A squall line of thunderstorms moved quickly east-southeast across southwest Indiana, producing pockets of wind damage along and north of Interstate 64. The environment over southwest Indiana was characterized by moderately strong instability, with most-unstable layer cape values around 2000 j/kg.
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 squall line of thunderstorms moved quickly east-southeast across southwest Indiana, producing pockets of wind damage along and north of Interstate 64. The environment over southwest Indiana was characterized by moderately strong instability, with most-unstable layer cape values around 2000 j/kg. A strong 500 mb shortwave moved southeast from the upper Mississippi Valley into the western Great Lakes region, likely helping to initiate the storm complex over Missouri. Once it was initiated, the storm complex accompanied a cold front aloft at 850 mb. This elevated cold front was preceded by a southwest wind flow near 30 knots. Locally heavy rain occurred, causing minor flooding of some roads.
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, 3:03 AM CST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
403 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017
.SHORT TERM...(Today through Tuesday)
Issued at 400 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017
Mid level shortwave energy moving through the Midwest will
continue to induce a surface boundary which is forecast to move
southward most of the way into the PAH forecast area, before
stalling, and remaining in the area through Tue. In the near term,
showers and tstms will continue to affect mainly the northern
half of the region in the early morning hours, supported by 2000
SBCAPEs. North of I-64, where the 0-6 km bulk shear is better,
some tstms may become strong or severe.
After a possible lull in the morning hours after sunrise due to
stabilization of the lower trop, updrafts should be able to
overcome the cap by afternoon in the afternoon, mainly over the
southern half of the region. Model consensus indicates that the
boundary should be bisecting our region by then, and slowly
sinking south. Scattered convective activity should be able to
continue over the southern half through this evening. Due to
somewhat increased bulk shear and 5000+ SBCAPEs, some tstms may
become strong to severe in the afternoon/evening. Moisture pooling
is expected to continue ahead of the front this afternoon, and
with highs in the lower to middle 90s, we should see heat indices
in excess of 105 at most locations this afternoon. Thus, the
Excessive Heat Warning will continue until 7 pm this evening.
Thankfully, there will be somewhat drier and cooler air behind
this boundary (not as dry/cool as previously forecast), but the
models continue to suggest some possibility of scattered showers
and tstms in the heat of the day Mon and Tue, where the deeper
moisture will be, i.e., surface dewpoints are forecast to remain
in the 70s there. Meanwhile, by early Mon, northern counties could
see a modest drop in surface dewpoints into the upper 60s.
In the slightly drier air Mon and Tue, highs should be around 90,
with heat indices flirting with 100 degrees in southeastern MO and
the adjacent Purchase Area of KY.
.LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Saturday)
Issued at 400 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017
At the beginning of the period, a mid level ridge axis will extend
from its center over the SW U.S. ENE across the lower Ohio Valley
region. The pattern will amplify through the period as energy
topping the ridge moves SE from the NW U.S. and northern Rockies
across the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and Ohio Valley regions. This
will result in a transition to a northwest flow pattern across our
area.
Models hint at a slight chance of convection Tuesday night across
mainly SEMO. May see isolated heat of the day convection Wednesday.
Should be mainly dry Wednesday night. Have a slight chance PoP for
convection in across our far NW counties in case the faster models
verify. However, overall we prefer the slightly slower more
consistent EC. As mid level heights fall, will see a front move SE
toward the area Thursday. Will have increasing chances of convection
from north to south Thursday-Thursday night. The chance will shift
south with the front Friday. By Friday night, the Front and deeper
moisture should be south of the entire area, save for our TN/AR
border counties very early Friday evening. So mainly dry overnight
Friday night through Saturday and Saturday night as high pressure
builds into the area. Slightly lower temperatures as well. Used a
EC/ECENS/GFS MOS blend for temps.
&&
.AVIATION...
Issued at 400 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017
Enough pressure gradient should be maintained to allow light
southwesterlies to continue overnight. A frontal boundary will
drop south and introduce scattered low VFR bases with potential
for mid cloud broken bases/cigs as well. Isolated or vicinity
mention inserted at KEVV (and KOWB) will be kept this package as
all models produce convection, albeit scattered, along boundary
upon its drop southward.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Excessive Heat Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for
ILZ075>078-080>094.
MO...Excessive Heat Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for MOZ076-
086-087-100-107>112-114.
IN...Excessive Heat Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for INZ081-
082-085>088.
KY...Excessive Heat Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for
KYZ001>022.
&&
SHORT TERM...DB
LONG TERM...CNHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 456 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-241000- 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- 456 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight An Excessive Heat Warning continues today, with heat indices from 105 to 109 expected in most locations. There will be scattered thunderstorms around the region today, and some may linger into the evening. Some storms may become strong or severe, with large hail and damaging winds the primary hazards. Some storms may produce heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday A small chance of thunderstorms exists for the southern half of the region Monday and Tuesday. A chance of thunderstorms continues for the region from Tuesday night through Friday. The best chance of storms will be late Thursday through Friday as a front pushes slowly south across the area. Isolated strong storms capable of frequent lightning, locally heavy rain and gusty winds cannot be ruled out. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters should monitor the weather and remain alert for the possibility of activation today.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
257 AM CDT SUN JUL 23 2017
INZ082-087-088-230845-
Warrick IN-Spencer IN-Pike IN-
257 AM CDT SUN JUL 23 2017
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
At 257 AM CDT/357 AM EDT/, Doppler radar was tracking strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from near Dale to 8 miles
northwest of Grandview. Movement was east at 20 mph.
Winds 30 to 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Boonville, Chandler, Santa Claus, Dale, Lynnville, Grandview,
Folsomville, Chrisney, Tennyson and Gentryville.
LAT...LON 3804 8679 3800 8677 3801 8680 3800 8681
3799 8686 3794 8692 3792 8701 3802 8736
3824 8731 3825 8707 3820 8707 3820 8679
3814 8680 3812 8679 3812 8681 3810 8677
3808 8678 3806 8677
TIME...MOT...LOC 0757Z 282DEG 19KT 3821 8703 3800 8711Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
327 AM CDT SUN JUL 23 2017
INZ087-088-KYZ018-019-230915-
Warrick IN-Spencer IN-Henderson KY-Daviess KY-
327 AM CDT SUN JUL 23 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN WARRICK...
SOUTHWESTERN SPENCER...NORTHEASTERN HENDERSON AND NORTHWESTERN
DAVIESS COUNTIES UNTIL 415 AM CDT...
At 327 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Henderson, moving east at 20 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Henderson, Newburgh, Stanley and Hebbardsville.
LAT...LON 3773 8726 3780 8756 3792 8754 3791 8750
3794 8745 3795 8745 3793 8722
TIME...MOT...LOC 0827Z 277DEG 18KT 3786 8747SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 355 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017 ILZ075>078-080>083-086-087-091-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ014-015- 018>020-231000- JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON- WHITE-SALINE-GALLATIN-HARDIN-GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-VANDERBURGH- WARRICK-SPENCER-UNION KY-WEBSTER-HENDERSON-DAVIESS-MCLEAN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF MOUNT VERNON, FAIRFIELD, ALBION, MOUNT CARMEL, PINCKNEYVILLE, WEST FRANKFORT, MCLEANSBORO, CARMI, HARRISBURG, SHAWNEETOWN, ELIZABETHTOWN, FORT BRANCH, PETERSBURG, POSEYVILLE, EVANSVILLE, BOONVILLE, ROCKPORT, MORGANFIELD, DIXON, HENDERSON, OWENSBORO, AND CALHOUN 355 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017 At 355 AM, a band of strong storms extended from Spencer County Indiana to around Henderson Kentucky, to just southeast of Harrisburg Illinois. These storms will continue to move east around 20 mph, and may produce gusty winds 30 to 40 mph, small hail and locally heavy rain as most of the activity moves across west Kentucky counties near the Ohio River. Very strong storms were over southwest Illinois, to the west and northwest of Mount Vernon up along Interstate 64 back toward the metro east St. Louis area. As these storms move into southern Illinois through 500 am, some may become severe and produce damaging winds and possibly hail.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 437 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017 INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ014-018-019-231045- GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-VANDERBURGH-WARRICK-SPENCER-UNION KY-HENDERSON- DAVIESS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF FORT BRANCH, PETERSBURG, POSEYVILLE, EVANSVILLE, BOONVILLE, ROCKPORT, MORGANFIELD, HENDERSON, AND OWENSBORO 437 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017 At 440 AM, numerous strong thunderstorms continued across southwest Indiana into adjacent west Kentucky. Most of the activity was east of a line from Petersburg to Mount Vernon, Indiana. Movement was east around 25 mph. The storms will persist through 530 AM. Some of the stronger storms may produce wind gusts 35 to 50 mph and locally heavy rain. Pockets of stronger wind could cause minor tree damage, and bring down a few power lines.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 511 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017 ILZ075>078-080>087-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ014-018-019-MOZ076- 231115- JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON- WHITE-JACKSON-WILLIAMSON-SALINE-GALLATIN-GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY- VANDERBURGH-WARRICK-SPENCER-UNION KY-HENDERSON-DAVIESS-PERRY MO- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF MOUNT VERNON, FAIRFIELD, ALBION, MOUNT CARMEL, PINCKNEYVILLE, WEST FRANKFORT, MCLEANSBORO, CARMI, CARBONDALE, MURPHYSBORO, HERRIN, HARRISBURG, SHAWNEETOWN, FORT BRANCH, PETERSBURG, POSEYVILLE, EVANSVILLE, BOONVILLE, ROCKPORT, MORGANFIELD, HENDERSON, OWENSBORO, AND PERRYVILLE 511 AM CDT Sun Jul 23 2017 At 511 AM, scattered strong thunderstorms continued across southern Illinois, southwest Indiana and northwest Kentucky. Strong to severe thunderstorms will continue along the Interstate 64 corridor through 630 am over southeast Illinois and possibly into southwest Indiana. Strong storms will continue from the Evansville area east across Pike, Warrick and Spencer counties, and back into Union and Henderson counties in west Kentucky through the daybreak hours. 40 to 50 mph winds have been reported with the stronger storms. Strong storms were developing to the west across portions of Perry and Jackson counties in southern Illinois. Again, wind gusts 35 to 50 mph will be possible with the stronger storms.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
515 AM CDT SUN JUL 23 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0505 AM TSTM WND GST JEFFERSONVILLE 38.44N 88.40W
07/23/2017 M60 MPH WAYNE IL TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERE WINDS PERSISTENT FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES.
&&
CTNThe Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 6 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:47 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees and limbs were down. This damage was caused by the same storm that was associated with damaging winds in parts of the Wabash Valley in southern Illinois.
Several roads were covered by water.
Trees were blown down, and road signs were blown off the road.
Numerous trees were down across northwestern parts of the county. Interstate 64 was blocked for a time.
Numerous trees were blown down across northeast parts of the county. Trees were down in St. Meinrad.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, July 2017
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: 706461, 706602, 706460, 706463, 706464.