A fast-moving line of strong to severe storms swept east across southwest Indiana, accompanied by isolated wind damage. A second line of storms moved northeast from western Kentucky across Spencer County, producing an isolated weak tornado there.
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 fast-moving line of strong to severe storms swept east across southwest Indiana, accompanied by isolated wind damage. A second line of storms moved northeast from western Kentucky across Spencer County, producing an isolated weak tornado there. Conditions were favorable for severe storms. A negatively-tilted mid-level trough from the central high Plains to the Arklatex ejected northeast through the middle Mississippi Valley. At the surface, an area of low pressure over northeast Kansas moved to central Wisconsin. A trailing cold front surged eastward through the Mid-Mississippi and Lower Ohio Valleys. The storms were fed by a broadening and strengthening southwesterly low-level jet, which destabilized the atmosphere ahead of the storms. The presence of strong low-level and deep-layer wind shear enhanced the risk of wind damage and even a tornado.
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 Dec 23, 3:34 AM CST, 9 hours 36 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Paducah KY 334 AM CST WED DEC 23 2015 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Friday night) Issued at 333 AM CST WED DEC 23 2015 Busy morning, and the significant weather has not even moved into the area yet! Current convection over south central Missouri suprizingly being handled fairly well with the 12km NAM-WRF. Boundary layer ahead of this area remains quite saturated and thermal/wind gradient is actually better over the northeast Arkansas/Missouri BootHeel. However, both the latest NAM and GFS guidance show a nose of 0-2km instability nosing in near KPOF (Poplar Bluff Missouri) to just west of KCGI (near Marble Hill Missouri) between 12-15z (6am-9am CST). Re-introduced a mention of damaging wind in this Southeast Missouri Delta region for the potential of increasing wind momentum from line of convection producing at least marginally severe wind gusts. Wind shear in the 0-3km layer upticks across the Missouri Bootheel region and into the Purchase area of West Kentucky by 18z (noon). Added a mention of severe in the gridded forecast for southwest KY shortly before noon. Increasing deep layer (0-6km) of 70-80 knots nose into Southeast Missouri and the Purchase area of West Kentucky between 18z-21z (noon-3pm CST) per NAM-WRF and would lead to sharpening updrafts with steeping lapse rates at low levels. A focused area of severe thunderstorms was added to the gridded forecast for parts of West Kentucky to suggest higher potential for damaging wind, hail, and tornadoes. This also corresponds closely with the SPC 10% or greater Risk area for EF2 or greater tornadic potential. For simplification purposes, kept this area highlighted from noon to 6 pm CST (18z-24z). Little significant change in temperatures at this time. With ample moisture already available due to the antecedent stabilized conditions (e.g. fog), model guidance may be under-estimating the moisture pool available for buoyant updrafts. Leaned a little higher with dewpoints early on (this morning) to reflect that change. Dropped any mention of weather during the daytime hours on December 24, but slowly ramped up precipitation from the southeast toward sunrise Friday morning (Christmas). Main concern will be persistent rainfall over West Kentucky by Friday night, which may cause nuisance flooding issues. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Tuesday) Issued at 333 AM CST WED DEC 23 2015 Looks to be shaping up to be a rather wet weekend, especially up in our northern/western sections, as a stationary front drapes along the Ohio River Valley and several pieces of mid lvl energy eject ne along it within deep southwest flow regime. Precipitable Water values progged to push over 1.5" suggest potential for some hefty rain amounts along/north of the surface boundary, so where this boundary sets of will be very important as to who gets the heaviest rainfall. South of the front, QPF and overall POPs will drop off fairly quickly, and temps will be unusually warm with record highs in the lower 70s a good bet. Models really diverge after the weekend with the handling of a deep cut-off upper low that will eventually lift north from TX into the southern Plains. This leads to low confidence forecast for early next week. There still is a large model spread as to how quickly this low lifts north into the Plains. Will continue with a compromise/superblend type solution at this point. Cannot rule out some severe threat with this system, depending on the track. Right now the severe risk looks a bit greater south/east of our area, but will need to monitor with time. && .AVIATION... Issued at 1209 AM CST WED DEC 23 2015 It is an educated guess as to exactly what will happen with the cigs/vsbys overnight. As increasing low level winds will tend to scour out vsby-restricting fog as time goes on, LIFR/IFR cigs will probably hold on well into the day before rising to MVFR as showers/tstms, some strong to severe, get going in the daytime. Very strong south southwesterly winds are expected through the day with gusts up to 30kts possible. More intense gusts will be possible near any storms. Some showers are possible after dark with a cold fropa across the region very late in the 06Z TAF period. && .PAH Watches/Warnings/Advisories... IL...NONE. MO...NONE. IN...NONE. KY...NONE. && SHORT TERM...Smith LONG TERM...GM AVIATION...DB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 1228 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-241100- 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- 1228 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE AS A LINE MOVES EAST FROM SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE QUAD STATE REGION TODAY. TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WIND ARE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WITH TORNADO WATCHES IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING. REFER TO THE WATCHES FOR DETAILS. IN ADDITION TO SEVERE WEATHER...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL FLOOD LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. GUSTY NON THUNDERSTORM WINDS WILL ALSO BE A PREVAILING HAZARD. MINOR FLOODING IS CURRENTLY FORECAST TO CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. PLEASE REFER TO FLOOD WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS AS THEY ARE ISSUED FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST OFF AND ON FROM FRIDAY THROUGH NEXT MONDAY. THE PRIMARY WEATHER HAZARD DURING THIS TIME PERIOD WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN, CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALIZED FLOODING OF POORLY DRAINED AND LOW-LYING AREAS. SOME STORMS MAY REACH SEVERE LIMITS NEXT MONDAY. MINOR FLOODING IS CURRENTLY FORECAST TO CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. PLEASE REFER TO FLOOD WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS AS THEY ARE ISSUED FOR DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... CONTINUED SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS APPRECIATED FOR THE ONGOING SEVERE WEATHER AND EXCESSIVE RAINFALL.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1229 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1229 PM TSTM WND DMG EAST PRAIRIE 36.78N 89.38W
12/23/2015 MISSISSIPPI MO TRAINED SPOTTER
POWER LINE DOWN BLOCKING ROAD.
&&
SMITTYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1236 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
ILZ090-094-KYZ003>007-231930-
POPE IL-MASSAC IL-CARLISLE KY-LIVINGSTON KY-BALLARD KY-GRAVES KY-
MCCRACKEN KY-
1236 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MASSAC...SOUTHERN POPE...NORTHERN
GRAVES...LIVINGSTON...MCCRACKEN...CARLISLE AND BALLARD COUNTIES
UNTIL 130 PM CST...
AT 1235 PM CST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW
COLUMBIA TO NEAR WEST PADUCAH TO NEAR BARDWELL...AND MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 55 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
PADUCAH...METROPOLIS...LA CENTER...BARDWELL...WICKLIFFE...REIDLAND...
LONE OAK...BROOKPORT...BARLOW...GOLCONDA...LOVELACEVILLE...WEST
PADUCAH...WOODLAWN-OAKDALE...JOY...HENDRON...MASSAC...BURNA...
LEDBETTER...NEW COLUMBIA AND KEVIL.
THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CST FOR SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI.
LAT...LON 3718 8902 3734 8873 3734 8871 3735 8871
3742 8848 3742 8840 3740 8835 3739 8831
3738 8830 3735 8830 3704 8845 3702 8848
3694 8849 3679 8907 3679 8915
TIME...MOT...LOC 1835Z 239DEG 48KT 3726 8867 3711 8883 3687 8906PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1238 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1120 AM TSTM WND DMG CAPE GIRARDEAU 37.31N 89.55W
12/23/2015 CAPE GIRARDEAU MO BROADCAST MEDIA
LATE REPORT. SEVERAL TREE LIMBS DOWN.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1246 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0955 AM TSTM WND DMG 6 W ELLSINORE 36.93N 90.85W
12/23/2015 CARTER MO BROADCAST MEDIA
LATE REPORT. DOWNED POWER LINES AND DEBRIS ACROSS
ROADWAY.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1257 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1257 PM TSTM WND GST MOUNT CARMEL 38.42N 87.77W
12/23/2015 M65 MPH WABASH IL TRAINED SPOTTER
WINDS ESTIMATED 55 TO 65 MPH.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
101 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1257 PM TSTM WND GST MOUNT CARMEL 38.42N 87.77W
12/23/2015 E65.00 MPH WABASH IL TRAINED SPOTTER
WINDS ESTIMATED 55 TO 65 MPH.
&&
SMITTYThe Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 17 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:07 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Two semi tractor-trailers were overturned along Interstate 64.
Power lines were blown down along the south side of the city. A billboard was blown over.
A wind gust to 60 mph was estimated by a trained spotter.
Several trees were blown down across the western part of the county, from Lincoln City to Hatfield.
This weak tornado crossed Indiana Highway 161 just a few miles across the Ohio River from Owensboro, Kentucky. The tornado tracked along West County Road 560S to West County Road 440S. Several tree tops were broken, and a 12-inch tree was snapped. Numerous small tree limbs were broken. Peak winds were estimated near 75 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Indiana, 2015Warnings in Indiana, December 2015
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: 609749, 609750, 609751, 609752, 609753, 609748.