Two small but intense bowing thunderstorm clusters moved rapidly east/southeastward across southeast Missouri during the late afternoon hours. Damage surveys confirmed a brief EF-0 tornado, however the most noteworthy events were two macrobursts containing peak winds in the 95 to 110 mph range.
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.
Two small but intense bowing thunderstorm clusters moved rapidly east/southeastward across southeast Missouri during the late afternoon hours. Damage surveys confirmed a brief EF-0 tornado, however the most noteworthy events were two macrobursts containing peak winds in the 95 to 110 mph range. Flash flooding of low water crossings occurred due to repeated thunderstorm activity over the Ozark foothills. Although the bowing clusters of storms resided in relatively stable air to the north of a stationary front over western Tennessee and central Arkansas, occasional damaging wind gusts occurred due to their well-organized nature.
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 May 4, 1:24 PM CST, 46 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 224 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Tuesday night) Issued at 224 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020 The main concern in the near term remains the potential for showers and thunderstorms late this afternoon and tonight, including the threat for severe thunderstorms late this afternoon into the evening hours. Low pressure will track from the southern Plains across southern Missouri tonight and into western Kentucky by Tuesday morning. The low will generally track along a frontal boundary stalled to the south of the area across Arkansas into Tennessee. Dynamics with the system are supportive of organized thunderstorms late this afternoon and into the evening hours. However, the main limiting factor is surface-based instability, which is currently held at bay south of the stalled frontal boundary. Even 0-1 km MLCAPE struggles to reach much higher than 1000 J/kg across most of the area by 00Z, with the exception of far southeast Missouri and the southwest tip of western Kentucky near the Arkansas and Tennessee state lines. And looking at the SPC mesoanalysis page, DCAPE values of 200-500 J/kg are generally confined to southeast Missouri as well. As a result, the convective complexes currently over Missouri should continue to move southeastward along the instability gradient through the late afternoon and evening hours. The greatest threat for damaging wind will be across southeast Missouri into far western Kentucky, where instability will be greatest. Elsewhere, the main concern appears to be from large hail with steep mid level lapse rates greater than 8 C/km. Most of the severe threat should be over by mid evening, though the potential for thunder will linger well into the night. Any lingering shower activity should taper off from west to east late tonight and Tuesday morning as the low pressure center moves off to the east. Clearing will likely be very slow to occur on Tuesday, so much of the area may not warm as much as would otherwise be expected. After lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s tonight, highs on Tuesday are forecast to range from near 60 north to around 70 south. Lows should range from 40 to 45 across much of the area Tuesday night. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 224 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020 In the long term forecast period, strong blocking over the Gulf of Alaska will displace an upper-level trough of Arctic origins. This trough will become nearly stationary over Hudson Bay, placing the PAH FA under broad cyclonic flow in addition to bringing well-below normal temperatures. Disturbances embedded within this cyclonic flow will rotate southeast around the base of the trough and provide opportunities for light rain Wednesday and perhaps a more widespread, soaking rain Thursday into Friday. A weak, moisture-starved shortwave trough will pivot through the forecast area from the Upper Midwest Wednesday. The main impact will be an increase in cloud cover, but isolated light rain showers are possible as well. A better chance of precipitation arrives Thursday into Friday, as the shortwave ejecting from the Upper Midwest phases with a subtropical jet impulse. Surface low pressure will develop over the southern Plains and traverse roughly parallel to the Ohio River. With a better moisture source and more impressive dynamics, rainfall looks to be more widespread in coverage, with QPF amounts of 0.25 to 0.50 of an inch. At this time, CAPE of any variety looks to be minuscule, so am not currently expecting thunder. Surface high pressure settles over the region for the weekend, setting up the potential for near record lows and a non-zero risk of rare late season patchy frost Saturday morning and perhaps again Sunday morning. At this time, the NBM initialization yields morning lows of 36-40 degrees and 38-42 degrees on Saturday and Sunday mornings, respectively. Depending on wind and cloud cover, the potential for frost could rise or fall at this range. High temperatures Wednesday will range from the upper 50s in the EVV Tri- State to upper 60s in the MO Bootheel. After a brief warmup into the 60s Thursday, highs the remainder of the forecast period will range from the upper 50s to middle 60s, respectively from north to south. These values will be about 10-15 degrees below normal. && .AVIATION... Issued at 1249 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020 While VFR conditions will start the afternoon, a transition to MVFR ceilings is anticipated by late afternoon and especially this evening as low pressure approaches from the Plains. Periods of showers and scattered thunderstorms will spread across the region from the west late this afternoon and into the evening hours. Thunder should become much more sparse by late evening and overnight as scattered showers persist, accompanied by low end MVFR and IFR ceilings in some cases. Ceilings should gradually improve back to MVFR through Tuesday morning as lingering showers taper off. East winds around 10 knots today will become northwest 10 to 15 knots on Tuesday. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. && SHORT TERM...RJP LONG TERM...DWS AVIATION...RJP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 331 AM CDT Mon May 4 2020 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-050845- 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- 331 AM CDT Mon May 4 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon through tonight. A few of these may become severe later this afternoon and evening, particularly across portions of southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky. Large hail, locally heavy rainfall, and lightning will be the primary hazards. A secondary lower risk exists for damaging winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is possible over southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky later this afternoon and evening.
The Springfield radar (KSGF), 198 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:10 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 2 flash flood, 1 tornado, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were blown down across J Highway about six miles south of U.S. Highway 60.
Trees were down across C Highway south of U.S. Highway 60.
Uprooted trees and broken branches marked the beginning of a 19-mile long macroburst that was primarily over far northern Ripley County.
The EF-0 tornado along the southern border of Carter County contained estimated peak winds of 85 mph, uprooting or damaging dozens of trees along its path. On Highway 21 between Grandin and the Ripley County line, the tornado pushed over several wooden electrical poles. The tornado also removed a small section of the roof of a manufactured home. The tornado was along the northern edge of a macroburst that was primarily over northern Ripley County.
A macroburst containing winds estimated up to 95 mph produced major damage across extreme northern Ripley County. The path in Ripley County was nearly 19 miles long and nearly five miles wide. Thousands of large trees were snapped or uprooted. Numerous power lines were blown down or downed by falling trees, causing the worst power outage in the area since the 2009 ice storm. Approximately 30 structures, mainly barns and garages, were damaged or destroyed. Several houses sustained mainly minor roof damage, with one having several windows blown out. Multiple trees were down on houses. Roads were blocked by fallen trees. A wind gust to 63 mph was measured north of Bennett, where large trees were uprooted.
A wind gust estimated near 70 mph blew down several trees in the area. Affected roads included Highway F, Route 158, and County Road 488.
The automated observing system at the Poplar Bluff airport measured a wind gust to 58 mph.
Ponding of water was reported on low-lying streets in Poplar Bluff. Water partially covered roads west of Harviell.
A shop building was destroyed. The rather large metal building had a covered open storage area on the north side. Nearby grain bins were dented.
A very intense macroburst caused extensive damage across southwest New Madrid County, including the Gideon area. Peak winds were estimated near 110 mph, based on NWS storm surveys. About eight miles of the 19-mile long damage swath was in New Madrid County. Most of the remainder of the path was in Pemiscot County. The width of the macroburst averaged about six miles in New Madrid County. Several large grain bins were destroyed, with some blown a hundred yards or more from their anchored position. A couple of large storage buildings collapsed or partially collapsed. Several garages, farm sheds and similar structures were heavily damaged or destroyed. At least a half dozen homes or similar structures sustained major roof damage, ranging from the removal of the roof decking structure to removal of the entire roof structure. One had the attached garage separated. At least one home was destroyed by a fallen tree, with several others damaged from fallen trees. Several miles of power lines were blown down as poles were broken. Numerous large trees were uprooted. Much of the damage was in and south of Gideon. At least three homes and a business sustained major roof damage in Gideon, and a large farm building near Highway 162 lost portions of its roof and walls. The local emergency management agency estimated at least 5 million dollars damage, with 4 million of that at a farm south of Gideon.
Numerous low-water crossings were flooded across the county.
Flooding of many low water crossings in northern Ripley County made them impassable.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Missouri, 2020Warnings in Missouri, May 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: 884051, 884053, 884121, 884047, 884058, 884043, 884044, 884069, 884065, 885534, 884063, 884062, 885528, 885530.