Flash Flood in Kentucky, August 4, 2025

Name: Flash Flood in Kentucky, August 4, 2025
Start: 2025-08-04T18:15
End: 2025-08-04T19:30
Location: Kentucky

August 4, 2025 · NWS PAH · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $125,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS PAH wrote it up.

A shortwave trough and closed low reached the Quad State from the northwest during the morning of the 4th. The arrival of the shortwave preceded peak heating by several hours, limiting convective potential. Shear was very weak and instability limited. Slow-moving storms did produce torrential rainfall, with significant flooding issues reported in the Midtown area of Paducah before sunset.

What forecasters said that day

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 Aug 4, 4:48 PM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Daily shower and thunderstorm chances will continue through Tuesday before trending drier during the latter half of the week. More rain chances return over the weekend.
Temperatures will trend warmer to near normal by Wednesday along with an increase in humidity levels. Heat Index values are forecast to remain below 100 into the weekend.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 4:48 PM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
548 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Daily shower and thunderstorm chances will continue through
  Tuesday before trending drier during the latter half of the
  week. More rain chances return over the weekend.

- Temperatures will trend warmer to near normal by Wednesday
  along with an increase in humidity levels. Heat Index values
  are forecast to remain below 100 into the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 155 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

A 500 mb shortwave trough over the region is proving enough lift to
support scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon mainly
east of the Mississippi. The greatest coverage is currently across
southern Illinois along an instability axis of 1000 to 1500 J/kg of
MLCAPE. Pcpn will pivot southeast this evening before diminishing
with the loss of diurnal heating. Stronger storms are unlikely due
to only 10-15 kts of sfc-6km shear. While conditions turn tranquil
tonight, patchy fog will be possible across the entire FA as the
crossover temperature is likely exceeded with dewpoints in the upper
60s to near 70 this afternoon.

Another round of showers and thunderstorms will be possible on
Tuesday, especially across southwest Indiana and the Kentucky
Pennyrile as the aformentioned shortwave trough remains in the
vicinity. Coverage looks to be more isolated compared to today with a
25 to 35% probability of pcpn. Conditions then trend drier through
the latter half of the week as a H5 597 dam ridge builds east into
Texas, causing the trough to lift more east out of the FA. The NBM
does have slight PoPs returning over the weekend, but the LREF
supports a higher probability in the 30-50% range of light QPF
amounts. The greatest risk looks to be on Sunday due to an
influx of tropical moisture.

Unseasonably cool temperatures trend warmer to near normal by
Wednesday with high temperatures back in the upper 80s to near 90.
Low temperatures in the 60s trend upward into the lower 70s by the
weekend. Despite an increase in humidity, heat index values are
progged to remain mainly below 100.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 538 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

Scattered showers and storms will diminish around or just after
sunset for each TAF site. Where rainfall occurred this
afternoon and where skies clear this evening, expect fog to
develop overnight into Tuesday morning. Visibility may drop as
low as a half mile or less at CGI/PAH/MVN. Otherwise, improving
conditions can be expected after sunrise on Tuesday with light
and variable winds in place.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...None.
MO...None.
IN...None.
KY...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...DW
AVIATION...KC

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 4, 1:00 PM CST, 5 hours 15 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Paducah KY
200 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-051900-
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-
200 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025 /300 PM EDT Mon Aug 4 2025/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern
Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, mainly east
of the Mississippi River. Cloud to ground lightning and locally
heavy rain is the primary hazard.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Additional showers and thunderstorms are possible on Tuesday with
the greatest chances east of the Mississippi River.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

DW

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 4, 2:24 PM CST, 3 hours 51 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
324 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0315 PM     Flash Flood      3 WSW Mcleansboro       38.08N 88.59W
08/04/2025                   Hamilton           IL   Law Enforcement

            A vehicle was stuck in water on IL-14 at Ten
            Mile Rd.

&&

ATL

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 2:46 PM CST, 3 hours 29 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
346 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

ILZ082-086-042115-
Saline IL-Hamilton IL-
346 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN SALINE AND
SOUTHEASTERN HAMILTON COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM CDT...

At 346 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles west of Norris City, or 8 miles north of Eldorado, moving
southeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Eldorado and Broughton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3800 8837 3795 8837 3778 8838 3794 8855
      3801 8848
TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 311DEG 14KT 3794 8845

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

ATL

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 3:11 PM CST, 3 hours 4 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
411 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

ILZ089-042200-
Johnson IL-
411 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN JOHNSON COUNTY THROUGH
500 PM CDT...

At 410 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Vienna, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Vienna, Goreville, Lake Of Egypt Area, New Burnside, and Simpson.

This includes Interstate 24 in Illinois between Mile Markers 5 and
16.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3760 8871 3742 8871 3741 8895 3754 8899
      3760 8889
TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 248DEG 7KT 3750 8884

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

ATL

Local storm report, Aug 4, 3:29 PM CST, 2 hours 46 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
429 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0420 PM     Flood            3 S Mcleansboro         38.05N 88.52W
08/04/2025                   Hamilton           IL   Law Enforcement

            Floodwaters have closed part of IL-142 near
            County Rd 975N.

&&

ATL

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 5:06 PM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
606 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

ILZ090-094-KYZ007-042345-
Massac IL-Pope IL-Livingston KY-
606 PM CDT Mon Aug 4 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN MASSAC...SOUTHERN POPE
AND CENTRAL LIVINGSTON COUNTIES THROUGH 645 PM CDT...

At 605 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles southwest of Golconda, or 11 miles northeast of Metropolis,
moving southeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Brookport, Burna, Ledbetter, Smithland, and Hamletsburg.

This includes Interstate 24 in Illinois between Mile Markers 33 and
37.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3718 8873 3739 8858 3726 8827 3704 8846
TIME...MOT...LOC 2305Z 301DEG 14KT 3727 8857

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

DRS

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 12 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:15 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, McCracken

When: August 4, 6:15 PM CST to 7:30 PM CST
Where: McCracken County, 0.46 mi SSW of Paducah to 0.3 mi SSW of Paducah
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $125,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.074, -88.633

A wide area of flooding developed near Baptist Hospital in Paducah, with water flooding the main entrance of the hospital. Multiple cars were pictured stranded in roughly 6-8 inches of water. Several vehicles were stuck in the water at 28th and Jefferson, and additional stuck vehicle reports came in from Broadway St and Jackson St. Hourly rainfall rates peaked at 1.5-2 an hr over that Midtown portion of Paducah.

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kentucky in 2025 Every state in 2025 This day in weather history Warnings in Kentucky, August 2025

Sources

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: 1289969.