A cluster of thunderstorms developed along the lower Ohio River Valley southwest along the Mississippi River. As these storms intensified during the warmth of the afternoon, they produced small hail and isolated strong wind gusts.
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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.
A cluster of thunderstorms developed along the lower Ohio River Valley southwest along the Mississippi River. As these storms intensified during the warmth of the afternoon, they produced small hail and isolated strong wind gusts. The storms occurred under a pool of very cold temperatures aloft, as low as minus 22 Celsius at 500 mb. This cold air aloft was associated with a deep 500 mb trough crossing the Mississippi Valley.
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 Apr 29, 11:28 AM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 1228 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2020 .UPDATE... Issued at 1225 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2020 Aviation update for the 18 UTC TAF issuance. && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Friday night) Issued at 345 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2020 A cold front will continue moving east across the MS River early this morning, and should be east of the forecast area by late morning. Scattered to numerous showers will be probable along and ahead of the front. Chances of thunder will be small but not zero as some models still advertise small amounts of MUCAPE with it's passage. Will probably need to contend with returning pops for showers/isolated thunderstorms the afternoon and evening as the deep upper level trof plows east into the area. With very cold air aloft expected to accompany the trof, would not be surprised to get small hail reports with any thunderstorms that mange to develop. Should finally see a slow return to sunshine from west to east on Thursday along with reducing pops as the upper trof pulls off to the east and a surface high moves east into the Plains. However, much of the day could remain on the cloudy side over our eastern counties of sw IN and the Pennyrile region of western KY. While sunshine should help areas of se MO make it back up to near 70 Thursday afternoon, eastern areas may struggle to get into the lower 60s. Much nicer day overall is expected for Friday as the ridge of high pressure moves in overhead. With abundant sunshine, afternoon temps should warm into the lower/mid 70s. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Tuesday) Issued at 345 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2020 To start the weekend, our region will be situated on the eastern edge of an upper level ridge. As upper heights continues to rise, so will our temperatures. Many locations will likely reach 80 degrees by Saturday afternoon with dry conditions. This upper high will shift east during the day on Saturday and into Sunday but become dampened by incoming upper level energy from the northwest. This system will bring our next widespread chance for precipitation. While precipitation may start entering the western counties late Saturday night, it will likely be Sunday before any substantial convection arrives into the CWA. There are still some timing differences but the consensus is Sunday into Sunday evening, tapering off after midnight/early Monday morning. Believe the entire area will be dry by 12Z Monday. Highs will be tampered down a bit on Sunday with the clouds and rain but still should top out in the 75 to 80 degree range. PWATS are still running 1.5 to 1.9 inches which is pretty high for early May, so we will need to keep an eye out for heavy rainfall potential. Severe potential will need to be watched as well. Mid level lapse rates are strong but MU CAPES not that overall impressive yet, but bulk shear values fairly strong. The southern half of the area looks to have the best overall chance right now where the higher dewpoints should be situated. Still a ways off to get too hung up on the details but something to keep an eye on. After a brief reprieve on Monday with pleasant highs in the low 70s, we will be watching the next system slated to arrive Monday night or Tuesday bringing another good chance of widespread rainfall with dry conditions for midweek along with highs back in the 60s. && .AVIATION... Issued at 1225 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2020 With the upper-level low overhead, widespread CU along with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are developing over southern Illinois, southeast Missouri, and far western Kentucky early this afternoon. With the steepest lapse rates over southeast Missouri and the KY Purchase, added a mention of VCTS through 00 UTC Thursday at KCGI and KPAH. Elsewhere, have maintained VCSH. At KEVV/KOWB, isolated showers will be possible throughout the night. Cigs will deteriorate to MVFR tonight as low stratus continues to wrap behind the departing upper low. Cigs will improve after 12z Thursday. Winds will be generally west-northwest at 10-15 kts with gusts to 20-23 kts at times. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. && UPDATE...DWS SHORT TERM...GM LONG TERM...CW AVIATION...DWS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 356 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2020 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-300900- 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- 356 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Isolated thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon into the early evening. Though lightning and brief heavy rain will be the main hazards, some small hail cannot be ruled out with any stronger storm. A cold air funnel or two may also occur. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Thunderstorms return to the forecast Sunday into Sunday night. Lightning and locally heavy rain will be the primary storm hazards. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1003 AM CDT WED APR 29 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 NE MOUNT VERNON 38.36N 88.86W
04/29/2020 M2.19 INCH JEFFERSON IL COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION IL-JF-11, 4 NE MOUNT
VERNON, IL. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN
EVENT WAS 24 HOURS.
0945 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 W WOODLAWN 38.33N 89.11W
04/29/2020 M2.06 INCH JEFFERSON IL MESONET
MESONET STATION EW9960 ASHLEY IL. THE
DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24
HOURS.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NE MOUNT VERNON 38.35N 88.87W
04/29/2020 M2.03 INCH JEFFERSON IL CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION MVNI2 MOUNT VERNON IL
3 NE. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT
WAS 24 HOURS.
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 NW BONNIE 38.25N 88.95W
04/29/2020 M1.79 INCH JEFFERSON IL COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION IL-JF-10 MOUNT VERNON 5.2
SSW. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT
WAS 24 HOURS.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 8 N CUTLER 38.15N 89.55W
04/29/2020 M1.70 INCH PERRY IL COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION IL-PY-1 COULTERVILLE IL 3
ESE. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT
WAS 24 HOURS.
0956 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 E MOUNT VERNON 38.32N 88.87W
04/29/2020 M1.65 INCH JEFFERSON IL AWOS
AWOS STATION KMVN MT VERNON IL. THE DURATION
OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS.
0637 AM HEAVY RAIN 7 WNW DIX 38.47N 89.07W
04/29/2020 M1.64 INCH JEFFERSON IL COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION IL-JF-8 WALNUT HILL IL 1
WSW. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT
WAS 24 HOURS.
0945 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 NNE DIX 38.45N 88.94W
04/29/2020 M1.53 INCH JEFFERSON IL MESONET
MESONET STATION EW6608 DIX IL. THE DURATION
OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1255 PM CDT WED APR 29 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1012 PM TSTM WND DMG POYNOR 36.52N 90.91W
04/28/2020 RIPLEY MO EMERGENCY MNGR
DELAYED REPORT. TRACTOR TRAILERS MOVED BY
WIND. SEVERAL SMALL TREES DAMAGED. TIME
ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
&&
DWSSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service PADUCAH KY 215 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2020 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-292200- 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- Including the cities of Mount Vernon, Fairfield, Albion, Mount Carmel, Pinckneyville, West Frankfort, McLeansboro, Carmi, Carbondale, Murphysboro, Herrin, Harrisburg, Shawneetown, Jonesboro, Vienna, Golconda, Elizabethtown, Cairo, Mound City, Metropolis, Fort Branch, Petersburg, Poseyville, Evansville, Boonville, Rockport, Hickman, Clinton, Bardwell, Wickliffe, Paducah, Mayfield, Smithland, Benton, Murray, Marion, Eddyville, Cadiz, Princeton, Morganfield, Dixon, Madisonville, Hopkinsville, Henderson, Owensboro, Calhoun, Greenville, Elkton, Perryville, Marble Hill, Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Piedmont, Van Buren, Doniphan, Poplar Bluff, Bloomfield, Sikeston, Charleston, and New Madrid 215 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2020 ...Gusty Thunderstorms With Small Hail and Cold Air Funnel Clouds This Afternoon... Through late this afternoon, thunderstorms capable of producing gusty winds of 40 to possibly as high as 50 mph, pea size hail, and cold air funnel clouds are possible. Cold air funnel clouds rarely touch the ground. If they do reach the ground, they typically produce minimal damage for a brief amount of time. DWS
The Paducah radar (KPAH), 11 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:21 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree limbs up to three inches in diameter were blown down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, April 2020
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: 880642.