Alert archive / Illinois / Flash Flood Warnings in 2025

Flash Flood Warning 78, NWS Paducah, KY

July 18, 2025Saline County, Illinois

NWS Paducah, KY issued this flash flood warning at Jul 18, 2025, 6:25 PM CDT for Saline County, Illinois. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Jul 18, 2025, 6:25 PM CDT (23:25 UTC)
Expired: Jul 18, 2025, 9:24 PM CDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Paducah, KY
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Saline County, IL

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:27 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

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 250 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: 1771 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -29 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 765 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 60 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 45 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.2
Supercell composite: 1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at Jul 18, 12:27 PM CDT, 5 hours 58 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Almost daily storm chances will be highest this weekend during peak heating. Locally heavy rains repeating over the same areas causing flooding, frequent lightning, and gusty winds from an isolated stronger storm will be the primary storm hazards.
A more prolonged and increasingly dangerous heatwave is expected next week with daily heat indices of 105 to 115.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 18, 12:27 PM CDT, 5 hours 58 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1227 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Almost daily storm chances will be highest this weekend during
  peak heating. Locally heavy rains repeating over the same
  areas causing flooding, frequent lightning, and gusty winds
  from an isolated stronger storm will be the primary storm
  hazards.

- A more prolonged and increasingly dangerous heatwave is
  expected next week with daily heat indices of 105 to 115.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1225 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025

The surface boundary is still identifiable as it lays across the
heart of the PAH FA. It serves as a potential focusing mechanism
for updrafts to get going with diurnal heating. Satellite shows
lower clouds hanging tougher on the cool side of the boundary.
Storms thru the weekend will all have more or less the same
ingredients of high volume moisture availability with weak
overall shear, and instability may be or become high at times,
most likely during peak heating. As a result, we anticipate more
of the same...heavy rain potential from storms but flooding
should be localized where storms repeat or hover over the same
areas, esp areas that have had more rain recently. Frequent
lightning and isolated gusty winds are also potential storm
hazards.

Pattern metamorphosis heading into and thru next week will
project to us as an increasingly hot and humid time period with
daily storm chances gradually diminishing toward a drier overall
regime as the week wears on. This prolonged duration of high
heat and humidity will ultimately need headlines, but pending
completion of collaboration, it appears some whitening of its
timing eyes here may be preferred at this writing.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1225 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025

Low bases and potential storms offer the best chances at flight
terminal restrictions during the daytime. Patchy fog and low
stratus bases may become a restrictive consideration again late
tonight, per past nights. Winds will be generally light but
could be gusty if/when a storm impacts the terminal vicinity.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for ILZ088>090-
     092>094.
MO...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for MOZ086-087-100-
     107>112-114.
IN...None.
KY...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for KYZ001>013-016-
     017-020>022.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 18, 2:28 AM CDT, 15 hours 57 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Paducah KY
228 AM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-191000-
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-
228 AM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025 /328 AM EDT Fri Jul 18 2025/

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 expected today. All
storms will be capable of producing brief torrential rainfall and
lightning. Localized flash flooding is possible. A brief strong
storm with gusty winds cannot be ruled out.

A Heat Advisory is in effect for portions of southeast Missouri,
western Kentucky, and far southern Illinois. Peak heat indices of
105 to 109 are expected. Refer to the statement for more details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected through Tuesday.
All storms will be capable of producing brief torrential rainfall
and lightning. Localized flash flooding is possible.

A dangerous prolonged heatwave will build this weekend and
continue through most of next week. Daily heat indices of 105 to
115 are expected, potentially exceeding 120 by the middle of the
week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

DW

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 18, 4:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
445 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025

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

0444 PM     Rain             Reidland                37.01N 88.53W
07/18/2025  M2.78 Inch       McCracken          KY   Trained Spotter

            2.78 inches of rain fell in 50 minutes.
            Measured by retired NWS meteorologist.

&&

DWS

Local storm report, Jul 18, 5:01 PM CDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
501 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025

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

0456 PM     Flash Flood      1 NE Paducah            37.08N 88.63W
07/18/2025                   McCracken          KY   Emergency Mngr

            Water rescue with a submerged vehicle at
            21st Street and Park Avenue in Paducah.

&&

DWS

Local storm report, Jul 18, 5:03 PM CDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
503 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025

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

0430 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NNW Paducah           37.08N 88.64W
07/18/2025                   McCracken          KY   Emergency Mngr

            Power lines down on a firetruck at Levin and
            Park Avenue in Paducah. Time estimated from
            radar.

&&

DWS

Local storm report, Jul 18, 6:03 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
603 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025

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

0602 PM     Flood            4 W Newburgh            37.95N 87.47W
07/18/2025                   Vanderburgh        IN   Trained Spotter

            Flooding of low-lying areas reported near
            Angel Mounds.

&&

DWS

Local storm report, Jul 18, 6:20 PM CDT, 5 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
620 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025

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

0617 PM     Flash Flood      4 WNW Newburgh          37.97N 87.47W
07/18/2025                   Vanderburgh        IN   Amateur Radio

            Streets flooding near Plaza School.

&&

DWS

Local storm report, Jul 18, 6:22 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

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The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 18, 1:35 AM CDT	Heat Advisory	PAH	Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden and 12 more	17 hr
Jul 18, 3:51 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PAH	McCracken	3 hr
Jul 18, 4:06 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	PAH	Livingston, McCracken, Marshall	3 hr
Jul 18, 6:56 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PAH	Daviess, Henderson	3 hr
Jul 18, 4:37 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PAH	Massac	113 min
Jul 18, 5:32 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PAH	Alexander, Pulaski	105 min
Jul 18, 5:42 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PAH	Hardin	112 min
Jul 18, 6:09 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PAH	Gallatin, Johnson, Pope, Saline, Williamson	3 hr
Jul 18, 12:49 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	PAH	Stoddard	26 min
Jul 18, 1:30 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PAH	Butler	77 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Illinois, 2025 Every flash flood warning in 2025

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.