An isolated severe thunderstorm drifted very slowly southward, then became stationary in the vicinity of Mcleansboro. Isolated wind damage was followed by flash flooding once the storm stopped moving.
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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.
An isolated severe thunderstorm drifted very slowly southward, then became stationary in the vicinity of Mcleansboro. Isolated wind damage was followed by flash flooding once the storm stopped moving. The storm formed ahead of a cold front that trailed southwest across central Missouri from a low pressure center over the Great Lakes.
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 14, 5:25 PM CST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 625 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023 .UPDATE... Issued at 624 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023 Local thunderstorms will probably decrease in coverage/intensity through early evening. Watching a complex over KS/MO. It has a lot of rain-cooled air to work through but could maintain some intensity as it moves into SEMO in the 10p-12a range tonight. && .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Sunday night) Issued at 305 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023 The main concerns in the short-term portion of the forecast will be the potential for showers and thunderstorms through Saturday evening with continued hot and humid conditions. Overall confidence in convective timing and placement Tonight through Saturday: A strong shortwave associated with ongoing convection over central into eastern Kansas this afternoon, is progged to shift east and southeastward overnight. This would bring the decaying remnants to the Quad State very late tonight into early Saturday morning. Most of the hi-res guidance diminishes the storms as they progress eastward, so confidence in the overall coverage and intensity is low. If it does hold together, a few stronger storms could work into western portions of the area later tonight, especially after midnight. Any showers/storms associated with this feature should push east of the area by mid morning. A weak frontal boundary will also pass through the area through early afternoon, which may help to focus additional showers or storms. Shear and instability look to be fairly weak, so not expecting much storm organization for Saturday. Highs will be in the 80s for most locations with overnight lows in the 70s. After the frontal boundary passes through the area expect slightly less humid air to arrive Saturday night into Sunday (it will still be hot) while northwest flow lingers aloft. HRRR smoke products also bring smoke from Canadian wildfires south through a good portion of the area late Saturday night through Sunday; therefore, have added haze to the forecast and issued an Air Quality Alert for southwest Indiana. Again, that alert is for Sunday. Highs are expected to be in the low to mid 90s. Overnight lows will be in the upper 60s to around 70. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Friday) Issued at 305 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023 Northwest flow will linger through the first part of the work week; however, brief ridging is expected to arrive for Wednesday into Thursday. A couple shortwaves are expected to brush through the northern portions of the Quad State area, which will give additional chances of scattered showers and thunderstorms. Again, timing and placement of these waves are difficult at best to pin down this early. At this point have kept mainly an afternoon/evening mention in the forecast during peak heating. Heavy rain and a few strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible with increased shear and instability with each wave that passes through the area. The increased ridging across the area Wednesday into Thursday will allow temperatures to soar! Highs are expected to be in the upper 80s and low 90s for Monday and Tuesday before warming into the upper 90s to around 100 degrees for Wednesday into Thursday. Heat Index values will likely warm to near 110 degrees or so for Wednesday into Thursday and much of the area will likely need a Heat Advisory at a minimum. A few thunderstorms will be possible across the north, but overall coverage may be limited due to the warmer air aloft. && .AVIATION... Issued at 624 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023 Thunderstorms should gradually diminish in intensity in the EVV/OWB/MVN area through the next hour, persisting slightly longer north of CGI. Another complex of storms may arrive in the 03-06z timeframe across SEMO possibly moving into the rest of the area later in the overnight. A westerly wind shift is expected early Saturday morning. Some patchy fog or low cigs are possible around daybreak but a prevailing VFR sky appears likely through much of the rest of the day. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. && UPDATE...JGG SHORT TERM...KC LONG TERM...KC AVIATION...JGG
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 326 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-152030- 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- 326 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023 /426 PM EDT Fri Jul 14 2023/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Isolated thunderstorms will be possible through this evening before more widespread storms arrive throughout the region overnight. Any stray storm may produce damaging winds or hail this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday A chance of thunderstorms is forecast Saturday, mainly over eastern portions of the region. Locally heavy downpours and lightning will be the primary concerns. Smoke from Canadian wildfires will lead to poor air quality late Saturday night through Sunday. See the latest Air Quality Alert for details. A chance of thunderstorms is forecast for all or a portion of the region Sunday night through Thursday. Locally heavy rainfall and lightning will be the primary concerns; although, a few strong to severe storms will also be possible. As temperatures soar into the upper 90s over the Quad State area Wednesday and Thursday, heat indices will top out in the 105 to 110 degree range. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation cannot be completely ruled out over southeast Missouri through tonight.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
606 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023
KYZ020-142330-
McLean KY-
606 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern McLean
County through 630 PM CDT...
At 606 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Livermore, or near Calhoun, moving southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Livermore around 620 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3750 8709 3747 8711 3749 8712 3748 8713
3746 8711 3742 8710 3751 8732 3759 8723
3754 8706
TIME...MOT...LOC 2306Z 300DEG 14KT 3753 8719
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
DWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
611 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023
ILZ084-088-MOZ076-087-142345-
Jackson IL-Union IL-Cape Girardeau MO-Perry MO-
611 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Union,
Jackson, eastern Perry and northeastern Cape Girardeau Counties
through 645 PM CDT...
At 609 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
the Mississippi River from 5 miles east of Perryville to 5 miles
north of Cape Girardeau, drifting northeast at 5 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Altenburg and Grand Tower.
This includes Interstate 55 near Mile Marker 132.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3795 8915 3760 8915 3736 8952 3775 8992
3785 8977 3785 8974 3780 8968 3782 8968
3783 8967 3786 8966 3795 8960
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 234DEG 6KT 3757 8960
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
YorkSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
647 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023
ILZ084-088-MOZ076-087-150030-
Jackson IL-Union IL-Cape Girardeau MO-Perry MO-
647 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Union,
Jackson, eastern Perry and northeastern Cape Girardeau Counties
through 730 PM CDT...
At 644 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
the Mississippi River from 8 miles northeast of Perryville to 8
miles northeast of Jackson, moving northeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
The storms will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern Union
County, as well as the following locations... Gorham, Pocahontas,
Murphysboro, Makanda, Campbell Hill, and Alto Pass.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3795 8915 3760 8915 3760 8922 3739 8953
3765 8979 3786 8980 3785 8979 3785 8974
3780 8968 3782 8968 3783 8966 3786 8966
3795 8960
TIME...MOT...LOC 2344Z 187DEG 8KT 3772 8967
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
YorkSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
715 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023
ILZ082-083-150100-
White IL-Hamilton IL-
715 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern White
and southern Hamilton Counties through 800 PM CDT...
At 715 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Mcleansboro. This storm was nearly stationary.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southwestern White
and southern Hamilton Counties, including the following locations...
Broughton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3814 8860 3814 8838 3791 8833 3792 8867
TIME...MOT...LOC 0015Z 002DEG 4KT 3807 8850
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
YorkPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
757 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 N Robards 37.74N 87.53W
07/14/2023 Henderson KY Emergency Mngr
3 trees down on houses and one tree down on
a car.
&&
JGGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
757 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023
ILZ081-082-150145-
Franklin IL-Hamilton IL-
757 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Hamilton and Franklin
Counties through 845 PM CDT...
At 755 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking scattered strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles southeast of
Mcleansboro to near Valier. These storms were nearly stationary.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Benton, Mcleansboro, Rend Lake Area, Sesser, Valier, and Broughton.
This includes Interstate 57 in Illinois between Mile Markers 70 and
80.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3802 8837 3791 8840 3791 8871 3786 8871
3786 8915 3795 8915 3795 8918 3797 8915
3804 8914 3806 8912 3810 8912 3810 8914
3812 8913 3813 8880 3812 8870 3814 8837
TIME...MOT...LOC 0055Z 032DEG 4KT 3801 8848 3804 8909
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
YorkThe Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:18 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree limbs were down on power lines. Two trees were down on a house.
A family was rescued from high water in south Hamilton County. There was widespread water over roadways.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, July 2023
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: 1105051, 1108787.