In the base of an approaching upper-level trough, strong mid and upper-level jets overspread the middle Mississippi 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.
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.
In the base of an approaching upper-level trough, strong mid and upper-level jets overspread the middle Mississippi 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, thunderstorms rapidly intensified and quickly formed into line segments upon reaching southeast Missouri in the mid-afternoon. Large hail was common with many locations reporting quarter size up to golf ball size hail. However, one storm produced an EF-1 tornado over southeast Ripley that moved east into southwest Butler County. It mainly damaged trees and a few outbuildings along its path. This same storm went on to produce baseball size hail in Qulin. The Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (KCGI) measured a 58 mph gust with another storm that went on to produce an EF-1 tornado just across the Mississippi River in Alexander County Illinois.
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, 3 hours 55 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
317 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM Hail Dix 38.44N 88.93W
03/30/2025 M0.88 Inch Jefferson IL Amateur Radio
&&
CWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
350 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0347 PM Hail 6 SW Campbell Hill 37.86N 89.63W
03/30/2025 E1.00 Inch Jackson IL Fire Dept/Rescue
&&
CWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
356 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0349 PM Hail 6 NW Pinckneyville 38.14N 89.47W
03/30/2025 E1.75 Inch Perry IL Public
&&
CWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Paducah KY
408 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM Hail 1 ENE Mount Vernon 38.32N 88.89W
03/30/2025 M0.70 Inch Jefferson IL Trained Spotter
&&
BMThe Springfield radar (KSGF), 197 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:12 UTC.
13 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail slightly larger than golf ball size fell west of Fremont near the Shannon County line.
Hail to the size of quarters fell along Highway M four miles north of Van Buren.
Hail to the size of golf balls fell in and north of Williamsville.
Golf ball size hail fell on the south side of Greenville.
Golf ball size hail fell in Longtown.
Ping pong ball size hail fell in Farrar.
An EF-1 tornado began about two miles east northeast of Oxly. It moved eastward mainly damaging trees. It ripped the roof off of an outbuilding on Highway B just before moving into Butler County just north of the Little Black River. The estimated peak wind was 90 mph. The tornado continued to produce EF-0 damage in Butler county and had a total path length around 8.5 miles.
An EF-1 tornado began in Ripley County two miles east northeast of Oxly and moved eastward crossing into Butler County just north of the Little Black River. It caused EF-0 damage along its path in Butler County. It caused damage to the roof of a mobile home and shingle damage to another house. It also damaged several trees along its path. The tornado crossed Highway 67 and ended about three miles south southwest of Harviell. The estimated peak wind was 85 mph. The total path length was about 8.5 miles. Sporadic 70-80 mph straight line winds occurred south of the tornado track.
Baseball size hail fell just northwest and north of Qulin.
Ping pong ball size hail fell along Highway 60 between Fisk and Dudley.
Some small branches were broken in Bloomfield.
Hail to the size of quarters fell in Dexter.
Nickel size hail fell in Delta.
Ping pong ball size hail fell in Bernie.
The gust was measured at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (KCGI). A few trees were knocked down near the airport according to 911 Center reports.
Up to half dollar size hail fell in the East Prairie and Anniston areas.
Quarter size hail fell in Conran.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Missouri, 2025Warnings in Missouri, 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: 1247529, 1247530, 1247533, 1247539, 1247537, 1247538, 1247503, 1247506, 1247540, 1247545, 1247555, 1247542, 1247548, 1247543, 1247557, 1247549, 1247565, 1247550.