National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

The year 2016 was noteworthy for the large number of heavy rainfall events that occurred. The year kicked off with major flooding along the Mississippi River, including record high river levels in the Cape Girardeau area. During the summer, numerous cities recorded over 20 inches of rain, making it the wettest summer on record for about a dozen cities. The year was also noted for persistent warmth. Every month except May averaged warmer than normal at Paducah. 

Top 10 Event Summaries for the Year 2016 (in chronological order)

1. Record flooding on the Mississippi River (Jan. 1-3) Breach in the Len Small Levee near Cairo, IL

Photo: Breach in Len Small Levee (Illinois State Police)

2. Jan. 22 Winter Storm (western KY) Tall snow drift in Trigg County, KY

Photo: Near Cadiz, KY (Trigg Co. Road Dept.)

3. April 26 Severe Weather (mainly IL/IN)Radar loop of Evansville area on April 26 4. April 27 Severe Weather (mainly KY)Radar loop of April 27 storms

 5. May 10 tornado at Mayfield, KY (EF-3)Photo of damage at car dealership on north end of Mayfield

Photo: Car dealership in Mayfield (NWS photo)

6. May 11 Severe Weather (mainly IL/IN)Photo of shelf cloud near Harrisburg, IL

Photo of shelf cloud near Harrisburg, IL (Saline Co. EMA)

7. July 6 Severe Weather (mainly MO/KY)Radar image of bow echo approaching western KY

8. Jul. 6-7 Flash Flooding (west KY)Flooding of Purchase Parkway in Marshall Co., KY

Photo: Flooded I-69 in Marshall Co., KY

9. August Flooding in MO & IL (1 fatality)Rainfall map for August 10. Fall Warmth and Drought Temp and rainfall charts for October