Tornado and Hail in Missouri, May 4, 2003

Name: Tornado and Hail in Missouri, May 4, 2003
Start: 2003-05-04T18:53
End: 2003-05-04T20:05
Location: Missouri

May 4, 2003 · NWS PAH · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms produced dime to nickel size hail in isolated locations from around Poplar Bluff west. The storms then organized into a single tornadic supercell just northeast of Poplar Bluff.

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: $75,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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.

Severe thunderstorms produced dime to nickel size hail in isolated locations from around Poplar Bluff west. The storms then organized into a single tornadic supercell just northeast of Poplar Bluff. This long-lived supercell moved east, passing between Cape Girardeau and Sikeston, then continued east-northeast through the Lower Ohio River Valley. The supercell produced a tornado in Scott County. Trees were blown down at Wappapello in southeast Wayne County.

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 4, 1:44 PM CST, 5 hours 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 4, 1:44 PM CST, 5 hours 9 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
244 PM CDT SUN MAY 4 2003

FORECAST CHALLENGE IS TIMING OF PRECIP AND SVR WX.

FIRST CLUSTER OF STORMS NORTH OF WARM FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH WARM AIR
ADVECTION AT 850 SLOWLY MOVING OFF TO THE EAST. AT 1900 UTC WARM
FRONT ENTERING THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF CWA WITH MID TO UPPER 60 DEW
POINTS. LARGE HAIL WITH ISOLATED WIND DAMAGE REPORTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

SEVERE WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAIN SYSTEM NOW OVER
NEBRASKA...KANSAS AND OKLAHOMA.  EXPECT THIS SYSTEM TO MERGE INTO A
POSSIBLE SQUALL LINE AS IT REACHES THE AREA THIS EVENING AND
OVERNIGHT. WILL KEEP MENTION OF SEVERE IN ZONES BOTH TONIGHT AND
AGAIN TOMORROW AFTERNOON. EHI AND VGP VALUES FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
WEATHER BOTH TIME FRAMES. FIRST SQUALL LINE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE
THROUGH THE AREA OVERNIGHT AND WEAKENS TO OUR EAST DURING THE DAY ON
MONDAY. IF THE CLOUDS BREAK AS EXPECTED...WE WILL DESTABILIZE BY
AFTERNOON WITH FORECAST CAPES OVER 3500 J/KG. AGAIN WITH VGP VALUES
OVER .3 IN PART OF WEST KENTUCKY TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND EHI VALUES
AROUND 5...SUPERCELLS ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

AS FRONT SLOWLY SAGS SOUTH...IT IS FORECAST TO BE ALONG OHIO RIVER
BY EARLY WEDNESDAY...WITH SURFACE LOW MOVING ALONG FRONT...WILL
MENTION HEAVY RAIN.

LITTLE CHANGE TO THE REST OF THE FORECAST WITH ONLY MINOR CHANGES TO
WINDS...TEMPERATURES.

EXTENDED FORECAST...ALL MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT THROUGH FRIDAY
WHICH MEANS A CONTINUED CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. WEAK
TROUGH OVER WEST COAST WILL KEEP SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE REGION.
TIMING OF IMPULSES IN SOUTHWEST FLOW THAT WILL PRODUCE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS IS VERY DIFFICULT. THIS WILL KEEP A WEAK FRONTAL
BOUNDARY ALONG THE OHIO RIVER UNTIL FRIDAY. MODELS SWING DECENT
SYSTEM THROUGH ON FRIDAY...ANOTHER LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY.

.PAH...NONE.

SPODEN

Hazardous weather outlook, May 4, 1:22 PM CST, 5 hours 31 minutes before

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-100-
107>112-114-051000-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
222 PM CDT SUN MAY 4 2003

...SIGNIFICANT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OUTBREAK POSSIBLE TONIGHT AND
AGAIN MONDAY...

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT.
ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING...
WITH A POTENTIAL FOR MORE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER OVERNIGHT.
WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT.
ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER. ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON ARE THE RESULT OF AN
APPROACHING WARM FRONT. AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE WARM FRONT THIS
EVENING...THE STAGE WILL BE SET FOR POTENTIALLY MORE SIGNIFICANT
SEVERE WEATHER.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

ANOTHER POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EVENT IS POSSIBLE ON
MONDAY. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN
KENTUCKY...WITH A SLIGHT RISK OVER SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS AND SOUTHWEST INDIANA. THE GREATEST THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS
APPEARS TO BE FROM MIDDAY INTO THE EVENING HOURS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF SPOTTERS WILL BE REQUESTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
SPOTTERS ARE URGED TO STAY TUNED FOR THE ISSUANCE OF WATCHES AND
WARNINGS THROUGH MONDAY.

YORK

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 4, 2:31 PM CST, 4 hours 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
331 PM CDT SUN MAY 04 2003

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

0318 PM    MADISONVILLE              KY   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HOPKINS                        REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTER

Local storm report, May 4, 2:46 PM CST, 4 hours 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
346 PM CDT SUN MAY 04 2003

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

0343 PM    ISLAND                    KY   0.88 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCLEAN                         REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTER

Local storm report, May 4, 2:48 PM CST, 4 hours 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
348 PM CDT SUN MAY 04 2003

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

0325 PM    SPOTTSVILLE               KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HENDERSON                      REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTER

Local storm report, May 4, 2:51 PM CST, 4 hours 2 minutes before

LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
351 PM CDT SUN MAY 04 2003

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

1120 AM    WICKLIFFE                 KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   BALLARD                        REPORTED BY BALLARD
                                          COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

1130 AM    BARLOW                    KY   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   BALLARD                        REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTERS.

1150 AM    RAGLAND                   KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES

1150 AM    GRAHAMVILLE               KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTERS

1158 AM    MASSAC                    KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES

1201 PM    LONE OAK                  KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES

1201 PM    LONE OAK                  KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES

1203 PM    LONE OAK                  KY   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES REPORTED BY
                                          TRAINED SPOTTERS

1204 PM    LONE OAK                  KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES

1205 PM    LONE OAK                  KY   2.50 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES.  SOME HAIL
                                          WAS NEAR BASEBALL SIZE
                                          HAIL

1209 PM    PADUCAH                   KY   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTERS

1232 PM    DRAFFENVILLE              KY   70 MPH WIND GUST
05/04/03   MARSHALL                       REPORTED BY MARSHALL
                                          COUNTY EM

1232 PM    GILBERTSVILLE             KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MARSHALL                       REPORTED BY MARSHALL
                                          COUNTY DES

1250 PM    1E BARKLEY DAM            KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   CARLISLE                       REPORTED BY LYON COUNTY
                                          EM

0146 PM    1S EDDYVILLE              IL   0.88 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   POPE                           REPORTED BY POPE COUNTY
                                          DES

0213 PM    ELIZABETHTOWN             IL   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HARDIN                         REPORTED BY HARDIN COUNTY
                                          SHERIFFS OFFICE

0255 PM    PROVIDENCE                KY   0.88 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   WEBSTER                        REPORTED BY FIRE
                                          DEPARTMENT

0300 PM    NEBO                      KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HOPKINS                        REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTER

0311 PM    MANITOU                   KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HOPKINS                        REPORTED BY EOC

0318 PM    MADISONVILLE              KY   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HOPKINS                        REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTER

0325 PM    SPOTTSVILLE               KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HENDERSON                      REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTER

0343 PM    ISLAND                    KY   0.88 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCLEAN                         REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTER

1124 AM    2S LEDBETTER              KY   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   LIVINGSTON                     REPORTED BY NWS EMPLOYEE
                                          THE HAIL FELL ON THE
                                          LIVINGSTON COUNTY SIDE OF
                                          THE TENNESSEE RIVER

1124 AM    1N CALVERT CITY           KY   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MARSHALL                       REPORTED BY NWS EMPLOYEE

1124 AM    CALVERT CITY              KY   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MARSHALL                       REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTERS AT HYW 95 AND
                                          1523 IN MARSHALL COUNTY

Local storm report, May 4, 3:16 PM CST, 3 hours 37 minutes before

LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
416 PM CDT SUN MAY 04 2003

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

1120 AM    WICKLIFFE                 KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   BALLARD                        REPORTED BY BALLARD
                                          COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

1130 AM    BARLOW                    KY   1.00 INCH HAIL 05/04/03
           BALLARD                        REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTERS.

1150 AM    RAGLAND                   KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES

1150 AM    GRAHAMVILLE               KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTERS

1158 AM    MASSAC                    KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES

1201 PM    LONE OAK                  KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES

1201 PM    LONE OAK                  KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES

1203 PM    LONE OAK                  KY   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES REPORTED BY
                                          TRAINED SPOTTERS

1204 PM    LONE OAK                  KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES

1205 PM    LONE OAK                  KY   2.50 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY MCCRACKEN
                                          COUNTY DES.  SOME HAIL
                                          WAS NEAR BASEBALL SIZE
                                          HAIL

1209 PM    PADUCAH                   KY   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCCRACKEN                      REPORTED BY TRAINED SPOTTERS

1224 PM    2S LEDBETTER              KY   1.25 INCH HAIL 05/04/03
05/04/03   LIVINGSTON                     REPORTED BY NWS EMPLOYEE                                           THE HAIL FELL ON
                                          THE LIVINGSTON SIDE OF
                                          TENNESSEE RIVER

1224 PM    1N CALVERT CITY           KY   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MARSHALL                       REPORTED BY NWS EMPLOYEE

1224 PM    CALVERT CITY              KY   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MARSHALL                       REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTERS AT HWY 95 AND
                                          1523 IN MARSHALL COUNTY                                           SPOTTERS

1232 PM    DRAFFENVILLE              KY   70 MPH WIND GUST
05/04/03   MARSHALL                       REPORTED BY MARSHALL
                                          COUNTY EM

1232 PM    GILBERTSVILLE             KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MARSHALL                       REPORTED BY MARSHALL
                                          COUNTY DES

1250 PM    1E BARKLEY DAM            KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   CARLISLE                       REPORTED BY LYON COUNTY
                                          EM

0146 PM    1S EDDYVILLE              IL   0.88 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   POPE                           REPORTED BY POPE COUNTY
                                          DES

0213 PM    ELIZABETHTOWN             IL   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HARDIN                         REPORTED BY HARDIN COUNTY
                                          SHERIFFS OFFICE

0255 PM    PROVIDENCE                KY   0.88 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   WEBSTER                        REPORTED BY FIRE
                                          DEPARTMENT

0300 PM    NEBO                      KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HOPKINS                        REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTER

0311 PM    MANITOU                   KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HOPKINS                        REPORTED BY EOC

0318 PM    MADISONVILLE              KY   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HOPKINS                        REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTER

0325 PM    SPOTTSVILLE               KY   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   HENDERSON                      REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTER

0343 PM    ISLAND                    KY   0.88 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MCLEAN                         REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTER

1124 AM    2S LEDBETTER              KY   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   LIVINGSTON                     REPORTED BY NWS EMPLOYEE
                                          THE HAIL FELL ON THE
                                          LIVINGSTON COUNTY SIDE OF
                                          THE TENNESSEE RIVER

1124 AM    1N CALVERT CITY           KY   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MARSHALL                       REPORTED BY NWS EMPLOYEE

1124 AM    CALVERT CITY              KY   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   MARSHALL                       REPORTED BY TRAINED
                                          SPOTTERS AT HYW 95 AND
                                          1523 IN MARSHALL COUNTY

Local storm report, May 4, 4:07 PM CST, 2 hours 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
507 PM CDT SUN MAY 04 2003

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

0225 PM    MARION                    KY   WIND DAMAGE
05/04/03   CRITTENDEN                     A FEW TREES DOWN.
                                          REPORTED BY POLICE.

0245 PM    SHADY GROVE               KY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/04/03   CRITTENDEN                     REPORTED BY FIRE
                                          DEPARTMENT

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Ripley

When: May 4, 6:53 PM CST to 7:02 PM CST
Where: Ripley County, Gatewood
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.583, -91.100

Hail, Butler

When: May 4, 7:14 PM CST to 7:18 PM CST
Where: Butler County, 2 mi W of Poplar Bluff
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.750, -90.433

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: May 4, 7:20 PM CST
Where: Wayne County, Wappapello
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 36.933, -90.283

Thunderstorm Wind, Stoddard

When: May 4, 7:37 PM CST
Where: Stoddard County, 2 mi W of Advance
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.100, -89.950

Tornado, Scott

When: May 4, 7:53 PM CST to 8:05 PM CST
Where: Scott County, 1 mi S of Morley
Measured: 70
Rating: F2
Path length: 11.5 mi
Path width: 130 yd
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 37.050, -89.617

One mobile home was destroyed. Several small buildings were damaged. Numerous trees were blown down or damaged. Several irrigation systems were moved and/or turned over. Peak winds in the tornado were estimated near 130 MPH.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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 Missouri in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Missouri, 2003 Warnings in Missouri, 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: 5351682, 5351683, 5351684, 5351685, 5351686.