Thunderstorms increased across western Kentucky during the afternoon hours. An upper level disturbance over Missouri was the primary reason for the increase.
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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.
Thunderstorms increased across western Kentucky during the afternoon hours. An upper level disturbance over Missouri was the primary reason for the increase. Favorably strong winds aloft overcame relatively weak instability to produce isolated damaging winds along a line of 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 Mar 30, 1:26 PM CST, 3 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
226 PM CDT Sat Mar 30 2019
.SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Monday night)
Issued at 224 PM CDT Sat Mar 30 2019
At 19Z, the cold front was bearing down on the Wabash river, and
further south, had just made passage at KCGI and KPOF. Temps have
already fallen into the 40s behind the front, in our northwest
counties. There is a ribbon of dew points pushing 60F along/just
ahead of the front, near the Ohio river, and lightning detection
shows activity starting to increase a little, as expected, along
and ahead of the front. This should continue, esp for western Ky,
as the front pushes east, as depicted by the SPC SWODY1 outlook
(marginal/slight risk east) and latest swomcd. The front should
make passage by the end of the day, effectively ending any svr
threat, but until then, damaging winds/large hail cannot be
completely ruled out from a stronger/svr storm. Locally heavy
rain/lightning continue to be storm hazards as well.
Cold air will filter in behind the front, and while temps will be
sub freezing as early as tonight, clouds and wind should preclude
Saturday night frost formation. The coldest day/night will be Sunday-
Sunday night, as surface high pressure moves in/overhead, and skies
clear and winds diminish. Widespread lows in the upper 20s Sunday
night support the inherited Freeze Watch.
.LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Saturday)
Issued at 224 PM CDT Sat Mar 30 2019
Surface high pressure holds its strongest grip for the first part of
the long term forecast. As it slides off to the east with time,
expect a gradual warming trend, with near seasonal norms starting
out for Tuesday highs/lows nr 60/40...moderating thru the 60s/40s
(some southern locations may push 70/50) thru the remainder of the
week.
By Thursday, dry weather will give way to a fast moving system that
races across the Plains in the zonal flow, and bee-lines toward the
mid Mississippi river valley. It will spread showers and potentially
a few thunderstorms as it makes its passage Thursday night into
Friday.
Given the still zonal flow, temps shouldn't drop too much behind
this system passage, as we head into early next weekend.
&&
.AVIATION...
Issued at 224 PM CDT Sat Mar 30 2019
MVFR cigs/vsbys with showers may temporarily restrict to IFR at
times, as a cold front makes passage this afternoon. This includes
the possibility of a thunderstorm. After the surface front's passage
by this evening, it will take another 6 hours or so for the upper
trof to make passage. Until that occurs, expect a continuation of
restricted base ceilings, which may mean for much of the night for
all but KMVN, which could see its clearing before daybreak. Winds
will shift to the northwest and north behind the front, and be
gustier during daylight hours.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Freeze Watch from Sunday evening through Monday morning for
ILZ081>094.
MO...Freeze Watch from Sunday evening through Monday morning for
MOZ087-108>112-114.
IN...Freeze Watch from Sunday evening through Monday morning for
INZ085>088.
KY...Freeze Watch from Sunday evening through Monday morning for
KYZ001>022.
&&Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 251 PM CDT Sat Mar 30 2019 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-311000- 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- 251 PM CDT Sat Mar 30 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A chance of thunderstorms remains in the afternoon forecast, mainly for western Kentucky, until a cold front can make its passage by day's end. Isolated strong to severe storms are possible, with damaging winds the primary severe weather hazard, should a severe storm occur. Heavy rain and lightning will also pose thunderstorm hazards. Strong southwest winds will gust 25 to 35 mph ahead of the front, while north to northwest winds will gust 30 to 40 mph behind the front late this afternoon into early this evening. A brief, light freeze is possible throughout the region late tonight. Lingering cloud and wind expected for most of the area through the bulk of the night should inhibit widespread frost from developing. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Several hours of sub-freezing temperatures are forecast Sunday night into early Monday morning. Clear skies, and light winds, will combine with the cold to promote widespread frost formation that may impact agricultural interests. A Freeze Watch is in effect and may be referenced for additional details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter reports of rainfall and wind this afternoon are appreciated.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
116 PM CDT SAT MAR 30 2019
KYZ002>006-MOZ112-301900-
Carlisle KY-McCracken KY-Ballard KY-Graves KY-Hickman KY-
Mississippi MO-
116 PM CDT SAT MAR 30 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN HICKMAN...
CARLISLE...MCCRACKEN...SOUTHERN BALLARD...NORTHWESTERN GRAVES AND
EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM CDT...
At 115 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Wyatt, or 8 miles west of Bardwell, moving northeast at 65 mph.
Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Paducah, Bardwell, Lone Oak, Wyatt, West Paducah, Lovelaceville,
Kevil, and Blandville.
LAT...LON 3672 8919 3688 8931 3717 8878 3714 8873
3714 8870 3711 8861 3710 8859 3708 8857
3707 8857 3703 8851
TIME...MOT...LOC 1815Z 238DEG 55KT 3685 8917
YorkSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 455 PM CDT Sat Mar 30 2019 INZ088-KYZ008-009-011>013-015>022-302300- SPENCER-MARSHALL-CALLOWAY-LYON-TRIGG-CALDWELL-WEBSTER-HOPKINS- CHRISTIAN-HENDERSON-DAVIESS-MCLEAN-MUHLENBERG-TODD- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF ROCKPORT, BENTON, MURRAY, EDDYVILLE, CADIZ, PRINCETON, DIXON, MADISONVILLE, HOPKINSVILLE, HENDERSON, OWENSBORO, CALHOUN, GREENVILLE, AND ELKTON 455 PM CDT Sat Mar 30 2019 ...Special Weather Statement... Late this afternoon, strong northwest winds will gust 45 to 50 mph for a short time behind a strong cold front moving through west Kentucky. The winds will then back down to 20 to 30 mph with some gusts to near 40 mph through the late afternoon and early evening hours.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
518 PM CDT SAT MAR 30 2019
KYZ017-021-022-302300-
Muhlenberg KY-Todd KY-Christian KY-
518 PM CDT SAT MAR 30 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MUHLENBERG...CHRISTIAN AND TODD
COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT...
At 517 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Powderly to 10 miles northeast of Big Rock.
Movement was east at 60 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Hopkinsville, Oak Grove, Central City, Elkton, Fort Campbell North,
Greenville, Clarksville, Guthrie, Pembroke, Powderly, Central
City--Greenville, Weir, Dunmor, Drakesboro, Trenton, Lafayette,
Justice, Everett, Allensville and Allegre.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3711 8689 3711 8691 3709 8690 3707 8695
3706 8705 3664 8706 3664 8769 3675 8767
3729 8721 3733 8700 3727 8698 3724 8694
3723 8691 3722 8692 3718 8689 3718 8692
3714 8693
TIME...MOT...LOC 2217Z 254DEG 53KT 3726 8716 3670 8765
RJPThe Ft Campbell radar (KHPX), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:28 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees were blown down around the Beechmont and Drakesboro areas. There was one motor vehicle accident due to the debris. Power lines were damaged.
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, March 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: 806029.