Scattered thunderstorms developed across Southern Missouri during the early to mid afternoon hours on April 16th. These storms became severe with large hail, eventually morphing into a more linear structure with the threat switching over to primarily damaging winds as the storms moved into the Lakes area and Southern Pennyrile of West Kentucky.
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.
Scattered thunderstorms developed across Southern Missouri during the early to mid afternoon hours on April 16th. These storms became severe with large hail, eventually morphing into a more linear structure with the threat switching over to primarily damaging winds as the storms moved into the Lakes area and Southern Pennyrile of West Kentucky. Warm moist air lifted dew points into the mid-60s during the afternoon hours. Clearing behind morning showers allowed for SBCAPE values to reach 2500J/kg in Southeast Missouri with DCAPE of 900J/kg, 0-6km shear of 35-40kts, and mid-level lapse rates of 7C/km.
Reports from Southeast Missouri were primarily hail based. The largest hail occurred in the town of Advance which had numerous reports of golf ball to tennis size hail and a couple reports of baseball size hail, producing damage. Straight line wind damage was observed with a supercell in Bollinger County, downing a tree and damaging a barn roof.
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 Apr 16, 11:45 AM CST, 1 hour 18 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Paducah KY 1245 PM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered to numerous showers and a few thunderstorms can be expected this morning (40-80% chances), with slightly lower chances (30-55%) from midday into early this evening. Large hail will be possible with these storms. - Scattered showers and storms return Friday afternoon (30-40% chances), then chances will increase significantly late Friday night into Saturday (70-85% chances) with the approach and passage of a cold front. - High temperatures will be near record readings Friday ahead of the cold front. - A significant cool down is expected over the weekend, then we will see a warming trend next week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1245 PM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026 Scattered thunderstorms are developing over south central Missouri this afternoon just ahead of a shortwave trough embedded in the broader flow over western Missouri. These storms are on the edge of an area of richer lower level moisture with dewpoints in the mid 60s. The position and strength of the upper trough are yielding 3-6km lapse rates around 7 to 7.5 degC. Deep layer shear is sufficient at about 30 to 35 kts and should improve some through the afternoon. MLCAPEs are around 2000 to 2500 J/kg. This looks like a pretty favorable setup for hail, and fairly modest looking radar presentations have already produced hail with activity starting over MO. Low-level thermodynamics are also supportive of some wind damage/downburst potential with stronger storms. Generally expecting storms to increase in coverage and intensity over the next couple hours and bring a few hours threat of severe storms (wind/hail) mainly over southeast Missouri and western Kentucky this afternoon. Another trough moving in from the west brings lower end rain/storm chances in the afternoon tomorrow but better chances overnight into Saturday morning. Right now the peak of activity is progged to move in early Saturday morning at relative minima for heating which may limit severe weather potential but deep and low layer shear is strong enough we will need to continue to monitor for any thermodynamic changes that might increase our chances. A cold front moves in behind the storms Saturday sweeping in more seasonable air. Cooler temperatures persist through the middle of the week before things start to warm up as we approach the weekend. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1155 AM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026 Primary flight impediment today will be convection forecast to develop over the next few hours in southcentral Missouri and track at least close to CGI/PAH in the afternoon. Conditions are more favorable than normal for hail today and that and gusty winds could accompany IFR visibilities in stronger storms. VFR conditions with fairly light winds are forecast once the storms clear out. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None. && DISCUSSION...JGG AVIATION...JGG
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 1246 PM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-100- 107>112-114-171800- 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- 1246 PM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026 /146 PM EDT Thu Apr 16 2026/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon. Large hail and isolated gusty winds will be possible with these storms as they move southeast mainly over southeast Missouri and western Kentucky. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast Friday afternoon and especially Friday night. There is a marginal risk of severe storms Friday evening and overnight across portions of southern Illinois and southeast Missouri, mainly northwest of a line from Mount Carmel to Marion Illinois, to Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed over parts of the area this afternoon. JGG
The Paducah radar (KPAH), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:01 UTC.
15 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail measured to half-dollar size fell from a supercell moving eastward into southwestern Bollinger County.
Estimated hail size, reported via mPING, as a supercell moved east of Zalma.
Numerous reports and pictures of hail in Advance were sent in from a variety of sources, many of which were golf ball to tennis ball size. The largest reports were measured at baseball size. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles occurred with this storm.
A supercell with a strong downdraft pushed eastward across Bollinger County, causing straight-line wind damage. A tree was downed onto Hwy FF between County Rds 512 and 513. Further east-southeast, part of a barn roof was torn off along Hwy PP south of Hwy FF.
Powerlines were downed south of Marble Hill as a supercell moved eastward through Bollinger County.
Lots of tree limbs and a few larger branches were downed in the Leopold area as a supercell moved into eastern Bollinger County.
Hail estimated to golf ball size was reported between Oran and New Hamburg, associated with a northeastward tracking supercell.
Hail was measured to ping pong ball size as a developing supercell moved eastward through Central Scott County.
Multiple social media reports showed hail in Benton, with the largest measured to half-dollar sized.
Hail measured to half dollar size fell between Benton and Commerce as a supercell moved eastward through Scott County.
Hail estimated to nickel size fell in Naylor.
Hail estimated to ping pong ball size fell in the community of Poynor as a supercell tracked eastward along the Missouri/Arkansas border.
Several spotters reported hail with a storm tracking eastward through Butler County. One estimated quarter size hail west of Poplar Bluff, another shared a picture of hail measured to ping pong ball size from Poplar Bluff, while another spotter reported hail measured to half-dollar size at Cynthia St in Poplar Bluff.
Hail estimated to quarter size fell south of Wappapello.
A public report was received of hail estimated to quarter size on the east side of Dexter.
Street flooding occurred in and near Puxico in the usual problem areas. Estimated hourly rainfall peaked at around 1.25, but a lack of additional training heavy rain kept flooding issues from worsening.
Hail estimated to the size of quarters was reported with a storm crossing the north side of Bloomfield.
Hail estimated to quarter size was reported in Matthews.
Hail estimated to quarter size fell east of Naylor as a storm cell moved into Butler County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, April 2026
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: 1347239, 1347241, 1347249, 1347242, 1347245, 1347246, 1347254, 1347251, 1347256, 1347258, 1347262, 1347259, 1347261, 1347263, 1347264, 1347265, 1347268, 1347267, 1347266.