Early morning, the surface low was located just north of St. Louis, Missouri, lifting to the NNE as it rapidly deepened.
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.
Early morning, the surface low was located just north of St. Louis, Missouri, lifting to the NNE as it rapidly deepened. For Western Kentucky, early morning effective bulk shear was 60 kts, with a very high 30 kts of 0-1 km shear, while SRHs near the Ohio River were around 200 m2/s2. MLCAPE was 1000-1500 J/kg, and mid-level lapse rates were 7 C/km. A 70-90 kt mid-level jet was west of the Quad State. A strong capping inversion suppressed storm activity in the evening, but the strong lift and upper level diffluence won out early morning. Two lines of storms developed after midnight in Southeast Missouri. The latter was a very potent thunderstorm line racing eastward early morning April 2nd with the southern end of the line of severe weather just over the Ohio River in Western Kentucky. Weaker thunderstorm activity occurred further south in the southern Jackson Purchase and most of the Pennyrile. This line continued throughout the day all the way to West Virginia, being designated a derecho. For Western Kentucky, 4 tornadoes occurred, 1 in far Western McCracken County (EF-1), and 3 in Union County (1 EF-2, 2 EF-1), with 1 injury due to a tree falling on a manufactured home from the Sullivan tornado in Union County. According to county EMA, in Union County, 22 homes were damaged, with 8 destroyed and 3 suffering major damage. A few instances of straight-line wind damage also occurred in counties bordering the Ohio River (Ballard, McCracken, and Union).
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 2, 2:46 AM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 346 AM CDT Tue Apr 2 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe storms continue this morning, mainly from northern portions of SEMO through S Illinois to SW Indiana, with damaging winds, hail and a few spin-up tornadoes possible. - Additional storm development remains possible from mid morning through early afternoon, mainly east of the Mississippi River, as the cold front passes. Wind gusts of 30-40 mph are possible Tuesday and Wednesday even outside of thunderstorm activity. - Temperatures will be about 10 degrees below normal by the middle of the week in the 50s/30s. Frost and possibly freeze headlines are possible, with the best chance Friday night. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 342 AM CDT Tue Apr 2 2024 A surface low near or just north of St. Louis MO this morning is expected to lift north-northeastward this morning as it reaches southern Lake Michigan this afternoon. The low is expected to rapidly deepen as a deep upper-level low drops south from the northern Plains. As the low intensifies, a cold front will pass through the CWA from west to east, reaching the Mississippi River by or around 17Z. Hi-Res guidance suggest additional development will be possible by early afternoon across portions of western KY, southern IL into southwest IN. It does look like there may be enough of a gap between this mornings convection and the afternoon frontal passage to bring a second round of strong to severe storms. Dewpoints ahead of the cold front are expected to remain in the mid 60s, which is plenty moist for severe weather. Around 1500 J/kg of instability is forecast ahead of the front with wind shear values around 40 to 50 kts! This combination, especially with any breaks in the cloud cover, will lead to an increased risk for organized severe weather from western KY to southern IL and points east. All modes of severe weather are possible with shear vectors oriented orthogonal to the cold front. 0-3 km shear vectors are also around 30-40 kts with a good portion of that perpendicular to the line of storms again leading to bowing along the line and spin-ups. Helicity is is progged to be around 200-300 m2/s2, indicating a good possibility of rotating updrafts/supercells! All this has led to SPC issuing an enhanced risk of severe weather for western KY into southwest IN, where the the aforementioned ingredients overlap. Very heavy downpours will be possible with at least an isolated threat of flash flooding. Outside of thunderstorms, winds are expected to remain fairly gusty out of the south this morning before shifting to the west then northwest this afternoon and tonight. Gusts as high as 25 to 30 mph will be possible today before possibly gusting as high as 40 mph on Wednesday on cold air advection. The broad upper-level low will be centered over Lake Michigan Wednesday as vort lobes rotate through the CWA. The combination of increased moisture, forcing and weak instability will result in another round of showers and some thunderstorms by Wednesday afternoon. This will be a much cooler system with high temperatures only in the 40s and low 50s! Again, wind gusts throughout the day could be as high as 40 mph, even outside of any thunderstorm activity. The troughing pattern will remain in place across the area through Thursday night, keeping much cooler temperatures in place along with a few showers and increased cloud cover. It may be cold enough that a few wet snow flakes may mix in over southwest IN late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. No real impacts expected from that. If there is any clearing, there could be some frost or possibly a freeze Thursday night and especially Friday night. Brief ridging will slide through the area Friday night into through Saturday night bringing a break in the cloud cover and also in the precipitation chances. Temperatures will only warm to the upper 50s and low 60s. Looking toward the Sunday/Monday time period the next low is expected to shift across the central Plains as a frontal boundary shifts through the CWA from west to east. The frontal passage looks to be during the day Sunday into Sunday evening, leading to the next chance for rain across the CWA. There are significant model differences in exactly where the low treks after Sunday night, so there continues to be some question as to how much cloud cover lingers for the eclipse on Monday. The latest EC would suggest clearing across a good portion of the CWA; however, the GFS is farther south and more progressive with the low...bringing more cloud cover. The next few model runs will help to get a better handle on the weather for early next week! && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 647 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024 MVFR ceilings will develop northward across the region this evening, then scattered SHRA/TSRA will move eastward across the region in the overnight to early morning hours. Brief IFR visibilities and lower MVFR ceilings will be possible as the convection passes. There is a possibility of very strong winds (>50kts) with the storms. Ceilings will climb to VFR levels by midday over most of the region. South winds will gust 15-20kts this evening, and then increase to 20-25kts overnight into the morning. As a cold front approaches and passes, west southwest winds will gust 20-30kts at times. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 432 AM CDT Tue Apr 2 2024 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-030945- 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- 432 AM CDT Tue Apr 2 2024 /532 AM EDT Tue Apr 2 2024/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Severe weather is occurring this morning with all modes possible, including damaging winds, tornadoes, and large hail. Another round of severe weather may also develop later in the morning through early afternoon ahead of an approaching cold front. The greatest risk for additional severe weather will be in southwest Indiana and western Kentucky. Again, all modes of severe weather will be possible with the second round. Outside of thunderstorms, strong wind gusts to 30 to 40 mph are possible today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Isolated thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon; however, severe weather is not expected. Outside of thunderstorms, strong wind gusts to 40 mph are possible Wednesday. Much colder air arrives for the mid to late week, which will bring the potential for frost and freezing temperatures. Thursday night offers the best chance of this occurrence. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Skywarn spotters are encouraged to report any large hail or wind damage this morning and again this afternoon.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
126 AM CDT Tue Apr 2 2024
MOZ076-020645-
Perry MO-
126 AM CDT Tue Apr 2 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN PERRY COUNTY
THROUGH 145 AM CDT...
At 126 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Park Hills, or over Desloge, moving southeast at 65 mph.
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 hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern Perry
County.
This includes Interstate 55 between Mile Markers 136 and 139.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3788 8985 3760 9013 3761 9015 3764 9015
3768 9010 3782 9000 3787 8994 3787 8990
3788 8988
TIME...MOT...LOC 0626Z 301DEG 56KT 3785 9048
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
346 AM CDT Tue Apr 2 2024
ILZ075>077-081>083-020930-
White IL-Edwards IL-Franklin IL-Hamilton IL-Jefferson IL-Wayne IL-
346 AM CDT Tue Apr 2 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN WHITE...WAYNE...
SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON...NORTHWESTERN EDWARDS...NORTHERN HAMILTON AND
NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH 430 AM CDT...
At 346 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Clay City to Benton. Movement was east at
40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch 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...
Fairfield, Mcleansboro, Wayne City, Cisne, Dahlgren, Jeffersonville,
Sims, Mill Shoals, Springerton, Mount Erie, Golden Gate, and Belle
Prairie City.
This includes Interstate 64 in Illinois between Mile Markers 92 and
114.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 AM CDT for south central
and southeastern Illinois.
&&
LAT...LON 3860 8815 3857 8815 3857 8801 3808 8844
3808 8885 3861 8841
TIME...MOT...LOC 0846Z 255DEG 33KT 3863 8838 3800 8890
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DWThe Paducah radar (KPAH), 22 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:55 UTC.
4 tornado, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree trunk snapped due to thunderstorm winds as a line of storms progressed eastward. The eastward tree orientation and lack of other damage indicators suggest straight-line winds.
A brief EF-1 tornado struck just east of the Woodville community in far Western McCracken County, KY. The tornado moved parallel along the south side of Woodville Road. The most severe damage was to a house that had a portion of its roof removed. A couple more homes suffered facia and siding damage. About a dozen trees had large limbs downed. Peak winds were estimated at 90 mph.
Tree and powerline damage was reported in Heath due to thunderstorm winds. Damage in this area was from straight-line winds.
This EF-2 tornado touched down along the Ohio River in far western Union County with damage to several trees by the river. It travelled eastward, uprooting a tree at KY-871, then sliding a barn off its foundation on its second crossing of KY-871. Crossing Hilltop Rd, the tornado passed about 1.5 miles south of Uniontown. Considerable damage occurred to several homes in the Cottingham Acres Rd area along KY-130. This included significant roof damage, homes being shifted off their foundation, and an overturned manufactured home. Dozens of trees were uprooted or snapped along the path. The tornado lifted just east of Hodgins Rd after flipping a trailer several yards and turning a tractor trailer onto its side. Peak winds were estimated at 120 mph.
Strong inflow winds north of a tornado track removed the siding from an outbuilding. A camper was also overturned.
A brief EF-1 tornado struck rural portions of central Union County during the early morning hours. The tornado began just west of Wallie Clements Road, where a small shed was destroyed and a home suffered shingle and facia damage. Traveling east-southeast, the tornado severely damaged the roof and walls of a large, newly-built farm outbuilding located northwest of KY-359. The tornado dissipated after damaging a carport near a home along KY-141. Several trees also suffered damage to large limbs along the path. Peak winds were estimated at 100 mph.
An EF-1 tornado struck near the community of Sullivan in southern Union County during the early morning hours. The tornado began near the intersection of US Hwy 60 and Sullivan Road, where a large farm outbuilding was severely damaged. After passing through a farm field, the tornado did roof damage to two homes on Cowan Road. Further east along KY-109, the tornado snapped several large trees at their base. One tree fell onto a double-wide manufactured home, where falling debris struck and injured the head of its occupant. The tornado dissipated very shortly thereafter. Peak winds were estimated at 105 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kentucky, 2024Warnings in Kentucky, 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: 1172989, 1173001, 1173002, 1173056, 1173012, 1173052, 1173006.