A warm front lifted northward through the Quad State region during the morning hours. Dew points near 70 made their way into Southern Illinois, allowing MUCAPE to surge to 1500-2000 J/kg with the higher values in the southwest.
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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 warm front lifted northward through the Quad State region during the morning hours. Dew points near 70 made their way into Southern Illinois, allowing MUCAPE to surge to 1500-2000 J/kg with the higher values in the southwest. 0-3 km SRH peaked around 300 m2/s2 in the evening along I-64 with effective bulk shear of 40-50 kts. Lapse rates were 6-7 C/km. Cells formed in the afternoon, moving northeastward, with a particularly prolific hail producer in Johnson County. The frontal passage moved through during the evening. Wind damage reports in Southern Illinois were primarily on the front moving eastward through Wayne and Franklin Counties. With numerous wind reports and several tornadoes closer to St. Louis, this line weakened on entry to the Quad State, though showed very robust wind speeds a few thousand feet up that just didn't quite mix to the surface. A bit of a break in the frontal storm line showed up in SW Illinois, perhaps a result of a less favorable environment following the afternoon storms in that area.
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 18, 12:07 PM CST, 3 hours 33 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 107 PM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Thunderstorms expected to develop this afternoon/evening. Widespread damaging winds (30%) will be the prominent hazard with the main line, while large hail (15%) and isolated tornadoes (5%) may also occur. - Much cooler Friday through the weekend, as highs/lows in the 80s/60s transition to 60s/40s. Some upper 30s are possible both weekend nights, and if skies clear/winds diminish, some frost potential exists then...with the better chance of that occurring being Sunday night. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 106 PM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024 We are closely tracking a warm front's lift across the area, in advance of a developing and approaching broader/stronger storm system that will produce an all hazards potential severe weather event later this afternoon/evening. Soupy upper 60s surface dew points are in our south already, with lower 70s just about to enter. As the warm sector lifts this pm, the increasing moist tongue with temps rising into the 80s will help instability balloon, with 2000-3000 J/KG Available Potential Energy for Convection at most unstable in the layer. CAMs all model active convection. Some (FV3/ARW) are a little faster and more robust, while others (NAM) are on the opposite end of that, but all agree on the main line approaching late today and blasting thru the area this evening. The FV3/ARW support an aggressive bowing of the northern structure of the line, which is a slight evolution from previous runs. The HRRR and NSSL also bow, but are more solidly split with warm sector convection out ahead, and then main line convectiion with the cold front's approach. We still like a basic 18-21z warm sector threat, followed by the main threat timing of the potential bowing line from 21-03z. After fropa, storm threat will diminish though some lingering pop may survive thru the overnight. Low clouds may linger til/shortly after daybreak, after which we'll see that cooler/drier air work its way in/across the FA. We are still forecasting a transition from our 80s/60s highs/lows to 60s/40s with this airmass change, that will last thru the weekend. Some upper 30s are possible both weekend nights, with perhaps Sunday night the better chance for frost with clearing skies/diminished winds. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 106 PM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024 MVFR bases will rise to low VFR and may be SCT-BKN with CIGS at times this afternoon as we warm sector. Storm chances grow to their peak in the evening with IFR to MVFR restrictions on CIGS/VSBYS anticipated. After fropa, showers may linger but the overall storm threat diminishes as the system departs to the east. Low MVFR to IFR CIGS may prevail late tonight-early tmrw, but should improve thru the planning phase of the forecast tmrw morning as drier/cooler air takes over. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 135 PM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-191000- 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- 135 PM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024 /235 PM EDT Thu Apr 18 2024/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight The threat of storms will increase to a peak this evening, with all severe hazards in play. The greatest risk is for damaging winds, with large hail and tornadoes also posing potential risks. Frequent deadly lightning and locally heavy rains capable of sporadic flooding are also potential hazards. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Lows in the upper 30s are possible this weekend, with Sunday night perhaps the best chance for frost to develop as skies clear and winds diminish then. These cooler temperatures and thus the chance of frost appears greatest along and north of the Ohio River. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested for our ongoing active severe weather watch.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
148 PM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024
MOZ086-087-100-107-109>112-114-181930-
Butler MO-Carter MO-Wayne MO-Stoddard MO-Bollinger MO-
Cape Girardeau MO-New Madrid MO-Scott MO-Mississippi MO-
148 PM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BOLLINGER...NORTHWESTERN
MISSISSIPPI...NORTHEASTERN CARTER...SCOTT...NORTH CENTRAL NEW
MADRID...WAYNE...NORTH CENTRAL BUTLER...SOUTHERN CAPE GIRARDEAU AND
CENTRAL STODDARD COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM CDT...
At 147 PM CDT, Thunderstorms were beginning to develop along a line
extending from 9 miles southwest of Ellington to near Morehouse.
Movement was northeast at 45 mph. These storms are in a favorable
environment to strengthen and may become severe over the next hour.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Dexter, Charleston, Scott City, Chaffee,
Piedmont, Bloomfield, Marble Hill, Advance, Oran, Miner, Benton, Sam
A. Baker State Park, Greenville, Lake Wappapello State Park,
Morehouse, Puxico, Bertrand, and Morley.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 57 in Missouri between Mile Markers 1 and 8, and between
Mile Markers 17 and 21.
Interstate 55 between Mile Markers 64 and 95.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for
southern Illinois...and southeastern Missouri.
&&
LAT...LON 3710 9096 3707 9096 3705 9078 3727 9073
3727 9055 3732 9055 3731 9015 3742 9014
3728 8951 3725 8946 3704 8938 3699 8927
3702 8926 3706 8931 3707 8926 3700 8919
3676 8970 3709 9109
TIME...MOT...LOC 1847Z 236DEG 40KT 3714 9110 3682 8972
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JGGPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
313 PM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0312 PM Hail 1 SSE Reynoldsville 37.35N 89.39W
04/18/2024 M0.25 Inch Union IL Broadcast Media
&&
BMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
320 PM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0312 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SSE Reynoldsville 37.35N 89.39W
04/18/2024 M50 MPH Union IL Broadcast Media
&&
BMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
351 PM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0343 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SSW De Soto 37.78N 89.25W
04/18/2024 M47 MPH Jackson IL ASOS
ASOS station KMDH Carbondale IL.
&&
DWSThe Paducah radar (KPAH), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:39 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
An intense thunderstorm south of Cypress produced hail ranging from ping pong ball to larger than golf ball sized. No damage was reported with this storm.
Thunderstorm winds blew a tree down across IL-37 between Cairo and Mounds City.
A line of storms moving eastward produced half-dollar size hail in Woodlawn.
Thunderstorm winds blew a tree down onto IL-37 near Gun Creek.
A spotter measured a 58 mph wind gust 1 mile north of mile marker 100 on I-64.
Thunderstorm winds from a storm line moving eastward caused a large tree to fall onto a trailer home on Le Roy St in Fairfield.
Due to downburst winds, a couple of power poles snapped and a metal roof was blown off of a large building along US 45 south of County Road 620 N.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, April 2024
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: 1172256, 1172257, 1172259, 1172258, 1172261, 1172265, 1172269.