A complex of thunderstorms propagated southwestward across southeast Missouri, producing isolated to scattered pockets of wind damage. The storms propagated along an instability axis that extended from north central Arkansas into southeast Missouri.
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 complex of thunderstorms propagated southwestward across southeast Missouri, producing isolated to scattered pockets of wind damage. The storms propagated along an instability axis that extended from north central Arkansas into southeast Missouri. The storms were initiated by a cold front that trailed southwest across the Ohio Valley to the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas.
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 Jul 23, 10:43 AM CST, 17 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 1143 AM CDT Wed Jul 23 2014 .MESOSCALE DISCUSSION... Issued at 1137 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014 Will attempt to define gridded forecast a little better during the next hour to handle location and intensity of afternoon convection. Main focus through most of this morning was to handle near term, higher priority severe weather potential with storms moving through Southern Illinois. Somewhat convoluted mesoscale features this morning, owing to disjointed moisture and wind fields, as well as existing convection. The higher resolution model guidance having trouble resolving movement and coverage of showers and thunderstorms in this weak shear environment along and ahead of the cold front. The last couple of days of the 12km NAM-WRF was advancing storms 3-4 hours too fast into the WFO PAH forecast this morning and too far southwest (initially generating convection over Southeast Missouri). There was also a suggestion that any nocturnal to mid- morning convection would be more elevated in nature. This is just now coming into fruition. Lower base of mesoscale an organized mesoscale low showing up around 750m (approx. 2500 ft agl, near the 925 mb level) per the WSR-88d VAD Wind Profiles. The main 925 mb is elongated over east central Illinois into Southeast Missouri. Northeasterly flow below 2500 ft AGL along the leading edge of the convection from the KPAH VWP suggest enough a tentative balance to support upshear convection with only limited outflow-dominated multicell clusters. In the short term, this would allow for local wind gusts between 30 and 40 mph along the western (and leading edge of convection) limb of thunderstorms moving into Southeast Missouri. Above from 1500 meters to 3km AGF, WSR-88d VWP fields suggest a narrow shortwave trough east of KLSX-KILX line concident with the surface frontal boundary. It gets more complicatied further to the east over the Pennyrile region of west Kentucky into Central Kentucky and southern Indiana, as weak low level (below 5kft AGL) ridging is in place over the Pennyrile, translating into a low level trough over southern Indiana. This focused area, combined with a narrow southwest-northeast Precipitable Water axis of two plus inches, should limit the north-south edges of stronger storms. The 16z MSAS surface low centers and intermediate convective boundaries stretch from west of West Plains Misouri to French Lick Indiana. The main focus of higher surface-based theta-e air has now moved along and east of the South Central Missouri surface low eastward to the Land between the Lakes in West Kentucky. Combining all of these little mesoscale tidbits together, anticipate that a majority of the convective activity early this afternoon will become eleveated over northern sections of southeast Missouri and southwest Illinois, along and northeast of the surface to 925 mb frontal boundary. This will likely be the focus for enhanced heavy rainfall and lightning. Further to the south over the aforementioned west to east oriented surface theta-e convergence zone over Southeast Missouri and Purchase Area of West Kentucky, some surface based instability will still be possible, leading to the potential of a few wind gusts in excess of 40 mph and small hail. Favorable conditions for strong/severe storms will wane considerably through 21z (4 pm CDT) as cloud shield limits surface based instability and main focus for lift become associated with the low/mid level shortwave moving through the region, leading to greater elevated versus surface based instability. && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Friday) Issued at 250 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014 An amplifying upper flow pattern will aid a cold front across the region today. Accompanying frontal passage is a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mesoscale models have been greatly overdone with respect to upstream convection over the past 24 hours, and they suggest lesser coverage locally today. In addition, a decent mid level capping inversion of warm air aloft (700 mb temperatures around 10C) should limit the formation and maintenance of deep convective updrafts. As a result, coverage of activity that develops today should be rather hit and miss. By the end of the day, I suspect many locations will be left without any rain. As a result, we further reduced probabilities to 30 percent at best in most areas. After a lingering chance of thunderstorms over southern counties this evening, much cooler and drier air will filter into the region overnight and Thursday as high pressure builds south from Canada. After morning lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s, Thursday looks absolutely delightful with highs only in the lower 80s under plenty of sunshine. Lows Thursday night should range in the upper 50s. Moisture return will begin in earnest on Friday as the upper level trough and surface high begin to shift to the east. Any precipitation should stay north of the area until Friday night. .LONG TERM...(Friday night through Tuesday) Issued at 250 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014 Subtle changes to the long term. Overall, the same pattern evolution is forecast. The models amplify the ridge out west and trof over the east U.S. by early next week. Friday night into Saturday, still looking for a warm front to move through, with best moisture and subtle forcing possibly bringing convective chances to the NE part of the region. It looks capped farther west toward the MS river into SEMO. Cannot rule out additional convection Saturday that may be diurnally enhanced, with better chances ENE part of the region toward the KEVV tri-state. Same holds true for Saturday night. Sunday a frontal boundary is forecast to move into the area, and gradually reach NE AR into NW TN by 12z Monday. Have slightly higher PoPs in the forecast with front. We raised high temps Saturday into Sunday as well given latest numerical output. Isolated strong to severe storms cannot be ruled out. Given the forecast convective indices and shear, time of year, and what's seasonally normal, should not be a major threat. No PoPs in for Monday through Tuesday in the wake of the front, and with high pressure building in from the NW. The high will return temps to below seasonal norms. && .AVIATION... Issued at 653 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014 A cold front will pass across the area today. Accompanying the front is the chance for isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. Of immediate concern, a complex of thunderstorms over the Wabash Valley will impact KEVV and perhaps KOWB through mid morning. Early morning activity should subside by mid to late morning, then storms may refire along and south of the front this afternoon. In the wake of the front, winds will swing around to the north/northwest as VFR ceilings linger into the evening. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. MO...NONE. IN...NONE. KY...NONE. && MESOSCALE...Smith SHORT TERM...RJP LONG TERM...CN AVIATION...RJP
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 1103 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-241015- 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- 1103 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT. LIGHTNING AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALIZED FLOODING...WILL BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN. STRONG WIND GUSTS...IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH...AS WELL AS HAIL UP TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH WILL BE LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...FAR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...AND WESTERN KENTUCKY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES RETURN TO THE FORECAST OVER THE WEEKEND. AN ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORM CANNOT BE RULED OUT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. RJP/SMITH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 601 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014 ILZ076>078-INZ081-082-231315- WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-GIBSON-PIKE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FAIRFIELD...ALBION...MOUNT CARMEL... FORT BRANCH...PETERSBURG 601 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014 AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL GRADUALLY MOVE SOUTH AND EAST INTO EXTREME EASTERN WAYNE...AS WELL AS EDWARDS AND WABASH COUNTIES IN ILLINOIS THROUGH 630 AM...AND POSSIBLY REACH GIBSON AND PIKE COUNTIES IN INDIANA FROM 630 AM TO 700 AM. GUSTY WINDS 25 TO 40 MPH...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL BE THE MAIN HAZARDS WITH THE STORMS.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 637 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014 ILZ076>078-083-INZ081-082-085>088-231245- WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-WHITE-GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-VANDERBURGH- WARRICK-SPENCER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FAIRFIELD...ALBION...MOUNT CARMEL... CARMI...FORT BRANCH...PETERSBURG...POSEYVILLE...EVANSVILLE... BOONVILLE...ROCKPORT 637 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014 SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARD INTERSTATE 64 IN SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS AND SOUTHWEST INDIANA EARLY THIS MORNING. THE STORMS AT 635 AM EXTENDED FROM NEAR FAIRFIELD ILLINOIS TO THE NORTHERN MOST PART OF GIBSON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST INDIANA. MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AROUND 15 MPH. THE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO BE CAPABLE OF GUSTY WINDS 25 TO 40 MPH...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND POSSIBLY PEA SIZE HAIL. A STORM COULD BRIEFLY BECOME SEVERE AND PRODUCE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...SO STAY TUNED FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
739 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0715 AM HEAVY RAIN ALBION 38.38N 88.06W
07/23/2014 M1.50 INCH EDWARDS IL TRAINED SPOTTER
RAIN ACCUMULATION WAS IN 30 MINUTES.
&&
CTNPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
832 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0815 AM HAIL MCLEANSBORO 38.09N 88.53W
07/23/2014 E0.75 INCH HAMILTON IL PUBLIC
UP TO DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY PUBLIC. REPORT RELAYED
BY WSIL-TV.
&&
K. SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
911 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0908 AM HEAVY RAIN ALBION 38.38N 88.06W
07/23/2014 M2.86 INCH EDWARDS IL TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL FROM EARLIER THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY.
&&
K. SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
941 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0941 AM HEAVY RAIN CARMI 38.09N 88.17W
07/23/2014 M1.37 INCH WHITE IL TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL.
&&
K. SMITHThe Paducah radar (KPAH), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:59 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous tree limbs were blown down across the city of Cape Girardeau. One large tree was down.
Trees and power lines were blown down across northern and central parts of the county, including Dexter and Puxico.
A park employee at Lake Wappapello State Park reported tree damage on the northeast side of the lake.
Tree limbs and roofs were damaged in the Bernie area. Medium to large limbs were down on the south side of Bernie. Five miles west of Bernie, tree limbs were down and there were a few roofs with shingles blown off.
In Poplar Bluff, trees and power lines were blown down. Two trees landed on cars. A few roofs were damaged in the city.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, July 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: 525771, 525763, 525765, 525761, 525769, 525768.