A major outbreak of severe weather occurred on the 8th for the Quad State region as a whole, with Southwest Indiana having a lesser role in this event. On the synoptic scale, a longwave trough was centered across the Rockies with deep-layer southwesterly flow from the Southern Plains to the Ohio Valley.
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.
A major outbreak of severe weather occurred on the 8th for the Quad State region as a whole, with Southwest Indiana having a lesser role in this event. On the synoptic scale, a longwave trough was centered across the Rockies with deep-layer southwesterly flow from the Southern Plains to the Ohio Valley. A 110 kt upper jet extended from northern KS to IA while a 60 kt mid-level jet was positioned across northern MZ into IA. Surface low pressure near the MZ/KS border lifted to St. Louis around 12am CST on the 9th. A warm frontal boundary stretched across the Quad State, with a cold front extending southward from the surface low.
The environment became unstable by early afternoon in Southwest Indiana, with MLCAPE of 1500-2000 J/kg. Deep-layer shear was on the order of 55-65 kts, though low-level shear was only 10 kts. SRH was around 50 m2/s2 STP values were 1 or less. Relative to the rest of the Quad State, conditions in Southwest Indiana were much less conducive to widespread severe weather.
For Southwest Indiana, a sub-severe line of storms moved through towards the end of the evening hours on the 7th as a cold front sagged southward. The front returned as a warm front in the afternoon, with supercells further south. Severe weather in Southwest Indiana was limited to an evening line of storms moving eastward producing damage in Gibson County. Localized heavy rain in the afternoon produced ponding of water on roads near Parkers Settlement.
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 8, 2:05 PM CST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
305 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
.KEY MESSAGES...
- A dangerous severe weather outbreak will continue through
late tonight. All modes of severe weather remain possible,
including the possibility of strong tornadoes, very large
hail, and destructive straight-line winds.
- Threat for flash flooding will ramp up tonight through early
Thursday morning as intense storms train over the same
locations. The Flood Watch has been expanded to include parts
of southwest IN, southern IL, and southeast MO, in addition to
west KY.
- Much more tranquil weather is forecast Thursday through early
next week, with the next chance of showers and isolated storms
arriving Monday into Tuesday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 304 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
This afternoon and tonight...A dangerous severe weather setup
will persist across much of the forecast area through late
tonight. Currently, scattered to numerous supercells are
developing in the open warm sector across west KY and southern
IL. Expect the warm sector supercellular convection to continue
with an associated large hail, damaging wind, and tornado risk
through late this afternoon.
Further northwest, an intense bow echo is approaching southwest
IL from the south STL metro, with a history of producing very
large hail, straight line wind damage, and attempts at
tornadogenesis. This activity will impact the Route 13 to I-64
corridors through this afternoon through early tonight.
A final and perhaps more widespread straight-line wind risk will
develop ahead of the surface cold front over southwest MO this
afternoon and race into southwest MO, southern IL, southwest IN,
and west KY through 00-06z or so. These storms will likely have
the greatest chance of producing widespread straight-line wind
damage, as the storms will take advantage of an intensifying LLJ
of 30-50 kts.
In addition to the severe risk, the concern for flash flooding
will ramp up tonight as multiple round of intense training
convection will possible. Latest CAMs shows corridors of 2-4" of
QPF through 12z Thursday, with locally higher amounts possible
over the southern KY Pennyrile. For these reasons, opted to
expand the Flood Watch to include much of southeast MO, southern
IL, and southwest IN, in addition to existing Flood Watch in
west KY.
One area that may miss out on the severe storms is the area
north of I-64. The warm front has stalled just south of this
area, and is unlikely to progress further north due to ongoing
rounds of convection. Will need to monitor trends over the next
few hours.
Thursday through Tuesday...An extended period of quiet weather
can be expected Thursday through Sunday as high pressure builds
over the region. Temperatures look to remain near to slightly
above normal, with highs in the 70s to lower 80s and overnight
low temperatures in the 50s.
Our next chance of precipitation will arrive Monday into
Tuesday next week as a surface low tracks over the region. The
path of the surface low will likely preclude organized
convection as it stands, though there will be a slight chance of
thunderstorms. Temperatures will remain near to slightly above
normal with high temperatures in the 70s to lower 80s and
overnight lows in the 50s and 60s.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1205 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
Isolated thunderstorm coverage early this afternoon will become
numerous to widespread this afternoon. Some storms will likely
be intense, with very strong winds and hail possible, in
addition to vigorous lightning activity. MVFR/IFR vsby
restrictions and some MVFR cigs are possible under thunderstorm
activity.
Outside of thunderstorms, winds will be from the SE to SW at
10-15 kts with gusts to 20 kts this afternoon into early
tonight. Winds will be SW at 5-10 kts following the exit of
thunderstorm activity, around 03-07z.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Flood Watch through Thursday morning for ILZ080>094.
MO...Flood Watch through Thursday morning for MOZ076-086-087-100-
110>112-114.
IN...Flood Watch through Thursday morning for INZ085>088.
KY...Flood Watch through Thursday morning for KYZ001>022.
&&
DISCUSSION...DWS
AVIATION...DWSHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 311 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-092015- 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- 311 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 /411 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A Tornado Watch is in effect until early this evening for parts of southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky, and southwest Indiana. Refer to the Tornado Watch for details. A Flood Watch is in effect until 7 AM CDT Thursday for parts of southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky, and southwest Indiana.. Refer to the Flood Watch for details. An outbreak of severe thunderstorms will continue for much of the region this afternoon and evening. Tornadoes, some of which could be strong, destructive straight line winds, and very large hail are all possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested through late tonight. Spotters should relay storm reports to NWS Paducah through the spotter hotline, spotter text line, or via social media. DWS
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
342 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0334 PM Hail 3 W Du Quoin 37.99N 89.28W
05/08/2024 E0.50 Inch Perry IL Public
Report from mPING: Half-inch (0.50 in.).
&&
BMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
345 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0333 PM Hail 1 E Marion 37.73N 88.93W
05/08/2024 M0.88 Inch Williamson IL Emergency Mngr
nickel sized hail.
&&
BMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
347 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0346 PM Flood 1 ESE Marion 37.73N 88.93W
05/08/2024 Williamson IL Public
Water over road.
&&
BMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
359 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0359 PM Hail 6 W Sebree 37.59N 87.63W
05/08/2024 E0.75 Inch Webster KY Public
&&
BMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
400 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0355 PM Hail 4 NW Robards 37.72N 87.58W
05/08/2024 E1.00 Inch Henderson KY Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
&&
BMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
409 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0403 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 SSW Breckinridge Cent 37.61N 87.88W
05/08/2024 Union KY Public
Trees down reported.
&&
BMThe Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 23 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:12 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rain (1-1.5 inch in an hour) led to a brief period of water over at least one road near Parkers Settlement.
A trained spotter measured a 72 mph wind gust in Fort Branch.
A surging line of storms moving eastward blew power lines down over a road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, May 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: 1181933, 1181934, 1181935.