A bow echo with damaging winds and isolated large hail moved east-southeastward across southern parts of western Kentucky. The complex of thunderstorms maintained severity as the atmosphere destabilized during the afternoon.
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 bow echo with damaging winds and isolated large hail moved east-southeastward across southern parts of western Kentucky. The complex of thunderstorms maintained severity as the atmosphere destabilized during the afternoon. The storms were aided by a supply of moist and unstable air, characterized by steep mid-level lapse rates and rich boundary layer moisture. Mixed layer cape values were around 3,000 j/kg. A descending rear inflow jet of 40 to 50 knots enhanced damaging wind potential.
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 Jun 11, 12:15 PM CST, 2 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 115 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 110 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 UPDATED THE AVIATION SECTION FOR THE 18Z TAF ISSUANCE. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 219 AM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 WEAK H5 WAVE THAT CROSSED THE REGION SUNDAY TURNED OUT TO BE ANOTHER DUD. SOME PRECIPITATION WAS GENERATED BUT VERY LITTLE AND FAR BETWEEN. NOT SURPRISING THOUGH...AS HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BREAK A DROUGHT PATTERN...OR AN EXTREMELY WET PATTERN FOR THAT MATTER. WITH THAT BEING SAID...PRECIPITATION CHANCES...QPF...ETC WITH THE APPROACHING FRONTAL SYSTEM SEEM TO BE DROPPING OFF SLIGHTLY WITH EACH SUBSEQUENT MODEL RUN. FEEL MOST ALL AREAS WILL GET AT LEAST SOME RAIN...BUT VERY DIFFICULT TRYING TO PIN DOWN WHERE THE MAIN AXIS WILL BE. WITH POSSIBLY A COUPLE OF EXCEPTIONS...SADLY THIS ROUND OF PRECIPITATION WILL NOT BE NEARLY ENOUGH TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE TO AREA CROPS. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE...PRECIPITATION WILL BE MOVING OUT OF THE CWA MORE QUICKLY THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST. NOW BY 12Z TUESDAY THE ONLY CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE A SLIVER OVER THE EXTREME SOUTHEAST SECTIONS OF THE CWA. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY) ISSUED AT 219 AM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 THE MODEL TRENDS HAVE BEEN INDICATING A LITTLE DRIER WITH CONSECUTIVE RUNS. SOME WETTER THAN OTHERS BUT ALL SEEM TO BE TRENDING DRIER. THE ECMWF CONTINUES TO THE DRIEST WITH DEEP MIXING LAYERS AND VERY DRY DEW POINTS COMPARED TO CLIMO AS PREVIOUS DISCUSSION POINTED OUT. DAY SHIFT PULLED POPS FOR FRIDAY AND WILL FOLLOW THAT TREND AS WELL FOR SATURDAY. SUNDAY NOW APPEARS TO BE OUR BEST SHOT AT AIR MASS OR SUMMER TYPE CONVECTION. BUT AS PREVIOUSLY STATED WITH STRONG HIGH CENTERED OVER THE GREAT LAKES AND EXTENDING SOUTH INTO THE LOWER OHIO AND MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEYS NOT TOO EXCITED ABOUT CONVECTION THIS WEEKEND. AS FOR TEMPS VERY LITTLE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS FCST. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 110 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PROGRESS SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE FORECAST TERMINALS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. THE STORMS WILL BRING A PERIOD OF MVFR/IFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILIITES AS IT MOVES THROUGH...IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG/SEVERE WIND GUSTS. OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY...MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. PREVAILING SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 10 KNOTS WILL TEMPORARILY SHIFT TO THE WEST/NORTHWEST BEHIND THE GUST FRONT AS THE STORMS PASS THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS SHOULD SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST LATE TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING WITH THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. MO...NONE. IN...NONE. KY...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 1024 AM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-121000- 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- 1024 AM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST INTO SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS THIS AFTERNOON. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF STORMS BECOMING SEVERE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND POSSIBLY EVEN FAR SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL APPEAR TO BE THE MAIN RISKS WITH THESE STORMS...THO AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS ARE ALSO A GOOD POSSIBILITY WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT OCCUR. THE HIGHEST THUNDERSTORM RISK APPEARS TO BE OVER SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS TODAY...THEN FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA LATE IN THE DAY INTO THE EVENING. SCATTERED SEVERE STORMS APPEAR TO BE A POSSIBILITY ALONG WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED TODAY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND FAR SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS...AND POSSIBLY BE NEEDED LATE TODAY AND THIS EVENING OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST AREA. SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST STORM CONDITIONS. PLEASE ALSO REMEMBER TO REPORT ANY FLOODING OR HEAVY RAINFALL OVER AN INCH AN HOUR.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
206 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0202 PM TSTM WND DMG 7 W SIKESTON 36.88N 89.71W
06/11/2012 STODDARD MO TRAINED SPOTTER
EXTREMELY STRONG WINDS CAUSING NUMEROUS TREES TO COME
DOWN BETWEEN BLOOMFIELD AND SIKESTON ON HIGHWAY Y.
&&
DLLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
210 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0205 PM TSTM WND GST 1 S BERNIE 36.66N 89.97W
06/11/2012 E65 MPH STODDARD MO TRAINED SPOTTER
ESTIMATED 60 TO 70 MPH WINDS AND SEVERAL POWER LINES DOWN
JUST SOUTH OF BERNIE.
&&
DLLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
213 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0205 PM TSTM WND GST CATRON 36.61N 89.71W
06/11/2012 E70 MPH NEW MADRID MO TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
DLLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 254 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 ILZ085-086-089>091-093-094-KYZ004-005-007-112100- BALLARD KY-HARDIN IL-JOHNSON IL-LIVINGSTON KY-MASSAC IL-MCCRACKEN KY-POPE IL-PULASKI IL-SALINE IL-WILLIAMSON IL- 254 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EXTREME WESTERN HARDIN...EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN WILLIAMSON...SOUTHERN SALINE...EXTREME NORTHEASTERN PULASKI...POPE...MASSAC AND EASTERN JOHNSON COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...AND NORTHEASTERN BALLARD...MCCRACKEN AND NORTHWESTERN LIVINGSTON COUNTIES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY UNTIL 400 PM CDT... AT 250 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR NEW COLUMBIA...OR 11 MILES NORTH OF METROPOLIS...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM AS WELL AS NEARBY STORMS. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... LONE OAK...PADUCAH...BROOKPORT...GOLCONDA...JOY...BURNA... EDDYVILLE...HAMLETSBURG AND SMITHLAND.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 256 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 KYZ005>007-112045- GRAVES KY-LIVINGSTON KY-MCCRACKEN KY- 256 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR GRAVES...MCCRACKEN AND EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN LIVINGSTON COUNTIES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY UNTIL 345 PM CDT... AT 254 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES WEST OF WEST PADUCAH TO FULTON...AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... LONE OAK...MAYFIELD...PADUCAH...REIDLAND...WEST PADUCAH... SEDALIA...LYNNVILLE...FANCY FARM...LOWES...WINGO AND SYMSONIA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 314 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 ILZ090-091-094-KYZ005>013-112200- CALDWELL KY-CALLOWAY KY-CRITTENDEN KY-GRAVES KY-HARDIN IL-LIVINGSTON KY-LYON KY-MARSHALL KY-MASSAC IL-MCCRACKEN KY-POPE IL-TRIGG KY- 314 PM CDT MON JUN 11 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HARDIN...SOUTHERN POPE AND MASSAC COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...AND GRAVES...CRITTENDEN...CALLOWAY... CALDWELL...TRIGG...MARSHALL...MCCRACKEN...LYON AND LIVINGSTON COUNTIES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY UNTIL 500 PM CDT... AT 311 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES WEST OF STURGIS TO METROPOLIS TO FULTON...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... LONE OAK...PADUCAH...MAYFIELD...MARION...REIDLAND...CALVERT CITY... BENTON...EDDYVILLE...MURRAY...PRINCETON...LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES AREA...CADIZ...WEST PADUCAH...JOY...BROOKPORT...BURNA...SALEM... SEDALIA...LEDBETTER AND LYNNVILLE.
The Paducah radar (KPAH), 62 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:16 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Kentucky Highway 1129 and U.S. Highway 45 were closed briefly due to trees and debris over the roadway.
A National Weather Service employee estimated a wind gust to 60 mph.
At the north end of the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, a trained spotter estimated a wind gust to 60 mph.
In and around Benton, a metal storage building was damaged. A pole barn collapsed. A structure under construction was damaged. Three trees were blown down across roads. A house porch was damaged, and two trees were uprooted.
At Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, a tree fell on a vehicle with a person inside. Minor injuries were reported.
Several trees were blown down.
Numerous trees were blown down in the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. The strongest winds struck Sugar Bay on Kentucky Lake, and then swept east across Energy Lake campground. Numerous trees, limbs, and power lines were blown down in Energy Lake campground. Trees were down in Sugar Bay campground.
A wind gust to 60 mph was measured at the intersection of U.S. Highways 41 and 68 on the southeast side of Hopkinsville. A trained spotter measured a wind gust to 58 mph just west of Hopkinsville. A trained spotter in Hopkinsville estimated a wind gust to 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, June 2012
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: 384844, 384849, 384850, 384863, 384846, 384848, 384864, 384854.