An upper-level trough from northern Ontario southwest to the central Plains was pushing southeast through the day, as a weak surface boundary lingered from the Missouri Bootheel northeast along the Ohio River. South of the boundary, MLCAPE was 1000-2000J/kg and the effective shear was 30-40kts.
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.
An upper-level trough from northern Ontario southwest to the central Plains was pushing southeast through the day, as a weak surface boundary lingered from the Missouri Bootheel northeast along the Ohio River. South of the boundary, MLCAPE was 1000-2000J/kg and the effective shear was 30-40kts. Mid-level lapse rates were poor, generally 6K/km or lower, while low-level lapse rates were 7-8K/km. Scattered storms were ongoing before sunrise over northeast Arkansas and far west Tennessee, and they steadily approached west Kentucky through the morning. One particularly strong storm produced a bow-echo as it approached Hazel in Calloway County just before 1000CST. The storm produced wind damage in the form of uprooted trees from Hazel to Murray. One tree fell onto a truck near Hazel, and another fell into a house in Murray. Although the storm weakened, it grew upscale into the afternoon as it moved east of the Land Between the Lakes. The larger line of storms produced sporadic wind gusts up to 50mph and hail up to the size of dimes, as it moved through Christian and Todd Counties and also Daviess County. Later on in the early evening, a weak mid-level disturbance helped to force some showers across west Kentucky. Two cold air funnels were reported, one with a shower near Hickman, and one that didn't even have a nearby shower west of Sturgis in Union County. There was no indication that either of the funnels reached the ground or caused any damage.
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 2, 12:43 AM CST, 9 hours 12 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 143 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - An unsettled weather pattern lingers into the weekend with increasing rain and storm chances. This includes a chance of strong to severe storms today, though the highest such potential will be to the south and east of our forecast area. - Cooler temperatures in the 60s arrive for this weekend, with temperatures moderating back into the 70s by next mid-week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 143 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025 A cold front's approach today, and passage tmrw, will lead to increased rain and storm chances over the next 24-48 hours. As the core of the upper low moves overhead this weekend, it rotates a pool of -25C air overtop the FA. This steepened lapse rate and lowered freezing level environ will lead to an increased threat of wind/hail with any storms that can become more robust in the conditionally unstable column, so peak heating afternoon and evening time periods are the greatest impact time periods for potential strong-severe storms. In addition, would not be altogether shocked if some cold air funnels were reported as the -25C cold pool rotates overhead. Otherwise, the weekend still looks markedly cooler thanks to the entrainment of colder air brought in by the upper low, with highs generally in the 60s into early next week. Drier weather with moderating temperatures back into/thru the 70s comes in thereafter for the mid week and beyond. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 143 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025 Increasing rain/storm chances will lead to lowering bases and potential restricted CIGS/VSBYS with any associated convective activity thru the terminal forecast period. Otherwise there will be breaks to Visual Flight Rules that may prevail, but aforementioned restricted chances cannot be ruled out at any time. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 304 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-031000- 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- 304 AM CDT Fri May 2 2025 /404 AM EDT Fri May 2 2025/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A chance of thunderstorms today includes a risk of severe storms, with damaging winds and large hail the primary severe weather hazards. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Showers and thunderstorms Saturday will be capable of producing small hail and an isolated cold air funnel cannot be ruled out. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters should monitor the latest forecasts and updates for any potential activation request.
The Paducah radar (KPAH), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:53 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 2 funnel cloud, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown into power lines and across State Line Road just west of Hazel.
A large tree was blown onto a truck on State Line Road just west of Moore Road.
A large tree was blown down in Midway.
Street flooding occurred in portions of Murray, including areas that are less typical for flooding. Approximately an inch and a half of rain fell, the large majority of which occurred within an hour.
A tree was uprooted and fell onto a manufactured home at Pine Street and 1st Street in Murray. At the time, flood waters were 8 inches deep in the main floor of the home. The saturated soil likely made it easier for the tree to be uprooted. The home was essentially destroyed.
A cold air funnel formed between Sullivan and Pride.
A cold air funnel formed near Hickman.
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, May 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: 1259897, 1259903, 1259908, 1271413, 1259913, 1259895, 1259912.