Hail, Butler
- When
- April 15, 2:35 PM CST
- Where
- Butler County, 0.55 mi E of Hendrickson
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 36.900, -90.470
Hail and Damaging Wind in Missouri, April 15, 2011
A broken line of quasi-discrete storms intensified as it moved across the Mid Mississippi Valley into a destabilizing atmosphere. A relatively narrow plume of richer low level moisture characterized by upper 50's dew points moved north into southeast Missouri.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $130,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 8
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 broken line of quasi-discrete storms intensified as it moved across the Mid Mississippi Valley into a destabilizing atmosphere. A relatively narrow plume of richer low level moisture characterized by upper 50's dew points moved north into southeast Missouri. As an upper level storm system approached the region, cold temperatures aloft fostered hail growth in the stronger storms.
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 Apr 15, 1:45 PM CST, 50 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 15, 1:45 PM CST, 50 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 245 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 .DISCUSSION... MANY CHALLENGES WITH THIS FORECAST PACKAGE. FIRST ARE THE NEAR TERM PRECIP CHANCES. ISOLATED CONVECTION HAS BEGUN IN FAR WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE PAH FORECAST AREA...WITH ALL BUT FAR EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE FA IN A TORNADO WATCH. SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. BETWEEN ONGOING CONVECTION THIS EVENING...AND WRAP AROUND MOISTURE PRODUCING SHOWERS LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY...KEPT LIKELY POPS EAST FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO CHANCE POPS WEST FOR FOR SHOWERS THIS EVENING. AFTER MIDNIGHT...WITH THE FRONT TO OUR EAST ANY PRECIP SHOULD JUST BE LINGERING SHOWERS. WENT WITH CHANCE POPS NORTHEAST TO SLIGHT CHANCE POPS SOUTHWEST LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING...WITH POPS TAPERING OFF FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THERE WILL BE A BREAK IN THE PRECIPITATION CHANCES SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS THE GULF COAST STATES. CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN COOL INTO SATURDAY NIGHT...BUT AS THE HIGH MOVES SOUTHEAST OF OUR AREA...A RETURN OF SOUTHERLY WINDS AND SUNSHINE WILL PROVIDE A NICE WARM UP ON SUNDAY. A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT NORTH OF OUR REGION ON SUNDAY...AND IT WILL LINGER NORTH OF THE PAH FA FOR THE EARLY PART OF THE WORK WEEK. THE FRONT WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT...BUT WHERE THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL DEVELOP IS THE QUESTION. THE LAST COUPLE OF RUNS OF BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE...AND FOR NOW KEPT SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY DRY...WITH SLIGHT TO LOW CHANCE POPS MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. THE 12Z RUNS OF THE GFS AND ECMWF DO HAVE VERY GOOD AGREEMENT FOR TUESDAY NIGHT...SHOWING LOW PRESSURE MOVING INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION DRAGGING A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE FA. INCLUDED HIGH CHANCE POPS FOR TUESDAY NIGHT ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. AFTER THE FRONT PASSES...THE MODELS AGAIN DIVERGE...SO AT THIS TIME CHOSE TO KEEP CHANCE POPS THROUGH THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD UNTIL A CLEARER PICTURE EMERGES. IN THE NEAR TERM...LEANED MORE TOWARD THE SLIGHTLY WARMER MAV GUIDANCE FOR TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...AND TOWARD THE COOLER MAV TEMPS FOR SUNDAY NIGHT. IN THE EXTENDED...OVERALL STAYED WITHIN A FEW DEGREES OF THE LATEST MEX GUIDANCE. && .AVIATION... STRATO-CU AND MVFR CIGS COVERED MUCH OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI WITH HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS DEPARTING EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. KEPT CB/S FOR CONVECTIVE MENTION GIVEN UNCERTAINTY WITH RESPECT TO COVERAGE. WINDS WILL STAY SOUTH/SOUTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON...WITH GUSTS OVER 20 KTS CONTINUING. WINDS WILL VEER THIS EVENING WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE TO SOUTHWEST. OVERNIGHT...PROBABILITY FOR MVFR CIGS WILL INCREASE ESPECIALLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...NONE. MO...NONE. IL...NONE. IN...NONE. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 15, 2:33 AM CST, 12 hours 2 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 333 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-160845- 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- 333 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TODAY...SOME OF WHICH MAY BE SEVERE. CONVECTION SHOULD BE ONGOING IN THE MORNING...MOVING NORTHEAST ACROSS THE EVANSVILLE TRI STATE AND PENNYRILE REGIONS. ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY IN THE WAKE OF THE MORNING CONVECTION... FROM LATE MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS. STORMS WITH ROUND TWO COULD TAKE ON SUPERCELL CHARACTERISTICS...ESPECIALLY OVER SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND THE SOUTHERN TIP OF ILLINOIS. HAZARDS WILL INCLUDE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES. THE ALERT LEVEL WILL LARGELY DEPEND ON HOW UNSTABLE THE ATMOSPHERE CAN BECOME THROUGH THE DAY...AND IF UPPER LEVEL JET STREAM WINDS CAN LINE UP WITH THE AXIS OF DESTABILIZATION. STORM MOTION SHOULD BE NORTHEAST FROM 40 TO 50 MPH. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE A CONCERN TODAY. RAINFALL EARLIER THIS WEEK HAS GROUND CONDITIONS SATURATED IN SOME AREAS. THIS SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO BRING TO THE REGION 1 TO 1 1/2 INCHES OF RAINFALL...WHICH COULD CAUSE URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD CONCERNS ONCE AGAIN. FLOODING IS AGAIN OCCURRING ON MANY AREA RIVERS. PLEASE REFER TO THE FLOOD WARNINGS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NEXT WEEK...IT APPEARS THE WEATHER PATTERN WILL SET UP IN A MANNER FAVORABLE FOR PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN. GIVEN THE VARIABILITY IN THE MODEL DATA...IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL WITH MUCH CONFIDENCE WHERE EXACTLY THE AXIS WILL SET UP. HOWEVER THE EFFECTS SHOULD BE FELT ACROSS PORTIONS OF BOTH THE MID MISSISSIPPI AND LOWER OHIO VALLEY REGIONS. FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ON MANY AREA RIVERS. PLEASE REFER TO THE FLOOD WARNINGS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED TODAY...ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON. JP
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 2:02 PM CST, 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 302 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 MOZ100-107>109-152100- WAYNE MO-CARTER MO-BUTLER MO-RIPLEY MO- 302 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN RIPLEY...BUTLER... EASTERN CARTER AND WAYNE COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI UNTIL 400 PM CDT... AT 257 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH DIME SIZE HAIL...AND STRONG WINDS AROUND 40 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PIEDMONT TO MILLTOWN TO 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NAYLOR...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE WILLIAMSVILLE...NEELYVILLE... HENDRICKSON...HARVIELL...GREENVILLE...QULIN...POPLAR BLUFF... WAPPAPELLO LAKE AREA...SHOOK...WAPPAPELLO...FISK AND ROMBAUER. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA. STAY TUNED TO WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
The radar
The Paducah radar (KPAH), 152 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:34 UTC.
Event by event
5 hail, 1 funnel cloud, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Bollinger
- When
- April 15, 3:31 PM CST
- Where
- Bollinger County, Lutesville
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 37.300, -89.980
Hail, Stoddard
- When
- April 15, 3:45 PM CST
- Where
- Stoddard County, Dudley
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 36.780, -90.100
Funnel Cloud, Scott
- When
- April 15, 3:47 PM CST
- Where
- Scott County, 0.55 mi E of Chaffee
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 37.180, -89.660
Thunderstorm Wind, Scott
- When
- April 15, 3:47 PM CST
- Where
- Scott County, 1.1 mi E of Oran
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 37.080, -89.650
A shed was destroyed. The underpinning of a double wide trailer was damaged.
Lightning, Scott
- When
- April 15, 3:47 PM CST
- Where
- Scott County, 1.75 mi NNE of Mc Mullin
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 36.974, -89.610
Lightning struck a house on County Road 449 north of Sikeston, causing a structure fire.
Hail, Scott
- When
- April 15, 3:50 PM CST to 4:01 PM CST
- Where
- Scott County, Scott City
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 37.250, -89.520
Hail, Cape Girardeau
- When
- April 15, 3:55 PM CST to 4:08 PM CST
- Where
- Cape Girardeau County, Cape Girardeau
- Measured
- 2.5 in hail
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 37.300, -89.530
Ping-pong to tennis-ball size hail was reported across the city, including the downtown area. Vehicles were dented.
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- Funnel Cloud
- A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
- 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.
- Lightning
- A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Alabama, April 15, 2011
- Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, April 15 to 16, 2011
- Tornadoes and Hail in Mississippi, April 15, 2011
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Mississippi, April 15, 2011
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Virginia, April 15 to 16, 2011
- Winter Weather in South Dakota, April 15, 2011
- Wildfire in Texas, April 15 to 24, 2011
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Georgia, April 15 to 16, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, April 15, 2011
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Illinois, April 15, 2011
- Tornadoes and Hail in Kentucky, April 15, 2011
- Wildfire and Strong Wind in Texas, April 15, 2011
More
Every storm in Missouri in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, April 2011
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: 288673, 288674, 288925, 288672, 288681, 288682, 288676, 288680.