A cluster of thunderstorms developed along a stationary front that was draped from the southern tip of Illinois westward across southeast Missouri. The storms occurred in a hot and humid air mass during the heat of the afternoon.
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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 cluster of thunderstorms developed along a stationary front that was draped from the southern tip of Illinois westward across southeast Missouri. The storms occurred in a hot and humid air mass during the heat of the afternoon. Winds aloft averaged around 20 knots from the west to northwest. Very heavy rain and isolated flash flooding accompanied the storms.
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 1, 1:37 PM CST, 3 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 237 PM CDT MON AUG 1 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Wednesday night) Issued at 237 PM CDT Mon Aug 1 2016 Convection chances continue through mid week. Heights will slowly rise and allow for more heat/humidity, with best chances gradually shifting NE with time. Used a blend of the NAM and ECMWF. In the short term, used Radar/Sat trends and the HRRR. Persistence was used for temps along with the latest MOS. Will continue to monitor closely the possible need for a Heat Advisory. Parts of SEMO will be close Tuesday. More of the area on Wednesday. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Monday) Issued at 237 PM CDT Mon Aug 1 2016 An upper level high off to our southwest will keep our region in northwest flow for the end of the work week. Shower and thunderstorm chances will continue on Thursday with diurnal heating, with any activity waning for Thursday night. By Friday, models show an approaching cold front, which will increase our shower and thunderstorm chances Friday into Friday night. Models indicate the front will be draped across our region Saturday into Sunday, and this will continue showers and thunderstorms through the weekend, especially during the daylight hours. The front will continue to meander in our region into the beginning of next week, and this will keep us in an unstable pattern through at least Monday. Southerly winds south of the front will keep our region warm and muggy through the end of the work week, with just a small drop in temperatures over the weekend as the front dips a little farther south. High temperatures will be in the 90 to 95 degree range Thursday and Friday, and in the upper 80s to around 90 degrees Saturday through Monday. Dew points in the middle 70s will give us heat indices in the 100 to 105 degree range away from showers and storms. Heat indices will drop off a few degrees for next weekend and into Monday. && .AVIATION... Issued at 1159 AM CDT Mon Aug 1 2016 Kept TAFs generally VFR with light winds. Some MVFR cigs possible this afternoon through 20-21z. Band of convection from KEVV to just east of KCEY will continue east. From 00z on...confidence too low to include convective chances in the TAFs. && .PAH Watches/Warnings/Advisories... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 225 AM CDT MON AUG 1 2016 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-021000- JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON- WHITE-JACKSON-WILLIAMSON-SALINE-GALLATIN-UNION-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- 225 AM CDT MON AUG 1 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL ACCOMPANY MOST STORMS, WHILE ISOLATED STRONGER STORMS MAY PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS OR HAIL. PATCHY FOG MAY RESTRICT VISIBILITY EARLY TODAY AND LATE TONIGHT BUT WILL BURN OFF QUICKLY ONCE DAYLIGHT BEGINS. THE HEAT INDEX WILL APPROACH AND MAY EXCEED TRIPLE DIGITS ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND SOUTHERN KENTUCKY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY DAILY CHANCES FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST AND WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. ISOLATED STRONGER STORMS MIGHT PACK A PUNCH OF GUSTY WIND OR HAIL AS WELL. THE HEAT INDEX WILL AGAIN APPROACH OR EXCEED TRIPLE DIGITS EACH AFTERNOON DURING THE WORK WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS OF STORM ACTIVITY ARE APPRECIATED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
247 PM CDT MON AUG 1 2016
KYZ005>008-010-011-012030-
CRITTENDEN KY-LYON KY-MARSHALL KY-LIVINGSTON KY-GRAVES KY-
MCCRACKEN KY-
247 PM CDT MON AUG 1 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MARSHALL...NORTHEASTERN
GRAVES...SOUTHEASTERN LIVINGSTON...NORTHERN LYON...SOUTH CENTRAL
CRITTENDEN AND SOUTHEASTERN MCCRACKEN COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CDT...
AT 246 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES SOUTH OF SALEM TO NEAR LEDBETTER TO
NEAR HENDRON. MOVEMENT WAS EAST SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BENTON...CALVERT CITY...EDDYVILLE...REIDLAND...LEDBETTER...
WOODLAWN-OAKDALE...KUTTAWA...GRAND RIVERS...DYCUSBURG AND SYMSONIA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH
FLOODED ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3717 8805 3704 8796 3683 8841 3701 8865
3704 8848 3718 8826
TIME...MOT...LOC 1946Z 265DEG 18KT 3715 8829 3704 8843 3697 8862
RSTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
300 PM CDT MON AUG 01 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0259 PM HEAVY RAIN PADUCAH 37.07N 88.64W
08/01/2016 M1.62 INCH MCCRACKEN KY ASOS
1.62 INCHES IN PAST 42 MINUTES.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
318 PM CDT MON AUG 01 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0318 PM FLASH FLOOD PADUCAH 37.07N 88.64W
08/01/2016 MCCRACKEN KY NWS EMPLOYEE
FLOOD CONDITIONS REPORTED ALONG PORTIONS OF HIGHWAY
45/JACKSON STREET IN PADUCAH.
&&
SMITTYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
401 PM CDT MON AUG 1 2016
KYZ006-009-012-017-012130-
CALLOWAY KY-CHRISTIAN KY-GRAVES KY-TRIGG KY-
401 PM CDT MON AUG 1 2016
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
AT 400 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A GUST FRONT ABOUT 5 TO
15 MINUTES AHEAD OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
NEAR COBB TO 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CADIZ TO 12 MILES NORTH OF PARIS
LANDING STATE PARK TO NEAR LYNNVILLE. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 30 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 TO 40 MPH MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HOPKINSVILLE...MURRAY...CADIZ...LYNNVILLE...HAZEL...LAFAYETTE...
HERNDON...NEW CONCORD...LINTON...HARRIS GROVE AND CROSSLAND.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH
FLOODED ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN PADUCAH.
IF ON OR NEAR KENTUCKY OR BARKLEY LAKE...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND
MOVE INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE
OUT TO 10 MILES FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM. IF YOU CAN HEAR
THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO
SAFE SHELTER NOW! DO NOT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM.
PERSONS IN CAMPGROUNDS SHOULD CONSIDER SEEKING STURDY SHELTER UNTIL
THESE STORMS PASS.
&&
LAT...LON 3656 8857 3663 8812 3681 8780 3692 8778
3692 8744 3672 8748 3664 8762 3663 8785
3667 8786 3668 8802 3665 8806 3654 8803
3650 8805 3650 8841
TIME...MOT...LOC 2100Z 285DEG 25KT 3694 8775 3680 8774 3662 8806 3657
8851
SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
508 PM CDT MON AUG 01 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0310 PM HEAVY RAIN WEST PADUCAH 37.08N 88.74W
08/01/2016 M2.43 INCH MCCRACKEN KY OFFICIAL NWS OBS
2.43 INCHES AT THE NWS OFFICE IN 50 MINUTES
&&
SPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
547 PM CDT MON AUG 01 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0239 PM TSTM WND DMG LEDBETTER 37.05N 88.50W
08/01/2016 LIVINGSTON KY EMERGENCY MNGR
SEVERAL TREES DOWN. ONE TREE FELL ON AND DAMAGED PART OF
A CHURCH.
&&
K. SMITHThe Paducah radar (KPAH), 154 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:55 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A vehicle was submerged in water on County Road 4681. All occupants were rescued safely. Some other county roads were also impassable.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, August 2016
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: 650398.