A complex of thunderstorms moved east-southeast from the St. Louis area across the Lower Wabash Valley.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS PAH wrote it up.
A complex of thunderstorms moved east-southeast from the St. Louis area across the Lower Wabash Valley. Locally strong winds occurred along the leading edge of the storms. The storms occurred in response to a cold front that moved southeast into a very unstable air mass. Northwesterly mid level winds increased to between 30 and 40 knots as a jet streak moved across northern Illinois. These mid level winds enhanced storm organization and intensity.
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 Aug 5, 5:17 PM CST, 2 hours 13 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
617 PM CDT TUE AUG 5 2008
.UPDATE...
UPDATE FOR 00Z TAFS.
&&
.AVIATION...
THE APPROACH OF A FRONTAL BOUNDARY TO OUR NORTH IS THE MAIN FACTOR
IN THE WEATHER IN THE NEXT 24 HRS. CURRENTLY NO CONVECTION ACROSS
OUR AREA...BUT CLUSTERS OF STORMS WERE OCCURRING JUST TO OUR WEST
AND NORTH. THREAT FOR STORMS WILL EXIST THE REST OF THE EVENING AT
KEVV AND KOWB...BUT BETTER CHANCES ARRIVE LATER TONIGHT. AS FOR
KPAH AND KCGI...THE BEST CHANCES FOR ACTIVITY WILL BE CLOSER TO
WED MORNING...WITH THE BEST CHANCES LATER ON IN THE AFTERNOON AS
THAT FRONT ARRIVES. HOWEVER...WITH THE FRONT IN THE AREA
TONIGHT...TRYING TO PIN DOWN EXACT TIMING OF STORMS WILL BE
DIFFICULT...BUT TRIED TO INDICATE THE BEST TIMING KNOWN AT THIS
POINT.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 308 PM CDT TUE AUG 5 2008/
DISCUSSION...
CONVECTION FIRING OVER LOWER WABASH RIVER VALLEY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH WAS JUST ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST
INDIANA AND NORTHWEST KENTUCKY. OVERALL...THINK THE RISK IS RATHER
MARGINAL...BUT ISOLD SEVERE PULSE ACTIVITY CANNOT BE RULED OUT. AND
THERE IS MODEST 30-35KT MID/UPPER FLOW. WILL GRADUALLY TRANSITION
POPS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AS A FRONT SETTLES
SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION. DRY AIR AND HIGH PRESSURE IS FORECAST TO
BUILD IN BY FRIDAY AND CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH SATURDAY.
MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON THIS. A MORE ACTIVE NW FLOW SETS UP
SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...WITH A RETURN CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
MODELS VARY ON TIMING AND PLACEMENT WHICH IS TYPICAL IN A NW FLOW
REGIME THAT FAR OUT IN TIME. WILL KEEP POPS LOW AS A RESULT EARLY
NEXT WEEK. AS FAR AS TEMPS...HPC WAS FOLLOWED CLOSELY IN THE LONG
TERM. FWC/MET BIAS WAS USED FOR SHORT TERM TEMPS.
AVIATION...
THE APPROACH OF A FRONTAL BOUNDARY TO OUR NORTH IS THE MAIN FACTOR IN
THE WEATHER IN THE NEXT 24 HRS. CURRENTLY HAVE MAINLY VFR CIGS
ACROSS SOUTHERN IL...SOUTHWEST IN AND NORTHERN KY THAT WILL
EVENTUALLY MOVE SOUTHWEST TOWARD KPAH AND KCGI. THREAT FOR STORMS
WILL EXIST THE REST OF THE DAY AT KEVV AND KOWB...BUT BETTER CHANCES
ARRIVE LATER TONIGHT. AT FOR KPAH AND KCGI...THE BEST CHANCES FOR
ACTIVITY WILL BE CLOSER TO WED MORNING. HOWEVER...WITH THE FRONT IN
THE AREA TONIGHT...TRYING TO PIN DOWN EXACT TIMING OF STORMS WILL BE
DIFFICULT...BUT TRIED TO INDICATE THE BEST TIMING KNOWN AT THIS POINT.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR BALLARD-CALDWELL-
CALLOWAY-CARLISLE-CHRISTIAN-CRITTENDEN-DAVIESS-FULTON-
GRAVES-HENDERSON-HICKMAN-HOPKINS-LIVINGSTON-LYON-MARSHALL-
MCCRACKEN-MCLEAN-MUHLENBERG-TODD-TRIGG-UNION KY-WEBSTER.
MO...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR BOLLINGER-BUTLER-
CAPE GIRARDEAU-CARTER-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID-PERRY MO-
RIPLEY-SCOTT-STODDARD-WAYNE MO.
IL...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR ALEXANDER-EDWARDS-
FRANKLIN-GALLATIN-HAMILTON-HARDIN-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-
MASSAC-PERRY IL-POPE-PULASKI-SALINE-UNION IL-WABASH-WAYNE
IL-WHITE-WILLIAMSON.
IN...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-
SPENCER-VANDERBURGH-WARRICK.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 720 PM CDT TUE AUG 5 2008 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-062030- JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON- WHITE-JACKSON-WILLIAMSON-SALINE-GALLATIN-UNION IL-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- 720 PM CDT TUE AUG 5 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA FOR TONIGHT. THE SLIGHT RISK AREA IS GENERALLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM VAN BUREN MISSOURI TO CAIRO ILLINOIS...TO BENTON AND ELKTON KENTUCKY. THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO A THREAT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THIS ACTIVITY WILL MOVE TOWARD PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND SOUTHWEST INDIANA THIS EVENING. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP LATER ON IN THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT ACROSS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND SOUTHWEST INDIANA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...AS A COLD FRONT SAGS SOUTH TOWARD OUR REGION. A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT CAPE GIRARDEAU AND THEBES FOR MINOR FLOODING. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENTS FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE AROUND ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AS A COLD FRONT SINKS...THEN SURGES SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE AREA. THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION ON WEDNESDAY. A LINGERING CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI AND SOUTHWESTERN KENTUCKY ON THURSDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ARRIVES ON SUNDAY AND LASTS THROUGH TUESDAY...AS ANOTHER WEATHER SYSTEM APPROACHES OUR AREA. MINOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ON PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS FOR MORE DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
337 PM CDT TUE AUG 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0334 PM HAIL MILL SHOALS 38.25N 88.35W
08/05/2008 E1.75 INCH WHITE IL POST OFFICE
REPORTS OF PING PONG TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.
&&
CWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
424 PM CDT TUE AUG 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0422 PM HAIL CARMI 38.09N 88.17W
08/05/2008 E1.50 INCH WHITE IL CO-OP OBSERVER
RANGING FROM NICKEL TO PING PONG SIZE AND SIZE WAS
GROWING AS IT WAS FALLING.
&&
JAYSONWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
432 PM CDT TUE AUG 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0422 PM HAIL CARMI 38.09N 88.17W
08/05/2008 E1.75 INCH WHITE IL BROADCAST MEDIA
HAIL COVERING THE GROUND IN CAMI
&&
JAYSONWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
433 PM CDT TUE AUG 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0415 PM HAIL CARMI 38.09N 88.17W
08/05/2008 E1.50 INCH WHITE IL TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER REPORTED MARBLE TO PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL.
&&
CWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
435 PM CDT TUE AUG 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0422 PM HAIL CARMI 38.09N 88.17W
08/05/2008 E1.75 INCH WHITE IL BROADCAST MEDIA
HAIL COVERING THE GROUND IN CARMI
&&
JAYSONWThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree fell on a bridge under construction, but the bridge was not damaged. A large tree limb fell on a mobile home, causing minor damage.
A wind gust to 89 mph was measured by a co-operative observer. Large trees and a 300-foot radio communications tower were blown down. A car was damaged by a falling tree limb. Several utility lines were down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, August 2008
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: 124277, 124253, 124252.