Severe thunderstorms occurred during the late afternoon and evening hours as a strong cold front moved southeast into the area. Surface low pressure moved across central Illinois during the late afternoon hours.
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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.
Severe thunderstorms occurred during the late afternoon and evening hours as a strong cold front moved southeast into the area. Surface low pressure moved across central Illinois during the late afternoon hours. High temperatures soared into the mid 80's in many locations, which helped to prime the atmosphere for severe thunderstorm development. Surface-based instability was quite strong. Very cold air aloft contributed to steep mid-level lapse rates near 8.5 C/km, very favorable for large hail. Clusters of severe thunderstorms moved east-southeast across southeast Missouri, accompanied by sporadic large hail and very isolated wind damage. The strongest storm originated near the northeast corner of Wayne County and moved down across the Sikeston area to northern Mississippi County. This storm produced a nearly continuous swath of large hail from golf-ball size to about the size of hen eggs.
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 8, 2:50 PM CST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 350 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Friday night) Issued at 318 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020 The primary concern in the near term remains the period of thunderstorms and potential for severe weather this evening. Our focus then turns to gusty post frontal winds tonight, followed by the potential for frost Thursday night and Friday night. Low pressure over northwest Illinois this afternoon is forecast to track east across Indiana this evening, dragging a strong cold front across the forecast area through the evening. Strong forcing along and ahead of the front in combination with a very unstable atmosphere will result in the development of thunderstorms by late afternoon and early evening. Latest CAM guidance suggests initial development will be in the form of discrete cells or line segments mainly across southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. The activity should congeal into a squall line as it progresses east southeast into southwest Indiana and western Kentucky through the evening. Large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes will be possible early on, with a transition to more of a damaging wind threat as the activity becomes more linear and progresses across the area. Given the steep mid level lapse rates, strong deep layer shear, and substantial instability, very large hail and widespread damaging winds are possible. Most of the thunderstorm activity should be southeast of the area by midnight, with a rapid decrease in cloud cover overnight. The remainder of the short term period will be dry and much cooler as Canadian high pressure builds southeast across the Plains into the Mississippi Valley. In the wake of the front overnight, strong gradient winds are possible, with sustained northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts of 30 to 40 mph. After highs in the 80s today, highs on Thursday are only expected to reach the upper 50s and lower 60s, followed by middle to upper 50s on Friday. Lows Thursday night are forecast in the middle 30s. At this time, it appears as though winds should stay elevated enough to mitigate much in the way of frost development Thursday night. Will need to monitor frost potential Friday night over portions of southwest Indiana and the Kentucky Pennyrile if clouds are slow enough to increase ahead of the next weather system. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Wednesday) Issued at 350 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020 Though light showers or sprinkles may occur Sat morning due to a minor mid level disturbance, PoPs are expected to ramp up Sat night and Sun as a low pressure system arrives from the southwestern CONUS. There should be enough low level moisture advection ahead of this system to produce nearly an inch of rainfall in the southern Pennyrile region, and lesser amounts farther to the northwest. Tstms are possible, especially during times of deepest moisture and lift (late Sunday). There were some timing differences in the medium range models with this system, but the best guess at this time is that the nearly stacked system will be moving off toward the northeast Sun night. For the first half of next week, the PAH forecast area will be under relatively cool cyclonic flow aloft and increasing surface pressure. This pattern will tend to generate quite a bit of cloudiness at times, but measurable pcpn does not appear likely at all. Perhaps there may be some sprinkles as disturbances move through the flow aloft. The NBM still tended to leave slight PoPs in the forecast Mon and Tue, at least. This was blended with a small amount drier 12Z ECMWF data. It may be cool enough for frost Wed morning (Day 7), if clouds clear out enough. && .AVIATION... Issued at 1239 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020 Once MVFR ceilings clear western Kentucky this afternoon, VFR conditions are expected through the majority of the forecast period. The main exception is with the line of thunderstorms expected to accompany the passage of a cold front this evening. The storms will likely result in a reduction in ceilings and visibilities to at least MVFR for an hour or two at each terminal, along with the potential for strong to severe wind gusts and large hail. South/southwest winds around 10 knots or less this afternoon will shift to the northwest 10 to 20 knots with some gusts pushing 30 knots tonight. Northwest winds will subside somewhat on Thursday, but will remain gusty. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. && SHORT TERM...RJP LONG TERM...DB AVIATION...RJP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 335 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-090845- 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- 335 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020 ...Potential Outbreak Of Severe Thunderstorms Very Late Today and Tonight... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight The potential for an outbreak of severe thunderstorms has increased, mainly during the evening hours. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast to move into southern Illinois and southeast Missouri very late this afternoon or early this evening. The storms are forecast to become numerous as they move east- southeast across the entire region this evening. Conditions will be favorable for large hail, possibly golf ball size in the strongest storms. Locally damaging winds and a few tornadoes will be possible. The Storm Prediction Center has placed our region within an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms. Locally heavy rain could result in isolated flooding problems apart from the ongoing river flooding. Refer to flood statements for ongoing minor to moderate flooding on the Mississippi and lower Ohio Rivers. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday A small chance of thunderstorms is forecast over much of the region late Saturday night through Sunday evening. Locally heavy rainfall and lightning will be the primary concerns. Minor to moderate flooding will persist on the Mississippi and lower Ohio Rivers. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be requested this evening. MY/DRS
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
516 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020
ILZ080-082300-
Perry IL-
516 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PERRY COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM CDT...
At 515 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Sparta, moving east at 20 mph.
Penny size hail will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Du Quoin, Pinckneyville, Tamaroa, Cutler and St. Johns.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm 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.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for south
central Illinois.
LAT...LON 3821 8915 3813 8915 3812 8913 3810 8914
3810 8912 3806 8912 3804 8914 3800 8914
3801 8959 3822 8959
TIME...MOT...LOC 2215Z 266DEG 17KT 3814 8979
16The Paducah radar (KPAH), 134 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:35 UTC.
13 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Large hail ranging from quarter to golf-ball size accompanied a severe thunderstorm across the extreme northeast part of Wayne County.
A severe thunderstorm produced a swath of large hail about the size of golf balls across the southern half of Bollinger County.
A severe thunderstorm produced hail up to the size of quarters in and near Perryville.
Several tree tops were broken off in Frohna and Altenburg. Live ten-inch tree trunks were snapped. Trampolines were moved. Power outages occurred on the west side of Altenburg.
Large hail up to 2.25 inches in diameter accompanied a severe thunderstorm that originated over Bollinger and extreme northeast Wayne Counties. The Sikeston and Miner areas were hit, mainly the north sides of Sikeston and Miner. Photos of the hail were posted on broadcast media. There were numerous reports of 1 to 2 inch hail, with the largest measured at 2.25 inches.
Continuous heavy rain and hail occurred for nearly one hour, resulting in significant road flooding near Marble Hill. Residents were trapped at their home.
Quarter-size hail fell in and near Cape Girardeau, mainly the north half of the city.
Several reports of one-inch hail were received from a large storm over the Millersville and Fruitland areas.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, 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: 875778, 875781, 875783, 875784, 875785, 875786, 875801, 875787, 875788, 880673, 875793, 875794, 875796, 875799, 875800.