Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 90, NWS Paducah, KY

August 20, 2026Calloway County, Graves County, Marshall County, Kentucky

NWS Paducah, KY issued this tornado warning at Aug 20, 2026, 12:12 AM CDT for Calloway County, Graves County, Marshall County, Kentucky. It was in force for 34 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
Aug 20, 2026, 12:12 AM CDT (05:12 UTC)
Expired
Aug 20, 2026, 12:46 AM CDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Paducah, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

Counties Calloway County, KY, Graves County, KY, Marshall County, KY

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 48 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:12 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 19, 9:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 5.2 hours before the alert went out and 176 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2026-08-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 310 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2026-08-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 137 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
310 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-212 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1337 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
137 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
209 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What 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 Aug 19, 6:29 PM CDT, 5 hours 43 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Another round of thunderstorms is expected this evening and possibly into the overnight hours. Some of the storms could be severe with damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes.
  • A small (15-30%) chance of showers and thunderstorms is forecast Thursday afternoon, and other small chances are sprinkled in through the weekend and into next week.
  • Temperatures will generally be a few degrees below normal through the next 7 days.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 19, 6:29 PM CDT, 5 hours 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
629 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Another round of thunderstorms is expected this evening and
  possibly into the overnight hours. Some of the storms could be
  severe with damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes.

- A small (15-30%) chance of showers and thunderstorms is
  forecast Thursday afternoon, and other small chances are
  sprinkled in through the weekend and into next week.

- Temperatures will generally be a few degrees below normal
  through the next 7 days.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 623 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

Updated aviation discussion for 00z TAFs.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 228 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

Well, today's convection has lingered longer over more of the
Quad State than expected, and the complete lack of warming
certainly is concerning for the possibility of any significant
severe storms this evening or overnight. There is still a strong
north or northeasterly push at the surface to the south over
southern Tennessee and eastern Arkansas, so the better airmass
will not have much time to get back north over the Quad State.
Therefore, the CAPE forecasts for this evening are likely
overdone. The shear will be there, but if we struggle to get
surface-based convection, much of it may not be realized.

The CAMs have not had a clue about today's convection, so it
would be dangerous to accept their solutions for tonight.
However, they have been consistently hammering on the 6-8 PM
period for storms to reach far northwestern portions of the Quad
State, with the northern extent over Perry and Jackson Counties
in Illinois. Storms would then move east southeast across the
region generally south of a Duquoin Illinois to Greenville
Kentucky line. Northeast of this line storms cannot be ruled
out, but given that that area will be farther from the better
surface air mass, severe storms are much less likely. There is
some sign of storms developing along I-64 into the overnight
hours. Those storms would move east southeast and dissipate by
sunrise over the Tri State.

If severe storms develop it would most likely be over Southeast
Missouri where air mass recovery would presumably be most
likely. The CAPE and shear space advertised by the CAMs would
support all modes of severe, but there has been a strong
tendency for bow echoes in the models with a more significant
damaging wind threat. If a west northwest to east southeast
boundary develops on the northeast edge of the better airmass, a
greater tornado threat could develop along it. Once again this
appears to be most likely over southeast Missouri, possibly into
the Purchase Area of west Kentucky.

The timing for tonight could be delayed a few hours which would
allow more time for air mass recovery, so it will not be
surprising if storms don't reach the area until 9 PM or later
and then possibly last til around 2 or 3 AM before exiting west
Kentucky depending on how far northeast the better air mass
makes it.

The storms tonight should move along at a good clip, but we will
have to watch for swaths of torrential rains and possibly
flooding impacts. This morning's storms produced a swath of 2-3"
over Sikeston Missouri and northeast into Wayne and Bollinger
counties. This area will be quite susceptible to flash flooding
with any storms tonight.

The convection should be done by daybreak Thursday, but an
upper-level trough over the Quad State will keep a small chance
of showers and storms going Thursday afternoon. Behind this
trough, we will remain under a somewhat busy cyclonic northwest
flow aloft. This will bring the possibility of some convection
attempting to dive southeast over the Quad State over the
weekend and into the first half of next week. The models are not
handling individual disturbances very well, which results in the
NBM spreading a lot of 15-30% PoPs across portions of the region
from Friday night through next Wednesday. At least the northwest
flow aloft will keep temperatures at or below normal for late
August, which is quite welcome after last week's heat wave.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 623 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

Convection will develop to our west and move into the region
later this evening and continue overnight. Vsby and cig
restrictions are expected especially in the heavier activity.
Strong wind gusts are also possible, with KCGI/KPAH the most
likely terminals to be impacted by them. Convection should taper
off from west to east early Thursday morning. There is a high
probability (70-90% chance) of at least low MVFR cigs
(potentially IFR for a period) moving into the northern half of
the region after 09-10z and lingering through the morning.
Improvement to VFR levels may not be until early or mid
afternoon for KEVV/KOWB. Confidence isn't as high further south,
but went ahead and included lower cig mention in the morning
for now.

&&

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

&&

UPDATE...SP
DISCUSSION...DRS
AVIATION...SP
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 19, 8:56 PM CDT, 3 hours 16 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Paducah KY
856 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-210200-
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-
856 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 /956 PM EDT Wed Aug 19 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to move east
southeast across the Quad State through the night. Severe storms
with damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes will be
possible, mainly to the south of a DuQuoin Illinois to Greenville
Kentucky line.

A swath of very heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding concerns
overnight. Refer to the Flood Watch for additional details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Small chances of thunderstorms are forecast Thursday afternoon,
and then off and on from Friday night through Tuesday. Brief heavy
downpours and lightning would be the primary concerns.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this evening and into part of the
overnight.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 19, 11:21 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1121 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

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

1119 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Kelso               37.17N 89.55W
08/19/2026                   Scott              MO   Utility Company

            Numerous customers reporting power outage.

&&
Local storm report, Aug 19, 11:26 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1126 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

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

1126 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     0 NE Benton             37.10N 89.56W
08/19/2026                   Scott              MO   Utility Company

            Power outages reported.

&&
Special weather statement, Aug 19, 11:29 PM CDT, 43 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1129 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

ILZ090-091-KYZ007-010-200500-
Hardin IL-Livingston KY-Crittenden KY-Pope IL-
1129 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL CRITTENDEN...
NORTHWESTERN LIVINGSTON...POPE AND WESTERN HARDIN COUNTIES UNTIL
MIDNIGHT CDT...

At 1129 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles northwest of Dixon Springs, or 10 miles east of Vienna, moving
east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Rosiclare, Golconda, Joy, Dixon Springs, Elizabethtown, Eddyville,
  Carrsville and Karbers Ridge.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 3759 8871 3760 8847 3760 8830 3731 8830
      3734 8871
TIME...MOT...LOC 0429Z 275DEG 36KT 3745 8872

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

DWS
Special weather statement, Aug 19, 11:30 PM CDT, 42 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1130 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

MOZ086-100-110-200500-
Bollinger MO-Wayne MO-Stoddard MO-
1130 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN BOLLINGER...
SOUTHEASTERN WAYNE AND NORTHWESTERN STODDARD COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT
CDT...

At 1130 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles north of Puxico, or 12 miles northeast of Lake Wappapello State
Park, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
  Advance, Puxico and Zalma.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 3694 9025 3715 9023 3713 8987 3713 8982
      3694 8983
TIME...MOT...LOC 0430Z 271DEG 35KT 3707 9018

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

DW
Local storm report, Aug 19, 11:44 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1144 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

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

1115 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 E Advance             37.11N 89.90W
08/19/2026                   Stoddard           MO   Public

            Power outage reported, though timing is in
            question.

&&
Local storm report, Aug 20, 12:07 AM CDT, 5 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1207 AM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026

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

1207 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 N Mayfield            36.77N 88.64W
08/20/2026  M65 MPH          Graves             KY   Public

            Home weather station peak gust.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 19, 8:23 PM CDTFlood WatchPAHBallard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden and 16 more11 hr
Aug 19, 11:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBallard, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, McCracken51 min
Aug 19, 11:46 PM CDTTornado WarningPAHBallard, Carlisle, Graves, McCracken29 min
Aug 19, 11:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCalloway, Graves, Hickman, McCracken, Marshall54 min
Aug 19, 11:57 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningPAHBallard6 hr
Aug 20, 12:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBallard, Carlisle40 min
Aug 20, 12:08 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatPAHCalloway, Graves, Hickman, Marshall67 min
Aug 20, 12:21 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningPAHCarlisle, Graves6 hr
Aug 20, 12:31 AM CDTTornado WarningPAHBallard, Carlisle13 min
Aug 20, 12:36 AM CDTTornado WarningPAHCalloway, Marshall, Trigg31 min
Aug 20, 12:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatPAHChristian, Trigg47 min
Aug 20, 12:43 AM CDTTornado WarningPAHBallard, Carlisle, Graves, McCracken20 min
Aug 20, 12:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBallard, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, McCracken and 1 more34 min
Aug 20, 1:15 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCalloway, Graves, Hickman, Marshall44 min
Aug 20, 1:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatPAHCalloway, Graves13 min
Aug 20, 1:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHChristian, Todd, Trigg65 min
Aug 20, 1:28 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPAHCalloway, Graves, Hickman, Marshall4 hr
Aug 20, 1:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatPAHChristian34 min
Aug 20, 2:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHTodd26 min
Aug 20, 2:09 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHBallard36 min
Aug 20, 2:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBallard, Carlisle, McCracken42 min
Aug 20, 2:59 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHCalloway, Graves46 min
Aug 20, 3:19 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningPAHMcCracken4 hr
Aug 20, 3:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCalloway20 min
Aug 20, 4:02 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHLivingston, McCracken, Marshall28 min
Aug 20, 4:17 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningPAHMarshall4 hr
Aug 19, 10:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHUnion25 min
Aug 19, 10:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHAlexander, Pulaski, Union50 min
Aug 19, 10:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHJohnson, Union36 min
Aug 19, 11:29 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHPope31 min
Aug 19, 11:42 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningPAHAlexander5 hr
Aug 19, 11:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatPAHAlexander, Pulaski14 min
Aug 19, 9:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBollinger31 min
Aug 19, 9:56 PM CDTTornado WarningPAHCarter34 min
Aug 19, 10:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBollinger, Cape Girardeau34 min
Aug 19, 10:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBollinger, Cape Girardeau, Scott, Stoddard40 min
Aug 19, 10:22 PM CDTTornado WarningPAHCarter23 min
Aug 19, 10:41 PM CDTTornado WarningPAHButler, Carter, Wayne34 min
Aug 19, 11:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementPAHStoddard30 min
Aug 19, 11:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBollinger, Cape Girardeau, Scott, Stoddard22 min
Aug 20, 12:16 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatPAHCape Girardeau, Scott, Stoddard23 min
Aug 20, 12:31 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningPAHBollinger, Wayne2 hr
Aug 20, 12:35 AM CDTTornado WarningPAHNew Madrid, Stoddard18 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kentucky, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

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.