Flash Flood Warning 14, NWS Paducah, KY

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
241 PM CST Sat Feb 15 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A major, potentially historic, flash flood event is ongoing
  this afternoon across portions west Kentucky and southwest
  Indiana and adjacent parts of southern Illinois and southeast
  Missouri.

- A few thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and into the
  evening. Some of these may become strong to severe along the
  Kentucky-Tennessee border. Damaging wind gusts and possibly a
  brief tornado or two are the main threats.

- A brief change over to snow is possible overnight as colder
  air filters in. Light snow accumulation's are possible.

- Accumulating snowfall is becoming increasingly likely Tuesday
  into Wednesday with travel impacts possible.

- Dangerous, bitter cold is forecast for most of next week. Low
  temperatures in the single digits and subzero wind chills are
  forecast the latter half of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 216 PM CST Sat Feb 15 2025

A major flash flood event is ongoing this afternoon. Regional
radar shows widespread rain moving west to east through the
region. Cooler cloud tops and lightning have developed to the
south which will only exacerbate ongoing flooding issues with
heavier rain rates at times. Several flash flood warnings are
currently in effect across western Kentucky where radar and
gage estimates of 2-4 inches (locally higher) of rain has
already fallen. Given the increasing convective nature of these
rain showers, conditions are only expected to worsen over the
afternoon and evening. We continue to highlight this as a
dangerous and major/potentially historic flash flood event.

The threat remains for strong to severe storms this afternoon.
This all comes down to whether we see any updrafts becoming
surface based. Some hi-res sources suggest this may occur but
the window looks small and only confined to the far southeast
corner of our forecast area from roughly Calloway to Todd
counties in Kentucky. If we do see surface-based instability, a
few mesovorticies may develop with in the main squall line, with
a locally enhanced straight-line wind and spin-up tornado risk.

A cold front will move through the region tonight bringing a
blast of Arctic air for tonight and sets the stage for a week
long period of much colder weather. Upper level ascent still
looks pretty strong overnight as a band of snow showers moves
across the region. Some of this snow may be heavy at times as
there is a very short window of time where the moisture and
lift align well in the DGZ. We could see a dusting to 1 inch of
snow overnight along with the possiblity of moisture on roadways
freezing.

Confidence continues to further increase that a period of
accumulating snow will impact the region Tuesday night into
Wednesday. The trend with the NBM and ensembles solutions has
been increasing as we get closer to this event. NBM probability of
greater than 2 inches of snow is now 70-90% and 50-70% chance
of 4 inches or more. Still plenty of time for changes but
confidence is only increasing that impactful heavy snow will
arrive Tuesday PM into Wednesday. Behind this system, very cold
temperatures settle into the region as Arctic high pressure
dives into the Midwest. Highs will only reach the teens to lower
20's Wednesday through Friday with lows in the single digits
possible. Wind chills below zero appear likely as well. While we
saw some of these temperatures back in January, its possible we
may see very similar conditions if not colder this week.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1124 AM CST Sat Feb 15 2025

Widespread moderate to heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms
will bring generally LIFR to IFR conditions at all terminals
through the next 6 to 12 hours of the forecast period. Behind a
cold front, winds will shift toward the north with periods of
rain or snow shower activity tonight. Conditions improve
slightly after 12z or so as cigs rise and precipitation exists
the area.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Flood Watch through late tonight for ILZ082-083-085>094.
MO...Flood Watch through late tonight for MOZ108>112-114.
IN...Flood Watch through late tonight for INZ081-082-085>088.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ001>022.

&&

DISCUSSION...AD
AVIATION...AD

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Paducah KY
211 PM CST Sat Feb 15 2025

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-162015-
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-
211 PM CST Sat Feb 15 2025 /311 PM EST Sat Feb 15 2025/

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Considerable to potentially major flash flooding is ongoing this
afternoon and expected into tonight across western Kentucky and
southwest Indiana as well as adjacent parts of southern Illinois
and southeast Missouri. Refer to the Flood Watch for more details.

A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible late this
afternoon and tonight for locations near the Kentucky-Tennessee
border. Isolated damaging wind gusts and a brief tornado or two
are the main risks.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Accumulating snowfall with travel impacts is becoming increasingly
likely Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.

Dangerous cold is forecast for much of next week. Morning wind
chill values will be near or below zero from Wednesday through
Friday.

Widespread river flooding will continue or is forecast to develop
long parts of the Ohio and Green Rivers for the next several days.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter reports of flooding, heavy rainfall measurements, and any
damage reports from thunderstorms would be appreciated today and
tonight.

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
306 PM CST Sat Feb 15 2025

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

0254 PM     Flash Flood      1 ENE Pembroke          36.78N 87.35W
02/15/2025                   Christian          KY   Emergency Mngr

            Water surrounding two homes in Pembroke and
            over roadways.

&&

JGG

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
307 PM CST Sat Feb 15 2025

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

0156 PM     Flash Flood      3 NNE Wingo             36.68N 88.73W
02/15/2025                   Graves             KY   Public

            Water has left Obion Creek and is
            approaching and surrounding several homes.

&&

JGG

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
310 PM CST Sat Feb 15 2025

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

0300 PM     Flash Flood      Slaughters              37.49N 87.50W
02/15/2025                   Webster            KY   Emergency Mngr

            Highway 138 flooded near Slaughters.

&&

JGG

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
311 PM CST Sat Feb 15 2025

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

0311 PM     Flash Flood      1 N Hopkinsville        36.87N 87.49W
02/15/2025                   Christian          KY   Broadcast Media

            Widespread and significant flooding in
            Christian County. Numerous roadways and
            highways closed. Water approaching homes in
            some locations.

&&

JGG

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
312 PM CST Sat Feb 15 2025

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

0312 PM     Flash Flood      1 E New Madrid          36.59N 89.53W
02/15/2025                   New Madrid         MO   Emergency Mngr

            Several roads in the county with water over
            them, or very close. Most city streets
            flooding in New Madrid.

&&

JGG

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
317 PM CST Sat Feb 15 2025

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

0300 PM     Flash Flood      1 ENE Murray            36.62N 88.29W
02/15/2025                   Calloway           KY   Trained Spotter

            Clarks River and Bee Creek out of bank and
            approaching homes in and around Murray.
            Numerous roadways closed in the county.

&&

JGG