Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2020
Tornado Warning 28, NWS Paducah, KY
NWS Paducah, KY issued this tornado warning at Mar 20, 2020, 2:54 AM CDT for Hopkins County, McLean County, Webster County, Kentucky. It was in force for 21 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Mar 20, 2020, 2:54 AM CDT (07:54 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 20, 2020, 3:15 AM CDT
- In force
- 21 min
- Issued by
- NWS Paducah, KY
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.0 in
Counties Hopkins County, KY, McLean County, KY, Webster County, KY
The radar
The Ft Campbell radar (KHPX), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:54 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 9:50 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 164 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 101 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -92 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1064 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 59 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 318 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 344 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 3.4
The text
As transmitted.
642
WFUS53 KPAH 200754
TORPAH
KYC107-149-233-200815-
/O.NEW.KPAH.TO.W.0028.200320T0754Z-200320T0815Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Paducah KY
254 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020
The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Central McLean County in northwestern Kentucky...
Northeastern Hopkins County in northwestern Kentucky...
East central Webster County in northwestern Kentucky...
* Until 315 AM CDT.
* At 254 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Calhoun, moving east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Calhoun around 300 AM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Sacramento.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3743 8719 3742 8743 3757 8747 3761 8724
3757 8712
TIME...MOT...LOC 0754Z 256DEG 36KT 3748 8735
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN
$$
071 follow-up statement
717
WWUS53 KPAH 200811
SVSPAH
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
311 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020
KYC107-149-233-200821-
/O.EXP.KPAH.TO.W.0028.000000T0000Z-200320T0815Z/
McLean KY-Hopkins KY-Webster KY-
311 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL MCLEAN...NORTHEASTERN HOPKINS AND
EAST CENTRAL WEBSTER COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 315 AM CDT...
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for northwestern
Kentucky.
LAT...LON 3743 8719 3742 8743 3757 8747 3761 8724
3757 8712
TIME...MOT...LOC 0811Z 256DEG 36KT 3752 8715
$$
07What 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 Mar 19, 8:00 PM CDT, 6 hours 54 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 8:00 PM CDT, 6 hours 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
800 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020
.UPDATE...
Issued at 746 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020
For aviation section only.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Friday night)
Issued at 316 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020
The potential for severe weather and flash flooding remains the
primary forecast concern through tonight.
The immediate focus is a line segment that appears to be showing
some signs of strengthening as it progresses east northeast from
southeast Missouri into southern Illinois and eventually southwest
Indiana through late afternoon. With 0-3 km bulk shear around 50
knots and surface based CAPE values of 500 to 1000 J/kg, there is
some concern this line segment could continue to enhance through
the late afternoon, creating a localized severe risk for primarily
damaging winds and an isolated tornado.
The primary round of showers and thunderstorms appears slated for
this evening and overnight as activity that develops initially
over northern Arkansas and southern Missouri moves northeast
across the region. As this round of storms enters the region, HREF
guidance suggests 60 to 70 knot 0-6 km bulk shear overspreading a
moderately unstable atmosphere of 1000-1500 J/kg surface based
CAPE. This will be conducive to the development of supercells and
bowing line segments. In addition, decent veering of wind vectors
with height and 0-3 km storm relative helicity values of greater
than 300 m2/s2 may increase the risk for tornado development, not
only from supercells but also line segments that become more
orthogonal to the low level shear vectors.
As a result, we'll need to keep an eye on the potential for
damaging winds and tornadoes, The risk appears to be greater
during the evening hours across the western half of the area. The
severe threat should slowly decrease with diminishing surface
based instability as the storms push into southwest Indiana and
western Kentucky overnight.
Flash flooding is also a concern tonight. Antecedent rainfall has
varied widely over the past few days. While some locations have
only received one quarter to one half inch of rainfall, other
locations have measured upwards of 1.5 to 2 inches. Flash flooding
will be most likely in locations with higher antecedent rainfall
and those areas that receive repeat heavy rainfall tonight. For
that reason, we'll keep the Flash Flood Watch in effect through
12Z Friday.
The chance for showers lingers over mainly southwest Indiana and
western Kentucky Friday morning as the cold front works through
the area. This chance may need to be extended further west and
later in time should the cold frontal passage be slower than
expected. After morning highs in the middle 60s to lower 70s.
temperatures should fall Friday afternoon. By Friday night, lows
in the upper 20s to middle 30s are expected under mostly clear
skies. This could lead to the development of patches/areas of
frost for those with early season agricultural interests.
.LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday)
Issued at 316 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020
High pressure, located over the Great Lakes on Saturday, will bring
cool air and a northeasterly wind to the region. High temperatures
will mainly be limited to the 40s while lows will be near freezing
along the I-64 corridor.
An upper level wave in the Desert Southwest Saturday will move into
the Middle Mississippi Valley Sunday. Stratus and showers will move
southwest to northeast through the area. Models differ on QPF
amounts with the ECMWF lighter on QPF than the GFS, though even the
more ambitious GFS has few portions of the region over a quarter
inch. At the very beginning of the event Sunday morning,
precipitation may begin as snow but will very quickly switch over to
rain due to daytime heating and no accumulations or impacts are
anticipated at this time. Monday will provide some breaks in cloud
cover and a clockwise wind shift towards southeasterly winds.
Temperatures Sunday through Monday will be near average.
A more significant system reaches the area Tuesday with the main
event timing of the WPC/GFS/Canadian focused on the daytime hours
into the evening, while the NBM/ECMWF delays this until Tuesday
night through early Wednesday. Sided with the earlier timing since
model certainty has NBM as the highest outlier for PoPs Tuesday
night. Thus, precip chances have been raised slightly for Tuesday
and lowered for Tuesday night and Wednesday. There is potential for
thunderstorms, primarily Tuesday afternoon and evening. Temperatures
have also been reduced some, towards model bias corrected values,
but remain 10+ degrees above average through this event. After this
system, the rest of the forecast period features above average
temperatures and low chance precip events as models vary on location
and strength of weak upper-level disturbances.
&&
.AVIATION...
Issued at 746 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020
MVFR cigs will be commonplace much of the 00Z TAF forecast
period. Better shower and thunderstorm coverage will encompass the
region from west to east through the evening and overnight hours.
Severe storms remain possible with this activity...along with IFR
cigs/vsbys. Expect southwest winds tonight, with sustained 10 to
20 knot speeds and some gusts into the 20s. A cold frontal passage
Friday morning will turn winds nwly with gusts 20-30 kts
expected.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Flash Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT Friday for ILZ075>078-080>094.
MO...Flash Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT Friday for MOZ076-086-087-100-
107>112-114.
IN...Flash Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT Friday for INZ081-082-085>088.
KY...Flash Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT Friday for KYZ001>022.
&&
UPDATE...GM
SHORT TERM...RJP
LONG TERM...ATL
AVIATION...RJPHazardous weather outlook, Mar 19, 10:36 PM CDT, 4 hours 18 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 1036 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-210345- 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- 1036 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...Tonight Much of our area is under an enhanced outlook for severe weather tonight. Tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and lightning are all anticipated hazards with this thunderstorm event. Showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain are expected, and a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through tonight. Refer to the Watch for additional details. Refer to the latest river flood warnings and statements for updates on our continued river flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Isolated thunderstorms are possible across the Quad State region Tuesday and Tuesday night. River flooding is expected to continue. Refer to the latest river flood warnings and statements for details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is anticipated through much of tonight.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Mar 19, 10:32 PM CDT, 4 hours 22 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1032 PM CDT THU MAR 19 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1032 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 NW SEDGEWICKVILLE 37.55N 89.95W
03/19/2020 BOLLINGER MO LAW ENFORCEMENT
FLOODING AT EE HIGHWAY NEAR COUNTY ROAD 238.
&&
DWSSpecial weather statement, Mar 19, 11:44 PM CDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1144 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020
MOZ109>111-114-200530-
Butler MO-Stoddard MO-New Madrid MO-Scott MO-
1144 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN SCOTT...CENTRAL NEW
MADRID...STODDARD AND SOUTHEASTERN BUTLER COUNTIES UNTIL 1230 AM
CDT...
At 1143 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
McDougal, or 9 miles west of Chalk Bluff Natural Area, moving
northeast at 50 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Sikeston, Dexter, Bernie, Bloomfield, Lilbourn, Morehouse, Parma,
Matthews, Essex, Qulin, Bell City, Risco, Fisk, Canalou, Dudley,
Farrenburg, Vanduser, Baker, Tallapoosa and Catron.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for southeastern
Missouri.
LAT...LON 3655 8995 3663 8996 3663 9015 3660 9018
3655 9018 3654 9021 3650 9022 3650 9042
3664 9051 3709 8973 3664 8946 3645 8996
TIME...MOT...LOC 0443Z 240DEG 43KT 3650 9039
PSSpecial weather statement, Mar 20, 1:26 AM CDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
126 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020
KYZ003>006-200700-
Carlisle KY-McCracken KY-Ballard KY-Graves KY-
126 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CARLISLE...MCCRACKEN...
SOUTHEASTERN BALLARD AND NORTHERN GRAVES COUNTIES UNTIL 200 AM CDT...
At 124 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Lone Oak to near Bardwell. Movement was east at
50 mph.
Pea size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
these storms.
The line just produced 40 mph winds at Barkley Regional Airport in
West Paducah, Kentucky.
Given the very wet grounds, winds these speeds may still down a tree.
Locations impacted include...
Paducah, Mayfield, Bardwell, Reidland, Lone Oak, Barkley Regional
Airport, West Paducah, Lovelaceville, Kevil, Arlington, Lowes, Fancy
Farm, Blandville and Symsonia.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for southern
Illinois...and western Kentucky.
LAT...LON 3675 8882 3677 8882 3677 8906 3679 8907
3679 8911 3718 8879 3714 8873 3714 8870
3711 8861 3703 8852 3702 8848 3673 8849
TIME...MOT...LOC 0624Z 257DEG 42KT 3704 8867 3681 8899
07Special weather statement, Mar 20, 2:16 AM CDT, 38 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
216 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020
ILZ091-KYZ007>013-015>017-020>022-200815-
Hardin IL-Calloway KY-Todd KY-Webster KY-Caldwell KY-McLean KY-
Hopkins KY-Trigg KY-Marshall KY-Muhlenberg KY-Crittenden KY-
Christian KY-Lyon KY-Livingston KY-
216 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL HARDIN...CALDWELL...
EASTERN MARSHALL...TRIGG...HOPKINS...LYON...CALLOWAY...MUHLENBERG...
SOUTHEASTERN LIVINGSTON...CRITTENDEN...CHRISTIAN...MCLEAN...TODD AND
WEBSTER COUNTIES UNTIL 315 AM CDT...
At 216 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Creswell to Eddyville to Land Between The
Lakes Area to 6 miles south of Murray. Movement was east at 60 mph.
Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these
storms.
Locations impacted include...
Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Murray, Oak Grove, Princeton, Central
City, Benton, Providence, Marion, Dawson Springs, Cadiz, Eddyville,
Elkton, Calhoun, Fort Campbell, Land Between The Lakes Area,
Clarksville, Sebree, Guthrie and Earlington.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for western, south
central and northwestern Kentucky.
LAT...LON 3706 8705 3664 8706 3663 8785 3668 8807
3650 8805 3650 8849 3675 8849 3675 8838
3752 8808 3753 8800 3747 8796 3764 8773
3768 8741 3756 8704 3748 8713 3738 8710
3734 8714 3735 8701 3723 8691 3711 8689
TIME...MOT...LOC 0716Z 254DEG 52KT 3735 8789 3710 8808 3681 8804 3651
8832
07The office that day
Everything else NWS Paducah, KY issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 12:48 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman | 27 min |
| Mar 20, 1:26 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | PAH | Carlisle, McCracken | 34 min |
| Mar 20, 1:40 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | PAH | Graves, McCracken | 13 min |
| Mar 20, 2:16 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | PAH | Caldwell, Calloway, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Lyon and 5 more | 59 min |
| Mar 20, 2:48 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Hopkins, McLean, Webster | 27 min |
| Mar 20, 3:07 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Daviess, McLean | 23 min |
| Mar 20, 3:28 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | PAH | Calloway, Christian, Todd, Trigg | 62 min |
| Mar 20, 3:56 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Calloway | 19 min |
| Mar 20, 4:42 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | PAH | Todd | 48 min |
| Mar 20, 4:49 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Christian, Todd | 41 min |
| Mar 20, 11:47 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | PAH | Livingston, McCracken | 19 days |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Kentucky, 2020Every tornado warning in 2020Tornadoes in 2020
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.