In the base of an approaching upper-level trough, strong mid and upper-level jets overspread the lower Ohio Valley on the afternoon of the 30th. Steep mid-level lapse rates contributed to rapid destabilization, as well, setting the stage for a widespread severe thunderstorm event.
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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.
In the base of an approaching upper-level trough, strong mid and upper-level jets overspread the lower Ohio Valley on the afternoon of the 30th. Steep mid-level lapse rates contributed to rapid destabilization, as well, setting the stage for a widespread severe thunderstorm event. As the cold front approached, a line of thunderstorms moved eastward across west Kentucky through the evening. Quarter size hail fell over several locations in the Pennyrile Region, but the largest hail, up to the size of ping pong balls, fell in Dublin in Graves County. Wind gusts around 60 mph were common along the Ohio River, but the strongest gust, 65 mph, was measured near Clifty in northern Todd County.
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 Mar 30, 11:15 AM CST, 6 hours 14 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 1215 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - A major severe storm outbreak remains expected later this afternoon through evening. Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes will all be possible. - Thunderstorms return to the forecast Wednesday through Saturday. Severe storms remain possible Wednesday into Wednesday night and flooding is increasingly likely in the days following due to multiple rounds of heavy rainfall. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1215 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025 Our potential for severe storms remains unchanged as this major system makes entry and passage later this afternoon and evening. Shear really picks up best after 21z, which is when moisture return and instability is peaking just as the cold front makes entry. All the CAMs have some form or fashion of a couple line segments taking shape and moving over the area with likely damaging winds, large hail, and potentially large/long-tracked tornadoes. It looks like with time the system evolves into a line/LEWP as the evening wears on, with embedded circulations remaining a concern. And while some modeling (NAM for ex) lingers it after midnight, most modeling suggests the worst of it is past by then. After a brief reprieve for a work week starting recovery, we fire back up again by mid week. Wednesday into Wednesday night still looks like the best time frame for our next potentially major severe weather outbreak, with our entire region under a 30% Enhanced outlook. All modes severe will again be in play. The other component that comes into greater focus on the back half of the week is heavy rain and flooding potential. The models have been consistently signalling numerous rounds of showers/storms producing multiple inches of rainfall for the area in the Wednesday-Saturday time frame. Projected storm totals of 4-8" are not out of the question, and this will lead to river and flash flooding issues. An ESF transitioning to a Flood Watch looks to be soon forthcoming...as that message will without doubt be amplified in the coming days. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1215 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025 Base restrictions already in play will continue with IFR to MVFR CIGS prevailing, depsite occasional warm sector BINOVC that may present at times. Scattered showers become prevalant thunderstorms as the front nears/makes passage later this afternoon/evening into the overnight. Gusty south to southwest winds ahead of the front shift to northwest after passage, though some gusts may come in with it as well. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 248 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-311000- 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- 248 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025 /348 PM EDT Sun Mar 30 2025/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A major severe weather event is expected, and tornado watches are in effect, refer to the watch for details. Tornadoes, some strong and long track, very large hail in excess of 2 inches in diameter, and damaging winds are all possible this afternoon and evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Thunderstorms reenter the forecast Wednesday through Saturday, including the possibility of severe storms Wednesday into Wednesday night. In addition, a significant heavy rainfall and flooding scenario is becoming more likely due to several rounds of heavy rainfall anticipated Wednesday through Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
556 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0552 PM Hail 2 NW Melody Hill 38.05N 87.53W
03/30/2025 E0.88 Inch Vanderburgh IN Public
&&
BMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
557 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0556 PM Hail 1 NNE Dexter 36.80N 89.96W
03/30/2025 M0.70 Inch Stoddard MO Trained Spotter
&&
BMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
600 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0558 PM Hail 2 WSW Cynthiana 38.17N 87.74W
03/30/2025 M0.88 Inch Posey IN Trained Spotter
&&
BMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
601 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0557 PM Hail 5 NNE Melody Hill 38.09N 87.48W
03/30/2025 E1.00 Inch Vanderburgh IN Public
Pea to quarter size hail reported 2 miles
northeast of the airport.
&&
CWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
602 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0558 PM Hail 1 SW Bernie 36.67N 89.98W
03/30/2025 E1.50 Inch Stoddard MO Public
Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50
in.).
&&
CWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
610 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0608 PM Hail Delta 37.20N 89.74W
03/30/2025 M0.88 Inch Cape Girardeau MO Trained Spotter
&&
BMThe Paducah radar (KPAH), 18 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:27 UTC.
8 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Nickel size hail occurred along with a 60 mph gust north of Bandana.
Gust was measured at the Henshaw Fire Department.
Power lines were blown down 1 mile south of Henderson.
Hail up to the size of nickes fell near Poverty.
Hail up to the size of quarters fell Whitesville and Philpot.
Gust measured at Kentucky Mesonet site RPTN 4 miles northeast of Marion.
A storm produced hail up to the size of quarters and wind gusts over 50 mph, resulting in around 6000 power outages across Owensboro.
Hail up to the size of ping pong balls fell in Dublin.
Hail up to the size of quarters fell just south of Fancy Farm.
Quarter size hail fell around Mayfield.
Hail up to the size of quarters fell southeast of Gracey.
Hail up to the size of quarters fell near the Christian County line just west of Kirkmansville.
Gust was measured in Clifty.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, March 2025
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: 1247491, 1247492, 1247499, 1247496, 1247480, 1247493, 1247482, 1247483, 1247484, 1247485, 1247486, 1247487, 1247494.