Localized flash flooding and a couple of tornadoes occurred across southeast Missouri. A narrow swath of torrential rainfall occurred from Cape Girardeau southwest across Poplar Bluff, where water rescues were conducted.
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.
Localized flash flooding and a couple of tornadoes occurred across southeast Missouri. A narrow swath of torrential rainfall occurred from Cape Girardeau southwest across Poplar Bluff, where water rescues were conducted. A surface low pressure center tracked rapidly north-northeast from Arkansas to the upper Mississippi Valley, dragging a warm front north across southeast Missouri. Instability was adequate for a couple tornadoes in the presence of very strong wind shear. A very moist air mass resulted in heavy rainfall, which produced localized flash flooding due to the water-logged ground. Most rivers experienced minor flooding.
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 24, 1:24 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
124 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
.SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Monday night)
Issued at 109 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
Going forecast is coming into form/on track. If anything, some of
the short term modeling has it here/pushing thru a little quicker,
which is in part why SPC has shaved the western edge of our
Enhanced (svr) risk zone. But all things remain virtually
unchanged, with increasing wind shear/instability peaking around
00Z or shortly thereafter. See linear development already upstream
over western AR, and the warm sector convection is ongoing on
into our southern border counties. Anticipate increasing
convective threat thru nightfall, continuing into early evening
hours. Still high pw's will keep the flooding rains a hazard, with
another 1-2" possible thru the end of the event (higher amounts
locally in thunderstorms). So will re-up the FFA (and FLW's) and
continue thru tmrw morning, as we monitor for severe likelihood
thru the evening hours. It looks like a quick/sharp west to east
exit in the 06z-09z time frame with all pcpn over entirely by
12z. The remainder of the short term (Sunday thru Monday night)
will be recovery time, with High pressure giving dry weather and
generally seasonal temps for this time of year.
.LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Saturday)
Issued at 109 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
Ran with the blend and targeted the mid week rain chance,
starting Tue night and ending Thursday evening. During that time
frame, the models are increasingly signalling a wet pattern, with
another 1 to 2 inches on average possible, mainly along/south of
the Ohio river. This won't give a whole lot of recovery time from
the previous wetting, upwards to 3 days. Did go ahead and include
some elevated thunder risk late Tue night, and then again Wed
evening, as GFS shows supportive showalters and even some mucape
in the lower 1 km on the back end (time). This could result in
some locally higher totals, and depending upon how our river stems
are responding, may result in another headline/watch scenario. Not
too sold on convective chances just yet, so that's a maybe, but am
sold on some wet weather for the overall time frame.
Temps hold generally mild for this time of year, with a late week
cooldown behind the mid week storm system/wake of its departure.
&&
.AVIATION...
Issued at 109 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
Warm front lifting north will keep restricted cigs/vsbys, along
with increasing rain chances, in the forecast. Behind it, linear
convective chances increase into the evening hours, with IFR
restrictions forecast in thunderstorms for its passage. Gusty
south winds will shift to northwest overnight/with fropa, then
diminish upon clearing out/with high pressure taking over tmrw.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Flood Watch through late tonight for ILZ075>078-080>094.
MO...Flood Watch through late tonight for MOZ076-086-087-100-107>112-
114.
IN...Flood Watch through late tonight for INZ081-082-085>088.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ001>022.
&&Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 330 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-251100- 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- 330 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Showers and Thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, into the overnight hours, will pose a severe weather and flooding hazard. A Tornado Watch is in effect until 9 pm for most of southeast Missouri, western Kentucky, and far southern Illinois. Refer to the Watch product for details. A Flood Watch remains in effect through late tonight, and that product can be referenced for additional details. In addition, Flood and Flash Flood Warnings remain in effect as a line of thunderstorms with heavy rain impact the area. Numerous river flood warnings are also in effect. Refer to the warning products and their follow up statements for more details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday An additional 1 to 2 inches of rainfall is possible during the mid week time frame. Refer to the flood warnings and statements for important river flood details, including the latest updated information. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested this afternoon and evening for the Tornado Watch. All reports of storm activity are appreciated.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1135 AM CST SAT FEB 24 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1134 AM HEAVY RAIN EDDYVILLE 37.08N 88.08W
02/24/2018 M6.07 INCH LYON KY PUBLIC
4 DAY RAINFALL TOTAL RELAYED VIA TWITTER
&&
SPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
226 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0212 PM HAIL 6 E PRINCETON 37.11N 87.78W
02/24/2018 E0.88 INCH CALDWELL KY PUBLIC
NICKEL SIZED HAIL REPORTED AT HWY 672.
&&
ALRSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 246 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018 ILZ090-092>094-KYZ001>009-MOZ112-242200- POPE-ALEXANDER-PULASKI-MASSAC-FULTON-HICKMAN-CARLISLE-BALLARD- MCCRACKEN-GRAVES-LIVINGSTON-MARSHALL-CALLOWAY-MISSISSIPPI- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF GOLCONDA, CAIRO, MOUND CITY, METROPOLIS, HICKMAN, CLINTON, BARDWELL, WICKLIFFE, PADUCAH, MAYFIELD, SMITHLAND, BENTON, MURRAY, AND CHARLESTON 246 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018 ...Isolated wind gusts near 40 mph possible through 330 pm CST... Isolated wind gusts up to 40 mph may be possible over the Purchase area of West Kentucky through 330 pm CST. Clouds are beginning to thin near the Kentucky and Tennessee state line. Stronger winds higher in the atmosphere may mix down as skies clear, producing stronger wind gusts during the next hour. Given the wet ground, these stronger winds may down small or diseased trees or tree limbs and toss around loose objects. Smith
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
341 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2018
KYZ022-242200-
Todd KY-
341 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN TODD COUNTY UNTIL
400 PM CST...
At 341 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Guthrie, or 11 miles northeast of Clarksville, moving northeast at 45
mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Guthrie and Allensville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
A tornado watch remains in effect until 900 PM CST for south central
Kentucky.
LAT...LON 3675 8706 3664 8706 3664 8729 3682 8706
3677 8705
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 229DEG 37KT 3663 8715
SPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
358 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2018
ILZ088-092-093-MOZ087-111-242230-
Alexander IL-Union IL-Pulaski IL-Cape Girardeau MO-Scott MO-
358 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL UNION...NORTHWESTERN
PULASKI...ALEXANDER...NORTHEASTERN SCOTT AND EAST CENTRAL CAPE
GIRARDEAU COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CST...
At 358 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Carbondale to Ware to 7 miles southwest of
Jonesboro to near Kelso. Movement was northeast at 50 mph.
Winds in excess of 45 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Cape Girardeau, Scott City, Anna, Jonesboro, Benton, Cobden, Morley,
Tamms, Kelso, Ware, Thebes, Alto Pass, Commerce, Mill Creek, East
Cape Girardea and Lambert.
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.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Paducah.
&&
A tornado watch remains in effect until 900 PM CST for southern
Illinois...and southeastern Missouri.
LAT...LON 3701 8963 3729 8952 3740 8942 3759 8932
3760 8908 3759 8907 3718 8926
TIME...MOT...LOC 2158Z 223DEG 43KT 3764 8920 3745 8937 3738 8937 3719
8949
SMITHThe Paducah radar (KPAH), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:01 UTC.
6 flood, 2 flash flood, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Moderate flooding developed on the Mississippi River. There was extensive flooding of agricultural land, however most of the cropland was dormant during the winter. Some low-lying roads were affected. The river continued rising into March.
Moderate flooding developed on the Mississippi River. There was extensive flooding of agricultural land, however most of the cropland was dormant during the winter. Some low-lying roads were affected. The river continued rising into March.
Flash flooding of streets occurred in Poplar Bluff, where at least a couple of water rescues were conducted. Flooding of Pike Creek resulted in an impassable secondary road just west of Poplar Bluff. Water was over County Road 569 near Rombauer. Near Hendrickson, the intersection of two back roads in the Mark Twain National Forest was completely underwater. Parts of County Road 523 were washing out rapidly. A thunderstorm produced nearly an inch of rain in 45 minutes at the Poplar Bluff airport. This heavy rain occurred after nearly 5 inches of rain had fallen in the previous four days.
A long-track tornado crossed from Dunklin County into New Madrid County near the city of Malden. The tornado, which began in northeast Arkansas, only lasted a minute or two in New Madrid County before dissipating. The tornado crossed the intersection of Highway 25 and U.S. Highway 62 just east of Malden with peak winds less than 60 mph. Minimal damage was observed in New Madrid County.
This EF-2 tornado tracked from the south side of Matthews to one mile east of town. Roofs were partially or completely torn off dozens of homes. Semi trucks were blown over and destroyed. Numerous outbuildings were destroyed. A couple of injuries occurred due to windows being blown out of a nursing home. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph.
Water was over U.S. Highway 62 near Matthews.
Minor flooding occurred on the St. Francis River. Low-lying and bottomland woods and fields were inundated.
Minor flooding occurred on the Black River. Low-lying woods, fields, and a city park were partially submerged.
Minor flooding occurred on the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River backed up into several creeks and a diversion channel. Low-lying agricultural land was flooded. The river remained above flood stage into March.
Minor flooding occurred on the Current River. Some low-lying woods and fields near the river were inundated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Missouri, 2018Warnings in Missouri, February 2018
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: 737423, 737457, 737132, 735603, 735602, 737143, 737406, 737408, 737422, 737407.