Alert archive / Kentucky / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2017

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 55, NWS Paducah, KY

March 20, 2017Graves County, McCracken County, Kentucky

NWS Paducah, KY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 20, 2017, 4:17 PM CDT for Graves County, McCracken County, Kentucky. It was in force for 17 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 20, 2017, 4:17 PM CDT (21:17 UTC)
Expired
Mar 20, 2017, 4:34 PM CDT
In force
17 min
Issued by
NWS Paducah, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
50.0 mph

Counties Graves County, KY, McCracken County, KY

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 22 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:20 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 363 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2017-03-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2017-03-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 469 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1065 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
469 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
455 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Mar 20, 3:20 PM CDT, 57 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 20, 3:20 PM CDT, 57 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
320 PM CDT Mon Mar 20 2017

.SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Wednesday night)
Issued at 320 PM CDT Mon Mar 20 2017

A narrow band of showers and thunderstorms continued to drift
southeastward across southern Illinois, southeast Missouri, into
western Kentucky as of mid afternoon. Models earlier in the day
did not pick up on most of this activity. Perhaps they were
focusing too much on the capping inversion of warm air aloft as we
were this morning. Upon further inspection, however, its formation
is not completely a surprise given the presence of low level
moisture convergence ahead of a southward drifting frontal
boundary and steep mid level lapse rates.

Given the poor model performance, confidence in the near term
forecast is not the greatest. However, we tend to think the
potential for showers and thunderstorms will remain focused along
and just ahead of the cold front as it sinks southward through the
area tonight. The elevated nature of the storms relegates any
severe threat to marginally severe hail through the remainder of
the afternoon. Any severe potential should tend to wane early this
evening with diminishing mixed-layer CAPE.

Stronger mid level impulses are forecast to stream into the area
along and north of the stalled out frontal boundary on Tuesday.
This should result in better forcing for showers and thunderstorms
of greater coverage--especially by afternoon and evening. SPC
continues to highlight southern portions of southeast Missouri and
western Kentucky in a marginal risk for severe weather on
Tuesday, with a slight risk clipping locations south of Poplar
Bluff. While elevated instability and effective bulk shear
certainly suggest this potential, forecast models indicate the
frontal boundary may remain just south of the area through the
day. As a result, we anticipate that most of the storms should be
elevated, with hail the greatest concern from any severe storms.
The precipitation should taper off from the north Tuesday night as
the cold front continues to shift well south of the area.

A return to mainly dry weather is expected Wednesday into
Wednesday night as high pressure translates southeastward from
southern Canada across the Great Lakes into the Ohio Valley. As
opposed to record or near record warmth this afternoon, highs by
Wednesday are only forecast in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Highs
on Tuesday should range through the 60s.

.LONG TERM...(Thursday through Monday)
Issued at 320 PM CDT Mon Mar 20 2017

We expect clouds with a warm frontal passage Thursday. The ECMWF and
NAM are drier, with a little more moisture seen on the CMC and GFS
models. Kept a slight chance of showers in mainly SEMO as weak
energy moves through in the mid levels. Thursday night should be
dry. May be a lingering shower or sprinkles in the evening. But PoPs
too low to mention for now.

Friday through Saturday, the model consensus is a H5 low will move
east from nation's mid section, to over the Ozarks and MO from 12z
Friday through 18z Saturday. Most of Friday should be rain free
(exception area Ozarks region SEMO), with PoPs ramping up Friday
night through Saturday as the system approaches. Showers and
possibly isolated thunderstorms. PoPs will lower Saturday night
through Sunday as the system starts to move to the northeast into
the Ohio Valley region. For now, used a blend of the EC/GFS and
their ensemble mean solutions for timing and movement of this
system. Used a blend of EC/GFS and CONSraw (model blend) for
temperatures for the entire 4 day extended period.

&&

.AVIATION...
Issued at 1255 PM CDT Mon Mar 20 2017

Primarily VFR conditions will prevail through at least midnight. The
only exception would be beneath isolated to scattered shower
activity, which should be short-lived. Introduced a vicinity thunder
mention at both KCGI and KPAH to account for the narrow band of
showers and thunderstorms which has developed along and just north
of Route 13 in southern Illinois and is expected to drift southward
into the afternoon. The shower and thunderstorm potential tonight
into Tuesday morning is less certain, but cannot be discounted as a
cold front drops south through the area. Left out any precipitation
mention for now given the anticipated low coverage of activity. A
deck of MVFR stratus should overspread the area as winds turn
northerly behind the frontal passage overnight into Tuesday morning.

&&

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

SHORT TERM...RJP
LONG TERM...CN
AVIATION...RJP
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 20, 1:30 PM CDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Paducah KY
130 PM CDT Mon Mar 20 2017

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-211000-
Jefferson-Wayne IL-Edwards-Wabash-Perry IL-Franklin-Hamilton-
White-Jackson-Williamson-Saline-Gallatin-Union-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-
130 PM CDT Mon Mar 20 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern
Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon,
primarily over portions of southern Illinois, southeast Missouri,
and western Kentucky. The chance of thunderstorms expands to include
the entire region tonight.

Most of the storms should remain below severe levels with locally
heavy rain, lightning, and small hail the primary concerns. However,
a couple of stronger storms may be capable of producing marginally
severe hail this afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

The chance of thunderstorms continues Tuesday into Tuesday night.
The best chance of thunderstorms, including the chance of strong
storms, comes Tuesday afternoon and evening, across far southeast
Missouri and southwest Kentucky, where a Marginal Risk of severe
storms exists. Damaging winds and large hail are the severe
weather hazards that potentially may occur. Otherwise, heavy rain
and lightning are general storm associated hazards expected.

Thunderstorm chances Friday night into Saturday will bring heavy
rain and lightning as the primary storm associated hazards.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters should monitor the latest forecast and updates for any
potential activations.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 20, 1:34 PM CDT, 2 hours 43 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
134 PM CDT MON MAR 20 2017

ILZ084-085-088-089-201915-
Jackson IL-Union IL-Williamson IL-Johnson IL-
134 PM CDT MON MAR 20 2017

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

At 131 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Murphysboro, moving east southeast at 35 mph.

Hail of up one half inch in diameter is possible with the storms.
Most of the hail will remain small, closer to pea size as the
activity continues across Jackson and Williamson counties through
230 pm, possibly reaching northern Union and Johnson counties.

Locations impacted include...
Carbondale, Marion, Herrin, Murphysboro, Carterville, De Soto,
Crainville, Cambria, Energy, Goreville, Pittsburg, Cedar Lake Area,
Makanda, Whiteash, Gorham and Spillertown.

LAT...LON 3776 8880 3749 8904 3771 8956 3785 8943
TIME...MOT...LOC 1831Z 291DEG 29KT 3776 8929

CN
Local storm report, Mar 20, 2:04 PM CDT, 2 hours 13 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Mar 20, 2:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
238 PM CDT MON MAR 20 2017

ILZ091-KYZ007-010-202030-
Hardin IL-Crittenden KY-Livingston KY-
238 PM CDT MON MAR 20 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN HARDIN...
NORTHEASTERN LIVINGSTON AND CRITTENDEN COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CDT...

At 237 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Rosiclare, or 13 miles west of Marion Kentucky, moving southeast at
30 mph.

Hail to dime size hail will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Marion, Rosiclare, Salem, Joy, Elizabethtown and Carrsville.

LAT...LON 3740 8847 3740 8846 3748 8830 3734 8787
      3717 8820
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 306DEG 24KT 3740 8831

CN
Local storm report, Mar 20, 3:13 PM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
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  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
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  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 20, 2:38 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHCrittenden52 min
Mar 20, 4:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHHickman23 min
Mar 20, 4:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCarlisle, Graves20 min
Mar 20, 4:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCarlisle, Graves, Hickman19 min
Mar 20, 4:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCalloway, Lyon, Marshall, Trigg32 min
Mar 20, 5:25 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHCalloway20 min
Mar 20, 1:34 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHJackson, Williamson41 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kentucky, 2017Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2017

Sources

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