Paducah, KY

Weather Forecast Office

Overview of the March 12, 2020, Severe Weather Event

Overview

Two episodes of severe weather occurred on March 12. A cluster of severe thunderstorms formed around midday in southern Illinois, then moved southeast along a warm front across the Pennyrile region of western Kentucky. During the late afternoon, a supercell thunderstorm formed over the Ozark foothills of southeast Missouri and tracked across the Poplar Bluff area.

Tornado
Wind & Hail
Photos & Video
Radar
Storm Reports
Environment

Tornadoes:

Tornado - 5 SE Ellsinore, MO
CARTER COUNTY

Date	Mar 12, 2020
Time (Local)	5:17 P.M. CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	75 mph
Path Length	0.25 mile
Max Width	75 yd
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A few trees and tree limbs were blown down.

Track Map

Track Map

EF-Scale

Tornado - 13 NW Poplar Bluff, MO
BUTLER COUNTY

Date	Mar 12, 2020
Time (Local)	5:20 P.M. CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	75 mph
Path Length	0.75 mile
Max Width	100 yd
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A few trees and tree limbs were blown down.

Track Map

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Wind & Hail:

Wind

Several reports of wind damage accompanied the afternoon storms in southern Illinois and western Kentucky. A pole barn was destroyed near Benton, IL. Trees up to three feet in diameter were blown down near Providence, KY. A roof was blown off a store at Greenville, KY.


Wind Damage to a gas station in Poplar Bluff, MO (KFVS)	Tree damage in Butler County, MO (NWS Damage Survey)	Tree damage in Butler County, MO (NWS Damage Survey)	Tree damage in Carter County, MO (NWS Damage Survey)

Hail

Very large hail accompanied both the afternoon storms along the warm front, as well as the supercell thunderstorm near Poplar Bluff. Numerous reports of quarter to golf ball size hail accompanied the storms from the Du Quoin and Benton areas of IL, southeast across Marion and Harrisburg IL, to near Madisonville and Greenville, KY. With the supercell thunderstorm, hail up to 3.2 inches in diameter was reported four miles north of Poplar Bluff. A baseball is 2.75 inches in diameter.


Large hail in Franklin County, IL (Mike Rennie)	Large hail in Hilliard, MO (Lori Dunlap)	Accumulating hail in Madisonville, KY (Brad Coyle)	Large hail in West Frankfort, IL (Ashley Dial)

Photos & Video

Various pictures of the severe thunderstorms


Wall Cloud near Poplar Bluff, MO (Nathan Lee McAlister)	Aerial view of the tornado-warned storm near Poplar Bluff, MO (Dan Skoff)

Radar

Still images of the warm frontal cluster moving southeast in the afternoon...


Radar Mosiac at 1 P.M.	Radar mosaic at 2 P.M.	Radar mosaic at 3 P.M.	Radar mosaic at 4 P.M.

Radar images of the tornadic supercell in southeast Missouri


KPAH radar base reflectivity at 5:15 PM CDT near Ellsinore, MO.	KPAH radar storm relative velocity at 5:15 PM CDT near Ellsinore, MO.	KPAH radar base reflectivity at 5:36 PM CDT near Poplar Bluff, MO	KPAH radar storm relative velocity at 5:36 PM near Poplar Bluff, MO

Storm Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..


1150 AM     HAIL             2 ENE PADUCAH           37.09N 88.60W
03/12/2020  M0.75 INCH       MCCRACKEN          KY   NWS EMPLOYEE

            NUMEROUS PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL REPORTS IN
            AND AROUND PADUCAH KY AND ACROSS THE RIVER
            IN BROOKPORT IL.

1229 PM     HAIL             2 N CAVE-IN-ROCK        37.51N 88.17W
03/12/2020  E0.70 INCH       HARDIN             IL   PUBLIC

            .

0131 PM     HAIL             1 N TAMAROA             38.14N 89.23W
03/12/2020  E0.50 INCH       PERRY              IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT



0140 PM     HAIL             2 NNW BENTON            38.03N 88.93W
03/12/2020  E1.00 INCH       FRANKLIN           IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .

0141 PM     HAIL             SESSER                  38.09N 89.05W
03/12/2020  E1.00 INCH       FRANKLIN           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR



0145 PM     HAIL             1 S PINCKNEYVILLE       38.06N 89.38W
03/12/2020  E0.50 INCH       PERRY              IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            CORRECTION TO TIME ON PREVIOUS HAIL REPORT
            FROM 1 S PINCKNEYVILLE.

0146 PM     HAIL             6 NNW VERGENNES         37.98N 89.39W
03/12/2020  E1.00 INCH       PERRY              IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .

0149 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SSW BENTON            38.00N 88.92W
03/12/2020                   FRANKLIN           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            A POLE BARN WAS DESTROYED ON INDUSTRIAL ROAD
            IN THE CITY.

0155 PM     HAIL             1 NW INA                38.16N 88.91W
03/12/2020  E1.25 INCH       JEFFERSON          IL   PUBLIC

            .

0158 PM     HAIL             DU QUOIN                38.00N 89.24W
03/12/2020  M1.25 INCH       PERRY              IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            .

0205 PM     HAIL             1 S PINCKNEYVILLE       38.06N 89.38W
03/12/2020  E0.50 INCH       PERRY              IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .

0208 PM     HAIL             2 SSW ZEIGLER           37.87N 89.06W
03/12/2020  E2.00 INCH       FRANKLIN           IL   PUBLIC

            RELAYED VIA FACEBOOK. TIME ESTIMATED FROM
            RADAR.

0208 PM     HAIL             ZEIGLER                 37.90N 89.05W
03/12/2020  M1.00 INCH       FRANKLIN           IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            .

0212 PM     HAIL             HURST                   37.83N 89.15W
03/12/2020  E1.00 INCH       WILLIAMSON         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .

0212 PM     HAIL             ROYALTON                37.88N 89.11W
03/12/2020  E1.00 INCH       FRANKLIN           IL   PUBLIC



0219 PM     HAIL             WEST FRANKFORT          37.90N 88.93W
03/12/2020  M0.50 INCH       FRANKLIN           IL   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM MPING: HALF-INCH (0.50 IN.).

0220 PM     HAIL             JOHNSTON CITY           37.82N 88.93W
03/12/2020  M1.75 INCH       WILLIAMSON         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .

0220 PM     HAIL             2 NNW JOHNSTON CITY     37.85N 88.94W
03/12/2020  E2.00 INCH       WILLIAMSON         IL   STORM CHASER

            TRAFFIC STOPPED ON I-57 DUE TO LARGE HAIL
            DRIVEN BY WIND.

0220 PM     HAIL             2 W MUDDY               37.77N 88.55W
03/12/2020  E1.00 INCH       SALINE             IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .

0221 PM     HAIL             WEST FRANKFORT          37.90N 88.92W
03/12/2020  E1.75 INCH       FRANKLIN           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WEST FRANKFORT PARK.

0224 PM     HAIL             MARION                  37.73N 88.94W
03/12/2020  M1.25 INCH       WILLIAMSON         IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            NUMEROUS REPORTS OF HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL IN
            MARION.

0225 PM     HAIL             CARTERVILLE             37.76N 89.08W
03/12/2020  E0.88 INCH       WILLIAMSON         IL   PUBLIC

            .

0243 PM     FLASH FLOOD      WEST FRANKFORT          37.90N 88.92W
03/12/2020                   FRANKLIN           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODING IS BEING REPORTED ACROSS A BIG PART
            OF THE COUNTY DUE TO WATER DRAINAGE BEING
            STOPPED BY LARGE HAIL.

0244 PM     HAIL             HARRISBURG              37.74N 88.55W
03/12/2020  M1.00 INCH       SALINE             IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            RELAYED VIA TWITTER.

0251 PM     HAIL             2 S HARRISBURG          37.71N 88.55W
03/12/2020  E1.00 INCH       SALINE             IL   PUBLIC

            .

0256 PM     HAIL             1 NNW CARRIERS MILLS    37.70N 88.63W
03/12/2020  E1.00 INCH       SALINE             IL   PUBLIC



0346 PM     HAIL             4 SE STURGIS            37.50N 87.94W
03/12/2020  E0.70 INCH       UNION              KY   TRAINED SPOTTER



0350 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 NE MARION             37.38N 88.04W
03/12/2020  M48 MPH          CRITTENDEN         KY   MESONET

            MESONET STATION RPTN MARION 4 NE.

0400 PM     HAIL             CLAY                    37.48N 87.82W
03/12/2020  M1.00 INCH       WEBSTER            KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            .

0418 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 E PROVIDENCE          37.40N 87.71W
03/12/2020                   HOPKINS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DAMAGED ALONG HIGHWAY 41. ONE IS
            ACROSS A POWER LINE. TREES ARE ESTIMATED AT
            2-3 FEET IN DIAMETER.

0424 PM     HAIL             2 NNE MADISONVILLE      37.36N 87.49W
03/12/2020  E1.00 INCH       HOPKINS            KY   PUBLIC



0454 PM     HAIL             GREENVILLE              37.20N 87.18W
03/12/2020  E1.75 INCH       MUHLENBERG         KY   PUBLIC

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS HAIL REPORT FROM
            GREENVILLE.

0455 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GREENVILLE              37.20N 87.18W
03/12/2020                   MUHLENBERG         KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            A ROOF HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF A STORE. THERE ARE
            SEVERAL TREES DOWN.

0458 PM     HAIL             ELLSINORE               36.94N 90.75W
03/12/2020  E0.70 INCH       CARTER             MO   EMERGENCY MNGR



0509 PM     HAIL             ELLSINORE               36.93N 90.75W
03/12/2020  M1.75 INCH       CARTER             MO   EMERGENCY MNGR

0517 PM     TORNADO          5 SE ELLSINORE          36.88N 90.68W
03/12/2020                   CARTER             MO   NWS STORM SURVEY

            EF0 TORNADO BLEW DOWN A FEW TREES AND TREE LIMBS.

0520 PM     TORNADO          13 NW POPLAR BLUFF      36.90N 90.57W
03/12/2020                   BUTLER             MO   NWS STORM SURVEY

            EF0 TORNADO BLEW DOWN A FEW TREES AND TREE LIMBS ALONG
            HIGHWAY PP, CO. RD. 415 AND CO. RD 426.

0527 PM     HAIL             5 N POPLAR BLUFF        36.84N 90.41W
03/12/2020  E0.70 INCH       BUTLER             MO   TRAINED SPOTTER



0529 PM     HAIL             8 SE ELLSINORE          36.86N 90.64W
03/12/2020  E1.75 INCH       BUTLER             MO   EMERGENCY MNGR



0535 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 NW POPLAR BLUFF       36.80N 90.47W
03/12/2020                   BUTLER             MO   TRAINED SPOTTER



0535 PM     HAIL             4 NW POPLAR BLUFF       36.81N 90.46W
03/12/2020  E2.75 INCH       BUTLER             MO   TRAINED SPOTTER



0535 PM     HAIL             CENTRAL CITY            37.30N 87.13W
03/12/2020  E1.00 INCH       MUHLENBERG         KY   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORT THROUGH FACEBOOK.

0536 PM     HAIL             1 SSW VAN BUREN         37.00N 91.02W
03/12/2020  E1.00 INCH       CARTER             MO   EMERGENCY MNGR

0540 PM     HAIL             4 N POPLAR BLUFF        36.83N 90.42W
03/12/2020  E3.20 INCH       BUTLER             MO   PUBLIC

            LATE PUBLIC REPORT WITH A PICTURE OF HAIL
            WITH ESTIMATED DIAMETER OF 3.2 INCHES. TIME
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0542 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NW POPLAR BLUFF       36.79N 90.43W
03/12/2020                   BUTLER             MO   BROADCAST MEDIA

            ROOF DAMAGE TO A CONVENIENCE STORE ON THE
            NORTH SIDE OF POPLAR BLUFF. TIME ESTIMATED.

0557 PM     HAIL             2 NW FISK               36.81N 90.23W
03/12/2020  M1.00 INCH       BUTLER             MO   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM MPING: QUARTER (1.00 IN.).


&&

$$

Environment

During the afternoon, a cluster of severe thunderstorms moved southeast along a warm front across southern Illinois into western Kentucky. Late in the afternoon around 5 to 6 P.M., a supercell thunderstorm moved east-southeast across the Poplar Bluff area in advance of a cold front.


Figure 1: Tor Watch 46	Figure 2: Tor Watch 47	Figure 3: Convective Discussion 171

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Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall in the Central U.S.; Heat Building in the Western U.S.

Overview of the March 12, 2020, Severe Weather Event