The second major severe weather outbreak for the month occurred on the 26th for the Quad State region. On the synoptic scale, a shortwave trough centered in the middle of the country with a 60 kt mid-level jet moved across northern Arkansas.
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.
The second major severe weather outbreak for the month occurred on the 26th for the Quad State region. On the synoptic scale, a shortwave trough centered in the middle of the country with a 60 kt mid-level jet moved across northern Arkansas. A weak surface low was moving into SE Missouri during the morning with a secondary low located further northwest. A warm frontal boundary was draped across our area. A bowing line progressed east across SE Missouri into W Kentucky and far S Illinois between 0500-1000CST, followed by a mostly sub-severe second line that exited the region by 1300CST. The environment recovered producing fuel for more severe storms, starting with supercells 1800-2100CST with a line of storms moving east-southeastward across the entire Quad State after 1900CST, crossing through by midnight. Across the Quad State, this event produced the record for most tornado track miles in a single day in office history, along with the second most warnings issued in a day (just behind the May 8, 2024 event). Widespread straight-line wind and tornado damage resulted in over 100,000 customers without power across the Quad State.
For the morning, MLCAPE values at 0700CST were 1000-2500 J/kg in SE Missouri. Effective bulk shear was 40-50 kts with STP of 1-3. Precipitable water was 1.6-1.9 inches, allowing for torrential rainfall rates.
The morning round of storms produced widespread straight-line wind damage across the southernmost portions of SE Missouri, especially Ripley to Stoddard Counties. Three strong tornadoes occurred during the early morning in SE Missouri. The first was a long-track EF-2 tornado beginning in Oregon County, then crossed the entirety of Ripley County before lifting on the SW side of Poplar Bluff. A destructive downburst in Dexter transitioned into an EF-2 tornado that tracked northeastward to southeast of Morley in Scott County. An EF-3 tornado that began in far eastern Stoddard County moved northeastward through Sikeston to Diehlstadt with widespread damage in Sikeston. One person (43m, indirect) in Southeast Sikeston lost his life due to a falling tree branch during cleanup. Another person (51f, indirect) in Morehouse died as a result of an unattended candle, used for lighting during the resulting power outage, causing a house fire. Flash flooding occurred in several counties in SE Missouri as a result of high rain rates with the first round of storms, with late morning storms extending flood duration. A majority of Ripley, Butler, Stoddard, and New Madrid Counties were without power as of late morning, with significant outages also occurring in Wayne, Scott, and Mississippi Counties.
Heading into the evening, MLCAPE values at 1800CST were 3500-4500 J/kg in SE Missouri. For SE Missouri, effective bulk shear rose to 45-55 kts, with SRH around 200-250 m2/s2 and STP of 2-4. 0-1 km shear was 15-20 kts. Mid-level lapse rates were 7-7.5 C/km. DCAPE of 1200-1500 J/kg provided ample opportunity for downburst winds.
Late afternoon to early evening supercells were mainly in S Illinois and W Kentucky. The few in SE Missouri approached far western counties. After several chaser videos of tornadoes west of Carter County, the cold front caught up to the storm and Carter County primarily had straight-line wind damage as a result, with a brief EF-0 tornado. Another tornado, an EF-1, entered Bollinger County southeast of Marquand. Several straight-line wind reports were received, along with more flash flooding as lingering high water and saturated soils from the day were quickly reinvigorated. 2-5 inches of rain fell across the southern two rows of counties, with some of the highest rainfall totals near the Black River and south of Cape Girardeau. More power outages occurred with Carter and Bollinger County outages, along with the seven counties from the morning with substantial outage numbers, continuing through the night. The Black River briefly flooded in Poplar Bluff following this storm.
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 26, 2:05 AM CST, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
305 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are still expected through
midnight tonight. The initial round will spread quickly
eastward over the southern half of the region after 4 AM. It
may be followed by one or two more lines of storms which could
impact the entire region through early afternoon. A final line
of storms is expected to move southeast through the region
this evening. Damaging winds continue to be the main concern.
A few tornadoes will be possible along any of the lines of
storms, and some large hail cannot be ruled out.
- Obviously, with multiple rounds of storms expected in the next
24 hours, a flash flood threat is likely to develop. The Flood
Watch is unchanged.
- A much needed respite from the active weather pattern is in
store for the bulk of next week, as we return to drier weather
and near normal temperatures.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 305 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024
Well, the convection over the eastern Plains has yet to really
congeal into any significant complex. Therefore, confidence in
how this will play out is still pretty low.
It now appears that the first round of storms will push
eastward along the MO/AR line and into southeast Missouri after
09Z. There is a sharp CAPE gradient running roughly along the MS
River into the Purchase Area, and the more robust convection
early this morning will be confined to Missouri, the Purchase
Area and adjacent portions of southern Illinois. It is not
certain how quickly the CAPE will spread farther northeast, and
any appreciable change may wait until after sunrise. SPC has
just issued Tornado Watch 314 valid until 15Z for all of
southern Illinois and southeast Missouri and a good portion of
west Kentucky. We will be impacted generally over the second
half of the Watch period.
The latest HRRR actually indicates that there may be new
development ahead of the nasty supercell bearing down on
Harrison Arkansas, and that this initial round may be more
discrete storms. The environment should support supercells with
all hazards possible. This will likely impact the southern half
of the Watch area. After daybreak, one or more lines of storms
could sweep southeast through the area, generally along and
south of the CAPE gradient. This could impact the entire watch
area. Damaging winds, possibly 75+ mph, will be possible with
any lines. A few tornadoes would also be possible along the
line.
Most of this activity should be east of the area by early to
mid-afternoon, and most of the 00Z and later guidance has no
trouble reloading the environment during the afternoon. There
will be the potential for more supercells to develop on any
outflow boundaries that remain over the region through the
afternoon. All hazards would once again be possible. However, as
we head into the evening, another line of storms is expected to
push southeast through the entire region. Once again, widespread
very damaging winds and tornadoes will be possible along the
line. It looks like everything should be done by 03Z or 04Z this
evening.
With the multiple rounds of convection expected, the flash flood
watch seems like a real good idea. Storm total QPF is 1.5-2.5"
over much of the Quad State and some areas are likely to see
3-4" of rainfall. No changes are planned to the Flood Watch
which runs through tonight.
An upper trough is expected to develop over the Great Lakes
Monday, and that will allow surface high pressure to build
through the Quad State. The high will keep the region dry and
quiet for much of the work week. Very low humidity and
temperatures a few degrees below normal are expected Tuesday
into Wednesday. A skinny upper ridge is expected to push into
the region Thursday. The guidance cannot agree on how stout the
ridge will be. There is some potential that it could hold fast
over the Quad State through next weekend, but some
models/ensembles are pushing energy right through it as early as
Friday. This leads to some chance of showers and thunderstorms
in the forecast from Friday through next weekend. Temperatures
will trend a few degrees above normal by the weekend.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1157 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024
High clouds move into the Quad State with light winds at the
surface. An area of showers and thunderstorms moves
northeastward early morning, with models increasingly agreeing
on a line of storms sweeping through from the west mid to late
morning. Isolated afternoon convection is possible, with a
second line moving through during the late afternoon and
evening hours. Winds during the day will be breezy and southerly
gusting to 20-25 kts. Strong to severe thunderstorms are
possible in each round of storms. MVFR cigs are likely during
the morning and following the evening front. Vsby reductions
will accompany storms and heavy rain.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Flood Watch through Monday morning for ILZ075>078-080>094.
MO...Flood Watch through Monday morning for MOZ076-086-087-100-
107>112-114.
IN...Flood Watch through Monday morning for INZ081-082-085>088.
KY...Flood Watch through Monday morning for KYZ001>022.
&&
DISCUSSION...DRS
AVIATION...ATLHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 326 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-271000- 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 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024 /426 AM EDT Sun May 26 2024/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms are expected from early this morning through this evening. Damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail are all possible. Torrential rainfall and lightning will accompany any thunderstorms. The multiple rounds of heavy rainfall could result in flash flooding. A Flood Watch is in effect through early Monday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday A few thunderstorms could linger into Monday morning over southwest Indiana and west Kentucky. A brief heavy downpour and lightning will be the primary concerns. A small chance of thunderstorms returns to the forecast for Friday through Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters should be prepared for activation this morning through this evening. DRS
The St Louis radar (KLSX), 190 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:08 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind, 11 tornado, 11 flash flood, 6 flood, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding was reported in Van Buren and to the north on Hwy D in Carter County. One hour rainfall peaked at roughly one inch at 0515CST.
A long track EF-2 tornado began in southeastern Oregon County before crossing over into Ripley County south of Gatewood. A garage was pulled off of a cabin near the Fourche Creek Conservation area. The track then turned northeastward, then reverted to an eastward direction south of Doniphan. Afterwards, the track continued northeastward towards Fairdealing. Wind appears to have caught the overhang of the roof of a home and mostly removed it, pulling down some exterior walls in the process. The tornado crossed into Butler County just north of US-160E. Several homes sustained gutter and shingle damage along the path. Hundreds of trees were uprooted and snapped along the tornado track blocking access to many roads. A large majority of Ripley County lost power as a result of this tornado and the other morning storms, with roughly half the county still without power by midnight. Estimated peak winds for the Ripley County portion, and the tornado as a whole, were 115 mph.
Several roads were blocked due to flash flooding in the southwest corner of the county. Early morning rainfall was estimated by radar at 1.5-2.5 inches. Flooding issues transitioned from flash flood to a lengthy lingering flood mid-morning.
A swath of straight-line wind damage tracked from Oxly to Naylor, producing tree damage. A couple of the uprooted trees fell onto homes in Naylor.
An EF-2 tornado (max of EF-1 in Butler County) began in far southeast Oregon County, then tracked northeastward across the entirety of Ripley County before entering Butler County just north of US-160. The track continued into the western edge of Poplar Bluff with minor roof and shingle damage to homes. Hundreds of trees were uprooted and snapped along the tornado track. Several homes sustained gutter and shingle damage. Estimated peak winds with the Butler County portion of this tornado were 105 mph.
A line of thunderstorms moving eastward into Butler County snapped telephone poles, downed large tree limbs, and produced structural damage to storage barns. A 60 mph wind gust was measured near the intersection of County Rd MM and US-67.
High water was reported in multiple locations along Business-67 in Poplar Bluff, specifically at Oak Grove Rd and 67 which is not a typical flood location. Radar estimated up to 1.5 inches of rain fell between 0500-0600CST.
Straight-line wind damage brought down large tree branches, tore off some roofing on a barn, and damaged the roof of a home.
Tree and power line damage reports were relayed to emergency management out of Puxico.
Tree and power line damage reports were relayed to emergency management from Dudley and Bloomfield.
A destructive straight-line wind event moved into Dexter, Missouri early morning. This surge of stronger winds appears to have led to the organization of a fairly long track EF-2 tornado that began near U.S. 60 and Main Street. The city road maintenance building sustained significant damage as well as a restaurant in the area. Hundreds of trees were snapped and uprooted and many trees fell onto buildings and caused damage. Peak winds were estimated at 100 mph.
An EF-2 tornado began on the east side of Dexter. Moving east-northeast, the tornado downed numerous trees along its path. Northeast of Essex, the tornado downed a few large wooden power transmission lines. The tornado then turned to the northeast and eventually north-northeast, crossing the Little River into Scott County. Estimated peak winds in Stoddard County, and for the tornado as a whole, were 125 mph.
Flash flooding and road washouts were reported in Puxico. Radar estimated 3 inches of rainfall fell in and around Puxico through the morning hours with the heaviest rainfall between 0530-0630CST with up to 2 inches of rain that hour.
Several power poles blown over south of Essex.
An EF-3 tornado (peak of EF-1 in Stoddard County) formed near County Road 793, snapping a power pole, then tracked northeastward, crossing into New Madrid County at County Road 799. Peak winds for the brief Stoddard County segment of the tornado were 90 mph.
An EF-3 tornado formed near County Road 793 in Stoddard County, then tracked northeastward into New Madrid County at County Road 799. Continuing northeastward, the tornado badly damaged a well-built brick home east of Morehouse, removing its roof and collapsing most of the exterior walls. One home in Morehouse burned down due to an unattended candle used during a power outage caused by the tornado, resulting in one fatality (51f, indirect). The tornado crossed into Scott County at Butler St in southwest Sikeston. Peak winds for the New Madrid County portion, and the tornado as a whole, were 140 mph.
A large tree limb was blown down from thunderstorm winds. The tree limb struck a man in the back, who died as a result (43m, direct).
An EF-2 tornado began on the east side of Dexter, then shifted from east-northeasterly towards north-northeasterly on its trek across Stoddard County, crossing the Little River into Scott County. As the tornado approached Crowder, the tornado destroyed a newer, well-built barn. In Crowder, numerous trees were uprooted and lost large limbs. Just east of Vanduser, the tornado removed most of a newer metal roof from a house. The tornado finally veered more to the northeast, snapping tree limbs and overturning irrigation equipment before lifting just east of the community of Morley. Estimated peak winds for the Scott County portion of the tornado were 115 mph.
An EF-3 tornado (max EF-1 in this portion of Scott County) formed in Stoddard County, then tracked northeastward through New Madrid County into Scott County at Butler St in southwest Sikeston. Damage to trees, along with some damage to roofs, occurred along Butler St, Shelby Dr, and Dempster St, before crossing back briefly into New Madrid County. Peak winds for this Scott County portion were 100 mph.
An EF-3 tornado (max EF-1 for this second New Madrid County portion) formed in Stoddard County, then tracked northeastward through New Madrid County into Scott County at Butler St in southwest Sikeston, then crossing back briefly into New Madrid County. The track goes through Branum St, crossing back over to Scott County at Montgomery St where a tree was snapped. Peak winds for this second New Madrid portion were 100 mph.
An EF-3 tornado (max EF-2 for this second Scott County portion) formed in Stoddard County, then tracked northeastward through New Madrid County into Scott County at Butler St in southwest Sikeston, then crossing back briefly into New Madrid County, re-entering Scott County near the intersection of Montgomery St and W Murray Ln. The tornado did extensive and severe tree damage through the south side of Sikeston. Approaching and crossing Malone Ave, the tornado removed part of the roof of a school building and a nearby former farm supply store, where cinder block walls also collapsed. North of Malone Ave, the tornado collapsed a tall wooden light pole at a ball field, and removed most of the roof of a house. The tornado turned more northeast as it exited Sikeston, doing damage to trees, power lines, and outbuildings before ending in the community of Diehlstadt. Peak winds for this second Scott County portion were 120 mph.
Multiple trees were downed in the New Madrid and Portageville area as a thunderstorm line swept eastward early morning. Nearly half the county was without power late morning.
Substantial ponding of water on roads occurred south of Essex.
Street flooding occurred in Cape Girardeau due to two morning rounds of heavy rain. Radar estimated 2-3 inches of rain fell in Cape Girardeau during the morning hours.
Up to a foot of water was flowing on multiple streets in Oran. Radar estimated rainfall for the morning hours was 3-4 inches for the area with the heaviest rainfall between 0600-0700CST.
Water was reported over MO-51 north of Arab. Radar estimated rainfall of 2.5-3.5 inches through the morning in the area with the heaviest rainfall between 0800-0900CST.
Flash flooding occurred on Hwy E at Lowndes. Radar estimates of morning rainfall were around 3 inches with 1.5-2 inches occurring between 0800-0900CST.
Ongoing flooding of several roads due to overflowing creeks continued through the day.
An eyewitness report spotted a tornado that briefly touched down north of U.S. 60 to the west of County Rd 3277, approximately 5 miles WSW of Van Buren. Drone footage observed some tree damage in this area.
A storm survey determined a very large area of enhanced winds downed hundreds of trees, knocking down powerlines, and produced minor damage to a few structures in northwestern Carter County. Peak winds were evaluated at 90 mph. Damage started north of Fremont and fanned out east and south into Van Buren and much of northwestern Carter County. The event appears to be the result of a long track tornadic supercell transitioning to a more linear structure.
One inch hail fell on the northeast side of Van Buren.
Water covered roads in Van Buren, including some that do not normally flood. Radar estimated rainfall was up to 3-5 inches for the late afternoon into the evening, though those values are overestimates due to hail contamination.
An EF-1 tornado began in Marquand in Madison County, then traveled southeast into Bollinger County near County Rd 846, causing uprooted trees and large broken branches. It crossed County Rd 844, and then went on to cause a swath of substantial tree damage (snapped and uprooted trees) near Crooked Creek. The tornado then moved in a more easterly direction south of the Hawn Creek Access area, before crossing County Rd 848. A home had part of its porch lifted up and damaged in this location along with large tree limbs broken. The tornado then caused a fairly decent swath of tree damage in some forested areas north of County Rd 846/Hwy 00. At the end of the tornado track, the roof of a barn was destroyed and the debris was tossed onto the adjacent home, causing roof damage. Estimated peak winds for the Bollinger County portion of this tornado, and the tornado as a whole, were 100 mph.
Trees were downed by thunderstorm winds onto two separate homes near the intersection of County Rd 840 and Hwy 00.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Sam A. Baker State Park, with a tree falling onto a vehicle.
Water flowed over the road in Williamsville at CR-417 and MO-49.
Emergency management reported that they have received many reports of dime, quarter, and ping pong ball sized hail across the county was reported in many locations as a tail end of a line supercell tracked near U.S. 60.
Trees were uprooted, with one falling onto a house in Fruitland as a line of storms moved across Cape Girardeau County.
Multiple county roads flooded in Cape Girardeau County as 1 to 1.5 inches of rain supplemented heavy rainfall earlier in the day.
Several roads were closed into the overnight hours as standing water lingered following evening rainfall.
Hwy T near Puxico was closed from Hwy 51 to Hwy J due to flooding as 1-2 inches of additional rainfall fell during the evening bringing the total for the day to a radar estimated 3.5-5 inches.
Several roads across Stoddard County remained closed into the overnight hours due to flooding.
Minor flooding briefly occurred at Poplar Bluff on the Black River with bottomlands affected.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado, New Madrid | 2024-05-27 | 51 | Female | Permanent Home | Indirect |
| Thunderstorm Wind, New Madrid | 2024-05-26 | 43 | Male | Under Tree | Direct |
| Tornado, Scott | 2024-05-26 | 43 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Missouri, 2024Warnings in Missouri, 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: 1188123, 1188114, 1188525, 1188119, 1188116, 1188121, 1188494, 1188132, 1188128, 1188129, 1188134, 1188165, 1188496, 1188130, 1188176, 1188446, 1227543, 1188168, 1188450, 1188464, 1188473, 1188475, 1188535, 1188492, 1188502, 1188499, 1188508, 1188527, 1188169, 1188477, 1188476, 1188524, 1188489, 1188479, 1188478, 1188510, 1186161, 1188487, 1188514, 1188516, and more.