Tornado Warning 20, NWS Paducah, KY

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
631 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- There is an enhanced risk of severe storms late this afternoon
  into this evening, with damaging winds and isolated tornadoes
  the main anticipated hazards.

- A high wind warning is in effect for portions of southern
  Illinois and southeast Missouri, with a wind advisory
  elsewhere. 35-45 mph gusts will be common, with isolated
  higher wind gusts possible.

- Rain will transition to snow Sunday night into Monday before
  ending as much colder air plunges across the area. Little to
  no impactful accumulation is expected, but a light dusting of
  snowfall on grassy surfaces is possible.

- Winter-like cold temperatures will start the new work week.
  Lows Monday night will drop into the teens to lower 20's and
  with a northwest wind will translate to wind chills in the
  single digits to lower teens.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1159 AM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

A large scale trough is digging into the plains early this
afternoon with a 150+ knot upper jet on the upshear side of the
trough axis leading to further amplification. The amplified
pattern is producing increasing southerly flow in the low levels
with NAEFS showing increased V-component wind anomalies. A
992mb surface low is moving into NE KS/SE Iowa early this
afternoon with a cold front that extends into southwest
Missouri. Southerly flow will continue this afternoon with winds
gusting to 40+ mph ahead of and behind the cold front. Some
areas have gusted to between 50-60 mph where a high wind warning
has been issued into the early afternoon. A wind advisory
remains in effect for the entire area until 12Z Monday. It is
possible the high wind warning may need to be expanding in area
and time and we will continue to monitor.

An 18z sounding from SGF shows the cap lifting and eroding indicating
the dynamic lift and moistening taking place to our west.
Moisture advection has led to dewpoints in the low to mid 50s as
of this writing. Continued moisture advection will occur ahead
of a cold front with surface dewpoints expected to increase into
the upper 50s to near 60 degrees. A majority of the CAMs are
now showing dewpoints reaching the lower 60s immediately along
and ahead of the front. Higher dewpoints have resulted in
modeled thermodynamic fields a bit higher than previous runs
with MLCAPE values now near 500 Joules or higher. Shear remains
exceptional with very strong wind magnitudes throughout the
column. A broad area of 50+ knot 0-6km shear will be in place,
with 0-1km shear 30-40 knots. Ingredients are certainly in place
for an active severe weather event with the entire Quad State
in an enhanced risk. The expected evolution is development of
storms occurring across Missouri and quickly consolidating into
a line as its moves across the Quad State. Guidance remains in
good agreement on timing, with little change from earlier
forecasts. Some CAMs show isolated development out ahead of the
front and it remains to be seen how intense this activity will
be. The thinking is that it may struggle given the capping
inversion with the more intense updrafts along the front.
Widespread damaging winds will remain the greater threat with
winds of 60-70 mph. QLCS tornadoes will also remain a threat
(some even strong) given the very strong low level shear. LCL
heights are a bit high owing to the larger dewpoint depressions
across the boundary layer and it remains to be seen how this
impacts the tornado risk going forward. It may be just enough to
keep us from seeing a higher end event on the tornado side of
things.

The front will be quick to move through, with temperatures
quickly falling behind it. By 12z 850mb temperatures will have
fallen to between -10 and -14C. Some moisture on the back end of
the system may fall as light snow on Monday, mainly across the
north and east. Still expecting this to be non-impactful with
any light accumulations mostly on grassy surfaces. The more
impactful story will be the cold temperatures. Highs on Monday
will remain in the 30s with lows dropping into teens. Brisk
northwest winds will keep wind chills in the 20s during the day
Monday and fall into the single digits to teens by Tuesday
morning. Gradual warming occurs Tuesday and Wednesday and by
Thursday temperatures will be back into the 70s. A disturbance
may bring a chance for light precipitation Tuesday night into
early Wednesday but amounts will be light. Much nicer weather
carries from Thursday into the weekend with highs in the 70s.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 624 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

Line of convection along a cold front is moving into southeast
Missouri now and will continue to advance east across the rest
of the terminals over the next few hours. The front and
convection will bring cig/visby restrictions with it. Behind the
front, strong northwest winds will continue behind the front
through the rest of the period tonight into Monday.
Additionally, MVFR cigs will remain behind the front through
much of the day.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...High Wind Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for ILZ075>078-
     080>094.
MO...High Wind Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for MOZ076-086-
     087-110>112-114.
     Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT Monday for MOZ100-107>109.
IN...High Wind Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for INZ081-085-
     086.
     Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT /8 AM EDT/ Monday for INZ082-087-
     088.
KY...High Wind Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for KYZ001>015-
     018.
     Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT Monday for KYZ016-017-019>022.

&&

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Paducah KY
143 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-161845-
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-
143 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026 /243 PM EDT Sun Mar 15 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

An enhanced risk of severe storms is in effect for later this
afternoon and evening, with damaging winds and isolated tornadoes
the main hazards.

Winds outside of thunderstorm activity will be strong this
afternoon ahead of and behind the front. A high wind warning and
wind advisory has been issued for portions of the area. Refer to
those products for additional information.

Rain may change to snow overnight before ending, and a light
dusting of snowfall, mainly on grassy surfaces, is possible.

River flooding continues, reference the warnings and statements
for details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

Winter-like cold will start the new work week, with the coldest
air coming with lows in the teens Monday night. Wind chills at
daybreak Tuesday will be in the single digits to lower teens as a
result.

For continued river flooding at some locations, reference the
warnings and statements for details.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report severe weather or damage to the
National Weather Service.

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
243 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

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

0230 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Benton                  38.01N 88.92W
03/15/2026                   Franklin           IL   Broadcast Media

            Large tree fell onto a home in Benton.

&&

ATL

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
313 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

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

0955 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 NNE Lithium           37.87N 89.87W
03/15/2026  M52 MPH          Perry              MO   AWOS

            AWOS station KPCD Perryville MO.

1020 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 ENE Breckinridge Cent 37.69N 87.84W
03/15/2026  M52 MPH          Union              KY   Mesonet

            Mesonet station FRNY Morganfield KY 4 E.

1115 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 WSW Raleigh           37.82N 88.55W
03/15/2026  M51 MPH          Saline             IL   AWOS

            AWOS station KHSB Harrisburg IL.

1220 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 ESE Princeton         37.10N 87.86W
03/15/2026  M51 MPH          Caldwell           KY   Mesonet

            Mesonet station PRNC Princeton KY 2 SE.

1133 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 SE Grand Tower        37.60N 89.46W
03/15/2026  M50 MPH          Jackson            IL   Mesonet

            Mesonet station UP809 3.6 SE Grand Tower
            (UPR).

1105 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NNE Cisne             38.55N 88.42W
03/15/2026  M49 MPH          Wayne              IL   Mesonet

            Mesonet station DVI11082 Cisne.

1135 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WSW Central City      37.29N 87.16W
03/15/2026  M49 MPH          Muhlenberg         KY   Mesonet

            Mesonet station CCTY Greenville KY 6 N.

1140 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 N Melody Hill         38.05N 87.52W
03/15/2026  M49 MPH          Vanderburgh        IN   ASOS

            ASOS station KEVV Evansville IN.

1155 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 SW Marion             37.68N 89.00W
03/15/2026  M49 MPH          Williamson         IL   Mesonet

            Mesonet station COWI2 Crab Orchard IL.

0918 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 SSE Acorn Ridge       36.85N 90.03W
03/15/2026  M48 MPH          Stoddard           MO   Mesonet

            Mesonet station SSAPH Hboi Aqua 2.

0945 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SE Energy             37.77N 89.02W
03/15/2026  M48 MPH          Williamson         IL   AWOS

            AWOS station KMWA Marion IL.

1211 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 WNW Scott City        37.23N 89.58W
03/15/2026  M48 MPH          Scott              MO   ASOS

            ASOS station KCGI Cape Girardeau MO.

0213 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 WSW Henderson         37.82N 87.67W
03/15/2026  M48 MPH          Henderson          KY   AWOS

            AWOS station KEHR Henderson KY.

1035 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NE Marion             37.38N 88.04W
03/15/2026  M47 MPH          Crittenden         KY   Mesonet

            Mesonet station RPTN Marion KY 4 NE.

1135 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 E Mount Vernon        38.32N 88.87W
03/15/2026  M47 MPH          Jefferson          IL   AWOS

            AWOS station KMVN Mt Vernon IL.

1149 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NE Mount Vernon       37.94N 87.89W
03/15/2026  M45 MPH          Posey              IN   Mesonet

            Mesonet station CW7104 Mount Vernon IN.

1245 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 SW Cadiz              36.83N 87.86W
03/15/2026  M45 MPH          Trigg              KY   Mesonet

            Mesonet station CADZ Cadiz KY 4 SW.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
553 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

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

0519 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     7 SSW Chicopee          36.89N 91.03W
03/15/2026                   Carter             MO   Emergency Mngr

            Couple trees down at the junction of HWY C
            and HWY F near Eastwood.

&&

ATL

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Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
653 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

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

0550 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 WNW Lodi              37.27N 90.50W
03/15/2026                   Wayne              MO   Public

            Multiple trees downed near Sam A Baker State
            Park.

&&

ATL

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
723 PM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026

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

0711 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Cambria                 37.78N 89.11W
03/15/2026  E65 MPH          Williamson         IL   Public

            Multiple reports of winds estimated to
            60-65mph in and just west of Cambria.

&&

ATL