Damaging Winds in Missouri, December 27, 2008

Name: Damaging Winds in Missouri, December 27, 2008
Start: 2008-12-27T16:40
End: 2008-12-27T17:35
Location: Missouri

December 27, 2008 · NWS PAH · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

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, with isolated higher gusts around 70 mph.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $123,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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.

What happened

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, with isolated higher gusts around 70 mph. The storms were not prolific lightning producers.

What forecasters said that day

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, 1 hour 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 27, 2:58 PM CST, 1 hour 42 minutes before

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...MY

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 27, 2:14 PM CST, 2 hours 26 minutes before

HAZARDOUS 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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 27, 3:05 PM CST, 1 hour 35 minutes before

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.

&&

MY

Local storm report, Dec 27, 3:08 PM CST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY 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

&&

MY

Special weather statement, Dec 27, 3:10 PM CST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

SPECIAL 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

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When: December 27, 4:40 PM CST
Where: Butler County, Poplar Bluff to 2.3 mi NE of Batesville
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 36.750, -90.400

A shed was heavily damaged on Route AA east of Poplar Bluff. The 18-foot wide shed roof was blown up to 200 feet away, with pieces hitting a nearby house. A car inside the shed was damaged. At a church on Highway 51 between Fisk and Broseley, wind blew down the covered area over the front door and damaged a sign. In Poplar Bluff, tree limbs were down on a couple streets. A large tree was down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bollinger

When: December 27, 4:45 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Bollinger County, Patton to Zalma
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.500, -90.020

Some trees were blown down near Zalma and Patton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stoddard

When: December 27, 5:10 PM CST
Where: Stoddard County, 3.77 mi NNW of Shover to 4 mi S of Dexter
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.726, -90.137

Nine utility poles were blown down along Highway 25. Electric lines fell on top of three vehicles, trapping the occupants until emergency crews could turn off power. About 1,100 utility customers were without power. A three-mile section of the highway remained closed until the following afternoon. Some older trees were blown down across gravel roads south of U.S. Highway 60 in the western part of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cape Girardeau

When: December 27, 5:25 PM CST
Where: Cape Girardeau County, Gordonville to 5 mi N of Jackson
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $45,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.320, -89.680

On Route D north of Jackson, a large portion of roof was blown off a home, a metal carport was blown away, and a portion of a fence was blown down. Rainwater damaged the kitchen, laundry, and master bath. Elsewhere in the county, power lines were down near Gordonville. Several sheets of tin were wrapped around a tree in Fruitland. Shingles were blown off a home near Route K.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cape Girardeau

When: December 27, 5:35 PM CST
Where: Cape Girardeau County, (Cgi)cape Girardeau to Cape Girardeau
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 37.230, -89.570

A wind gust to 59 mph was measured by the automated observing system at Cape Girardeau Airport. A hangar door was damaged.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Missouri in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Missouri, December 2008

Sources

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: 144809, 144808, 140257, 140261, 140258.