred just after 8:00 p.m. A total of 25 tornadoes were surveyed across the Mid-South. Four of the tornadoes were in Arkansas, 8 in Mississippi, 13 in Tennessee. (Note: one of the tornadoes in Mississippi crossed from DeSoto County into Shelby County, Tennessee). Many buildings, transmission towers, and dormitories were damaged near Jackson, Tennessee, where an EF-4 tornado touched down after sundown. Remarkably, a total of just 9 fatalities occurred with 106 injuries for the outbreak across the Mid-South. Nearly half of the injuries were attributed to the EF-4 that touched down at Union University north of Jackson, TN around 7:00 PM that evening.