Tornadoes · United States · Kentucky · 2011

EF1 tornado, Barlow, Kentucky, April 23, 2011

Name: EF1 tornado, Barlow, Kentucky, April 23, 2011
Start: 2011-04-23T19:29:00.000Z
End: 2011-04-23T19:32:00.000Z
Location: Barlow, Kentucky

This EF1 tornado ran 1.6 miles across Ballard County on April 23, 2011, touching down at 2:29 PM CDT and reaching 80 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $100,000 of property damage.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating: EF1
Date: April 23, 2011
Touchdown: 2:29 PM CDT (19:29 UTC)
Lifted: 2:32 PM CDT (19:32 UTC)
On the ground: 3 minutes
Path length: 1.6 miles (2.6 km)
Path width: 80 yards (73 m)
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $100,000
County: Ballard County
Touchdown point: 37.050, -89.055
Lift-off point: 37.050, -89.026
Record number: 1104231329-01

What the Weather Service recorded

Bands of thunderstorms developed along a surface cold front extending from northern Arkansas northeastward along the Ohio River. Relatively strong diurnal heating occurred south of the front, where mixed-layer cape values increased to around 1500 j/kg. Steep mid-level lapse rates and rather strong deep-layer wind shear promoted a few supercell structures within these bands of storms.

Part of a metal wall was damaged at a maintenance building. The roof was blown off a storage building at the city hall. Three power poles were snapped, which cut power to the city water plant. There was roof damage to a barn. A large tree fell on a home and two mobile homes. A carport landed up in a tree. There was minor roof damage on two homes and a carport. Several large trees were uprooted and snapped. Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph. The average path width was 65 yards.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Slight Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 16:23 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Apr 23, 4:14 AM CDT, 10 hours 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 23, 4:14 AM CDT, 10 hours 15 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
414 AM CDT SAT APR 23 2011

.DISCUSSION...
WILL NEED TO BR BRIEF TO DUE TO ONGOING CONDITIONS. IN A
NUTSHELL...LOOKS LIKE A VERY WET PATTERN TO CONTINUE RIGHT
THROUGH WED ALONG MUCH OF THE OHIO AND MID MS RIVER VALLEY AS A
SFC FRONTAL SYSTEM WAFFLES BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE REGION.
STRONG/SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE NIGHT HAVE LEFT A COUPLE
INCHES OF RAINFALL OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND
SOUTHWEST INDIANA...NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLE TORNADOES...ESP FROM
WEBSTER AND DAVIESS COUNTIES KENTUCKY.

QUASI STATIONARY BOUNDARY SET UP WILL BE THE KEY TO WHERE THE
HEAVIEST RAINFALL AND SEVERE STORM POTENTIAL SETS UP. AREAS ALONG
AND NORTH OF THE SFC FRONT WILL STAND THE BEST CHC OF WIDE SPREAD
HEAVY RAINFALL THROUGH TONIGHT...WHICH NOW LOOKS TO BE NORTH OF A
MURRAY KY TO GREENVILLE KY LINE. THUS WILL EXTEND THE CURRENT
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TONIGHT FOR THOSE LOCATIONS...THO
FLOODING CHANCES INCREASE RAPIDLY AS ONE MOVES NORTHWEST OF THE
OHIO RIVER.

ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT....ACTIVITY MAY BE MORE
SCATTERED IN NATURE...BUT THIS IS WHERE THE GREATEST INSTABILITY
WILL BE LOCATED...ALONG WITH VERY RICH MOISTURE LEVELS.
THUS...ESSENTIALLY ALL OF THE FORECAST AREA...ESP SOUTH OF THE I
64 CORRIDOR HAVE BEEN TAGGED WITH A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS
TODAY. ANY OF THOSE STORMS WOULD MAINLY CONTAIN LARGE HAIL AS THE
THREAT...BUT DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE STILL
POSSIBLE.

THIS SEVERE STORM AND HEAVY RAINFALL RISK WILL REMAIN OVER THE
REGION RIGHT THROUGH MID WEEK...AS ANOTHER NEGATIVELY TILTED H50
SHORT WAVE INTERACTS WITH THE SURFACE FRONT MONDAY OR MONDAY
NIGHT...THEN ANOTHER STRONGER MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE AND ASSOCIATED
COLD FRONT TRY TO FINALLY CLEAN THINGS OUT BY WED OR THU. THIS
LAST FRONT FRONT MAY PRODUCE MORE HEAVY RAINS AND SEVERE
WEATHER...ESP TUE NIGHT. NEEDLESS TO SAY...BY THE TIME ALL IS SAID
AND DONE WED NIGHT OR THU...SOME LOCATIONS OVER THE REGION MAY GET
YET ANOTHER 4 TO 8 INCHES OF RAINFALL...ESP ALONG AND N OF THE
OHIO RIVER.

RIVER ALREADY IN FLOOD...NEEDLESS TO SAY...COULD REACH SOME
HISTORICAL LEVELS IF CURRENT FORECASTS REMAIN CONSISTENT.

&&

.AVIATION...
NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS CROSSING THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY THIS
MORNING MAY TAPER OFF SOME BY AFTERNOON...BUT SCT STORM
ACTIVITY...SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE WITH LARGE HAILS AND DAMAGING WINDS
WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD AS A SURFACE FRONT
MEANDERS JUST NORTH OF THE REGION. THERE MAY BE BREAKS OF VFR IN
BETWEEN CONVECTION TODAY...BUT EVEN RAINFREE AREAS COULD SEE 3K
FT TYPE CIG LEVELS.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR BALLARD-CALDWELL-
     CARLISLE-CRITTENDEN-DAVIESS-FULTON-GRAVES-HENDERSON-HICKMAN-
     HOPKINS-LIVINGSTON-LYON-MARSHALL-MCCRACKEN-MCLEAN-UNION KY-
     WEBSTER.

MO...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR BOLLINGER-BUTLER-
     CAPE GIRARDEAU-CARTER-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID-PERRY MO-
     RIPLEY-SCOTT-STODDARD-WAYNE MO.

IL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR ALEXANDER-EDWARDS-
     FRANKLIN-GALLATIN-HAMILTON-HARDIN-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-
     MASSAC-PERRY IL-POPE-PULASKI-SALINE-UNION IL-WABASH-WAYNE
     IL-WHITE-WILLIAMSON.

IN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-
     SPENCER-VANDERBURGH-WARRICK.

&&

MEFFERT

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 23, 10:52 AM CDT, 3 hours 37 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1052 AM CDT SAT APR 23 2011

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-241000-
JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON-
WHITE-JACKSON-WILLIAMSON-SALINE-GALLATIN-UNION IL-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-
1052 AM CDT SAT APR 23 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST
MISSOURI.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT...ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM NEAR MARBLE HILL
MISSOURI TO NEAR EVANSVILLE INDIANA. THE PRIMARY CONCERNS WILL BE
LARGE AND DAMAGING WINDS.

HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING WILL BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN
THROUGH TONIGHT...AS ROUNDS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS PROGRESS
ALONG STATIONARY FRONTAL ZONE DRAPED ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF
THE AREA.

MOST AREA RIVERS ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING FLOODING...AND LEVELS
WILL ONLY BE GOING UP WITH THE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL. PLEASE REFER
OUR RIVER FLOOD PRODUCTS AT

HTTP://WATER.WEATHER.GOV/AHPS2/INDEX.PHP?WFO=PAH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST INTO THROUGH
THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK...AS A FRONTAL BOUNDARY REMAINS
STATIONARY ACROSS THE REGION. THE MAIN SEVERE THREAT SUNDAY
WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. ALTHOUGH AN ISOLATED
TORNADO CAN NOT BE RULED OUT. SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE MOST LIKELY
DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY AND INTO THE EVENING.

SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE MORE LIKELY LATE MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT
AND AGAIN TUESDAY NIGHT...AS A PAIR OF SIGNIFICANT UPPER LEVEL
STORM SYSTEMS MOVE THROUGH THE REGION. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING
WINDS...AND TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE.

HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING WILL CONTINUE SUNDAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY. FLOODING PROBLEMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOUNT WITH EACH
ROUND OF SHOWERS AND STORMS. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TOTALS FROM
TODAY THROUGH MID WEEK ARE PROJECTED TO FOUR TO EIGHT INCHES.

MOST AREA RIVERS ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING FLOODING...AND LEVELS
WILL ONLY BE GOING UP WITH THE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL. PLEASE REFER
OUR RIVER FLOOD PRODUCTS AT

HTTP://WATER.WEATHER.GOV/AHPS2/INDEX.PHP?WFO=PAH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED THIS WEEKEND...AND WILL BE
MOST LIKELY LATE MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...AND AGAIN TUESDAY.

DRS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 11:49 AM CDT, 2 hours 40 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1149 AM CDT SAT APR 23 2011

MOZ100-107>109-231730-
WAYNE MO-CARTER MO-BUTLER MO-RIPLEY MO-
1149 AM CDT SAT APR 23 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RIPLEY...BUTLER...CARTER AND
WAYNE COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI UNTIL 1230 PM CDT...

AT 1146 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DIME SIZE HAIL...AND STRONG WINDS AROUND 40
MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR HANDY...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE BRIAR...VAN BUREN...
DONIPHAN...ELLSINORE...NAYLOR...FAIRDEALING...PIEDMONT...
NEELYVILLE...SAM A BAKER STATE PARK...WAPPAPELLO LAKE AREA...
POPLAR BLUFF...AND GREENVILLE.

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM AS WELL. THIS STORM
WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN...WHICH MAY RESULT IN STANDING WATER ON
AREA ROADS. WATER LEVELS IN SMALL CREEKS...STREAMS AND IN DITCHES MAY
RISE QUICKLY...ESPECIALLY IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 12:42 PM CDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Apr 23, 1:31 PM CDT, 58 minutes before

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The surface observations

Cairo (CIR), 16 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)	Temp (°F)	Dew point (°F)	Wind	Gust (kt)	Pressure (mb)	Weather
00:00 UTC

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 24 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 19:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

This ground now

The live radar over the track Every 2011 tornado in Kentucky Every tornado in Kentucky since 1950 Warnings in force in Kentucky now The forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of April 23, 2011

11 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
April 23	6:09 AM EDT	EF0	Harrison, KY	0.5	75
April 23	1:31 PM CDT	EF0	Stoddard, MO	0.5	80		$50,000
April 23	2:59 PM EDT	EF0	Grant, KY	1.1	25		$25,000
April 23	3:10 PM EDT	EF1	Grant, KY	4.3	50		$35,000
April 23	3:14 PM EDT	EF1	Kenton, KY	0.2	50		$15,000
April 23	2:15 PM CDT	EF2	Alexander, IL	2.9	175		$700,000
April 23	2:30 PM CDT	EF2	Carlisle, KY	4.0	450	2	$2.0 million
April 23	2:47 PM CDT	EF1	Massac, IL	6.6	250		$450,000
April 23	7:58 PM CDT	EF1	Madison, AR	28.3	880		$500,000
April 23	8:13 PM CDT	EF0	Comanche, TX	0.0	30
April 23	12:02 AM CDT	EF1	Butler, MO	3.0	100		$175,000

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.