Numerous clusters of thunderstorms accompanied a cold front as it moved south across western Kentucky during the afternoon. The front was associated with an upper level shortwave trough moving across Illinois and Missouri.
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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.
Numerous clusters of thunderstorms accompanied a cold front as it moved south across western Kentucky during the afternoon. The front was associated with an upper level shortwave trough moving across Illinois and Missouri. Some of these storms produced flooding rainfall as they moved through a tropical air mass, where precipitable water values approached two inches.
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 22, 12:37 PM CST, 53 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 137 PM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019 .UPDATE... Issued at 137 PM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019 Updated aviation discussion for 18Z TAFs. && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Wednesday night) Issued at 320 AM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019 The main concern in the short term remains the potential for showers and thunderstorms today. Our focus then turns to the long awaited reprieve from the heat and humidity. Showers and thunderstorms will continue to impact the area today as a cold front makes southward progress through the region. The primary kicker is an upper level shortwave moving across southern Missouri early this morning. Showers and some thunderstorms with this feature will be most widespread across southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and far western Kentucky through the morning, with lesser coverage further north and east in southwest Indiana. The widespread precipitation and cloud cover should keep the atmosphere from destabilizing substantially across much of the area today. However, there is still some concern that southern portions of the forecast area may destabilize enough as the energy moves in later this morning to result in a couple strong storms through early afternoon. That would be most likely across portions of western Kentucky and near the Missouri bootheel. Otherwise, a general diminishing trend in the shower and thunderstorm activity is anticipated from north to south throughout the day as the cold front passes through. Most of the precipitation should be south of the region by sunset. In the wake of the cold front, much cooler and drier air will take hold for the middle part of the week as high pressure builds south from Canada. Driving this is a pattern shift as an upper level high retrogrades into the western U.S. and a deep longwave trough develops over the eastern half of the nation. Temperatures today will likely be held down by clouds and precipitation, with highs around 80 degrees forecast. Highs around 80 are forecast again on Tuesday with plenty of sunshine, with readings into the lower 80s by Wednesday. Lows Monday night through Wednesday night should be in the upper 50s to lower 60s thanks to dew points in the upper 50s. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Sunday) Issued at 320 AM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019 The long term continues to be dominated by a nearly stationary area of high pressure that will be located over the eastern 1/4 of the country. This surface high will bring a continuation of fairly nice summer conditions through the end of the work week. Expect afternoon temps in the mid 80s Thursday to begin to creep up a degree or two each day leading into the end of the week as the high slowly shifts a bit farther east and southerly flow becomes more established on its western periphery. Dew points in the lower 60s Thursday will also begin a slow ascent to the less comfortable readings in the upper half of the 60s by Saturday/Sunday time frame. && .AVIATION... Issued at 137 PM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019 MVFR cigs will be common this afternoon behind a surface cold front, and will gradually improve over southern IL/southwestern IN/ southeastern MO as drier air filters in from the northwest. This will continue to occur through midnight for western KY. Meanwhile, shower and tstm activity in parts of western KY is forecast to gradually drift farther south with time this afternoon. Vsbys in such activity may be reduced to as low as a mile in heavy rain. However, the TAF sites should be free of significant vsby reductions in pcpn for the rest of the afternoon. Northerly winds will dominate through the 18Z TAF period, gusting to 15 to 20 knots Tue afternoon. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. && SHORT TERM...RJP LONG TERM...GM AVIATION...DB
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 400 AM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-231000- 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- 400 AM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered to numerous thunderstorms remain possible today as a cold front passes through. Locally heavy rainfall and lightning are the primary concerns, but a few strong to severe storms with damaging winds are possible over far southeast Missouri into western Kentucky from mid morning through early afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. RJP
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1047 AM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019
KYZ001>003-MOZ112-114-221645-
Carlisle KY-Fulton KY-Hickman KY-New Madrid MO-Mississippi MO-
1047 AM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FULTON...HICKMAN...CARLISLE...
MISSISSIPPI AND NEW MADRID COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 AM CDT...
At 1046 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Bertrand to New Madrid to near Hayti.
Movement was east at 25 mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Sikeston, Charleston, Portageville, East Prairie, New Madrid, Cairo,
Fulton, Hickman, Clinton, Lilbourn, Bardwell, Towosahgy State
Historic Site, Big Oak Tree State Park, Hunter-Dawson State Historic
Site, Gideon, Morehouse, Bertrand, Parma, Matthews and Marston.
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.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3640 8959 3643 8972 3639 8975 3639 8997
3663 8989 3663 8970 3686 8970 3688 8951
3700 8937 3702 8926 3707 8931 3698 8912
3692 8908 3695 8882 3650 8882 3651 8932
3646 8946 3650 8953 3634 8954
TIME...MOT...LOC 1546Z 280DEG 21KT 3697 8951 3657 8955 3627 8973
07Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1148 AM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019
KYZ001>003-006-009-MOZ112-114-221745-
Carlisle KY-Calloway KY-Graves KY-Fulton KY-Hickman KY-New Madrid MO-
Mississippi MO-
1148 AM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FULTON...CALLOWAY...HICKMAN...
SOUTHERN CARLISLE...GRAVES...SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND EAST CENTRAL
NEW MADRID COUNTIES UNTIL 1245 PM CDT...
At 1148 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 8 miles southwest of Bardwell to Fulgham to
near Union City. Movement was east at 35 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Murray, Mayfield, East Prairie, Fulton, Hickman, Clinton, Towosahgy
State Historic Site, Big Oak Tree State Park, Anniston, Cayce,
Dorena, Lynnville, Fulgham, Sedalia, Wingo, Hazel, Arlington, Water
Valley, Columbus and New Concord.
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 3688 8941 3682 8849 3675 8848 3675 8811
3661 8804 3651 8804 3650 8805 3651 8932
3650 8942 3646 8946
TIME...MOT...LOC 1648Z 285DEG 31KT 3680 8914 3664 8888 3639 8907
07Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1247 PM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019
KYZ008-009-012-221845-
Marshall KY-Calloway KY-Trigg KY-
1247 PM CDT Mon Jul 22 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CALLOWAY...SOUTHERN MARSHALL AND
TRIGG COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM CDT...
At 1246 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Mayfield to 7 miles northwest of Murray to
8 miles southeast of Lynnville. Movement was east at 40 mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Murray, Benton, Land Between The Lakes Area, Energy, Canton, Hardin,
Hazel, New Concord, Linton, Kirksey, Brewers, Aurora, 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.
&&
LAT...LON 3650 8849 3684 8848 3686 8767 3674 8767
3664 8770 3663 8785 3667 8786 3668 8807
3654 8803 3650 8805
TIME...MOT...LOC 1746Z 261DEG 33KT 3673 8855 3667 8844 3650 8843
07The Paducah radar (KPAH), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:31 UTC.
2 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash flooding was occurring at street intersections in Mayfield.
Several inches of water covered a street intersection in the city of Paducah.
Water was over several roads in Madisonville, including U.S. Highway 41, which was impassable. About six inches of water covered Highway 41A.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, July 2019
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: 833233, 833237, 833243.