Tornadoes in Kentucky, April 28, 2002

Name: Tornadoes in Kentucky, April 28, 2002
Start: 2002-04-28T01:49
End: 2002-04-28T02:10
Location: Kentucky

April 28, 2002 · NWS PAH · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

3 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 26
Property damage: $17 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Apr 27, 1:11 PM CST, 12 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 27, 1:11 PM CST, 12 hours 38 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
211 PM CDT SAT APR 27 2002

BIGGEST FORECAST CHALLENGE WITH THIS PACKAGE WILL BE THE NEXT 18-24
HOURS AS STRONG SYSTEM LIFTS NE ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
VALLEY.

MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT IN LIFTING THIS SYSTEM OUT OF THE
SOUTHERN PLAINS INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION BY 12Z SUNDAY. MIDDAY
SFC ANAL SHOWED LOW PRESSURE CENTERED OVER THE KS/NE BORDER. FROM
THE LOW A WARM FRONT STRETCHED SE ACROSS SE KS...ERN OK...EXTREME SW
AR...AND THEN EWD ACROSS CNTRL MS AND AL. AS THE LOW INTESIFIES AND
MOVES NE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...IT IS EXPECTED TO LIFT THE
WARM FRONT TO A NW-SE ORIENTATION THAT CLOSELY PARALLELS THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT AROUND 00Z. UNTIL THEN EXPECT COVERAGE OF
RW/TRW TO INCREASE SO WILL GO LIKELY ACROSS ALL OF CWA...BUT WITH
MENTION OF EARLY WORDING ACROSS THE SW HALF AND THROUGH MIDNIGHT
OVER THE NE HALF. BOTH AVN/NGM HINT AT A RIBBON OF HIGHER RH
COINCIDENT WITH A VORT LOBE SWINGING ACROSS THE CWA AFTER MIDNIGHT
SO WILL KEEP A CHANCE EVERYWHERE AFTER MIDNIGHT. AT 12Z SUNDAY A
COLD FRONT (1) IS EXPECTED TO BISECT THE CWA FROM NE-SW SO WILL
MENTION CHC POPS THERE SUNDAY EARLY AM. AFTER THAT MONDAY NIGHT A
FAST MOVING SHORT WAVE CLIPS THE NE QUADRANT OF THE CWA AND CRANKS A
FEW HUNDRETHS OF QPF SO WILL MENTION CHC POP THERE. ON TUESDAY A SFC
LOW OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS WILL BEGIN TO LIFT FRONT 1 NORTHWARD
AND BACK ACROSS OUR CWA. FRONTAL FORCING AND ISENTROPIC LIFT ASSOC
WITH THIS FEATURE AND A TRAILING COLD FRONT (2) WILL PROVIDE THE
TRIGGER MECHANISMS FOR RW/TRW THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ON THURSDAY THE
NEXT SFC LOW OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL LIFT FRONT 2 NORTHWARD
PUTTING THE CWA AGAIN IN AN ISENTROPIC LIFT SITUATION THURSDAY
NIGHT. ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MRF SHOWS THE CWA IN GOOD SHAPE WITH
SOUTHERN STREAM ENERGY STAYING TO THE SOUTH AND NORTHERN STREAM
ENERGY STAYING TO THE NORTH.

EXCEPT FOR SUNDAYS HIGHS...FWC/MAV TEMPS SIMILAR SO WILL GO WITH A
CONCENSUS BUT LEANING TOWARD THE MAV MOS NUMBERS.

.PAH...NONE.

PACKETT

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 28, 12:56 AM CST, 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
156 AM CDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1221 AM    SESSER                    IL   TORNADO
04/28/02   FRANKLIN                       POSSIBLE TORNADO. LARGE
                                          TREES AND BARNS BLOWN
                                          DOWN ALONG ROUTE 154 EAST
                                          OF SESSER.  REPORT FROM
                                          FRANKLIN COUNTY DISPATCH.

1245 AM    MARBLE HILL               MO   TORNADO
04/28/02   BOLLINGER                      HOUSES FLATTENED. PEOPLE
                                          REPORTED MISSING...NUMBER
                                           UNKNOWN. SOUTHEAST OF
                                          MARBLE HILL NEAR HIGHWAY
                                          FF (COUNTY HIGHWAY 512).

0109 AM    GALATIA                   IL   TORNADO
04/28/02   SALINE                         POSSIBLE TORNADO. TRAILER
                                           OVERNTURNED. ROOF BLOWN
                                          OFF CAR WASH DAMAGED
                                          POLICE CAR. ROUTE 34
                                          BLOCKED WITH TREES. TREES
                                          ON TRAILERS LOCATED
                                          BEHIND A LAUNDROMAT.

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:19 AM CST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
219 AM CDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1240 AM    JOHNSONVILLE              IL   0.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   WAYNE                          DIME SIZE HAIL EAST OF
                                          JOHNSONVILLE.

1245 AM    MURPHYSBORO               IL   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   JACKSON

1252 AM    ROYALTON                  IL   60 MPH WIND GUST
04/28/02   FRANKLIN                       PEA SIZE HAIL ALSO
                                          REPORTED.

1255 AM    CARBONDALE                IL   WIND DAMAGE
04/28/02   JACKSON                        TREES BLOWN DOWN. 1 TREE
                                          ON HOUSE. ROAD BLOCKED ON
                                          TRUAX BLACKTOP. LOCATION
                                          6 MILES N OF CARBONDALE.
                                          TREES DOWN AND 1 BARN
                                          BLOWN OVER 3 MILES N OF
                                          MURPHYSBORO ON ROUTE 127

1208 AM    PIEDMONT                  MO   FUNNEL CLOUD
04/28/02   WAYNE                          1 1/2 TO 2 MILES EAST OF
                                          PIEDMONT AT INTERSECTION
                                          OF ROUTE U AND B.

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:23 AM CST, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
223 AM CDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0127 AM    DONGOLA                   IL   TORNADO
04/28/02   UNION                          DAMAGE REPORTED BETWEEN
                                          MILL CREEK AND DONGOLA.
                                          NUMEROUS DAMAGE TO
                                          TRAILERS WITH MANY
                                          INJURIES...NUMBER
                                          UNKNOWN.REPORTED BY UNION
                                          COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE .

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:24 AM CST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
224 AM CDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0109 AM    GALATIA                   IL   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   SALINE

0111 AM    ALBION                    IL   60 MPH WIND GUST
04/28/02   EDWARDS                        ALSO PEA SIZE HAIL.

0112 AM    BUCKNER                   IL   FUNNEL CLOUD
04/28/02   FRANKLIN                       REPORTED NEAR
                                          BUCKNER...MOVING
                                          NORTHEAST TOWARD WEST
                                          CITY AND BENTON AREA. NO
                                          DAMAGE REPORTED AT THIS
                                          TIME. REPORT FROM
                                          FRANKLIN COUNTY

0134 AM                              IN   WIND DAMAGE
04/28/02   GIBSON                         COUNTY-WIDE. MULTIPLE
                                          TREES DOWN. 1 TREE DOWN
                                          IN VEHICLE. 1 OUT
                                          BUILDING DESTROYED ON
                                          HIGHWAY 41 NEAR TOYOTA
                                          PLANT. REPORTS SPANNED
                                          FROM 134 TO 144 AM.

0232 AM                              IL   70 MPH WIND GUST
04/28/02   MASSAC                         REPORTED BY SPOTTER 1
                                          MILE SOUTH OF JOHNSON
                                          COUNTY LINE IN MASSAC
                                          COUNTY ON INTERSTATE 24.
                                          HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
                                          SIGNS BLOWN DOWN.

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:38 AM CST, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
238 AM CDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0109 AM    GALATIA                   IL   TORNADO
04/28/02   SALINE                         POSSIBLE TORNADO.
                                          ***UPDATE*** 2 BRICK
                                          HOMES WITH ROOFS GONE AND
                                          WALLS COLLAPSED IN
                                          GALATIA. REPORT RELAYED
                                          BY WSIL-TV.

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:48 AM CST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
248 AM CDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0141 AM    CYPRESS                   IL   TORNADO
04/28/02   JOHNSON                        TIME APPROXIMATE.
                                          SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE
                                          REPORTED FROM CYPRESS TO
                                          JUST SOUTH OF VIENNA.
                                          (TYPE/EXTENT UNKNOWN).
                                          TREES BLOCKING ROAD TO
                                          LOCATION.

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:49 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Crittenden

When: April 28, 1:49 AM CST to 1:50 AM CST
Where: Crittenden County, 4 mi N of Shadey Grove
Rating: F2
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 37.383, -87.883

The tornado was spawned by a long-lived supercell that originated over southeast Missouri and tracked across southern Illinois and western Kentucky. This tornado, which was one of the strongest and longest-lived of the night, first touched down just inside Crittenden County on State Route 120. It quickly moved into Webster County. Before moving into Webster County, about a dozen homes and farm buildings were damaged in Crittenden County.

Tornado, Webster

When: April 28, 1:50 AM CST to 1:59 AM CST
Where: Webster County, 5 mi W of Providence
Rating: F3
Path length: 9 mi
Path width: 880 yd
Injuries: 26 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $15 million
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 37.400, -87.850

The tornado crossed southern Webster County, producing major damage as it paralleled Highway 120 through Providence. About two dozen persons were injured, and they were transported by ambulance to regional hospitals. One person was critically injured. The tornado produced F-3 damage in Providence, then weakened to an F-2 tornado just east of the city limits. The tornado struck a mobile home park in Providence, destroying 16 of the 20 mobile homes there. About 10 permanent homes were destroyed, and about 100 more homes were damaged.

Tornado, Hopkins

When: April 28, 1:59 AM CST to 2:10 AM CST
Where: Hopkins County, 3 mi NW of Nebo
Rating: F3
Path length: 12 mi
Path width: 880 yd
Property damage: $1.8 million
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 37.417, -87.700

The tornado crossed into Hopkins County just west-northwest of Nebo, and finally lifted after moving through Hanson. The tornado was rated at F-3 intensity in the Nebo area, where four chicken houses were blown off their foundations. About 45,000 chickens were left in the debris. Damage to one chicken facility was estimated between one and two million dollars. The tornado weakened as it progressed across the county. About 10 to 15 residences were significantly damaged.

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kentucky in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Kentucky, 2002 Warnings in Kentucky, April 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5292583, 5292584, 5292585.