Heavy rainfall in early May, culminating in the May 8th severe weather and flooding event, resulted in rising river levels on the Lower Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, with Olmsted, Cairo, and Hickman reaching minor flood stage in the following days. Minor flooding in Western Kentucky around these river sites lasted 5 to 8 days with impacts limited to low-lying areas.
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.
Heavy rainfall in early May, culminating in the May 8th severe weather and flooding event, resulted in rising river levels on the Lower Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, with Olmsted, Cairo, and Hickman reaching minor flood stage in the following days. Minor flooding in Western Kentucky around these river sites lasted 5 to 8 days with impacts limited to low-lying areas.
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 10, 11:31 AM CST, 2 hours 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 1231 PM CDT Fri May 10 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Dry with close to normal temperatures through the weekend. - Shower and thunderstorm chances return next week. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1230 PM CDT Fri May 10 2024 Updated aviation discussion for 18Z TAFs. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 258 AM CDT Fri May 10 2024 A couple weak perturbations will progress into the Ohio Valley in northwest flow aloft over the next 24-36 hours. That will result in a few periods of increased cloud cover through Saturday morning. Otherwise, expect a fair amount of sunshine through the weekend with dry conditions. Temperatures will be a little below normal through Saturday, then trend more towards seasonable levels by Sunday as a warming trend ensues. Another wet pattern appears on tap next week as an upper low currently over the southwestern U.S. inches closer by early in the week. A couple periods of showers and isolated storms appear possible. The first is slated to arrive on Monday and linger through Tuesday. The second arrives later in the week with the approach of an upper level trough within quasi-zonal flow. At this time, the synoptic setup doesn't appear particularly favorable for flooding or severe weather potential. However, it's too early to tell for certain given the degree of model spread this far out. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1230 PM CDT Fri May 10 2024 VFR conditions are expected through the TAF period. Daytime cumulus has lifted to around 4000 ft and is expected to remain at VFR heights. Cloud coverage drops off overnight except for in the vicinity of a fairly dry frontal passage moving through the Evansville Tri-State. A brief shower cannot be completely ruled out but is low enough probability to be left out of the TAF for now. Northerly winds of 8-10 kts gusting to 15-18 kts today become light out of the southwest tonight before the front moves through early tomorrow morning resulting in breezy northwesterly winds during the day tomorrow. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. && UPDATE...ATL DISCUSSION...RJP AVIATION...ATL
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 252 PM CDT Fri May 10 2024 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-112000- 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- 252 PM CDT Fri May 10 2024 /352 PM EDT Fri May 10 2024/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast Monday and Tuesday. Lightning and brief heavy rain are likely to be the primary hazards. River flooding is expected to remain at several points along area rivers through the weekend into next week. Consult the river flood warning products for additional details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Minor flooding occurred on the Ohio River across from Cairo mid-month affecting low-lying areas.
Minor flooding occurred near Hickman mid-month in low-lying areas.
Minor flooding occurred across from Olmsted mid-month in low-lying areas.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, 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: 1181516, 1181507, 1181515.