A large, slow-moving mesoscale convective system moved east-southeast across southern Illinois, producing locally heavy rainfall. The complex was fed by a southerly wind flow of tropical moisture, with precipitable water values over two inches.
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 large, slow-moving mesoscale convective system moved east-southeast across southern Illinois, producing locally heavy rainfall. The complex was fed by a southerly wind flow of tropical moisture, with precipitable water values over two inches. The south winds were in advance of a weak surface low pressure center over eastern Missouri.
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 Aug 16, 8:12 PM CST, 2 hours 48 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 912 PM CDT Sat Aug 16 2014 .UPDATE... Issued at 912 PM CDT SAT AUG 16 2014 Looking at the latest model runs...it appears that the nern MO low pressure system may hesitate in its forward movement late on Sun as mid level shrtwv energy associated with an ern Canada low departs. This could result in heavier rain amounts late Sun, especially over the swrn IN/nrn Pennyrile region, though up to an inch or so is possible tonight in the western two-thirds of the PAH forecast area as the system arrives. Total rainfall amounts through Sun night are still forecast to be 1-2 inches east of the MS River. Isolated areas may have somewhat higher amounts, but the models are having some trouble focusing significant rainfall amounts in one particular area. The exceedance of FFG does not appear to be likely enough to issue a Flood Watch at this time. This potential will continue to be monitored in later shifts. && .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Tuesday) Issued at 315 PM CDT SAT AUG 16 2014 The showers associated with a MCV moving eastward along I-64, have taken their sweet time in raining out today. Coverage should continue to dwindle through the late afternoon mainly across the Evansville Tri State. The main issue involves a compact mid/upper-level system over northeast Missouri, that all 12Z guidance agrees will slowly push southeast into our region late tonight and Sunday. The associated surface low over northern Missouri this afternoon will shift eastward just along or north of I-64 Sunday into Sunday evening. The combination of low-level warm advection with a southwesterly low-level jet of 25-30kts tonight, in addition to the forcing associated with upper system, should result in considerable coverage of convection late this evening and through the overnight hours. The main issue is likely to be locally heavy rainfall with some potential for training across southern Illinois and the Evansville Tri State area. With the surface low and ever increasing low-level moisture expected in the area Sunday, figure that re-development is likely over much of the area during the afternoon. Will hang onto likely PoPs into Sunday evening as the surface low finally exits the region. Locally heavy rainfall will be the main concern Sunday and Sunday night. Will keep chance PoPs across the area Monday and Tuesday, with diurnal development likely, and the possibility of an upper-level disturbance in the weak northwest flow aloft. Daytime temperatures will be modulated by convection Sunday through Tuesday. The impact of convection will likely be greatest in the east Sunday. A warming trend is expected through Tuesday. Much of the area could see temperatures in the lower 90s Monday and Tuesday. Lows should be mild, generally in the lower 70s, each night. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday Night through Sunday Night) Issued at 315 PM CDT SAT AUG 16 2014 This period begins with a compressed set of westerlies from the WFO PAH forecast northward to a closed low over the Western Great lakes. This closed low quickly exits eastward on Wednesday, allowing a ridge to build northwest and expand into the forecast area from the southwest. With time, the intrusion of the ridge into the southwest will serve to gradually cap diurnally induced convection from west to east across the WFO PAH forecast area through next weekend. With the grids, attempted to show the slow eastward progression of drier air into the west, with shrinking PoPs to the east. Gradually warmed temperatures through the latter half of the week as the ridge builds into the area. && .AVIATION... Issued at 801 PM CDT SAT AUG 16 2014 Showers/storms moving toward us from MO will enter terminal forecast pic by/shortly after midnight, mainly KCGI/KPAH. Will carry vicinity mention of showers for cover, with cigs lowering thru VFR. May see some MVFR cigs by tmrw morning, as upper wave moves in, and shower/storm chances bubble up again during heat of day for all terminals. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. MO...NONE. IN...NONE. KY...NONE. && UPDATE...DB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 332 PM CDT SAT AUG 16 2014 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-171000- 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- 332 PM CDT SAT AUG 16 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD OVER MUCH OF THE REGION LATE THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR THE SHOWERS AND STORMS TO TRAIN OVER PORTIONS OF THE AREA OVERNIGHT...WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOME FLOODING ISSUES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN...BUT A STRAY STORM OR TWO MAY PULSE UP TO NEAR SEVERE LEVELS FROM THE MISSOURI BOOT HEEL REGION EASTWARD ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST FROM TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...BUT LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. DRS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy rain, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A co-operative observer measured 3.10 inches three miles northeast of Mount Vernon. A trained spotter measured 3.80 inches five miles east of Mount Vernon. These rainfall amounts were over a 12-hour period. Water was reported over rural roads in the Dix area, along with flooding of creeks and streams.
An emergency management official measured 4.44 inches of rain. Lowland flooding was observed.
Several secondary roads were impassable due to flooding. Portions of Illinois Route 14 were flooded west of Mcleansboro to the Franklin County line. Portions of Route 242 were flooded near Mcleansboro. The heaviest rain and flooding occurred from Mcleansboro west and northwest. A trained spotter in Mcleansboro reported his five-inch rain gage overflowed. Radar estimated from five to seven inches of rain in Mcleansboro and points west and northwest. These amounts were within a 12-hour period of time.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, August 2014
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: 535925, 535926, 535924.