A major macroburst with winds over 100 mph at times caused extensive damage in the Evansville area. Thunderstorms intensified and evolved into a bowing structure that spread east across southwest Indiana.
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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 major macroburst with winds over 100 mph at times caused extensive damage in the Evansville area. Thunderstorms intensified and evolved into a bowing structure that spread east across southwest Indiana. The storms developed ahead of a cold front extending from northern Indiana southwest across central Illinois into southeast Missouri. Convergence in the vicinity of the cold front, where the environment remained moderately unstable, supported thunderstorm development. Bulk wind shear was strong enough to support organized severe storm structures.
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 May 9, 2:04 PM CST, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 304 PM CDT Fri May 9 2014 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Sunday night) Issued at 303 PM CDT FRI MAY 9 2014 In lieu of ongoing convection and operations, will limit discussion to a minimum at this time. Stronger storms appear to be enhanced along the eastern edge of sharp theta-e gradient/dynamic thermal zone of sharper lapse rates as suggested by the GOES Sounder Water Vapor imagery at 7.0/7.4 micron channels now pushing through Southeast Missouri. Could see some lessening near the confluence of the Ohio/Mississippi Rivers as drier air outpaces instability, but the activity over Southern IL may still have time to be enhanced this afternoon. The greatest uncertainty in forecast will be late tonight (after 06z Saturday through at least 15z Saturday) where numerical models differ on the degree of forcing needed to maintain a persistent train of showers and thunderstorms mainly along and south of the Ohio River. Took a slightly slower approach in lowering PoPs and weather in this area. May be a concern for locally heavy rain overnight. The 09z Friday SREF seemed to have the best overall handle on the transitional nature of the cold front and upper level jet features impinging on the stalling boundary through the weekend. The least amount of forcing/ridging aloft takes place during the late morning and into the early evening on Saturday. Beyond Saturday evening, a broad trough develops in the intermountain region of the U.S., shifting a warm cap aloft back to the north and focusing a warm advection zone (developing warm front from the stalled out front) Saturday Night into Sunday. This will provide a period in which a warm advection showers and thunderstorm will increase late Saturday night, eventually working slowly northward Sunday night. This is a little different that previous forecasts for Sunday, but is suggestive of a slightly higher PoPs. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Friday) Issued at 303 PM CDT FRI MAY 9 2014 A rather strong spring storm system continues to be the primary concern in the long term. The models agree that a sharp high amplitude shortwave trough will impinge on our region early next week. The associated strong cold front will cross our region on Tuesday. This front will be followed by unseasonably cool air as a deep cyclonic vortex stalls over the Great Lakes region mid to late week. As far as the daily details... Monday will be the warmest and driest day of the long term as the Plains system slowly works its way east. Some showers and storms could develop in the moist and unstable southwest flow...but the majority of the activity will remain closer to the frontal boundary. The models are in much better agreement on the timing of the frontal boundary. The surface front will move slowly east across our region on Tuesday. It appears the front will become very steeply sloped...with the 850 mb front lagging well behind. The 12z ecmwf delays the 850 mb frontal passage until Wednesday night. The steeply sloped boundary and meridional flow along the boundary both suggest heavy rain would be more of a concern than severe weather. Both hazards will continue to be addressed in the hwo. The slower movement of the upper level system warrants chance pops through the day Wednesday for the entire region. Will hold off on introducing chance pops for Wednesday night...since the 12z ecmwf is an outlier. Thursday into Friday...a deep cyclonic vortex will likely be spinning across the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley region. Impulses rotating around this system will bring periods of cloudiness and possibly a few showers. The timing of these impulses and associated moisture will affect temps...but it will be unseasonably cool no matter what. Even with full sunshine...highs would not reach 70 based on 850 mb temps from zero to plus 4. && .AVIATION... Issued at 1244 PM CDT FRI MAY 9 2014 Rather convoluted set of TAF's for the WFO PAH forecast area trying to encompass the departing MVFR ceilings and the approaching MVFR/IFR ceilings and MVFR visibilities with the new shower and thunderstorm activity later this afternoon and this evening. An even longer duration of MVFR ceilings and visibilities are expected in the vicinity of the stalling cold front, especially from KPAH and KEVV eastward. Not particularly fond of using more TEMPO groups, but do not wish to keep longer periods in place of lower ceilings and visibilities as a prevailing group when possible. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. MO...NONE. IN...NONE. KY...NONE. && SHORT TERM...Smith LONG TERM...MY AVIATION...Smith
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 312 PM CDT FRI MAY 9 2014 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-101415- 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- 312 PM CDT FRI MAY 9 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A MAJORITY OF THE OUTLOOK AREA REMAINS UNDER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THROUGH 8 PM CDT. A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH AT LEAST THIS EVENING. DAMAGING WINDS AND LOCALLY LARGE HAIL ARE TH PRIMARY HAZARDS. HOWEVER...A SMALL FOCUSED AREA OVER SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...EXTREME SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND THE PURCHASE AREA OF WEST KENTUCKY MAY SEE A HIGHER POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED TORNADO DEVELOPMENT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN MAY BE A GREATER CONCERN LATE TONIGHT OVER WEST KENTUCKY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ON AND OFF CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST OVER THE WEEKEND AND INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THERE MAY BE A BIT OF A LULL ON SATURDAY...OR LIMITED COVERAGE. A FEW STRONG AND POSSIBLY SEVERE STORMS CANNOT BE RULED OUT ENTIRELY THROUGH THE PERIOD. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN MAY ALSO OCCUR. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ANY REPORTS OF DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL AND RAINFALL IN EXCESS OF AN INCH IS APPRECIATED. SMITH
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
319 PM CDT FRI MAY 09 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0135 PM TSTM WND DMG BREWER 37.78N 89.93W
05/09/2014 PERRY MO BROADCAST MEDIA
ROOF OFF AT LEAST ONE HOUSE
&&
MYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
325 PM CDT FRI MAY 09 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0312 PM HAIL 1 S ZALMA 37.13N 90.08W
05/09/2014 E1.00 INCH BOLLINGER MO EMERGENCY MNGR
QUARTER SIZED HAIL 1 MI S OF ZALMA.
&&
DPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
339 PM CDT FRI MAY 09 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0335 PM FUNNEL CLOUD CHAFFEE 37.18N 89.66W
05/09/2014 SCOTT MO TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORTED ALONG SCOTT/CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY LINE
&&
MYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
347 PM CDT FRI MAY 09 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0345 PM HAIL 2 N CHAFFEE 37.21N 89.66W
05/09/2014 E0.50 INCH CAPE GIRARDEAU MO TRAINED SPOTTER
2 MI N OF CHAFFEE
&&
DPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
404 PM CDT FRI MAY 09 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0332 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N BELL CITY 36.57N 88.50W
05/09/2014 GRAVES KY EMERGENCY MNGR
TIN ROOF BLOWN OFF AG BUILDING NEAR INTERSECTION OF
HIGHWAY P AND HIGHWAY 91. LARGE TREE DOWN ON HIGHWAY 25
NEAR ADVANCE.
&&
MYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
405 PM CDT FRI MAY 09 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0332 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N BELL CITY 37.05N 89.82W
05/09/2014 STODDARD MO EMERGENCY MNGR
TIN ROOF BLOWN OFF AG BUILDING NEAR INTERSECTION OF
HIGHWAY P AND HIGHWAY 91. LARGE TREE DOWN ON HIGHWAY 25
NEAR ADVANCE.
&&
MYThe Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:15 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A house roof was damaged. There was considerable loss of shingles and minor damage to the decking. A patio roof was blown away. Tree limbs were blown down.
A very intense macroburst caused extensive damage across the Evansville metro area, primarily the north half of the city. The macroburst was about three miles wide on average. The macroburst started on the west side of Evansville and moved east-northeast across the Melody Hill area into Warrick County. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. Wind speeds averaged from 60 to 90 mph, with frequent peaks over 100 mph. A damage assessment indicated roughly 100 structures were damaged, with dozens destroyed. Dozens of vehicles were damaged due to falling trees. The assessed number of damaged homes and vehicles includes Warrick County as well. Thousands of trees were uprooted, snapped, or otherwise damaged. Hundreds of power poles were snapped or blown over. Damage to one farmstead was estimated at over two million dollars. The specific types of damage included a mobile home that was blown off its support piers, roofing that was blown off some structures, and window and siding damage to many others. Most of the structural damage was caused by falling trees. Power was out to a large part of the city. The power company servicing the region reported 50,000 customers without power a couple hours after the storm. Numerous roads were blocked by downed trees and power lines. Numerous wires were blown down or hanging low, and telephone service was not reliable. At the Evansville airport, several trailers and a semi were overturned. The automated weather observing equipment at the airport was damaged. A wind gust to 89 mph was measured at the Evansville airport control tower. The Red Cross set up a shelter for those without power. An outdoor warning siren was blown into the woods. The total length of the damage area across Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Spencer Counties was 35 miles.
A very intense macroburst caused extensive damage across the county, including the Boonville area. The average width of the damage area was about three miles. The macroburst entered Warrick County from Vanderburgh County in the Stevenson and Newburgh areas. It continued east roughly along Highway 62 across Boonville to the Tennyson area. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. Wind speeds averaged from 60 to 90 mph, with frequent peaks over 100 mph. A damage assessment indicated roughly 100 structures were damaged, with dozens destroyed. Dozens of vehicles were damaged due to falling trees. The assessed number of damaged homes and vehicles includes Evansville and Vanderburgh County as well. Thousands of trees were uprooted, snapped, or otherwise damaged. The trees were up to five feet in diameter. Hundreds of power poles were snapped or blown over. Damage to one farmstead was estimated at over two million dollars. The specific types of damage included a mobile home that was blown off its support piers, roofing that was blown off some structures, and window and siding damage to many others. There was structural damage to some houses, barns, and a warehouse. One grain silo was destroyed. Most of the structural damage was caused by falling trees. The power company servicing the region reported 50,000 customers without power a couple hours after the storm. Numerous roads were blocked by downed trees and power lines. Numerous wires were blown down or hanging low, and telephone service was not reliable. The total length of the damage area across Vanderburgh, Warrick, and extreme western Spencer Counties was 35 miles. The average width of the damage area was three miles, with a maximum width of four miles.
The Gentryville area of western Spencer County was at the tail end of a very intense macroburst. The macroburst began on the west side of Evansville and crossed all of Warrick County. Damage in Spencer County was relatively minor. Trees and power lines were damaged. The total length of the macroburst was 35 miles.
Very high straight-line winds estimated near 95 mph carved a west to east corridor of damage through northern Spencer County. This corridor passed through the Santa Claus area. The affected area was very rural. Metal roofing was peeled off a portion of a large barn. Numerous large trees were uprooted and snapped.
There was ponding of water on several roads.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, May 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: 512604, 510749, 510960, 510944, 510961, 510945, 510947, 510946, 512574.