A surface cyclone accelerated northeast from the southern Plains through central Missouri and the Ohio Valley. An associated warm front lifted northward through the Mid-Mississippi and Lower Ohio Valleys in advance of the surface low.
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 surface cyclone accelerated northeast from the southern Plains through central Missouri and the Ohio Valley. An associated warm front lifted northward through the Mid-Mississippi and Lower Ohio Valleys in advance of the surface low. A cold front trailing south from the low surged eastward toward the Lower Mississippi Valley. A broken line of storms produced strong and gusty winds, including a few isolated damaging wind events.
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 Feb 28, 2:24 AM CST, 51 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
224 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011
.DISCUSSION...
BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH THIS ISSUANCE WILL BE DEALING WITH ONGOING SYSTEM.
AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING A NE-SW ORIENTED COLD FRONT WAS JUST
ENTERING THE NORTHWEST BORDER OF OUR CWA. ALONG AND/OR JUST AHEAD OF
THE BOUNDARY WAS A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH
EMBEDDED SUPERCELLS AND BOW ECHOES. THE FRONT SHOULD MOVE EAST
ACROSS OUR CWA DURING THE MORNING HOURS...CLEARING THE SOUTHEAST
CORNER OF THE CWA BETWEEN 15 TO 18Z. IN THE MEANTIME...WITH
IMPRESSIVE SHEAR...INSTABILITY...AND LOW LEVEL FORCING...THE
CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SUPERCELLS
AND BOW ECHOES CONTINUING UNTIL THE FRONT CLEARS OUR CWA.
THIS AFTERNOON PRECIP CHANCES SHOULD LINGER OVER THE SOUTHEAST
THIRD OF OUR CWA...BUT WITH NO FURTHER CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER.
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN BEHIND THE FRONT WILL KEEP THE REGION
DRY WITH NEAR SEASONAL TEMPERATURES. NEAR THE END OF THE WEEK
PRECIP CHANCES ENTER THE FORECAST AS THE NEXT SYSTEM BEGINS TO
AFFECT THE REGION.
&&
.AVIATION...
SHOWERS...AND EVENTUALLY TSTMS...WILL GRADUALLY BECOME MORE COMMON
THROUGH THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. SOME VSBY RESTRICTIONS DUE TO DRIZZLE
MAY OCCUR WITH LOWER CIGS. CIGS WILL CONTINUE TO BE QUITE VARIABLE.
A WARM FRONT...WITH SOME SHOWER ACTIVITY IN ITS VICINITY...WILL
CONTINUE TO MOVE NWD AND OUT OF THE PAH FORECAST AREA IN THE AFTN.
WINDS ALOFT WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO INCREASE AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING
LOW PRESSURE/SFC COLD FRONT WHICH IS FORECAST TO SWEEP THROUGH THE
REGION MON MRNG. ATTM...IT APPEARS THAT WDSPRD SHWR/TSTM ACTIVITY
/SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE/ WILL OCCUR MAINLY IN THE EARLY TO MID
EVE...WITH THE HAZARD SLOWLY DECREASING OVNGT.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON CST TODAY 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...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON CST TODAY FOR BOLLINGER-BUTLER-CAPE
GIRARDEAU-CARTER-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID-PERRY MO-RIPLEY-
SCOTT-STODDARD-WAYNE MO.
IL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON CST TODAY FOR ALEXANDER-EDWARDS-
FRANKLIN-GALLATIN-HAMILTON-HARDIN-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-
MASSAC-PERRY IL-POPE-PULASKI-SALINE-UNION IL-WABASH-WAYNE
IL-WHITE-WILLIAMSON.
IN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON CST TODAY FOR GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-
SPENCER-VANDERBURGH-WARRICK.
&&
DRS/JAPHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 1003 PM CST SUN FEB 27 2011 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-281100- 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- 1003 PM CST SUN FEB 27 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND MUCH OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI UNTIL 4 AM. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE WATCH AREA LATE THIS EVENING AND INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS...BUT THE GREATEST SEVERE THREAT WILL BE WITH A LINE OF STORMS CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH CENTRAL MISSOURI. WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS...AS WELL AS A FEW TORNADOES AND LARGE HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS LINE...WHICH IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE WESTERN PARTS OF THE AREA AROUND 2 AM. THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA WILL LIKELY BE PLACED IN A TORNADO WATCH IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THE STORMS WILL BE NEAR THE OHIO RIVER AROUND 6 AM. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT TONIGHT. REFER TO THE WATCH PRODUCT FOR MORE INFORMATION. MINOR FLOODING WILL OCCUR ON THE LARGER MAINSTREAM RIVERS...SUCH AS THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI RIVERS. REFER TO THE FLOOD WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL SWEEP THROUGH MUCH OF WEST KENTUCKY AND SOUTHWEST INDIANA PRIOR TO 9 AM MONDAY. WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE AS WELL AS A FEW TORNADOES AND LARGE HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS. THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING EARLY MONDAY. REFER TO THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MORE DETAILS. MINOR FLOODING WILL OCCUR ON THE LARGER MAINSTREAM RIVERS...SUCH AS THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI RIVERS. REFER TO THE FLOOD WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ACTIVATION TONIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY MORNING. DRS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
219 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0218 AM TSTM WND DMG SOMERVILLE 38.28N 87.38W
02/28/2011 GIBSON IN BROADCAST MEDIA
VIEWER REPORTED ROOF OF HOME BLOWN OFF.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
221 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0218 AM TSTM WND DMG OWENSVILLE 38.27N 87.69W
02/28/2011 GIBSON IN BROADCAST MEDIA
NUMEROUS REPORTS OF DAMAGE IN COMMUNITY AND IN THE
SOUTHERN PRINCETON AREA. OWENSVILLE FIRE DEPT IS
REQUESTING GAS COMPANY DUE TO SEVERAL HOMES DAMAGE AND
CHECK THE AREA FOR GAS LEAKS.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
223 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0222 AM HAIL MARION 37.73N 88.94W
02/28/2011 M0.25 INCH WILLIAMSON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
251 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 AM TSTM WND DMG OAKLAND CITY 38.34N 87.35W
02/28/2011 GIBSON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES. MULTIPLE TREES DOWN. ROOF BLOWN
OFF OF BRICK BUILDING TAKING DOWN LARGE SECTION OF POWER
LINES.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
252 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0158 AM TSTM WND DMG OWENSVILLE 38.27N 87.69W
02/28/2011 GIBSON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
MULTIPLE HOMES DAMAGED NORTH AND EAST OF THE COMMUNITY.
&&
SMITTYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 305 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011 ILZ087-089>094-INZ087-088-KYZ001>022-MOZ109>112-114-281015- GALLATIN-JOHNSON-POPE-HARDIN-ALEXANDER-PULASKI-MASSAC-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-BUTLER-STODDARD-SCOTT-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SHAWNEETOWN...VIENNA...GOLCONDA... ELIZABETHTOWN...CAIRO...MOUND CITY...METROPOLIS...BOONVILLE... ROCKPORT...HICKMAN...CLINTON...BARDWELL...WICKLIFFE...PADUCAH... MAYFIELD...SMITHLAND...BENTON...MURRAY...MARION...EDDYVILLE... CADIZ...PRINCETON...MORGANFIELD...DIXON...MADISONVILLE... HOPKINSVILLE...HENDERSON...OWENSBORO...CALHOUN...GREENVILLE... ELKTON...POPLAR BLUFF...BLOOMFIELD...SIKESTON...CHARLESTON... NEW MADRID 305 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS... A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF THE QUAD STATE REGION. BY 415 AM...THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LINE OF STORMS WILL MOVE OUT OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...EXTREME SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...AND SOUTHWEST INDIANA...AND REACH A CLINTON KENTUCKY...TO BENTON...TO PRINCETON...TO GREENVILLE LINE. WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH STORMS. RST
The Paducah radar (KPAH), 42 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:16 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A house trailer was damaged between Smithland and Tiline. The residents were evacuated. An attached shed was torn off.
An entire barn was blown onto a state highway near the intersection of Kentucky Highways 94 and 564. Traffic was blocked for more than two 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, February 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: 280351, 282355.