Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2007

Tornado Warning 26, NWS Paducah, KY

October 18, 2007Hardin County, Illinois; Crittenden County, Union County, Webster County, Kentucky

NWS Paducah, KY issued this tornado warning at Oct 18, 2007, 6:18 PM CDT for Hardin County, Illinois; Crittenden County, Union County, Webster County, Kentucky. It was in force for 57 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Oct 18, 2007, 6:18 PM CDT (23:18 UTC)
Expired: Oct 18, 2007, 7:15 PM CDT
In force: 57 min
Issued by: NWS Paducah, KY
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Hardin County, IL, Crittenden County, KY, Union County, KY, Webster County, KY

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 80 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:20 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Oct 18, 7:09 PM CDT	TORNADO	1 Ne Dixon, KY	* 3 INJ * TORNADO INTENSITY EF-2. NUMEROUS HOMES AND STRUCTURES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 51 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Oct 18, 1:31 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 199 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 7 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -70 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 537 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 611 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 678 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WFUS53 KPAH 182318
TORPAH
ILC069-KYC055-225-233-190015-
/O.NEW.KPAH.TO.W.0026.071018T2318Z-071019T0015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
618 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2007

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PADUCAH KENTUCKY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN UNION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST KENTUCKY
  NORTHWESTERN WEBSTER COUNTY IN NORTHWEST KENTUCKY
  EASTERN HARDIN COUNTY IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
  NORTHERN CRITTENDEN COUNTY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY

* UNTIL 715 PM CDT.

* AT 616 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 3 MILES
  SOUTHEAST OF ELIZABETHTOWN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  CAVE-IN-ROCK...MATTOON...STURGIS...HENSHAW...WHEATCROFT...CLAY...
  BRECKINRIDGE CENTER AND TILDEN.

NOW IS THE TIME TO IMPLEMENT YOUR TORNADO PLAN OF ACTION. SEEK
SHELTER INDOORS IN A BASEMENT...OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUILDING. STAY TUNED TO WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL
MEDIA FOR THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION.

LAT...LON 3735 8831 3740 8834 3743 8842 3758 8816
      3772 8778 3764 8772 3765 8761 3757 8757
      3729 8824
TIME...MOT...LOC 2318Z 233DEG 47KT 3743 8824

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Paducah, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Oct 18, 3:15 PM CDT, 3 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 18, 3:15 PM CDT, 3 hours 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
315 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2007

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT.
MAIN CONCERN FOR THIS PERIOD CONTINUES TO BE SEVERE WEATHER
POTENTIAL THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

RADAR IMAGERY FINALLY SHOWING SOME DEVELOPMENT JUST WEST OF CARTER
COUNTY MISSOURI...ALONG WITH SOME SCATTERED ECHOES NEAR THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN WEST KENTUCKY AND A STRAY APPARENTLY ELEVATED
SHOWER OVER THE PENNYRILE. TAMDAR SOUNDINGS FROM KPAH AROUND NOON
INDICATED A SIZABLE CAP...WHICH IS LIKELY CAPPING THE SHOWER
DEVELOPMENT OVER WEST KENTUCKY.

FEEL THAT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL SLOWLY DEVELOP OVER SOUTHEAST
MISSOURI...AS THE UPDRAFTS STRUGGLE AGAINST THE IMMENSE DEEP LAYER
SHEAR. AS THEY MOVE FURTHER EAST THEY WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS AND
SUPERCELLULAR...AS THEY ENCOUNTER BETTER LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE AND
INSTABILITY. STRAIGHT-LINE HODOGRAPHS INDICATE SOME POTENTIAL FOR
SPLITTING STORMS...ESPECIALLY IN THE ORGANIZING STAGE. SO LONG AS
THE STORMS CAN STAY ISOLATED...DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES AND LARGE
HAIL WILL ALL BE POSSIBLE.

IF THE STORMS FORM INTO LINE SEGMENTS AS THEY PROGRESS INTO BETTER
MOISTURE OVER WEST KENTUCKY AND SOUTHWEST INDIANA THIS
EVENING...INTENSE BOW ECHOES WOULD BE THE DOMINANT SEVERE WEATHER
MODE. THE BEST LOW-LEVEL SHEAR AND INSTABILITY LOCATED OVER WEST
KENTUCKY AND SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WILL RESULT IN THIS AREA HAVING THE
GREATEST THREAT FOR A HIGH END SEVERE EVENT IN THE FORM OF TORNADOES
OR BOW ECHOES.

AS FOR THE GRIDS...GIVEN ONLY SCATTERED STORMS INITIALLY...WILL KEEP
POPS IN THE LIKELY CATEGORY...CENTERED OVER THE PURCHASE AREA AND
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS BEFORE 00Z...WITH CHANCE POPS FURTHER WEST NEAR
THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT. WILL THEN FOCUS LIKELIES EASTERN HALF AFTER
00Z WITH ONLY A SLIGHT CHANCE OVER WESTERN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
COUNTIES. WILL KEEP CHANCE POPS EAST OVERNIGHT...JUST IN CASE A FEW
SHOWERS OR STORMS LINGER OVER THE PENNYRILE.

AS FOR THE WIND ADVISORY...WILL KEEP IT GOING THROUGH 6 PM...EVEN
THOUGH WE HAVE NOT QUITE REACHED CRITERIA. THE 30+KT GUSTS SHOULD
SETTLE DOWN SOME WITH SUNSET...BUT WILL LIKELY STILL SEE SOME DECENT
SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WELL INTO THE EVENING...WITH OR WITHOUT
CONVECTION.

FOR FRIDAY AND BEYOND...BASICALLY JUST FOLLOWED THE 12Z GFS AND ITS
MAV TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE. AFTER A COOLISH DAY FRIDAY...THE WEEKEND
WILL BE MOSTLY SUNNY WITH CONTINUED ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES. THE
12Z GFS SUPPORTS THE POPS OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF THE AREA SUNDAY
NIGHT...SO LEFT THAT ALONE.

.LONG TERM...MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
MODELS ARE IN SLIGHTLY BETTER AGREEMENT REGARDING THE SYSTEM TO
AFFECT THE REGION EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE ECMWF IS STILL FAR FROM THE
00Z GFS AND GFS ENSEMBLES. FORECAST WILL BE WEIGHTED MORE HEAVILY
TOWARD THE GFS/GFS ENSEMBLES...IN LINE WITH HPC GUIDANCE. THE GFS
PUTS MUCH MORE EMPHASIS ON THE NORTHERN BRANCH OF THE 500 MB
JET...DIGGING A FULL LATITUDE TROUGH THROUGH THE CENTRAL STATES.
THIS TROUGH THEN SHEARS OUT GRADUALLY DURING MID WEEK. AS A
RESULT...HIGHEST PRECIP CHANCES WILL BE MONDAY ASSOCIATED WITH THE
PROGRESSIVE COLD FRONT PASSING THROUGH THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY. LOWER
PRECIP CHANCES WILL LINGER INTO TUESDAY NIGHT AS THE WEAKENING 500
MB TROUGH PERSISTS NEAR OR JUST EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA.
CONFIDENCE DECREASES AFTER MONDAY SINCE MODEL VARIABILITY BECOMES
MUCH GREATER. TEMPS WILL BE CLOSE TO SEASONAL NORMS IN THE WAKE OF
THE COLD FRONT PASSAGE ON MONDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...
TIMING OF CONVECTION IS THE MAIN AVIATION CONCERN. HIGHEST
PROBABILITIES ARE IN EVV/OWB TAF AREAS...WHERE MOISTURE IS
RELATIVELY DEEP. THE DEEPER MOISTURE IS EVIDENT IN VISIBLE SATELLITE
IMAGERY...WITH MORE IMPRESSIVE CUMULUS DEVELOPMENT SOUTH AND EAST OF
PAH. INSTABILITY WILL WANE QUICKLY AFTER SUNSET...WHEN DRIER AIR
WILL CONTINUE TO INVADE FROM THE WEST. CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL SHOULD
BE MAINLY EAST OF THE TAF SITES BY 03Z...FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF
MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AND DIMINISHING WINDS. WRAPAROUND LOW CLOUDINESS
OVER IOWA AND NW MISSOURI MAY OVERSPREAD THE REGION WELL AFTER 06Z.
CIGS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE MVFR RANGE AT WORST.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...NONE.
MO...NONE.
IL...NONE.
IN...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM......DRS
LONG TERM.......MY
AVIATION........MY

Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 18, 12:11 PM CDT, 6 hours 7 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1211 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2007

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-191715-
JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON-
WHITE-JACKSON-WILLIAMSON-SALINE-GALLATIN-UNION IL-JOHNSON-POPE-
HARDIN-ALEXANDER-PULASKI-MASSAC-GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-VANDERBURGH-
WARRICK-SPENCER-FULTON-HICKMAN-CARLISLE-BALLARD-MCCRACKEN-GRAVES-
LIVINGSTON-MARSHALL-CALLOWAY-CRITTENDEN-LYON-TRIGG-CALDWELL-
UNION KY-WEBSTER-HOPKINS-CHRISTIAN-HENDERSON-DAVIESS-MCLEAN-
MUHLENBERG-TODD-PERRY MO-BOLLINGER-CAPE GIRARDEAU-WAYNE MO-CARTER-
RIPLEY-BUTLER-STODDARD-SCOTT-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID-
1211 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2007

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST
MISSOURI.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION.

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS DURING THE MID AFTERNOON
HOURS. THESE STORMS WILL MOVE RAPIDLY TO THE NORTHEAST AND SPREAD
SOUTHWARD INTO WESTERN KENTUCKY. THE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
EAST AND SHOULD EXIT THE AREA AROUND MIDNIGHT.

THE STORMS WHICH DEVELOP WILL QUICKLY BECOME SUPERCELLS WITH
DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN RISK. TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE AS WELL.

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM TODAY. THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
WHICH WILL SPAWN THE THUNDERSTORMS...IS EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AND
PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS EVEN OUTSIDE THE THUNDERSTORMS. THE RECENT
DROUGHT HAS WEAKENED MANY TREES IN THE REGION...LEAVING THEM MORE
SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

A SMALL CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST THROUGHOUT THE QUAD
STATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER...SEVERE WEATHER
IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ACTIVATION TODAY AND
TONIGHT.

PS

In the hours before

Local storm report, Oct 18, 6:03 PM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
603 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2007

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0602 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 SW OWENSBORO          37.73N 87.16W
10/18/2007                   DAVIESS            KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            REPORTED WITHIN THE BYPASS SOUTH OF HIGHWAYS 81 AND 56

&&

SMITTY

Local storm report, Oct 18, 6:07 PM CDT, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
607 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2007

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0605 PM     TORNADO          8 W MAYFIELD            36.74N 88.79W
10/18/2007                   GRAVES             KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CONFIRMED TORNADO NEAR DUBLIN.

&&

SMITTY

Local storm report, Oct 18, 6:09 PM CDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
609 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2007

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0559 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 N DU QUOIN            38.06N 89.24W
10/18/2007                   PERRY              IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DAMAGE EAST OF HWY 51

&&

SMITTY

Local storm report, Oct 18, 6:15 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
615 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2007

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0610 PM     HAIL             SESSER                  38.09N 89.05W
10/18/2007  M1.75 INCH       FRANKLIN           IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL

&&

SMITTY

Local storm report, Oct 18, 6:16 PM CDT, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
616 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2007

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0614 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 W OWENSBORO           37.76N 87.19W
10/18/2007                   DAVIESS            KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED NEAR THE COMMUNITY OF PANTHER

&&

SMITTY

Local storm report, Oct 18, 6:17 PM CDT, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
617 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2007

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0608 PM     HAIL             OWENSBORO               37.76N 87.12W
10/18/2007  M1.00 INCH       DAVIESS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORTED IN DOWNTOWN AREA.

&&

SMITTY

The office that day

Everything else NWS Paducah, KY issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Oct 18, 2:38 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Alexander, Jackson, Pulaski, Union	37 min
Oct 18, 3:00 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Franklin, Johnson, Williamson	45 min
Oct 18, 3:16 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Massac, Pulaski	44 min
Oct 18, 3:29 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Hamilton, Saline	31 min
Oct 18, 3:43 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Wayne	47 min
Oct 18, 3:53 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Edwards, Wabash, White	56 min
Oct 18, 4:24 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Wabash	36 min
Oct 18, 10:03 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	PAH	Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin and 13 more	8 hr
Oct 18, 5:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Jackson, Perry	45 min
Oct 18, 5:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Massac, Pope	51 min
Oct 18, 5:54 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Franklin, Jefferson, Perry	36 min
Oct 18, 6:15 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Gallatin	45 min
Oct 18, 6:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Hamilton, Jefferson, Wayne	35 min
Oct 18, 6:47 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Edwards, Wayne	28 min
Oct 18, 1:33 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Christian, Todd, Trigg	42 min
Oct 18, 3:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Daviess	20 min
Oct 18, 4:12 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Daviess	18 min
Oct 18, 4:15 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston	45 min
Oct 18, 4:35 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Union, Webster	25 min
Oct 18, 4:57 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Henderson, McLean, Webster	48 min
Oct 18, 5:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Carlisle, Hickman	41 min
Oct 18, 5:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Daviess, Henderson	32 min
Oct 18, 5:45 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Henderson, McLean, Webster	15 min
Oct 18, 5:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PAH	Carlisle, Graves, Hickman	40 min
Oct 18, 5:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Daviess, Henderson, McLean	47 min
Oct 18, 6:08 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Graves	37 min
Oct 18, 6:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston	48 min
Oct 18, 6:34 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	PAH	Livingston, Lyon, Marshall	41 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kentucky, 2007 Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 2007 Every tornado warning in 2007 Tornadoes in 2007

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.