A strong low pressure system tracked east to the Lower Ohio Valley, with a trailing cold front sweeping east across western Kentucky. Storms developed and increased along the advancing cold front as they moved into increasingly unstable air.
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 low pressure system tracked east to the Lower Ohio Valley, with a trailing cold front sweeping east across western Kentucky. Storms developed and increased along the advancing cold front as they moved into increasingly unstable air. The storms became increasingly organized, with line segments and supercells moving at over 45 mph. A cluster of thunderstorms near the low pressure center produced torrential rain in the Marion and Harrisburg areas.
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 Apr 10, 2:30 AM CST, 7 hours 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 330 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009 .DISCUSSION... LOOKS AS THO MAIN SVR RISK IS CURRENTLY MOVING EAST OF THE REGION WITH CURRENT LINE OF STORMS. HOWEVER...SFC LOW/COLD FRONT IS STILL OUT WEST OF THE SGF AREA...AND THE AIR MASS MAY HAVE A CHANCE TO RECOVER THIS MORNING BEFORE THE SFC LOW COMES THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA. IF THAT OCCURS...THERE MAY BE A WINDOW 12Z-18Z FOR STORM REDEVELOPMENT AND A HAIL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE MID LVL COLD POOL. COULD ALSO BE DAMAGING WIND THREAT IF INSTABILITY CAN BECOME SFC BASED...ALLOWING DOWNDRAFTS TO REACH THE SFC. BEST CHANCE FOR THIS TO OCCUR WILL BE AREAS ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE OH RIVER. POPS WILL FINALLY DIMINISH FROM WEST TO EAST THIS AFTERNOON EARLY TONIGHT AS THE LOW RACES EAST. WILL THEN FOLLOW WITH A COUPLE OF NICE EASTER WEEKEND DAYS. ON SUNDAY THE HIGH PRESSURE WHICH GAVE US THE NICE WEEKEND WILL SHIFT EAST AND THE NEXT DEVELOPING SYSTEM WILL RACE IN FROM THE SOUTHWEST. SOME LIGHT PRECIP MAY BREAK OUT WEST OF THE MS RVR LATE IN THE DAY ON EASTER SUNDAY...BUT THE PRECIP WILL HOLD OFF IN MOST AREAS UNTIL SUNDAY NIGHT. THIS LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER POTENTIALLY HEAVY RAIN EVENT WITH AN INCH OR TWO OF RAIN POSSIBLE AT MANY LOCATIONS. SVR THREAT SUN NIGHT LOOKS LESS RIGHT NOW...AS MAIN INSTABILITY SHOULD BE TO OUR SOUTH. MON-TUE THE MAIN UPPER LOW LIFTS SLOWLY NE INTO AND THROUGH THE OH VALLEY...SO THEY STILL LOOK LIKE CLOUDY/POTENTIALLY SHOWERY DAYS BEFORE NICE SPRING-TIME WEATHER RETURNS IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION... A LULL IN THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST INTO THE MID MORNING HOURS. HOWEVER...LOCALLY IFR CIGS ARE EXPECTED AROUND SUNRISE AS A RESULT OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FROM HEAVY RAIN EARLIER. BY MIDDAY...A COLD FRONT WILL BE CROSSING THE REGION...AND MORE SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE EXPECTED THEN. CURRENT INDICATIONS ARE THE ACTIVITY WILL BE MORE SCATTERED AND LESS INTENSE. IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT...LOW CLOUDS WILL ARRIVE BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THIS EVENING. WINDS WILL BE RATHER BRISK FROM THE NORTH. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...NONE. MO...NONE. IL...NONE. IN...NONE. && MEFFERT/MY
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 914 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ004-014-015-018>020- MOZ076-086-087-100-107>112-114-111000- 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-BALLARD-UNION KY-WEBSTER-HENDERSON-DAVIESS-MCLEAN- PERRY MO-BOLLINGER-CAPE GIRARDEAU-WAYNE MO-CARTER-RIPLEY-BUTLER- STODDARD-SCOTT-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID- 914 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY...AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A CONTINUED CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY...WITH THE PRIMARY THREAT BEING HEAVY RAIN. WITH THIS REGION CLOSE TO AN ACTIVE SEVERE WEATHER WATCH BOX...THERE COULD BE A THREAT THAT STORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA COULD BECOME SEVERE. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WOULD BE DAMAGING WINDS OR POSSIBLY A TORNADO. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ANOTHER STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL TAKE SHAPE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...BRINGING A GOOD CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WITH IT. ANOTHER ONE TO TWO INCHES INCHES OF RAINFALL MAY OCCUR WITH THIS SYSTEM...POSSIBLY LEADING TO SOME ADDITIONAL FLOODING CONCERNS. IN ADDITION...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD MAINTAIN ALERT STATUS IN CASE THEIR ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED. KYZ001>003-005>013-016-017-021-022-111000- FULTON-HICKMAN-CARLISLE-MCCRACKEN-GRAVES-LIVINGSTON-MARSHALL- CALLOWAY-CRITTENDEN-LYON-TRIGG-CALDWELL-HOPKINS-CHRISTIAN- MUHLENBERG-TODD- 914 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT. REFER TO THE WATCH FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. IN ADDITION...MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST ALONG PORTIONS OF THE WABASH AND LITTLE WABASH RIVERS. REFER TO THE FLOOD STATEMENTS FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ANOTHER STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL TAKE SHAPE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...BRINGING A GOOD CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WITH IT. ANOTHER ONE TO TWO INCHES INCHES OF RAINFALL MAY OCCUR WITH THIS SYSTEM...POSSIBLY LEADING TO SOME ADDITIONAL FLOODING CONCERNS. IN ADDITION...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 1000 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009 KYZ001>003-005>009-011>013-101600- LIVINGSTON-CALDWELL-MCCRACKEN-LYON-MARSHALL-TRIGG-CARLISLE-GRAVES- HICKMAN-CALLOWAY-FULTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BARDWELL...BENTON...CALVERT CITY... CLINTON...EDDYVILLE...FULTON...MAYFIELD...MURRAY AND REIDLAND 900 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY... AT 957 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS... AND VERY STRONG WINDS 45 TO 55 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ARLINGTON TO 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CAYCE. ANOTHER CLUSTER OF STORMS WAS LOCATED ACROSS CALLOWAY COUNTY CENTERED ON THE CITY OF MURRAY. THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF THE STORM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED THROUGH 11 AM...AND SEVERE STORMS ARE LIKELY. THE STORMS MAY BECOME CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND MAY SOON BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOES UPON FURTHER INTENSIFICATION. COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY 11 AM INCLUDE...MAYFIELD...MURRAY...AND CADIZ. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA. STAY TUNED TO WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. RJP
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1016 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1016 AM HAIL 3 W GRACEY 36.88N 87.68W
04/10/2009 M1.00 INCH TRIGG KY TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1025 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1023 AM HAIL MONTGOMERY 36.88N 87.74W
04/10/2009 M0.25 INCH TRIGG KY TRAINED SPOTTER
ENOUGH HAIL TO COVER THE GROUND.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1029 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1023 AM HAIL 2 E KEVIL 37.08N 88.85W
04/10/2009 M1.00 INCH MCCRACKEN KY TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZE HAIL FALLING AT MCCRACKEN AND BALLARD COUNTY
LINE ON HIGHWAY 60.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1032 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1030 AM HAIL CADIZ 36.87N 87.82W
04/10/2009 M1.00 INCH TRIGG KY TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN CADIZ AND MONTGOMERY.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1037 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1036 AM HAIL JOPPA 37.21N 88.84W
04/10/2009 M0.88 INCH MASSAC IL TRAINED SPOTTER
NICKLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED.
&&
SMITTYThe Paducah radar (KPAH), 10 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:39 UTC.
2 hail, 1 funnel cloud, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Quarter size hail was reported. Most of the hail was pea to nickel size. Most of the hail reports were on the east side of town.
A rotating wall cloud was observed by trained spotters and an off-duty meteorologist crossing the Ohio River from western McCracken County, KY into the Metropolis area. The wall cloud briefly produced a funnel cloud for a minute or two over the east side of Metropolis.
Water was over roads in Marion. Water was over a road in several places near Corinth.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, April 2009
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: 159900, 162983, 159902, 160213.