Paducah, KY

Weather Forecast Office

Event Summaries

Storm Data...for the Paducah Weather Forecast Office area

For the severe weather data for a particular month, choose the month and year and click "find". Note: the data is in .pdf format, and you will need Adobe Acrobat to view it. Also, these monthly reports will usually become available 30 to 60 days after the end of that month. Note: The "Top 10 events of the year" since 1999 can be found on our old event summaries page.

Thunderstorms / Tornadoes
Flooding
Winter
Heat / Cold
Other

Thunderstorms & Tornadoes

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread thunderstorm outbreaks and tornadoes. Tornadoes, hail, wind damage, and flooding impacts can be found in these summaries. If the event was focused mainly on flooding it will be found under the "Flooding" section. Click here for an overview of the early start to the 2017 severe weather season and how it compares to past years.

Scroll down the page for year, or go directly:

Severe Weather Climatology with Tornado Track Maps (1950-July 2018)

Hail Climatology Webpage (1955-August 2018)

2018

Top 10 Weather Events of 2018
December 31, 2018: Storms produce damaging winds and a couple tor
September 8, 2018: 4 tornadoes occur in Daviess and Spencer Counties
June 28, 2018: Derecho with widespread damaging winds especially across southern Illinois and western Kentucky.
June 26, 2018: Damaging winds impact the region as multiple rounds of storms move through
June 21, 2018: Damaging winds affect the region along with a landspout tornado in southeast MO
May 31, 2018: Multiple rounds of storms produce severe weather including 3 tornadoes
April 3, 2018: Damaging winds, numerous tornadoes, and large hail up to 3" in diameter
February 24, 2018: Damaging winds, tornadoes, and significant flooding impact the region including an EF-2 tornado in Hopkinsville, KY

2017

Top 10 Weather Events of 2017
All Tornado Tracks for 2017
November 18, 2017: Line of storms with damaging winds along with 5 tornadoes including an EF-1 near Bremen, KY
June 18, 2017: Microburst in Marshall County Kentucky
May 27, 2017: Widespread hail and damaging winds
April 30, 2017: EF-2 Tornado in northern New Madrid County MO
April 26, 2017: Damaging winds, heavy rain over southeast MO, southern IL and west KY. Also EF-1 tornado in Hickman & Graves Counties KY.
April 5, 2017: Brief EF-1 tornado in Williamson County IL and microburst in Enfield, IL
March 27, 2017: Event includes large hail and 1 EF-0 tornado in Trigg/Christian counties
March 9, 2017: A total of 10 tornadoes including 3 EF-2's over southeast MO and western KY
February 28 - March 1, 2017: Event includes 8 tornadoes including 1 EF-4 (Perryville, MO) and 1 EF-3 (Crossville, IL)
February 7, 2017: EF-0 tornado in Trigg County, KY

2016

Top 10 Weather Events of 2016
All Tornado Tracks and Summary for 2016
July 13, 2016: Line of storms with damaging winds mainly over southern IL/southwest IN
July 8, 2016: Two rounds of storms produce damaging winds and flooding mainly over southeast MO and western KY
July 7, 2016: Line of storms with sporadic wind damage
July 6, 2016: Widespread wind damage with bowing line of thunderstorms
July 3, 2016: Microburst hits Poseyville, IN along with weak tornado in Calloway County KY
June 15, 2016: Damaging winds associated with clusters of afternoon thunderstorms
May 11, 2016: Damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding, and 1 confirmed tornado
May 10, 2016: 5 tornadoes including EF-3 tornado in Mayfield, KY
May 7, 2016: EF-1 tornado in Pike County, IN and damaging winds along I-64 corridor
April 27, 2016: Damaging winds, hail, tornadoes, and flash flooding over mainly western KY
April 26, 2016: Damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes affect the area
March 31, 2016: Afternoon damaging winds and 1 tornado, Pennyrile region of west KY
March 27, 2016: 3 tornadoes confirmed from storms in Christian/Muhlenberg counties in KY
March 12, 2016: EF-0 tornado hits Calloway County, KY south of Murray

2015

December 23, 2015: Severe weather event, including 8 tornadoes
July 27, 2015: Microburst in Union County KY
July 9, 2015: Microburst in Scott City, MO
July 8, 2015: Tornado hits Scott County, MO into Alexander County, IL
June 19, 2015: Tornadoes associated with remnants of Tropical Storm Bill

2014

October 13, 2014: Columbus Day severe weather event produces 6 tornadoes in our area
October 3, 2014: Severe weather event in western KY produces tornadoes and microburst
June 7, 2014: Thunderstorms produces macroburst over Graves and Calloway counties in KY
June 4, 2014: Thunderstorms produce tornadoes and damaging straight line winds in western KY
May 14, 2014: Tornado hits Christian County, KY
May 9, 2014: Macroburst affects Evansville and Boonville, IN
April 3, 2014: Storm survey results from thunderstorms affecting parts of southeast MO and southern IL

2013

November 17, 2013: Tornado Outbreak, deadly EF-3 at Brookport, IL
October 31, 2013: Halloween severe weather outbreak produces over a dozen tornadoes
August 31, 2013: Thunderstorms produce damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and intense lightning
April 10, 2013: Severe weather outbreak produces tornadoes and wind damage over southeast MO
January 29-30, 2013: Damage surveys and photos from thunderstorms that swept across the region
January 12, 2013: Livingston County, KY EF-2 tornado

2012

October 14, 2012: Mayfield, KY EF-1 tornado
July 31, 2012: Gibson County, IN Macroburst
June 4, 2012: Diehlstadt, MO EF-2 tornado
March 23, 2012: Jefferson and Jackson counties in southern IL hit by tornadoes
March 2, 2012: Posey County, IN and Union County, KY hit by EF-2 tornadoes
February 29, 2012: Harrisburg, IL deadly EF-4 tornado
January 22, 2012: Damage surveys and storm reports from severe weather event

2011

May 25, 2011: Severe weather outbreak produces numerous tornadoes
April 22-27, 2011: Daily rounds of severe storms and flash flooding plague the region
April 19, 2011: Bow echo produces damaging winds, particularly across northern part of the area.
April 15, 2011: 2 brief tornadoes strike Trigg County, KY
April 4, 2011: Several tornadoes touch down across western KY
February 24 & 27, 2011: Flooding and severe weather strikes the Heartland

2010

June 15, 2010: Severe weather produces numerous reports of damaging winds
May 1-2, 2010: Thunderstorms produced 6 tornadoes during the late evening/early morning hours
April 24, 2010: One of the strongest thunderstorm downburst events on record in our area occurred in East Prairie, MO

2009

August 4, 2009: Very humid, unstable airmass sets stage for thunderstorms with heavy rain and wind damage
June 8, 2009: Clusters of thunderstorms produce severe weather in southeast MO, southern IL, and far western KY
May 8, 2009: Derecho produces 70-100 mph winds across southern IL
May 8, 2009: Ripley County, MO sustained major damage due to wind gusts up to 90 mph
April 10, 2009: EF-3 tornado hits Mannington, KY in Christian County
April 9-10, 2009: Bow echo crosses southeast MO and western KY producing damaging winds
March 28, 2009: Severe thunderstorm outbreak affects western KY, southwest IN with EF-3 tornado hitting Union/Henderson counties in KY
March 8, 2009: Thunderstorms produce a total of 6 tornadoes across the area

2008

February 5, 2008: Deadly tornadoes hit western KY
January 29, 2008: Widespread wind damage and tornadoes

2007

October 18, 2007: Tornado outbreak
May 15, 2007: Damaging winds, and some hail
April 3, 2007: Large hail, flash flooding, and isolated damaging winds
February 20, 2007: Hail up to the size of golfballs affects some areas

2006

September 22, 2006: Numerous tornadoes stike area, including F4 in Perry County, MO and Jackson County, IL
July 21, 2006: Severe weather event includes downburst hitting Mount Vernon, IL area
May 25, 2006: Damaging winds, baseball-sized hail, and a couple tornadoes
April 30, 2006: Large hail, a few damaging wind gusts, and a brief tornado hit southeast MO and southern IL
April 7, 2006: Numerous large hail reports including nearly baseball-sized hail in Gibson County, IN
April 2, 2006: Severe weather event includes F3 tornado near Hopkinsville, KY
March 9-13, 2006: Widespread damaging winds hit the area along with an F3 tornado in Perry County, MO
February 16, 2006: EF-1 tornado hits Benton, MO

2005

November 27, 2005: F2 tornado strikes Ripley County, MO
November 15, 2005: Tornado outbreak in western KY (up to EF-4)
November 6, 2005: Evansville, IN area EF-3
May 19, 2005: Severe weather produces a couple F1 tornadoes and baseball sized hail
April 12, 2005: Copious amounts of hail fall in storms mainly over southeast MO and southern IL

2004

October 18, 2004: Tornadoes in southern IL
July 13, 2004: Wind damage associated with complex of storms
July 5, 2004: Wind damage hits Evansville Tri-State Area
May 29-June 1, 2004: Active period for tornadoes, including F2 tornado in Newburgh, IN
May 27, 2004: Damaging winds and isolated tornado
April 24, 2004: Tornadoes in southeast MO

2003

July 28, 2003: Hail up to golfball size hits Doniphan and Poplar Bluff, MO
May 11, 2003: F3 tornado hits Sacramento, KY
May 6, 2003: F4 tornado tracks across extreme southern IL
May 4, 2003: Western KY pummelled by large hail including Paducah
May 4, 2003: A dozen tornadoes occur over the area
April 25, 2003: Two short-lived tornadoes and large hail event
April 20, 2003: Downburst and an embedded F1 tornado hit Crofton, KY

2002

November 9-10, 2002: Major tornado outbreak occurs across part of Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, with the worst being to our east
September 20, 2002: F2 tornado hits near Poseyville, IN
July 10, 2002: Thunderstorm microburst affects Kentucky Lake
Late April, 2002: A long track F4 tornado hits Carter and Butler Counties in MO amongst other tornadoes in the area
March 29, 2002: Numerous reports of large hail and a few isolated strong wind gusts east of Mississippi River
January 23, 2002: F2 tornado hits Calhoun, KY as severe storms and flooding move through the area

2001

November 24, 2001: F2 tornado strikes Calloway County, KY
October 24, 2001: Thunderstorms produce widespread damaging winds including microbursts and tornadoes
September 23, 2001: Large hail reported in western KY and far southeast MO
September 6-8, 2001: Each day thunderstorms produced isolated pockets of wind damage
August 18, 2001: Supercell thunderstorm produces tornado and golf ball size hail in Jefferson County, IL
May 31, 2001: Weak tornado touched down near Pinckneyville, IL
February 24, 2001: Strong winds, some produced by thunderstorms, others by the intense pressure gradient across the area

2000

September 20, 2000: Squall line moves through producing 50-65 mph winds
May 24, 2000: Flash Flooding and wind damage from storms near the Arkansas and Tennessee borders
May 23, 2000: Numerous reports of large hail from storms including baseball sized in Johnson County, IL
April 16, 2000: Severe storms over southeast MO and western KY including baseball sized hail near Zalma, MO
February 18, 2000: Cairo, IL downburst from an intense short-lived thunderstorm
January 3, 2000: Destructive F3 tornado produces direct hit on Owensboro, KY

1999

May 17, 1999: Derecho sweeps across the area with up to 90 mph winds
May 5, 1999: Two F2 tornadoes in Pike County, IN and 68 mph winds in Evansville among reports
April 5, 1999: Severe storms including downburst in Round Knob, IL (Masac County)
January 21, 1999: A series of tornadoes strike the area during the evening and early overnight hours
January 17, 1999: Thunderstorm wind gusts up to 100 mph with Hopkinsville, KY among hardest hit areas

Historic

May 29, 1982: F4 tornado hits Marion, IL and surrounding area of Williamson County
May 21, 1957: F4 tornado hits Carter County, MO
March 18, 1925: Tri-State Tornado - Deadliest in American History

Flooding

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread flooding. River and flash flooding can be found in these summaries. If the flooding event accompanied severe thunderstorms or tornado outbreaks, it will likely be included in that event's summary under the "Thunderstorms / Tornadoes" section.

2018

September 8, 2018: Flash Flooding associated with remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon, with amounts in excess of 7 inches in Jefferson County IL

2017

October 7-8, 2017: Frontal Boundary and remnants of Hurricane Nate cause heavy rainfall
August 31-September 1, 2017: Heavy rain from remnants of Hurricane Harvey
June 21-23, 2017: Heavy rainfall from remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy merging with incoming frontal boundary
Late April-Early May, 2017: Heavy rainfall April 28-30 and major to record river flooding on many area rivers

2016

July 6-7, 2016: Flash flooding including 8" in 6 hours in Marshall Co., KY
May 26, 2016: Flash flooding including over 3 inches in 1 hr in Cape Girardeau.
January 2016: Record flooding on Mississippi River

2015

July 28, 2015: Flash flooding in Caldwell County, KY
July 7, 2015: Flash Flooding with Paducah among hardest hit
July 1-3, 2015: Heavy Rainfall event
June-July 2015: Major river flooding along portions of Mississippi River

2014

2013

December 20-21, 2013: Heavy rain and flooding event
June 1, 2013: Flash flooding in Paducah after over 5 inches of rain falls in nearly 5 hours

2012

2011

April/May 2011: Major river flooding, wettest month on record at Paducah

2010

April 30-May 3, 2010: Some of the worst flooding of this event occurred on the Cumberland River below Barkley Dam

2009

2008

April 3, 2008: Heavy rain event with generally 2 to 5 inches along with localized higher amounts.
March 18-19, 2008: Historic flooding produces over 10 inches of rain in some spots

2007

January 12-16, 2007: 2 to 6 inches of rain falls over 4-day period

2006

September 12, 2006: Evansville, IN flash flooding
September 22-24, 2006: Major flooding including nearly 14 inches of rain in Mayfield, KY over 3 day period

2005

November 14, 2005: Major flash flooding from Wayne County, MO to Marion, IL and Henderson, KY
August 28-30: Heavy rainfall and gusty winds associated with remnants of Hurricane Katrina
January 2005: Major river flooding along Wabash River
January 2005: Major river flooding along lower Ohio River

2004

July 16, 2004: Flash flooding in Evansville, IN

2003

2002

May 2002: Mississippi River Flooding

2001

November 28-December 17, 2001: Repeated rounds of heavy rain with 3 to 4 week total rainfall of 10-15 inches common
July 19-29, 2001: Flash Flooding due to day-to-day slow moving thunderstorms

2000

June 16-18, 2000: Flooding over southeast MO and southern IL with up to 10 inches of rain in Carbondale, IL area

Historic

Winter Storms

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread winter storms. Heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and blizzards can be found in these summaries. If the event focused on wind chills, it will be found under the "Heat / Cold" section.

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2019

January 19, 2019: Combination of accumulating snow, strong winds, and rapidly falling temperatures produces high travel impacts
January 11-12,2019: Snow and sleet impact travel with amounts as high as 4-7 inches in portions of southern IL.

2018

November 14-15, 2018: Rare November winter winter event with snow amounts of 1 to 4 inches and ice accumulation up to 1/4 inch
April 7, 2018: Rare April snow with amounts ranging from 0.5" to 1.5" in many locations
March 11, 2018: Snow event with amounts ranging from 2 to 5 inches, localized up to 6 inches.
February 6-7, 2018: Ice event with amounts from a few hundredths to 0.25" across much of the region.
January 15, 2018: Snowstorm produces 5 to 8 inch swath of snow across southeast MO into west KY; 1 to 4 inch totals area wide.
January 12, 2018: Sleet and snow accumulations impact region, up to 7 inches in parts of west KY.

2016

February 23-24, 2016: Snow and heavy rain
February 14, 2016: Valentine's Day winter storm
January 22, 2016: Snowstorm blankets west KY with 4 to 10 inches
January 9, 2016: 1-3 inches

2015

March 4-5, 2015: Heavy Snowfall, 9-18" in west KY
Febraruy 20-21, 2015: Ice/Sleet/Heavy rain event
February 16, 2015: Heavy Snowfall, up to one foot
January 15, 2015: Banded snow impacts morning commute

2014

November 16-17, 2014: Record early season snowfall
March 2-3, 2014: Major winter storm - significant ice and snow accumulations
February 4, 2014: Map of snow and ice totals
February 2, 2014: Winter storm lays swath of snow over parts of southeast MO, southern IL, and western KY

2013

December 5-6, 2013: Winter storm produces up to 10-15 inches of snow over part of the region
February 21, 2013: Ice storm impacts southeast MO and southern IL

2012

December 26, 2012: Day after Christmas snowstorm produces swath of 10 to 14+ inches over part of the area

2011

February 7, 2011: Winter storm pummels bootheel of MO into western KY with heavy snow
January 25-26, 2011: Heaviest snow falls from Lakes region of western KY up towards Owensboro area

2010

February 14, 2010: Valentine's Night snowstorm dumps up to 6 to 8 inches up along portions of I-64 corridor
February 8-9, 2010: Swath of snow covers blankets area with heaviest in Pennyrile region of west KY into a portion of southwest IN
January 29-30, 2010: Many places experience heaviest snowfall since infamous pre-Christmas snowstorm of 2004

2009

January 26-28, 2009: Historic Ice Storm

2008

March 7-8, 2008: Biggest snowstorm of season waits until March
March 3-4, 2008: Snow, ice, and heavy rain
February 21, 2008: Winter storm produces over 2 inches of sleet and 1/2 inch of ice for some areas
February 11-12, 2008: Major ice storm hits lower Ohio Valley
January 31, 2008: Snowstorm dumps 4 to 6 inches from Carter County, MO to Jackson County, IL

2007

February 17, 2007: Snowstorm hits northern and eastern counties

2006

February 17-19, 2006: The only real winter weather of the year featured back-to-back snowfalls

2005

2004

December 22, 2004: Pre-Christmas record snowfall
January 25, 2004: Ice storm strikes area

2003

February 23-24, 2003: Heavy snow hits areas mainly north of Cape Girardeau, MO to Evansville, IN
February 15-16, 2003: Sleet storm in Evansville Tri-State area and southern IL
January 16, 2003: 3 to 4 inches of snow blanketed much of southeast MO and western KY

2002

December 24, 2002: Christmas Eve winter storm slams southern IL and part of southeast MO with heavy snow
December 4, 2002: Up to 9 inches of snow and 1 inch of ice cause widespread travel problems

2001

February 21, 2001: Sleet and ice produce up to a quarter inch of ice across much of southeast MO and western KY

2000

December 13, 2000: Heavy snow and ice cause power outages and transportation problems

1999

March 14, 1999: Heavy snow with amounts of 8-14 inches over portions of southeast MO, southern IL, and southwest IN
January 1-2, 1999: Ice storm rings in the new year with up to an inch of ice over portions of MO and IL

Historic

Significant Snowstorms 1895-Present

Extreme Heat & Cold

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread high heat or extreme cold. Dangerous wind chills and life threatening heat indices can be found in these summaries. If the extreme temperatures were associated with a summer or winter storm, it may be found under the "Thunderstorms & Tornadoes" or "Winter" sections. These events tend to more "rare" compared to others, and has not been broken into yearly sections.

June 29 - July 5, 2018: Oppressive heat and humidity with heat index readings from 100 to 115 for 7 straight days
March 6, 2015: Record cold outbreak
February 17-19, 2015: Arctic Outbreak
January 5-7, 2014: Arctic Outbreak
July, 2012: Record Summer Heat Wave
August 3, 2011: Excessive heat scorches the region
Summer Heat 2010: Hottest summer since 1930's in Evansville and 1952 in Paducah
Winter 2009-2010: Coldest winter since the early 1980's
March-April 2007: April freeze follows record warm March
January 2006: Warmest January on record in Paducah and 3rd warmest in Evansville
Late July 2005: From July 21-26 heat indices reached 110+ over portions of the area
December 2000: Coldest December on record in Paducah and 2nd coldest in Evansville
July Heat 1999: Afternoon heat indices frequently topped 105 degrees over last week of the month
November 11-12, 1911: Extreme temperature drop from highs in the 70s to lows in the teens following morning

Other Events

The following summaries cover events that don't fall under the other categories - such as high wind events (not associated with thunderstorms). Other atmospheric events, such as auroras, may be found here.

August 21, 2017: Total Solar Eclipse: Observed Temperature Traces
Spring/Summer Drought of 2012
Summer/Fall Drought of 2010
February 11, 2009: Deepening low pressure system leads to high winds in our area
September 14, 2008: Remnants of Hurricane Ike, 50-75 mph wind gusts
Summer/Early Fall, 2007: Severe to extreme drought plagues region
April 11, 2007: Strong winds of 40-55 mph
Summer Drought/Low River Levels 2005: River levels reach critically low levels in August along Ohio and Mississippi Rivers
Summer Drought of 2002
Summer Drought of 1999: Paducah receives only 1.48 inches of rain over a 92 day period