Hail and Damaging Winds in Kentucky, May 1, 2003

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Kentucky, May 1, 2003
Start: 2003-05-01T10:52
End: 2003-05-01T13:45
Location: Kentucky

May 1, 2003 · NWS PAH · 14 events in 13 counties and zones

A complex of thunderstorms organized into a squall line as it crossed western Kentucky. Several locations reported damaging wind gusts from 60 to 70 MPH.

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: 0
Property damage: $16,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 14

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 happened

The episode as NWS PAH wrote it up.

A complex of thunderstorms organized into a squall line as it crossed western Kentucky. Several locations reported damaging wind gusts from 60 to 70 MPH. In Paducah, the ceiling of a business was damaged, and about a dozen trees were blown down. One of the trees landed on a garage and vehicle. In the Marshall County town of Fairdealing, vinyl siding was blown off a house, and a tree was blown onto another house. In Graves County, numerous large trees were down, including 15 to 20 very large trees uprooted near Folsomdale. Around a dozen trees and large limbs were blown down in Murray, mainly on the west side of the city. Some of the trees and limbs fell across roads and power lines. Several large trees were blown down in and around Cadiz in Trigg County. In Henderson County, tree limbs and power poles were blown down. A roof was blown off a barn west of Utica in Daviess County. In Madisonville, a business was unroofed and trees were down on cars and houses. Over 30 trees were down in Caldwell County, including some on homes and cars. Estimated gusts to 65 MPH in Todd County uprooted large trees.

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 May 1, 1:05 AM CST, 9 hours 47 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 1, 1:05 AM CST, 9 hours 47 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
205 AM CDT THU MAY 1 2003

TIMING OF CONVECTION IS THE MAIN FORECAST CONCERN FOR TODAY AND
TONIGHT. SURFACE COLD FRONT IS STAYING VERY ACTIVE AT THIS HOUR OF
THE NIGHT...WITH LINES OF STORMS EXTENDING FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS TO
WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI AND BEYOND. INTENSITY OF THE STORMS IS BEING
MAINTAINED BY A 35 TO 40 KNOT LOW LEVEL JET AND AN APPROACHING 500
MB SHORTWAVE TROUGH. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY INDICATES A VORT MAX MOVING
RAPIDLY EAST ACROSS THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE...ROTATING AROUND A MID
LEVEL LOW OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS.

MODELS ARE IN OVERALL AGREEMENT WITH THE TIMING OF THE COLD FRONT.
AVN REMAINS A LITTLE FASTER THAN THE ETA...TAKING THE FRONT INTO
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND SE MISSOURI BY THIS EVENING...THEN EAST OF THE
FORECAST AREA BY AROUND 12Z FRIDAY. THE ETA SHOWS THE FRONT BECOMING
RATHER DIFFUSE AND HARD TO PINPOINT TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. CONVECTIVE
OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES MAY HAVE THAT EFFECT ON THE SURFACE PRESSURE
PATTERN. HOWEVER...THE ETA/AVN SOLUTIONS ARE BASICALLY SIMILAR AND
ACCEPTED.

EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS TO REFIRE THIS AFTERNOON ALONG COLD FRONT OR
OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES MOVING ACROSS MISSOURI/ILLINOIS. HIGH LEVEL
DEBRIS CLOUDINESS FROM PLAINS CONVECTION SHOULD THIN/DISSIPATE AS IT
CROSSES THE FORECAST AREA TODAY. WITH PLENTY OF SUN...CAPES SHOULD
AGAIN APPROACH OR EXCEED 2000 J/KG AS HAPPENED THE PAST COUPLE DAYS.
WILL MAINTAIN LIKELY POPS IN SE MISSOURI/SRN ILLINOIS FOR LATE
TODAY...WITH CHANCE POPS FURTHER SE. SEASONABLY COLD MID LEVEL TEMPS
/AROUND MINUS 16 AT 500 MB/ AND STEEP LAPSE RATES WILL PRODUCE A
LARGE HAIL THREAT. WEAK MID LEVEL WIND FIELDS THIS MORNING ARE
FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN ENOUGH FOR ORGANIZED CONVECTION LATER TODAY.
STORMS SHOULD WEAKEN AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH DIMINISHING INSTABILITY.

WILL REMOVE MENTION OF THUNDER FOR FRIDAY AS REDEVELOPMENT OF STORMS
ALONG THE FRONT WILL LIKELY BE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA.
ANY LINGERING POST FRONTAL CLOUDINESS SHOULD YIELD TO SUNSHINE IN
THE AFTERNOON. WITH INCREASING SUN AND A FAIRLY WARM START TO THE
DAY...WILL LEAN TOWARD WARMER NGM MOS HIGHS.

MODELS ARE TRENDING FASTER WITH UPCOMING SYSTEM FOR THE WEEKEND. NEW
ETA BRINGS QPF INTO SRN ILLINOIS/SE MISSOURI ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
AVN SPREADS IT ACROSS THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA SATURDAY NIGHT. WILL
INTRODUCE POPS AREAWIDE FOR SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. LOOKS LIKE
MAINLY ELEVATED CONVECTION SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...BECOMING
SURFACE BASED BY MONDAY. AVN INDICATES THIS WILL BE A WELL DEVELOPED
SYSTEM WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT CONVECTION.

.PAH...NONE.

MY

Hazardous weather outlook, May 1, 9:43 AM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-100-
107>112-114-021000-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1043 AM CDT THU MAY 1 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA AND WESTERN KENTUCKY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE FOUR STATE
REGION TODAY AND TONIGHT. FOR TODAY...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL
PROGRESS ACROSS THE REGION. SOME OF THE STORMS WITHIN THE LINE WILL
BE SEVERE...AND PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND STRONG WIND. THE THREAT FOR
SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD DIMINISH TONIGHT AS THE ATMOSPHERE BECOMES
MORE STABLE...AND A COLD FRONT PASSES ACROSS THE REGION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS POSSIBLE LATE IN THE
WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS AS EARLY AS SATURDAY NIGHT OVER SOUTHEAST MISSOURI.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE NEEDED IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...AND ACTIVATION WILL
LIKELY BE NEEDED IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...WEST KENTUCKY AND SOUTHWEST
INDIANA.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 1, 8:33 AM CST, 2 hours 19 minutes before

MOZ076-086-087-100-107>112-114-011600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
933 AM CDT THU MAY 1 2003

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH EAST ACROSS
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI THROUGH THE LATE MORNING HOURS. AT 930 AM...
DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM
AROUND FREDERICKTOWN TO VAN BUREN MISSOURI. AS THIS LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO PUSH EAST-NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH...HAIL UP
TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...AND
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN ARE ALL POSSIBLE. COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY THIS
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH 1100 AM INCLUDE PERRYVILLE...
GREENVILLE...DONIPHAN...AND POPLAR BLUFF.

PRESLEY

Local storm report, May 1, 9:10 AM CST, 1 hour 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1010 AM CDT THU MAY 01 2003

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

1004 AM    6SE ELSINORE              MO   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/01/03   BUTLER                         REPORTED BY EOC

Local storm report, May 1, 9:38 AM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1038 AM CDT THU MAY 01 2003

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

1032 AM    6W DEXTER                 MO   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/01/03   STODDARD                       REPORTED BY EMA

Special weather statement, May 1, 10:00 AM CST, 52 minutes before

ILZ075>078-080>094-KYZ001>014-MOZ076-086-087-100-107>112-114-011700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1100 AM CDT THU MAY 1 2003

AT 1100 AM...PADUCAH DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS FROM CARBONDALE ILLINOIS TO JUST WEST OF NEW MADRID
MISSOURI. THE LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. BY NOON...
THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LINE OF STORMS SHOULD BE FROM NEAR
SHAWNEETOWN ILLINOIS TO PADUCAH AND HICKMAN IN WEST KENTUCKY.
SMALL HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN ARE LIKELY WITH THE STRONGER STORMS.
LOCALLY STRONG WIND GUSTS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM FOR
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND MOST OF WESTERN KENTUCKY
WEST OF THE LAKES AREA. AS THE STORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST ACROSS
THE REGION...SOME COULD QUICKLY BECOME SEVERE...AND PRODUCE LARGE
HAIL OR STRONG WIND.

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:50 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carlisle

When: May 1, 10:52 AM CST
Where: Carlisle County, Bardwell
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.867, -89.017

Thunderstorm Wind, McCracken

When: May 1, 11:15 AM CST
Where: McCracken County, Paducah
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 37.083, -88.633

Thunderstorm Wind, Graves

When: May 1, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Graves County, 4 mi NE of Folsomdale
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.917, -88.617

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When: May 1, 11:45 AM CST
Where: Marshall County, Fairdealing
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: INSURANCE COMPANY
Coordinates: 36.850, -88.233

Thunderstorm Wind, Calloway

When: May 1, 12:05 PM CST
Where: Calloway County, Murray
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.617, -88.317

Thunderstorm Wind, Caldwell

When: May 1, 12:05 PM CST
Where: Caldwell County, Princeton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.117, -87.867

Hail, Union

When: May 1, 12:13 PM CST
Where: Union County, 4 mi W of Morganfield
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.683, -87.983

Hail, Crittenden

When: May 1, 12:15 PM CST
Where: Crittenden County, Marion
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.333, -88.083

Thunderstorm Wind, Trigg

When: May 1, 12:23 PM CST
Where: Trigg County, Cadiz
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.867, -87.817

Thunderstorm Wind, Hopkins

When: May 1, 12:30 PM CST
Where: Hopkins County, Madisonville
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 37.333, -87.500

Thunderstorm Wind, Henderson

When: May 1, 12:33 PM CST to 12:45 PM CST
Where: Henderson County, Henderson
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.833, -87.583

Thunderstorm Wind, Daviess

When: May 1, 1:13 PM CST
Where: Daviess County, 2 mi W of Utica
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.617, -87.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Todd

When: May 1, 1:24 PM CST
Where: Todd County, 3 mi S of Elkton
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.767, -87.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Daviess

When: May 1, 1:45 PM CST
Where: Daviess County, Red Hill
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.617, -87.050

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kentucky in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Kentucky, May 2003

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: 5351901, 5351570, 5351890, 5351889, 5351891, 5351900, 5351897, 5351892, 5351893, 5351898, 5351894, 5351896, 5351899, 5351895.