This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2008. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.

There were 1,692 tornadoes confirmed in the United States in 2008, with 126 confirmed fatalities. This made 2008 the deadliest year in that country since 1998. Fatalities were also reported elsewhere in the world: Eighteen in China, three in France, two each in Bangladesh and Poland, and one in Russia. With 1,692 confirmed tornadoes, 2008 ranked as the fourth most active US tornado season on record; only 2011, 2024, and 2004 have had more tornadoes confirmed with 1,715, 1,796 and 1,817, respectively. The US state of Kansas received the most tornadoes in the United States in 2008 with 187.Kansas again is tops in the U.S. for tornadoes. Retrieved on February 9, 2009.

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 saw a new record for tornadoes in that month, 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 was also fairly active, but not at record levels. Steady activity in the first week of the month, an outbreak on March 15 and additional activity at month's end were mostly responsible. April was also active, which was due to steady tornado activity throughout the month despite the fact there were no prolific outbreaks.

From the beginning of May until mid-June, severe weather was frequent and widespread across the US. Beginning with a significant outbreak on May 2, there were many major outbreaks over that period with smaller outbreaks occurring almost daily. Over that six-week period, well over 600 tornadoes were reported in the US, with many destructive tornadoes over that time frame. The worst tornado events were on May 10, May 22–23, May 25 and June 11.

After that, activity calmed down somewhat to a more normal pace in the second half of June and into July with several smaller severe weather events. The summer and early fall months from July to September ran somewhat above average in the US; tropical cyclones and their remnants were mostly responsible for the tornado activity from mid-August through mid-September. This was seen particularly from Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike, each of which resulted in large numbers of mostly weak tornadoes. Activity dropped significantly in October, with below normal activity and no major outbreaks. The relative inactivity continued into November before returning to a slightly above normal rate in December, with most of the activity taking place in the middle of the month.

Overseas, the months of July and August were quite active in Europe with several significant tornado events, including at least one major outbreak. NOAA also concluded there "is no evidence for a detected change in tornado activity to date due to greenhouse gas emission increases."

Events

United States yearly total

January

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

January 7–11

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. EF3 tornadoes caused major damage in and around Wheatland, Wisconsin and Lawrence, Illinois. A train carrying hazardous materials was derailed in Lawrence, prompting an evacuation of the town. The Wheatland tornado was only the second January tornado on record in Wisconsin, with the other being on January 24, 1967.

Another round of tornadoes took place in the Springfield, Missouri area. An EF1 impacted part of downtown Springfield itself. Major damage to numerous farms, mobile homes, and frame homes Marshfield and Strafford due to a long-tracked EF3 that killed three people. On January 8, more severe weather took place, including an EF2 tornado near Appleton, Arkansas that killed one person in a mobile home. Soon after 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, and Choctaw Counties in Mississippi, and Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. A tornado emergency was also issued for Lamar County, Alabama after one of these large wedge tornadoes caused extensive damage to a school and homes across the Mississippi-Alabama state line in Caledonia, Mississippi and in areas west of Vernon, Alabama.

Farther to the west on the afternoon of January 10, a rapidly advancing cold front generated a severe thunderstorm in Clark County, Washington, and the National Weather Service briefly posted a tornado warning. A rare EF1 tornado then developed near Vancouver Lake, moving east into Hazel Dell and Hockinson while sporadically in contact with the ground. The initial touchdown was at 12:15 p.m. PST (2015 UTC), near the intersection of NW 78th St. and NW Hazel Dell Blvd. The tornado then caused intermittent EF1-level damage while tracking to the northeast. It knocked down about 200 trees, snapped 19 power poles, and left minor damage to 30–40 houses.Public Information Statement National Weather Service. The damage corridor extended in length and in width. The storm was a rare event in the Pacific Northwest. The tornado was accompanied by several funnel clouds, and an advisory issued stated that more funnel clouds were possible. A funnel cloud was also seen to the south of the tornado in Gresham, Oregon.

Damage reports showed widespread downed power lines, malfunctioning traffic lights, and roofing that had been ripped off. The majority of the damage was light in nature. More than 200 trees, with diameters ranging from to more than , were damaged, three small structures were destroyed, and a semi trailer was tipped over. Vancouver Lake Crew's facilities on the east shore of Vancouver Lake were demolished in the storm with several dozen sculling boats damaged. At least 126,000 customers lost power because of the storm, which caused around $525,000 (2008 USD) in damage.

Overall, the outbreak sequence resulted in four fatalities and 73 tornadoes.

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

January 29

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 which caused significant and widespread damage across the Ohio Valley region with winds of up to .

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 due to an EF1 tornado. Other tornadoes hit Speedway, Indiana and a suburban area in Louisville, both of which were EF1. Two other deaths took place in Arkansas from straight-line wind damage.

February

There were 230 tornadoes reported in the United States in the month of February, of which 147 were confirmed. That set a new monthly record for February.

February 5–6

A powerful low pressure system over 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 Valley. At the same time, a moderate risk of severe weather for February 5 was issued for parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley and the Lower Ohio 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.

131 tornadoes were reported, with 87 confirmed. At 5:30 pm CST (2330 UTC), several tornadoes were reported near Memphis and a tornado emergency was issued for much of the Memphis metropolitan area after a large and dangerous EF2 tornado was reported near Horn Lake, Mississippi. Major damage was reported across Southaven and Southeast Memphis, including industrial buildings destroyed and severe damage to the Hickory Ridge Mall. At the 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 and two were killed near Morris Chapel in Hardin County as a result of the severe weather.

Massive damage was reported in Sumner County after a tornado sparked a natural gas explosion at a gas pumping plant in Macon County 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 and the deadliest in the US since the 2005 Evansville tornado. In total, 57 people died in the outbreak.

February 12–13

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 and Everglades City, Florida.

February 16–18