Thunderstorms organized into lines that produced scattered reports of damaging winds. A shortwave trough over the central and southern high Plains moved northeast through the Mid-Mississippi Valley into the upper Great Lakes.
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.
Thunderstorms organized into lines that produced scattered reports of damaging winds. A shortwave trough over the central and southern high Plains moved northeast through the Mid-Mississippi Valley into the upper Great Lakes. A surface low attendant to this system moved from west central Missouri northeast to north of St. Louis. The trailing cold front advanced southeast across the Lower Ohio Valley and served as the primary focus for thunderstorms.
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 19, 2:22 PM CST, 6 hours 33 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 322 PM CDT TUE APR 19 2011 .DISCUSSION... ...MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT FOR MOST OF REGION... IN WAIT MODE AT CURRENT TIME ACROSS OUR FORECAST AREA AS CONVECTION IS BEGINNING TO INITIATE ALONG FRONTAL BOUNDARY MOVING EAST INTO SW AND CENTRAL MO. MOST OF OUR AREA REMAINS UNDER A VERY SHARP CAP...AS EVIDENT ON 16Z RUC SOUNDINGS. THIS CAP SHOULD KEEP MOST LOCATIONS STORM FREE UNTIL IT WEAKENS AND JUST AHEAD OF THE LINE OF STORMS VERY LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY THIS EVENING. MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE STORMS WITH THE ENTIRE BAG OF SEVERE RISKS POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL...ISOLATED TORNADOES AND EVEN THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN ALONG ALONG AND BEHIND THE LINE OF STORMS. STILL IS SOME CONCERN THAT A PREFRONTAL SURFACE TROF WILL DEVELOP OUT AHEAD OF THE MAIN FRONT/LINE OF STORMS EARLY TONIGHT. IF THIS OCCURS AND FORCING IS STRONG ENOUGH TO ERODE THE CURRENT THERMAL CAP...WE COULD END UP WITH INDIVIDUAL/DISCRETE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OUT AHEAD OF THE MAIN LINE....ESP THIS EVENING. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR...ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WOULD BE MORE FAVORABLE FOR VERY LARGE HAIL AND A CREATE LARGER POTENTIAL FOR TORNADOES TO SPIN UP. THIS SITUATION APPEARS MORE LIKELY ALONG AND NW OF THE OHIO RIVER...AND IN SE MO. THE MODELS TRENDED A BIT FASTER AND HAVE STAYED THE COURSE. BY 06Z... THE LOW SHOULD BE OVER NCNTRL INDIANA WITH THE TRAILING COLD FRONT JUST EAST OF THE OHIO RIVER. THEREFORE WE LOWERED POPS CONSIDERABLY AFTER MIDNIGHT FROM THE WEST. WE HAVE WEDNESDAY AND NIGHT DRY GIVEN THE INFLUENCE OF SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR NORTH PUSHING SOUTH THROUGH THE REGION. THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT POPS ARE ON THE INCREASE AS MID LEVEL FLOW BECOMES MORE SWLY AND DRAWS THE SFC BOUNDARY BACK NORTH ACROSS THE AREA AS A WARM FRONT THU NIGHT. BEST CHANCE FOR ANY STRONG STORM WOULD LIKELY BE JUST NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT THU NIGHT...SO INCREASED POPS INTO THE LIKELY RANGE OVER MUCH OF THE REGION. ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE LONG TERM AS THE STORM TRACK CHANGES LITTLE. MODERATELY STRONG WEST/SOUTHWEST MID LEVEL FLOW WILL STEER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS TO THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY/WESTERN GREAT LAKES. THIS SHOULD RESULT IN A GENERALLY WARM AND HUMID PATTERN...WITH PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. REGARDING THE DAILY DETAILS... ON FRIDAY...A SURFACE WARM FRONT WILL LIFT NORTH OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY. PRECIPITATION WILL DIMINISH FROM SOUTH TO NORTH DURING THE DAY...WITH SOME CLEARING LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. ON FRIDAY NIGHT...A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST TOWARD THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. COMPARED TO TONIGHTS SYSTEM...THE FRIDAY NIGHT SYSTEM LOOKS TO BE A LITTLE WEAKER AND FURTHER NORTHWEST. IN FACT...THE 12Z GEFS KEEPS THE CENTRAL PRESSURE ABOVE 1000 MB AT ITS DEEPEST POINT. FORECAST CAPES AND WIND FIELDS ARE NOT AS IMPRESSIVE AS THIS EVENING...BUT STILL EASILY SUFFICIENT FOR ORGANIZED SEVERE. ON SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...THE MODELS REMAIN HIGHLY DIVERGENT WITH RESPECT TO THE FRONTAL MOVEMENT. THE 12Z GFS REMAINS CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS RUNS BY STALLING THE FRONT OVER THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE 12Z HPC AND ECMWF SOLUTIONS KEEP THE FRONT FARTHER NORTH. FORECAST WILL LEAN TOWARD THE SOMEWHAT WARMER AND DRIER HPC/ECMWF SOLUTIONS. EARLY NEXT WEEK...A DEEPENING 500 MB TROUGH OVER THE PLAINS WILL RESULT IN SURFACE CYCLOGENESIS WELL TO OUR WEST. DEPENDING ON THE TRACK OF THE SYSTEM...ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE STORMS IS POSSIBLE. THE MODELS SEEM TO BE TRENDING SLOWER AND STRONGER WITH THE SYSTEM...MEANING THAT MONDAY IS LOOKING WARMER AND DRIER WHILE TUESDAY IS MORE LIKELY TO BE ACTIVE. CHANCES FOR HEAVY RAIN/FLOODING POTENTIAL WILL HEAVILY DEPEND ON THE FRONTAL MOVEMENT THIS WEEKEND...WHICH THE MODELS ARE STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH. && .AVIATION... WINDS WILL BE S TO SW AT 10 TO 20 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KTS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING...AHEAD OF ADVANCING STRONG COLD FRONT THAT SHOULD DEVELOP WIDESPREAD CONVECTION/SQUALL LINE THAT WILL LIKELY BRING AT LEAST SCT...IF NOT WIDESPREAD...WIND GUSTS FROM 40 TO 60 KTS. LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION TONIGHT...BEGINNING 00Z TO 05Z THIS EVENING KCGI TO KPAH...04Z TO 09Z AS BEST GUESS IN TIMING FOR KEVV TO KOWB. IFR CLOUDS WILL LIKELY PERSIST THROUGH MUCH OF THE LATTER PORTION OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...NONE. MO...NONE. IL...NONE. IN...NONE. && MEFFERT/MY
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 646 PM CDT TUE APR 19 2011 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-201015- 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- 646 PM CDT TUE APR 19 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY...AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE QUAD STATE UNTIL 200 AM. REFER TO THE WATCH FOR DETAILS. A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND A FEW TORNADOES WILL ALL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY SEVERE STORMS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO A THREAT. INDIVIDUAL STORM MOTION SHOULD BE NORTHEAST FROM 40 TO 50 MPH. REFER TO RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS ON WIDESPREAD MINOR TO MODERATE RIVER FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT...OFF AND ON THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS CANNOT BE RULED OUT. MINOR TO MODERATE RIVER FLOODING IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED FOR THE WATCH TONIGHT.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
931 PM CDT TUE APR 19 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 PM TSTM WND DMG SESSER 38.09N 89.05W
04/19/2011 FRANKLIN IL TRAINED SPOTTER
TIME ESTIMATED. WIDESPREAD TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
938 PM CDT TUE APR 19 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0938 PM HAIL CHAFFEE 37.18N 89.66W
04/19/2011 M0.88 INCH SCOTT MO TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
DLLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
942 PM CDT TUE APR 19 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0938 PM TSTM WND GST MOUNT VERNON 37.94N 87.90W
04/19/2011 E65.00 MPH POSEY IN TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERAL LARGE TREES DOWN IN THE CITY LIMITS
&&
DLLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
949 PM CDT TUE APR 19 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0949 PM TSTM WND GST OLIVE BRANCH 37.17N 89.35W
04/19/2011 E90 MPH ALEXANDER IL EMERGENCY MNGR
WIND GUSTS ESTIMATED 80 TO 90 MPH.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
951 PM CDT TUE APR 19 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0947 PM TSTM WND GST VIENNA 37.41N 88.89W
04/19/2011 M75 MPH JOHNSON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERAL TREES DOWN WEST OF THE CITY LIMITS AND DIME SIZE
HAIL
&&
DLLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
952 PM CDT TUE APR 19 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0951 PM TSTM WND GST OLIVE BRANCH 37.17N 89.35W
04/19/2011 M95 MPH ALEXANDER IL EMERGENCY MNGR
WIND GUST MEASURED. NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
POWER OUTAGES REPORTED.
&&
SMITTYThe Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 51 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:54 UTC.
16 thunderstorm wind, 10 hail, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gust to 68 mph was measured along Highway 60 near Spottsville. At the Henderson airport, the peak wind gust was 60 mph. There were power outages and numerous trees down in Henderson.
This estimated wind gust was reported by a spotter on the east side of the city. There was minor damage to trees, a home, and a gas station canopy in the city.
A wind gust to 59 mph was measured by automated equipment at Barkley Regional Airport. The strong winds damaged the dome of a steeple-like structure atop a church in downtown Paducah. A large tree limb fell on a house in Paducah. Some trees were blown down in the Reidland area.
Trained spotters reported tree limbs were blown down by gusts near 65 mph.
A few garage buildings along Highway 121 were damaged. Three trees were blown down across a road near the Ballard County line.
A carport was destroyed.
This wind gust was measured at a Kentucky mesonet site.
A spotter estimated winds gusted from 60 to 70 mph. A few trees were blown down.
A spotter estimated wind gusts around 60 mph. A few trees were blown down.
Emergency management estimated a wind gust to 60 mph.
Wind damage occurred across much of Calloway County, mainly across the southern half, including Murray. The county sheriff department estimated 100 trees were down on roads and power lines. At least three houses were damaged by falling trees. A large tree fell on several vehicles near the Murray State University campus, damaging or destroying four of them. On the Murray State University campus, the roof of a paint shop was extensively damaged, numerous tree limbs were down, and a fence was down. A metal roof was blown off a horse barn. The greatest concentration of damage was in the southeast corner of the county. Wind speeds were measured from 60 to 62 mph at three places on the west side of the county. Based on damage reports, even higher wind speeds occurred in the southeast part of the county.
Wind gusts were estimated by a co-op observer.
A three-sided lean-to barn was blown across a road. Four greenhouses were damaged.
A wind gust to 71 mph was measured at Oak Grove. The Fort Campbell airfield measured a gust to 58 mph. Numerous large trees were down in Oak Grove and Pembroke. On the Fort Campbell military installation, dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted, including six trees that were uprooted on the grounds of the high school. A tree fell on the elementary school. Some shingles were blown off buildings. Power lines and power poles were brought down by the trees. Some roads were blocked by fallen trees. Some roof damage was reported in La Fayette.
Medium size trees were blown down.
A total of 2.20 inches was recorded over the past four hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, April 2011
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: 289157, 289158, 289159, 289260, 289149, 289262, 289263, 289150, 289264, 289160, 289161, 289151, 289162, 297442, 289153, 297443, 297444, 289154, 289165, 289265, 289163, 289155, 289164, 289266, 297452, 289156, 296536.