Moderate flooding occurred along the Green River. A heavy rainfall event on March 3 was followed by a major winter storm on March 4 into early March 5.
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.
Moderate flooding occurred along the Green River. A heavy rainfall event on March 3 was followed by a major winter storm on March 4 into early March 5. Two more heavy rainfall events occurred in quick succession. On the 9th and 10th, one to two inches of rain fell, followed by two to four more inches on the 13th and 14th. The combined effect of all these rain and snow events was a prolonged flooding event on the Green River. Since the precipitation was spread out over a 10-day period, the magnitude of the flooding was moderate instead of major.
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 Mar 4, 11:50 AM CST, 2 hours 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1150 AM CST WED MAR 4 2015
.UPDATE...
ISSUED AT 1150 AM CST WED MAR 4 2015
UPDATED AVIATION SECTION FOR 18Z TAF PACKAGE.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 330 AM CST WED MAR 4 2015
PRIMARY FORECAST FOCUS REMAINS THE SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER
EVENT ON TRACK OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
BUT STARTING WITH THE ONGOING RAIN...PRECIPITATION TOTALS THUS FAR
HAVE WORKED OUT CLOSE TO WHAT WE WERE THINKING. OVERALL...RADAR
ESTIMATES OF RAINFALL HAVE GENERALLY BEEN IN THE 1 TO 1.5 INCH
RANGE IN A BAND ALONG THE OHIO RIVER. HEAVIER RAINS APPEAR TO BE
FOCUSING FURTHER TO THE SOUTH EARLY THIS MORNING...WHICH WOULD
IMPACT PRIMARILY WESTERN KENTUCKY AND FAR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. AS A
RESULT...WE WILL KEEP THE FLOOD WATCH GOING THROUGH NOON IN THIS
REGION.
IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONTAL PASSAGE OVERNIGHT...THE NEXT BLAST OF
ARCTIC AIR IS ON TRACK EARLY THIS MORNING. AS TEMPERATURES FALL
THROUGH THE 30S AND INTO THE 20S...RAIN WILL TRANSITION TO FREEZING
RAIN AND SLEET AND THEN TO SNOW THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE DAY. THE
MAIN QUESTION CONTINUES TO BE HOW LONG DOES THE SLEET PERSIST
BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO SNOW. GIVEN THE OVERNIGHT MODEL INPUT...IT
APPEARS AS THOUGH THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS SEVERAL HOURS.
THE WARMER MID LEVELS OF THE NAM NOW HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE
RAP...AND EVEN THE GFS HAS TRENDED SOMEWHAT SLOWER WITH THE
CHANGEOVER TO SNOW...THOUGH IT IS STILL COLDER THAN THE OTHER
MODELS.
GIVEN THE LATEST MODEL DATA...WE HAVE SLOWED DOWN NOT ONLY THE
CHANGEOVER FROM RAIN TO FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET...BUT ALSO THE
TRANSITION TO SNOW. IN FACT...THE LEADING EDGE OF THE MIXED
PRECIPITATION MAY NOT EVEN REACH THE OHIO RIVER UNTIL LATE
MORNING...AND IT MAY BE MID AFTERNOON BEFORE IT REACHES THE
HOPKINSVILLE AREA. MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION SHOULD HAVE CHANGED
OVER TO SNOW BY EVENING...BUT IT MAY BE MID EVENING BEFORE IT IS
COMPLETELY SNOW NEAR THE TENNESSEE BORDER. PRECIPITATION WILL
CONTINUE IN THE FORM OF SNOW TONIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF FROM
NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.
OUR SNOW AMOUNTS CONTINUE TO REFLECT A BLEND OF MODEL GUIDANCE
AND WPC. INTERESTINGLY...EVEN THROUGH THE SLEET WILL LIKELY CUT
DOWN ON ACCUMULATION TODAY...THE SNOW TONIGHT IS NOW FORECAST TO
PERSIST FOR A LONGER DURATION. THE END RESULT IS A TOTAL SNOW
ACCUMULATION LITTLE CHANGED FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. TO THAT
END...WE EXPECT TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 4 TO 6 INCHES
NEAR MOUNT VERNON ILLINOIS TO AS MUCH AS 8 TO 10 INCHES IN A BAND
20 TO 30 MILES EITHER SIDE OF A SIKESTON MISSOURI TO PADUCAH
KENTUCKY TO MADISONVILLE KENTUCKY LINE. AMOUNTS NEAR THE TENNESSEE
BORDER WILL LIKELY BE A FEW INCHES LESS GIVEN THE LONGER DURATION
OF SLEET THERE. ICE ACCRETION FROM FREEZING RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE
FOR A 2 TO 3 HOUR PERIOD AS THE RAIN CHANGES TO SLEET. HOWEVER...
ANY ICE ACCRETION IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW ONE TENTH OF AN INCH
ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA.
CLOUDS WILL CLEAR ON THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN. AFTER
THURSDAY MORNING LOWS IN THE TEENS...HIGHS THURSDAY ARE ONLY
FORECAST IN THE LOWER TO MID 20S. CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS
THURSDAY NIGHT WILL LEAD TO EXCELLENT RADIATIONAL COOLING OVER TOP
A SNOW COVERED GROUND. BY FRIDAY MORNING...LOWS WILL LIKELY RANGE
FROM 0 TO 5 DEGREES...AND PROBABLY COLDER IN FAVORED LOCATIONS.
.LONG TERM...(FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)
ISSUED AT 330 AM CST WED MAR 4 2015
WE START THE LONG TERM WITH HIGH PRESSURE ANCHORED ACROSS THE
MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI AND LOWER OHIO RIVER VALLEY AND THE VERY COLD
AIRMASS IN PLACE WITH START OF DAY TEMPS IN THE LOWER SINGLE
DIGITS. THE HIGH CENTERS SLIGHTLY TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OVER THE
TN VALLEY DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY...BUT RETURN FLOW IS SLOW
TO GET GOING AND EVEN WITH ABOUT A 25 DEGREE DIURNAL RISE...IT
MEANS ANOTHER DAY OF NOT REACHING 32 DEGREES...HAVING TO WAIT TIL
THE WEEKEND.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY...HIGH PRESSURE MAINTAINS OVER THE TN VALLEY. THIS
SHOULD PRECLUDE PCPN CHANCES THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE EXIST AS SMALL
PIECES OF ENERGY ROUND THE BASE OF A MEAN LONG WAVE TROF
TRANSLATING ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY. TEMPS WILL CLIMB ABOVE 32F FOR
THE FIRST TIME SINCE TUESDAY...BUT WILL REMAIN ON THE COOL SIDE OF
CLIMO WITH HIGHS IN LOW-MID 40S EACH DAY. LOWS WILL BE GENERALLY
IN THE 20S.
THE HIGH SHIFTS EAST TO THE MID ATLANTIC BUT MAINTAINS A BROAD
AREA OF CONTROL AS FAR WEST AS THE COMMONWEALTH INTO/THRU THE
EARLY WEEK PERIOD. RETURN FLOW SLYS ALLOW TEMPS TO CLIMB THRU THE
40S MONDAY...INTO THE 50S TUESDAY...AND PERHAPS FLIRT WITH THE 60
DEGREE MARK BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. LOWS WILL MOVE INTO THE
30S.
&&
.AVIATION...
ISSUED AT 1150 AM CST WED MAR 4 2015
WINTRY MIX AT TAF SITES WILL BECOME ALL SNOW BY 00Z. MVFR/IFR CIGS
AND VSBYS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND MUCH OF THE
OVERNIGHT. PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL TAPER OFF FROM NORTHWEST TO
SOUTHEAST BETWEEN 08Z AND 12Z, WITH CONDITIONS IMPROVING TO VFR.
WINDS WILL BE FROM THE N/NW AT 10 TO 15 KTS WITH GUSTS AROUND 25KTS
POSSIBLE THROUGH 06Z, SLOWLY DECREASING TO AROUND 10 KTS BY 12Z.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR ILZ075>078-
080>094.
MO...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114.
FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON CST TODAY FOR MOZ112-114.
IN...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR INZ081-082-
085>088.
KY...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR KYZ001>022.
FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON CST TODAY FOR KYZ001>013-015>017-019>022.
&&
SHORT TERM...RJP
LONG TERM...DH
AVIATION...RSTHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 447 AM CST WED MAR 4 2015 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-051100- 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- 447 AM CST WED MAR 4 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND MUCH OF WESTERN KENTUCKY...WHERE A FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES THROUGH NOON. PLEASE REFER TO THE WATCH FOR DETAILS. THE RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SLEET AND EVENTUALLY SNOW AS THE DAY PROGRESSES. SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF LATE IN THE NIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS AS WELL AS MINOR FREEZING RAIN ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA. AS A RESULT... A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT. PLEASE REFER TO THE WARNING FOR DETAILS ON TIMING AND AMOUNTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NEAR ZERO WIND CHILLS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTHWEST INDIANA AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NORTH OF ROUTE 13 EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT ANY FLOODING ISSUES THAT OCCUR THIS MORNING. SPOTTERS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW...SLEET... AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED IMPACTS. RJP
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1040 AM CST WED MAR 04 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0930 AM FREEZING RAIN CARBONDALE 37.72N 89.22W
03/04/2015 M0.10 INCH JACKSON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
STARTING TO ICE VERY STEADY.
&&
KELLYHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1057 AM CST WED MAR 04 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0930 AM FLOOD MURRAY 36.61N 88.32W
03/04/2015 CALLOWAY KY TRAINED SPOTTER
1.80 INCHES OF RAIN STORM TOTAL. GIBBS
STORE...MYERS...AND BRANDON ROADS WERE FLOODED.
&&
KELLYHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1234 PM CST WED MAR 04 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1232 PM SLEET DUDLEY 36.79N 90.09W
03/04/2015 M0.00 INCH STODDARD MO TRAINED SPOTTER
THUNDER REPORTED. 1/8INCH OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.
ROADS COVERED AND VERY SLICK.
&&
RICKSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
121 PM CST WED MAR 04 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0117 PM SNOW EVANSVILLE 37.98N 87.54W
03/04/2015 M0.8 INCH VANDERBURGH IN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
EVANSVILLE AIRPORT MEASUREMENT.SNOW AND SLEET.
&&
RICKSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
132 PM CST WED MAR 04 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0124 PM SNOW MOUNT VERNON 37.94N 87.90W
03/04/2015 E2.0 INCH POSEY IN TRAINED SPOTTER
ROADS ARE SNOW COVERED BUT PASSABLE AND SLICK.
&&
RICKSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
134 PM CST WED MAR 04 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0105 PM FREEZING RAIN 4 SSW LONE OAK 36.98N 88.69W
03/04/2015 M0.00 INCH MCCRACKEN KY TRAINED SPOTTER
TRACE OF ICE. CHANGED TO SLEET.
&&
RICKSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Moderate flooding occurred on the Green River. At the Paradise river gage, the river crested at 390.33 feet on the 15th. Flood stage is 380 feet. Kentucky Highways 1379 and 2590 were closed. Widespread flooding of low-lying areas around the river took place.
Moderate flooding occurred on the Green River. At the Calhoun river gage, the river crested at 29.78 feet on the 17th. Flood stage is 23 feet. Water was over Kentucky Highway 85. Thousands of acres were flooded in the Island, Rumsey, and Jewel City areas. The acreage was primarily farm fields. Since planting season was not underway when flooding began, there was little if any crop damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, March 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: 562601, 562600.