Very heavy rainfall on the 18th and 19th caused major flooding on the Little Wabash and Skillet Fork Rivers.
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.
Very heavy rainfall on the 18th and 19th caused major flooding on the Little Wabash and Skillet Fork Rivers.
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 Mar 19, 1:55 AM CST, 7 hours 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
255 AM CDT WED MAR 19 2008
.DISCUSSION...
SURFACE FRONTAL BUONDARY MIGRATING SLOWLY EAST ACROSS PENNYRILE
HAS ASSOCIATED CONVECTION AND SLGT RISK SVR RESULTED IN
COLLABORATED CONTINUANCE OF TOR WATCH UNTIL ITS FINAL
PASSAGE...PROJECTED AROUND 10Z. AFT THAT...LOW TROP NLYS PREVAIL
AND ELIMINATE BLAYER SHEAR...AS SVR THREAT DIMINISHES W/DEPARTING
INSTABILITY MAXIMA. HOWEVER STILL LOCALLY MODERATE TO AT TIMES
HEAVY RAIN COULD PERSIST THRU AM HOURS SO FLOOD WATCHES/WARNINGS
CONTINUE. BROAD SWATH OF 5 PLUS INCHES OVER MOST OF NRN/WRN FA
INCLUDES ISOLATED UP TO NEARLY 1 FOOT QPF CAPE COUNTY MO. SOUTH
AND EAST ACROSS WESTERN KENTUCKY...3 TO 6 INCHES WILL BE COMMON BY
THE TIME THE RAIN CHANCES DIMINISH THIS PM.
LATE WED-FRI APPEARS TO BE A RECOVERY PERIOD AT LEAST IN TERMS OF
OFFERING UP A FEW DAYS OF DRY WEATHER. THE MINOR CHANCE ASSOCIATED
WITH THE BY THEN ZONAL FLOW PATTERN INDUCED SURFACE WAVE THAT
RACES ACROSS/JUST NORTH OF LOWER OH VALLEY WILL BE CONFINED
PRIMARILY TO THE NORTHERN/EASTERN MOST REACHES OF THE FA...AND IS
A SLGT CHANCE AT THAT...MAINLY FRI PM/EVENING. THE NEXT CHANCE OF
PCPN COMES LATE IN THE WEEKEND AND THE NEW GFS OFFERS SOME
CONFLICTING GUIDANCE WITH THE GOING FORECAST. HOWEVER THE CONFLICT
IS NOT SO GREAT THAT THE COLLAB PICTURE AFFORDS ANY REAL CHANGE SO
WE WILL LEAVE THE FORECAST BEYOND DAY 4 UNCHANGED...AS ITS
PROBABLY BEST TO WAIT FOR A BETTER MODELLING SIGNAL TO PERSUADE
WHICH DIRECTION TO GO INSOFAR AS TIMING/AREAL EXTENT OF THE
AFOREMENTIONED PCPN CHANCE...WHICH IS SMALL ANYWAY.
GFS STILL LOOKS TO BE THE MODEL OF CHOICE AND HPC CONTINUES TO
PREFER ITS SOLUTION AS WELL. THEREFORE WHILE ALL MOS GUIDANCE IS
IN BALLPARK...OUR NOS PERHAPS TEND TO SWAY TOWARD THE GFS BASED
MAV/MEX MOS DIRECTION...IF/WHEN SUCH A LEAN CAN BE NOTICED.
&&
.AVIATION...
A SURFACE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL CONTINUE TO SHIFT SLOWLY SOUTHEAST
OF THE AREA DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY. AS A RESULT...MODERATE TO
HEAVY RAINS WILL BECOME LIGHTER AND MORE INTERMITTENT AS THE DAY
PROGRESSES. THE POTENTIAL FOR LIGHT TO OCCASIONALLY MODERATE SHOWER
ACTIVITY WILL PERSIST THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY TO MID AFTERNOON UNTIL
THE PASSAGE OF THE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM. PREDOMINANTLY MVFR CEILINGS
ARE EXPECTED TODAY...BUT SOME GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IS POSSIBLE THIS
AFTERNOON...WITH CLEARING EXPECTED TONIGHT. STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS
OF 10 TO 20 KNOTS WILL PREVAIL TODAY...THEN SLACKEN OFF TO NEAR CALM
TONIGHT.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR BALLARD-CARLISLE-
MCCRACKEN.
FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 1 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR CALDWELL-CALLOWAY-
CHRISTIAN-CRITTENDEN-DAVIESS-FULTON-GRAVES-HENDERSON-
HICKMAN-HOPKINS-LIVINGSTON-LYON-MARSHALL-MCLEAN-MUHLENBERG-
TODD-TRIGG-UNION KY-WEBSTER.
MO...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR BOLLINGER-BUTLER-
CAPE GIRARDEAU-CARTER-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID-PERRY MO-
RIPLEY-SCOTT-STODDARD-WAYNE MO.
IL...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR ALEXANDER-EDWARDS-
FRANKLIN-GALLATIN-HAMILTON-HARDIN-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-
MASSAC-PERRY IL-POPE-PULASKI-SALINE-UNION IL-WABASH-WAYNE
IL-WHITE-WILLIAMSON.
IN...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-
VANDERBURGH.
FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 1 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR SPENCER-WARRICK.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 428 AM CDT WED MAR 19 2008 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-201000- 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- 428 AM CDT WED MAR 19 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY...AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WIDESPREAD FLOODING WILL CONTINUE. REFER TO THE FLOOD WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR MORE DETAILED FLOOD INFORMATION. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MAINLY SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE JACKSON PURCHASE INTO THE PENNYRILE REGION OF WESTERN KENTUCKY EARLY TODAY...BUT THE SEVERE THREAT HAS DIMINISHED. THE PRIMARY THREAT CONTINUES TO BE HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY FLOODING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE PERIOD. REFER TO THE FLOOD WARNINGS FOR MORE DETAILED FLOOD INFORMATION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE RAINFALL AND FLOODING REPORTS.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
818 AM CDT WED MAR 19 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0745 AM HEAVY RAIN BOONVILLE 38.05N 87.27W
03/19/2008 M6.34 INCH WARRICK IN BROADCAST MEDIA
WBNL RADIO STATION REPORTED 6.34 INCHES FROM 5AM TUESDAY
THROUGH 7 AM WEDNESDAY.
&&
SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
819 AM CDT WED MAR 19 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 AM HEAVY RAIN MONKEYS EYEBROW 37.19N 88.99W
03/19/2008 M6.00 INCH BALLARD KY TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
839 AM CDT WED MAR 19 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN HENDERSON 37.84N 87.58W
03/19/2008 M6.00 INCH HENDERSON KY TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL OF 6.0 INCHES THROUGH 7 AM REPORTED FROM
TRAINED SPOTTER IN HENDERSON KENTUCKY.
&&
SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
908 AM CDT WED MAR 19 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0830 AM HEAVY RAIN CAPE GIRARDEAU 37.31N 89.55W
03/19/2008 M13.05 INCH CAPE GIRARDEAU MO BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL FROM KFVS-12 TV STATION THROUGH 830
AM CDT.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN JACKSON 37.38N 89.65W
03/19/2008 M11.70 INCH CAPE GIRARDEAU MO BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL THROUGH 7 AM. REPORT RELAYED FROM
KFVS-12 IN CAPE GIRARDEAU MO.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN ELLSINORE 36.93N 90.75W
03/19/2008 M11.00 INCH CARTER MO BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL THROUGH 7 AM. REPORT RELAYED FROM
KFVS-12 IN CAPE GIRARDEAU MO.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN WAPPAPELLO 36.94N 90.27W
03/19/2008 M10.20 INCH WAYNE MO BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL THROUGH 7 AM. REPORT RELAYED FROM
KFVS-12 IN CAPE GIRARDEAU MO.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN POPLAR BLUFF 36.76N 90.41W
03/19/2008 M7.20 INCH BUTLER MO BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL THROUGH 7 AM. REPORT RELAYED FROM
KFVS-12 IN CAPE GIRARDEAU MO.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN MARION 37.73N 88.94W
03/19/2008 M11.00 INCH WILLIAMSON IL BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL THROUGH 7 AM. REPORT RELAYED FROM
KFVS-12 IN CAPE GIRARDEAU MO.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN HARRISBURG 37.74N 88.55W
03/19/2008 M9.30 INCH SALINE IL BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL THROUGH 7 AM. REPORT RELAYED FROM
KFVS-12 IN CAPE GIRARDEAU MO.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN THOMPSONVILLE 37.91N 88.76W
03/19/2008 M9.00 INCH FRANKLIN IL BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL THROUGH 7 AM. REPORT RELAYED FROM
KFVS-12 IN CAPE GIRARDEAU MO.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN SHAWNEETOWN 37.71N 88.17W
03/19/2008 M8.00 INCH GALLATIN IL BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL THROUGH 7 AM. REPORT RELAYED FROM
KFVS-12 IN CAPE GIRARDEAU MO.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN AVA 37.89N 89.50W
03/19/2008 M6.10 INCH JACKSON IL BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL THROUGH 7 AM. REPORTED RELAYED BY
KFVS-12 TV STATION IN CAPE GIRARDEAU MO.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN CARBONDALE 37.72N 89.22W
03/19/2008 M7.24 INCH JACKSON IL CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL THROUGH 7 AM FROM MANUAL RAIN GAUGE AT THE
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY WEATHER STATION. THIS TOTAL
BREAKS THE PREVIOUS 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 4.24 INCHES REPORTED
ON MARCH 25 1913 AND EXCEEDS ANY DAY IN MARCH SINCE
RECORDS KEPT SINCE 1910. REPORT FROM SIU WEATHER STATION
MANAGER.
&&
SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
923 AM CDT WED MAR 19 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN CARMI 38.09N 88.17W
03/19/2008 M6.50 INCH WHITE IL CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL REPORT THROUGH 7 AM. 5.10 INCHES FELL THROUGH
MIDNIGHT AND 1.40 INCHES SO FAR TODAY AND STILL RAINING.
RIVER IS OUT OF ITS BANKS NEAR CARMI.
&&
SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
940 AM CDT WED MAR 19 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0930 AM HEAVY RAIN MARBLE HILL 37.30N 89.98W
03/19/2008 M12.50 INCH BOLLINGER MO EMERGENCY MNGR
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL THROUGH 930 AM FROM BOLLINGER COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR.
&&
SMITHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Major flooding of the Skillet Fork River occurred. At the Wayne City gage, the river crested at 23.29 feet on March 20. Flood stage there is 15 feet, and major flooding begins at 20 feet. Considerable flooding of low-lying fields occurred.
Major flooding of the Little Wabash River occurred. At the Carmi gage, the river crested at 35.34 feet on March 25. Flood stage there is 27 feet, and major flooding begins at 35 feet. Businesses just downstream of IL Route 14 and Route 1 in Carmi flooded. Flood waters flowed up McHenry Slough, and areas near Route 1 and 14 in Carmi began to flood. County roads were inundated. Considerable flooding of low-lying fields occurred.
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, March 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: 84769, 84768.