A strong cold front was accompanied by a squall line of thunderstorms with strong winds. Widespread wind gusts in the 50 to 60 mph range were observed.
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. Widespread wind gusts in the 50 to 60 mph range were observed. 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, 4 hours 47 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 730 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-281130- 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- 730 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST INDIANA AND PARTS OF WESTERN KENTUCKY UNTIL 10 PM. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CROSS THOSE AREAS WITH POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST INDIANA AND PARTS OF WESTERN KENTUCKY 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 POSSIBLE. SEE THE WIND ADVISORY PRODUCT FOR MORE DETAILS. .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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA. MY
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
632 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM TSTM WND DMG CAPE GIRARDEAU 37.31N 89.55W
12/27/2008 CAPE GIRARDEAU MO EMERGENCY MNGR
HEAVY DAMAGE REPORTED TO A DOUBLE WIDE. HALF THE ROOF HAS
BEEN BLOWN OFF, STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, DECK OBLITERATED,
FRONT YARD RIDDLED WITH DEBRIS. NO REPORTS OF DOWNED
POWERLINES OR TREES. OCCUPANTS NOT HOME.
&&
JAYSONWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
650 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0610 PM TSTM WND DMG MOUNT VERNON 38.32N 88.91W
12/27/2008 JEFFERSON IL LAW ENFORCEMENT
SOME TREES DOWN ON NORHT SIDE OF TOWN. POWER OUTAGES
REPORTED IN INA.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
652 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0650 PM TSTM WND GST METROPOLIS 37.15N 88.71W
12/27/2008 E60 MPH MASSAC IL LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
DLLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
656 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0650 PM TSTM WND GST PADUCAH 37.07N 88.64W
12/27/2008 M59.00 MPH MCCRACKEN KY ASOS
51 KNOT GUST AT PADUCAH ASOS. 38 KNOTS SUSTAINED.
&&
JAYSONWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
706 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0655 PM TSTM WND DMG METROPOLIS 37.15N 88.71W
12/27/2008 MASSAC IL EMERGENCY MNGR
HIGH TENSION POWER LINES DOWN ALONG WEST 21ST STREET.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
732 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0645 PM TSTM WND DMG HARRISBURG 37.74N 88.55W
12/27/2008 SALINE IL EMERGENCY MNGR
1 BUILDING LOST ITS ROOF. 1 BUILDING IN RALIEGH LOST ONE
FOURTH OF ITS ROOF. LARGE TREES DOWN AND BLOCKING HIGHWAY
34.
&&
SMITTYThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A semi was blown over on U.S. Highway 41 near the Toyota assembly plant.
A wind gust to 61 mph was measured at the Evansville Regional Airport.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, 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: 140249, 140250.