A strong cold front was accompanied by a squall line of thunderstorms with strong winds. Despite record warm temperatures in the 70's, instability was minimal where the narrow squall line occurred.
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 strong cold front was accompanied by a squall line of thunderstorms with strong winds. Despite record warm temperatures in the 70's, instability was minimal where the narrow squall line occurred. Winds were very strong in the lower levels of the atmosphere. Widespread wind gusts in the 50 to 60 mph range were observed, with isolated higher gusts around 70 mph. The storms were not prolific lightning producers.
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 Dec 27, 2:58 PM CST, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
258 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008
.DISCUSSION...
WILL NEED TO BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE TODAY DUE TO INCOMING SEVERE
WEATHER THREAT.
VERY STRONG WIND PROFILES TODAY...WITH 50KT WINDS JUST OFF THE DECK.
SQUALL LINE JUST OFF TO OUR WEST EARLY THIS AFTERNOON HAS HISTORY OF
SPORADIC WIND DAMAGE AND 65 MPH WINDS. WILL NOT TAKE MUCH DOWNWARD
MOMENTUM TO BRING VERY STRONG WINDS ALOFT DOWN TO THE SURFACE. IN
ADDITION...WIND PATTERN ALOFT SUGGESTS THE POSSIBILITY OF ISOLATED
SUPERCELL/TORNADO THREAT. DECENT INSTABILITY PROGGED THIS AFTERNOON
WEST OF THE MS RIVER...WITH LI'S IN THE -1 TO -3 RANGE. HOWEVER...
INSTABILITY REALLY GETS SQUASHED DOWN TO THE SOUTH THIS EVENING.
THEREFORE...WILL LIKELY SEE A DECREASE IN STORM INTENSITY AS THE
EVENING PROGRESSES. LOOKS FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT MOST AREAS WILL AT
LEAST GET ANOTHER HEAVY SHOT OF RAIN EITHER LATE THIS AFTERNOON
(WEST) OR THIS EVENING (FURTHER EAST). THINK TOTALS WILL BE IN THE
HALF INCH TO INCH RANGE. AM CURRENTLY ASSUMING THE MODELS ARE
CORRECT IN SPEEDING THE SYSTEM THROUGH ALL AREAS WITHIN ABOUT A
RATHER SHORT (3 TO 4 HOUR) PERIOD...SO NO FLOOD WATCH WILL BE ISSUED
AT THIS TIME.
HAVE BEEN GETTING REPORTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH WIND GUSTS TODAY..WITH
ISOLATED 50 TO 60 MPH...ESP IN HIGHER TERRAIN...SO WILL LEAVE THE
WIND ADVISORY POSTED FOR EARLY TONIGHT.
IN THE WAKE OF THIS SYSTEM...PACIFIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL PREVAIL OVER THE
REGION THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THE UPCOMING WEEK.
&&
.AVIATION...
STRONG SOUTH WINDS WILL REMAIN THE PRIMARY HAZARD THROUGH EARLY THIS
EVENING. GUSTS COULD BE LOCALLY UP TO 40 KNOTS. A LINE OF STORMS
WILL ACCOMPANY A STRONG COLD FRONT AS IT CROSSES OUR REGION THIS
EVENING. THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE LOCALLY EVEN HIGHER GUSTS. THE
DURATION OF SEVERE STORMS WILL BE BRIEF SINCE THEY WILL BE FAST
MOVING. BRIEF IFR CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR IN STORMS. IN THE WAKE OF
THE FRONT...WINDS WILL BE GUSTY FROM THE WEST BUT NOT AS STRONG AS
THIS AFTERNOON. SKIES WILL BECOME CLEAR BY MORNING.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...WIND ADVISORY THROUGH 9 PM CST 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...WIND ADVISORY THROUGH 9 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR BOLLINGER-BUTLER-CAPE GIRARDEAU-CARTER-MISSISSIPPI-NEW
MADRID-PERRY MO-RIPLEY-SCOTT-STODDARD-WAYNE MO.
IL...WIND ADVISORY THROUGH 9 PM CST 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...WIND ADVISORY THROUGH 9 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-SPENCER-VANDERBURGH-WARRICK.
&&
PUBLIC.....MEFFERT
AVIATION...MYHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 214 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-281215- 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- 214 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008 ...OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...AS WELL AS A SMALL PART OF WESTERN KENTUCKY UNTIL 7 PM. ACROSS SOUTHWEST INDIANA AND MOST OF WESTERN KENTUCKY...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT. THERE EXISTS THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES IN THE TORNADO WATCH AREA. THE PRIMARY TIME FRAME IS FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. ISOLATED WIND DAMAGE AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO ARE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS IN THE SLIGHT RISK AREA. THE TIME FRAME IN THE SLIGHT RISK AREA WOULD BE MAINLY DURING THE EVENING AND EARLY NIGHT TIME HOURS. IN ADDITION TO STRONG WINDS AT THE SURFACE AND ALOFT...PLENTY OF WARMTH AND MOISTURE IS IN PLACE. THESE INGREDIENTS MAY COMBINE WITH A STRONG COLD FRONT TO PRODUCE A LINE OF SEVERE STORMS. A FEW TORNADIC SUPERCELLS ARE NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION...EITHER ALONG OR AHEAD OF THE LINE. THE MOTION OF INDIVIDUAL STORMS WILL BE NORTHEAST AROUND 60 MPH. THE MOVEMENT OF THE LINE OF STORMS WITH THE COLD FRONT SHOULD MOVE EAST AROUND 40 TO 50 MPH. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA THROUGH 9 PM THIS EVENING. STRONG SOUTH WINDS AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WILL RANGE FROM 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH. SEE THE WIND ADVISORY PRODUCT FOR MORE DETAILS. SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...RESULTING IN MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED IN THE TORNADO WATCH AREA. SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED IN THE SLIGHT RISK AREA. MY/JAP
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
305 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0154 PM NON-TSTM WND GST CARBONDALE 37.72N 89.22W
12/27/2008 M51 MPH JACKSON IL ASOS
GRADIENT WIND MEASURED BY ASOS AT CARBONDALE AIRPORT.
&&
MYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
308 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0237 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 S CAPE GIRARDEAU 37.26N 89.55W
12/27/2008 M47 MPH CAPE GIRARDEAU MO ASOS
GRADIENT WIND MEASURED AT CAPE GIRARDEAU AIRPORT ASOS
&&
MYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 310 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008 MOZ100-107>109-272215- WAYNE MO-CARTER-RIPLEY-BUTLER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PIEDMONT...VAN BUREN...DONIPHAN... POPLAR BLUFF 310 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008 ...STRONG STORMS MOVING INTO SOUTHEAST MISSOURI... A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EASTWARD INTO PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI THROUGH 4 PM. STRONG AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY OF THE THUNDERSTORMS. INDIVIDUAL STORMS WILL MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST AT 60 TO 70 MPH...WHILE THE LINE WILL MOVE MUCH MORE SLOWLY EASTWARD. VAN BUREN...FREMONT...PIEDMONT AND DONIPHAN WILL BE THE MOST LIKELY PLACES TO EXPERIENCE THE STRONG WINDS THROUGH 4 PM. IN ADDITION...AHEAD OF THE SHOWERS AND STORMS...SOUTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE AT 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH POSSIBLE. TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA. DRS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 457 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008 ILZ075-080-084-088-092-MOZ076-086-087-100-107>112-114-280100- JEFFERSON-PERRY IL-JACKSON-UNION IL-ALEXANDER-PERRY MO-BOLLINGER- CAPE GIRARDEAU-WAYNE MO-CARTER-RIPLEY-BUTLER-STODDARD-SCOTT- MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MOUNT VERNON...PINCKNEYVILLE... CARBONDALE...JONESBORO...CAIRO...PERRYVILLE...MARBLE HILL... CAPE GIRARDEAU...PIEDMONT...VAN BUREN...DONIPHAN...POPLAR BLUFF... BLOOMFIELD...SIKESTON...CHARLESTON...NEW MADRID 457 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008 ...STRONG STORMS MOVING THROUGH SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS... A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO MOVE EASTWARD INTO PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI THROUGH 7 PM. STRONG AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY OF THE THUNDERSTORMS. INDIVIDUAL STORMS WILL MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST AT 50 TO 60 MPH...WHILE THE LINE WILL MOVE MUCH MORE SLOWLY EASTWARD. NEW MADRID...SIKESTON AND CAPE GIRARDEAU MISSOURI...AS WELL AS ANNA AND TAMAROA ILLINOIS WILL BE THE MOST LIKELY PLACES TO EXPERIENCE THE STRONG WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH. IN ADDITION...AHEAD OF THE SHOWERS AND STORMS...SOUTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE AT 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH POSSIBLE. BEHIND THE LINE OF STORMS MANY COMMUNITIES MAY EXPERIENCE SHORT PERIOD OF TORRENTIAL RAINS...WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE HALF INCH OR MORE IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.
The Paducah radar (KPAH), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:27 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Utility poles and numerous trees were down in and around the city. At least one tree fell on a vehicle with persons inside. At least one other vehicle was damaged by a falling tree.
Some trees were down on the north side of the city.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. About 1,500 customers lost power.
Some trees and limbs were down on roadways. Power lines were down and arcing.
One building in Harrisburg lost its roof. A business in Raleigh lost one fourth of its roof. Large trees were down, blocking Highway 34.
High tension power lines were down along a side street. Wind gusts were estimated near 60 mph by law enforcement officers.
A new workplace structure under construction was blown down. None of the walls or roof were complete. Trees were damaged at another location in town.
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, December 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: 140244, 140246, 144800, 144801, 140247, 140248, 144802.