Isolated severe thunderstorms on the evening of February 28 lingered past midnight March 1 across the Owensboro area of western Kentucky. These storms occurred ahead of a cold front in a moist air mass characterized by dew points in the lower to mid 60's.
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.
Isolated severe thunderstorms on the evening of February 28 lingered past midnight March 1 across the Owensboro area of western Kentucky. These storms occurred ahead of a cold front in a moist air mass characterized by dew points in the lower to mid 60's. These storms occurred ahead of a mid-level impulse moving northeast from Oklahoma. A southwesterly low-level jet increased substantially during the night.
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 Feb 28, 11:41 PM CST, 1 hour earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1141 PM CST Tue Feb 28 2017
.UPDATE...
Issued at 1141 PM CST Tue Feb 28 2017
Updated the AVIATION discussion for the 06Z TAF issuance.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Wednesday)
Issued at 303 PM CST Tue Feb 28 2017
Severe weather outbreak appears about to unfold over the Lower
Ohio and Mid-Mississippi Valleys. Low-level southwest flow has
already increased to 40 to 50 knots on regional vad wind profiles
this afternoon. Shear will continue to increase through the night
through the entire column. Models indicate 500 mb winds will reach
100 knots over the Lower Ohio Valley by morning. Instability is
not in short supply either, as mid 60's surface dew points stream
northward over our region. The moist low levels will help boost
surface-based cape values to between 1000 and 2000 joules for
much of the night. This combination of shear and instability is
certainly supportive of supercells. The EHI and significant
tornado parameter (stp) suggest strong tornadoes are possible. The
main questions are when and where development will occur.
Given the wide range of high-res cam model guidance, the evolution
of convection tonight is open to debate. An isolated intense storm
that developed between kvih and kuno at 20z suggests development
will not be delayed much longer. Tornado Watch 41 for southern IL
and most of southeast MO is the first of more watches to come
tonight. Forcing for ascent is a little nebulous, which is why
the models are having some trouble with the timing and location.
In any case, development will become more widespread overnight as
the parent 500 mb trough and associated cold front approach from
the west. Steep mid-level lapse rates are supportive of large
hail, similar to the environment which produced golf-ball hail in
Perry County MO last night.
Another potential issue is heavy rainfall. There will be multiple
rounds of convection through the night, especially across the
Lower Ohio Valley. Model guidance often runs too low with qpf in
this type of pattern. Precip water values will peak around 1.5
inches overnight. The 850 mb flow is forecast to increase to 60
knots or better late tonight, which will recharge the atmosphere
quickly behind each cluster of storms. A Flash Flood Watch will be
issued shortly for the Lower Ohio Valley counties, which is where
the heaviest qpf axis is indicated by WPC and area forecast
offices.
The surface cold front will move east across our region Wednesday
morning. Severe convection may still be ongoing early in the
morning, especially across west Kentucky and southwest Indiana.
Storms will end from west to east in the morning as much drier air
overspreads the region. Temps will hold steady through the day.
.LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday)
Issued at 303 PM CST Tue Feb 28 2017
Flow aloft over the PAH forecast area will be of a cyclonic nature
until the weekend arrives, with minor impulses from time to time
generating intervals of clouds. General high surface pressure and
moderately dry deep layer air will preclude measurable pcpn. Friday
should be the coolest day of the extended period, with lows Friday
morning at or below freezing, and highs in the 40s, except
higher in parts of southeastern MO.
By the beginning of the weekend, 850 mb winds over us are progged to
turn to the southwest, enabling moist Gulf return flow to feed into
our region as higher surface pressures retreat to the eastern
seaboard. However, the onset of higher moisture will not be timed
with any development of a surface warm frontal boundary, so lack of
a surface trigger will probably preclude measurable showers through
most of the weekend, though clouds will be on the increase Sun. The
CMC model has been hinting at this for several days, and other
medium range models are now suggesting a slight possibility of a
shower later on Sun. There will certainly be a rapid warm-up over
the weekend, with highs reaching well into the 60s by Sun.
Sun night through Mon night look wetter as another large scale,
vigorous mid level shortwave is progged to rapidly progress eastward
into the Great Lakes region, inducing development of showers. There
are some indications that the fropa, and the end of the rainfall,
could occur by early Mon evening. Just ahead of the front, tstm
activity appears possible. Highs Mon in the 70s are possible in the
southern half of the region, though they are not officially forecast
at this time.
&&
.AVIATION...
Issued at 1141 PM CST Tue Feb 28 2017
MVFR/VFR cigs/vsbys and SHRA/VCTS/TSRA with the approach of a cold
front for the first couple of hours, VFR with SHRA and possible
TSRA from 11-13Z, then VFR beyond that in the wake of the front.
Winds gusting up to 25-28 knots out of the south southwest early,
then veering around to the northwest with the frontal passage.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Flash Flood Watch until 9 AM CST Wednesday for ILZ083-086-087-
089>091-093-094.
MO...None.
IN...Flash Flood Watch until 9 AM CST Wednesday for INZ081-082-
085>088.
KY...Flash Flood Watch until 9 AM CST Wednesday for KYZ004-005-007-
010-011-013>016-018>021.
&&
SHORT TERM...MY
LONG TERM...DB
AVIATION...JPHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 301 PM CST Tue Feb 28 2017 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-012115- 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- 301 PM CST Tue Feb 28 2017 ...Outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes possible through early Wednesday... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight An outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes appears increasingly likely tonight into early Wednesday. The primary hazards will be isolated tornadoes and large hail. There is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms for much of our region. The potential for severe storms will continue to increase through this evening, especially over southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. Activity will continue to increase across the entire outlook area overnight. The potential exists for an outbreak of tornadoes, including some strong tornadoes. Supercell thunderstorms capable of very large hail and destructive winds will progress northeast at very rapid speeds. Very heavy downpours could result in localized flash flooding. A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for parts of western Kentucky, southern Illinois, and southwest Indiana. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Organized severe storms will likely be continuing through early Wednesday morning. The storms will rapidly diminish from west to east as a cold front passes in the morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of spotters is expected tonight.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1102 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1056 PM HAIL JOHNSTON CITY 37.82N 88.93W
02/28/2017 M3.00 INCH WILLIAMSON IL TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1106 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1105 PM NON-TSTM WND GST MORTONS GAP 37.24N 87.47W
02/28/2017 M50 MPH HOPKINS KY TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1107 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1107 PM TSTM WND GST CERULEAN 36.96N 87.71W
02/28/2017 M60 MPH TRIGG KY TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1115 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 PM TORNADO 3 NW POSEYVILLE 38.20N 87.82W
02/28/2017 POSEY IN BROADCAST MEDIA
I-64 CORRIDOR CLOSED FROM EXIT 4 TO EXIT 12 DUE TO
TORNADO DAMAGE
&&
SPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1142 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1135 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 S CADIZ 36.78N 87.82W
02/28/2017 TRIGG KY EMERGENCY MNGR
POWER LINES DOWN ON SOUTH ROAD AND HWY 139 SOUTH OF CADIZ
&&
SPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1208 AM CST WED MAR 01 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1055 PM TSTM WND DMG MURRAY 36.61N 88.32W
02/28/2017 CALLOWAY KY EMERGENCY MNGR
POWER POLE ON BUILDING ON WEST SIDE OF MURRAY. ROOF
DAMAGE ALSO.
&&
SPThe Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:40 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees and power poles were down across the city, along with some street signs. Over 5000 customers were without power in the city and surrounding parts of Daviess County. A wind gust to 66 mph was measured at the Owensboro airport.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, March 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: 680407.