Heavy Rainfall Along the Central Gulf Coast; Thunderstorms from the Plains to the Central Appalachians; Heat Across the East

A system in the Gulf could produce heavy rainfall and flash flooding for portions of the north-central Gulf Coast into Saturday. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are likely this afternoon into Friday from Central Plains into the mid-Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley and Central Appalachians. Dangerous heat is expected from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Mid-Atlantic today. Read More >

Overview

Severe thunderstorms moved across the region during the evening of May 6, 2003. A total of 21 tornadoes touched down across our forecast area, including a deadly F4 tornado that struck Pulaski, Massac, and Pope Counties in Illinois. There was also an F3 tornado that struck Jackson, MO.

Tornadoes
Photos
Radar
Storm Reports
Environment

Tornadoes:

Tornado #1 - Massac County Illinois F4
Pulaski, Massac, and Pope Counties

Date	May 6, 2003
Time (Local)	9:32 - 10:42 PM CDT
F Rating	F4
Est. Peak Winds	210 mph
Path Length	33 miles
Max Width	1000 yards
Injuries/Deaths	33/2
Summary: A few frame homes were completely leveled or moved off their foundations. Dozens of homes, garages, barns, and outbuildings were severely damaged. Numerous mobile homes disintegrated. Many vehicles were lifted, rolled, or thrown...up to 100 yards or more. Numerous cases of missiling were observed including glass embedded in trees. Most trees in the damage path were uprooted, stripped, or leveled and in some cases debarked.

Track Map

This tornado was rated using the old F scale. The new EF scale was introduced in 2007.

The 4 graphics below show zoomed in track maps for the F4 tornado across Pulaski, Massac, and Pope Counties. Click on the images to enlarge them.


Pulaski County	Western Massac County	Eastern Massac County	Pope County

Here is map showing the locations of all 21 tornadoes that occurred throughout our forecast area on May 6, 2003:

The table below shows a chronological order of the tornadoes that occurred with this event.

Time (CDT)	State	County	Rating (F scale)	Length (miles)	Width (yards)
8:04 PM	MO	Bollinger	2	0.8	100
8:18 PM	MO	Bollinger	0	0.3	50
8:31 PM	MO	Cape Girardeau	1	1	50
8:45 PM	MO	Cape Girardeau	3	2	50
8:57 PM	IL	Alexander	0	0.3	30
9:11 PM	MO	Cape Girardeau	1	3	50
9:32 PM	IL	Pulaski, Massac, Pope	4	33	1,000
10:22 PM	MO	Scott	1	5	200
10:27 PM	IL	Alexander, Mississippi, Ballard	2	25	400
10:27 PM	IL	Johnson	0	0.2	30
10:47 PM	IL	Johnson	0	0.2	30
10:50 PM	IL	Massac	0	0.2	30
11:12 PM	KY	McCracken	0	2	75
11:17 PM	KY	McCracken	1	3.5	80
11:22 PM	KY	Graves	1	0.5	125
11:32 PM	KY	Hickman, Graves	1	22	50
11:32 PM	KY	Graves	1	1	100
11:38 PM	KY	Marshall	1	2	100
11:50 PM	KY	Marshall	0	0.5	80
11:52 PM	KY	Union, Henderson	1	15	100
11:55 PM	KY	Marshall	1	0.5	80

Photos


NWS Damage Survey - F4 tornado (Massac County IL)	NWS Damage Survey - F4 tornado (Massac County IL)	NWS Damage Survey - F4 tornado (Massac County IL)	NWS Damage Survey - F4 tornado (Massac County IL)


NWS Damage Survey - F4 tornado (Massac County IL)	NWS Damage Survey - F4 tornado (Massac County IL)	NWS Damage Survey - F4 tornado (Massac County IL)	NWS Damage Survey - F4 tornado (Massac County IL)

Radar

Click here for a radar loop of this event. Supercell thunderstorms formed after 7 PM across southeast Missouri and far southern Illinois. These storms would eventually merge with a larger complex of thunderstorms moving more quickly east-southeast from Missouri. The thunderstorms would then trek across western Kentucky before exiting our region by 2 AM. The images below depict the reflectivity and storm relative velocity (SRM) of the supercell thunderstorm that moved across Massac County Illinois and produced the deadly F4 tornado. (Click on the images to enlarge)


Radar at 9:47 PM CDT (Massac County IL)	Radar at 10:07 PM CDT (Massac County IL)

Storm Reports

These images show the storm reports across our area and nationally during this severe weather event. (Click here for additional information from this event.)


Local Storm Reports (NWS Paducah Zoomed In Map)	Local Storm Reports Nationally on May 6, 2003

Environment

An upper level trough was located across the Rockies with strong mid-upper level jets positioned across the Southern Plains during the morning of May 6th. This provided strong forcing for thunderstorms to develop across the mid Mississippi Valley region late in the day. There was also abundant deep layer wind shear for storms to organize and maintain their intensity.


250 mb Chart - 7 AM May 6, 2003	500 mb Chart - 7 AM May 6, 2003

A surface low pressure system was located over southwest Missouri during the early evening. This allowed surface winds to back to a southeasterly direction across our region and promoted an environment more conducive for tornadoes. Plenty of low level moisture was present as dewpoints were running in the lower 70s.


Surface Analysis at 6 PM May 6, 2003	National Surface Analysis at 6 PM May 6, 2003

The Day 1 outlook issued by the Storm Prediction Center had southeast Missouri and southern Illinois in a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms on May 6th.

SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook - Late AM (1130) Update

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Heavy Rainfall Along the Central Gulf Coast; Thunderstorms from the Plains to the Central Appalachians; Heat Across the East

Summary of Tornadoes on May 6, 2003 including F-4 in Massac County Illinois