A brief period of high winds followed in the wake of a cold front passage. The most intense damage occurred in Hickman in Fulton County, where estimated winds of 90 mph occurred.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 brief period of high winds followed in the wake of a cold front passage. The most intense damage occurred in Hickman in Fulton County, where estimated winds of 90 mph occurred. The bulk of the damage occurred in downtown Hickman and two blocks west, along a bluff over the Mississippi River. Two multi-level brick buildings over 100 years old received major damage. The roof was stripped off an historic hotel, and the entire face of the second building crumbled. The canopies of a gas station and another building were destroyed. The second story porch of a home atop the bluff was destroyed. There was widespread roof shingle damage, street sign damage, and tree damage. A few vehicles were damaged or destroyed by falling debris. A couple of houses were hit by falling trees. An old hardware store suffered major damage. At one point, 11 city streets, six county roads, and six state highways were partially or totally blocked by debris. The largest magnolia tree in the state fell. In Murray, a tree was blown over. The tree landed on several cars.
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 Jan 29, 4:13 PM CST, 1 hour 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR HIGH WIND WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 413 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2008 .DISCUSSION... THREE SYSTEMS OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS WITH MANY CHALLENGES...SO WILL TRY NOT TO GET TOO VERBOSE. INTENSE COLD FRONT JUST INSIDE THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF OUR CWA AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING. EXPECT A SQUALL LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ALONG OR IMMEDIATELY AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND CROSS OUR CWA THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. EXPECT THE FRONT AND THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER TO EXIT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF OUR CWA BETWEEN 7 AND 8 PM. TEMPERATURES AND DEWPOINTS WILL DROP OFF SHARPLY BEHIND THE FRONT...AND PRECIP WILL LIKELY CHANGE OVER TO SNOW BEFORE ENDING BY MIDNIGHT WITH ONLY A DUSTING EXPECTED. NOT MUCH TIME IN BETWEEN THIS SYSTEM AND THE NEXT. MODELS BRINGING SYSTEM NUMBER TWO INTO THE REGION ON THURSDAY. AGAIN THE TRACK AND TIMING OF THE SYSTEM WILL MAKE ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO SNOW POTENTIAL WITH THIS SYSTEM. GFS AND ECMWF KEEP THE SFC LOW A BIT FURTHER SOUTH AND EAST THAN THE NAM. THIS SCENARIO WOULD OBVIOUSLY YIELD A COLDER SOLUTION AND THUS A BETTER CHANCE FOR SNOW. ASSUMING THE STORM TAKES THE MORE SOUTHERLY TRACK...PRECIP SHOULD START OUT AS A MIX OVER THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN SECTIONS AND REMAIN A MIX THROUGHOUT THE DAY THERE WITH ALL LIQUID ELSEWHERE. EASTWARD PROGRESSION OF THE CHANGEOVER TO SNOW WILL BEGIN THURSDAY EVENING...AND ALL SNOW ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA AFTER MIDNIGHT. BY 12Z FRIDAY COULD SEE 2-4 INCHES OF SNOW ACROSS ALL OF OF OUR CWA EXCEPT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER. EXPECT LIGHT SNOW TO FLURRIES ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE SYSTEM ON FRIDAY...BUT LITTLE TO NO ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION EXPECTED. NEXT SYSTEM TO MOVE INTO THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT. CURRENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT THIS EVENT WILL REMAIN ALL LIQUID. THE COLD FRONT WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL CROSS THE REGION ON TUESDAY. EXPECT LIGHT PRECIP TO LINGER BEHIND THE FRONT INTO TUESDAY EVENING. 1000-850 THICKNESS VALUES WOULD INDICATE A CHANGEOVER TO LIGHT SNOW TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...BUT SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO BE TOO WARM. WILL LIKELY HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS WE DRAW NEARER TO THIS EVENT. && .AVIATION... CLEAR SLOT OVER CENTRAL MISSOURI IS ALLOWING FOR SUBSTANTIAL SURFACE HEATING IN THAT AREA LATE THIS MORNING. 60 DEGREE DEW POINTS EXTENDED UP TO CENTRAL ARKANSAS BY 16Z. THIS WILL FAVOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOW TOPPED CONVECTION ALONG THE VERY SHARP COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON...LIKELY OVER SE MISSOURI. PER SPC MCD...THE FORECAST AREA WILL BE UPGRADED TO MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE SHORTLY. FORECAST WAS UPDATED FOR SOMEWHAT WARMER TEMPS AND HIGHER DEW POINTS...MAINLY OVER SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. THIS IS THE REGION WHERE SOME SUN IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AS THE DRY SLOT EDGES EASTWARD. TIMING OF THE ARRIVAL OF COLD AIR WAS PUSHED BACK JUST A FEW HOURS...SO MENTION OF SNOW FOR THIS AFTERNOON WAS TRIMMED BACK A COUPLE COUNTIES. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...HIGH WIND WARNING ALL COUNTIES TIL 06Z WEDNESDAY MO...HIGH WIND WARNING ALL COUNTIES TIL 06Z WEDNESDAY IL...HIGH WIND WARNING ALL COUNTIES TIL 06Z WEDNESDAY IN...HIGH WIND WARNING ALL COUNTIES TIL 06Z WEDNESDAY && PUBLIC...JP AVIATION...MY
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 422 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2008 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-301045- 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- 422 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2008 ...MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER 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 THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM LATE AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING WITH THE PASSAGE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THIS BOUNDARY THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. THIS ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO RACE ACROSS THE REGION AT CLOSE TO 70 MPH. THE FRONT AND STORMS WILL LEAVE THE REGION BETWEEN 600 PM AND 700 PM THIS EVENING. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS DUE TO POWERFUL WINDS ALOFT...HOWEVER LARGE HAIL AND AN ISOLATED TORNADO ALSO POSSIBLE. STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS WILL PERSIST OUTSIDE OF THE THUNDERSTORMS FOR MOST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT. WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. WINDS WILL AVERAGE 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 50 MPH LIKELY...AND UP TO 65 TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE. A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT. REFER TO THE HIGH WIND WARNING FOR MORE DETAILS. ONCE THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH...SHARPLY COLDER AIR WILL QUICKLY DROP TEMPERATURES INTO THE UPPER 20S AND LOWER 30S BY 900 PM. WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE TEENS BY LATER THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF LIGHT WINTRY ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW OR ICE THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING. PS/JAP
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
509 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0508 PM HAIL MOUNT CARMEL 38.42N 87.77W
01/29/2008 M0.50 INCH WABASH IL TRAINED SPOTTER
MARBLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED ALONG WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
510 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0506 PM HAIL MOUNT CARMEL 38.42N 87.77W
01/29/2008 M0.50 INCH WABASH IL AMATEUR RADIO
MARBLE SIZE HAIL WITH WIND GUSTS 35 MPH REPORTED ONE MILE
NORTH OF AIRPORT.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
511 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 PM TSTM WND GST BARDWELL 36.87N 89.01W
01/29/2008 M69 MPH CARLISLE KY TRAINED SPOTTER
PORTABLE BUILDING BLOWN ONTO STATE HIGHWAY 51.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
512 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0456 PM HAIL LANCASTER 38.55N 87.87W
01/29/2008 M0.88 INCH WABASH IL AMATEUR RADIO
NICKLE SIZE HAIL.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
514 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0513 PM TSTM WND GST SEDALIA 36.64N 88.61W
01/29/2008 M57 MPH GRAVES KY TRAINED SPOTTER
TORRENTIAL RAINS REPORTED WITH STORM.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
515 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0510 PM TSTM WND GST MOUNT CARMEL 38.42N 87.77W
01/29/2008 M60 MPH WABASH IL TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORTED ON EAST SIDE OF TOWN. NO ELECTRICAL POWER ON
EAST SIDE OF COMMUNITY.
&&
SMITTYThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, January 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: 71774, 71778.