Overview
A strong cold front moved rapidly east. A broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms formed along the front during the warmth of the afternoon hours over southeast Missouri. This line of storms progressed rapidly east across the lower Ohio Valley, accompanied by scattered reports of large hail and wind damage. National Weather Service storm damage surveys revealed 11 tornadoes occurred in our forecast area across portions of southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky. The two strongest tornadoes were rated EF-2's. These occurred from far eastern Williamson County into Saline County Illinois and in Livingston County Kentucky.
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Tornado #1 - Carterville, Illinois
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Tornado #2 - Pittsburg, Illinois
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Tornado #3 - Galatia, Illinois
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Tornado #4 - Burna, Kentucky
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Tornado #5 - Metropolis, Illinois
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Tornado #6 - Clinton, Kentucky Northwest
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Tornado #7 - Clinton, Kentucky Northeast
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Tornado #8 - Matthews, Missouri
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Tornado #9 - Baker, Missouri
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Tornado #10 - NE of New Haven, Illinois
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Tornado #11 - NNE of Wingo, KY
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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 |
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Wind & Hail:
Wind
Pockets of wind damage were reported. Much of the damage will be surveyed by the NWS to determine where tornadic activity occurred. In particular, a path of destructive winds across northern Williamson and Saline Counties in Illinois will be surveyed.
Hail
Some very large hail was reported with the storms as they moved into southeast Missouri. The largest hailstone was about 3 inches in diameter, which is slightly larger than a baseball. This hail occurred in the Poplar Bluff area. Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported at a few other locations in southeast Missouri and southwest Illinois. As the storms moved east, the incidents of large hail decreased.
Photos:
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Hail around 3 inches in diameter west of Poplar Bluff, MO via Velvet Jones-Krueger | Quarter-size hail west of Poplar Bluff, MO via Velvet Jones-Krueger | Tornado 7 miles south of Essex, MO (source: John Holt) |
Tornado damage in Williamson County Illinois via NWS Storm Damage Survey |
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Tornado damage in Williamson County Illinois via NWS Storm Damage Survey | Tornado damage in Williamson County Illinois via NWS Storm Damage Survey | Tornado damage in Williamson County Illinois via NWS Storm Damage Survey | Tornado damage in Livingston County Kentucky via NWS Storm Damage Survey |
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Tornado damage in Hickman County Kentucky via NWS Storm Damage Survey | Storm damage in Saline County Illinois along Hwy 34 via Scott Riley |
Radar:
Click here for a radar loop of this event
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Map above shows all warning polygons issued during this event. Red are Tornado Warnings, Yellow are Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, and Green are River Flood Warnings. |
Storm Reports
Click here for an interactive map of local storm reports from this event
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PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 923 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2018 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0425 PM HAIL DONIPHAN 36.62N 90.82W 04/03/2018 M1.00 INCH RIPLEY MO TRAINED SPOTTER LATE REPORT. QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN THE COMMUNITY. 0430 PM HAIL 4 W ELLSINORE 36.93N 90.82W 04/03/2018 M1.00 INCH CARTER MO TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED WEST OF ELLSINORE. 0445 PM HAIL 7 SW POPLAR BLUFF 36.69N 90.50W 04/03/2018 M0.50 INCH BUTLER MO EMERGENCY MNGR 0449 PM HAIL POPLAR BLUFF 36.76N 90.41W 04/03/2018 E0.50 INCH BUTLER MO EMERGENCY MNGR MARBLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON WEST SIDE OF TOWN. 0452 PM HAIL 1 W WOODLAWN 38.33N 89.05W 04/03/2018 M0.88 INCH JEFFERSON IL TRAINED SPOTTER 0453 PM HAIL 4 W POPLAR BLUFF 36.76N 90.48W 04/03/2018 M2.00 INCH BUTLER MO TRAINED SPOTTER 0455 PM TSTM WND GST W DU QUOIN 38.00N 89.24W 04/03/2018 M72.00 MPH PERRY IL TRAINED SPOTTER 0455 PM HAIL 4 W DU QUOIN 38.00N 89.31W 04/03/2018 M1.00 INCH PERRY IL TRAINED SPOTTER 0455 PM HAIL POPLAR BLUFF 36.76N 90.41W 04/03/2018 E3.00 INCH BUTLER MO PUBLIC REPORTED BY MEDIA PHOTO FROM PUBLIC. 0455 PM HAIL 5 W POPLAR BLUFF 36.76N 90.50W 04/03/2018 M0.88 INCH BUTLER MO TRAINED SPOTTER 0455 PM HAIL POPLAR BLUFF 36.76N 90.41W 04/03/2018 M1.50 INCH BUTLER MO EMERGENCY MNGR PING PONG HAIL REPORTED IN THE COMMUNITY 0507 PM TSTM WND DMG GREENVILLE 37.13N 90.45W 04/03/2018 WAYNE MO UTILITY COMPANY POWER OUTAGES REPORTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. 0510 PM HAIL CAPE GIRARDEAU 37.31N 89.55W 04/03/2018 M1.75 INCH CAPE GIRARDEAU MO EMERGENCY MNGR GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN THE COMMUNTIY OF ALLENVILLE. 0512 PM HAIL CAPE GIRARDEAU 37.31N 89.55W 04/03/2018 M0.75 INCH CAPE GIRARDEAU MO EMERGENCY MNGR WIND GUSTS ESTIMATED 45 MPH WITH THIS STORM 0513 PM TSTM WND GST FRUITLAND 37.45N 89.64W 04/03/2018 E55.00 MPH CAPE GIRARDEAU MO TRAINED SPOTTER WIND GUSTS ESTIMATED 50 TO 55 MPH 0515 PM HAIL CAPE GIRARDEAU 37.31N 89.55W 04/03/2018 M0.50 INCH CAPE GIRARDEAU MO TRAINED SPOTTER MARBLE HAIL REPORTED NEAR MM95 ON I-55 0517 PM HAIL ORCHARDVILLE 38.50N 88.66W 04/03/2018 M0.88 INCH WAYNE IL TRAINED SPOTTER 0518 PM HAIL 6 N WAYNE CITY 38.44N 88.59W 04/03/2018 M0.50 INCH WAYNE IL TRAINED SPOTTER NICKEL SIZE HAIL WITH WIND GUST 52 MPH 0520 PM TSTM WND DMG CRAINVILLE 37.75N 89.06W 04/03/2018 WILLIAMSON IL BROADCAST MEDIA LATE REPORT. TREES DOWN AND METAL ROOF PEELED BACK. 0520 PM HAIL DELTA 37.20N 89.74W 04/03/2018 M0.88 INCH CAPE GIRARDEAU MO TRAINED SPOTTER 0525 PM HAIL 1 E SCOTT CITY 37.22N 89.51W 04/03/2018 M1.00 INCH SCOTT MO TRAINED SPOTTER 0525 PM TSTM WND DMG ENERGY 37.78N 89.03W 04/03/2018 WILLIAMSON IL FIRE DEPT/RESCUE LATE REPORT. MULTIPLE STRUCTURES DAMAGED. RELAYED VIA FIRE/RESCUE VIDEO. 0525 PM TSTM WND DMG ENERGY 37.78N 89.03W 04/03/2018 WILLIAMSON IL FIRE DEPT/RESCUE LATE REPORT. MULTIPLE STRUCTURES DAMAGED. REPORTED FROM VIDEO TAKEN BY FIRE/RESUCE. 0529 PM TSTM WND GST 5 S CAPE GIRARDEAU 37.24N 89.55W 04/03/2018 M58.00 MPH SCOTT MO ASOS REPORTED AT THE CAPE GIRARDEAU REGIONAL AIRPORT WHICH SETS IN SCOTT COUNTY MISSOURI. ONE QUARTER MILE VISIBILITY REPORTED WITH THIS STORM. 0534 PM HAIL DEXTER 36.79N 89.96W 04/03/2018 M1.00 INCH STODDARD MO PUBLIC QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED. 0537 PM TORNADO 2 NNE SPILLERTOWN 37.79N 88.91W 04/03/2018 WILLIAMSON IL LAW ENFORCEMENT LATE REPORT. ILLINOIS STATE POLICE REPORT COMFIRMED TORNADO 0538 PM HAIL 5 N DEXTER 36.86N 89.96W 04/03/2018 M0.75 INCH STODDARD MO TRAINED SPOTTER DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED ALONG HIGHWAY 25. 0540 PM HAIL DEXTER 36.79N 89.96W 04/03/2018 M1.25 INCH STODDARD MO EMERGENCY MNGR HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL REPORT 0545 PM HAIL EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU 37.30N 89.50W 04/03/2018 M0.75 INCH ALEXANDER IL TRAINED SPOTTER DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED. 0545 PM TSTM WND DMG ENERGY 37.78N 89.03W 04/03/2018 WILLIAMSON IL TRAINED SPOTTER TREE BLOCKING ROAD. 0549 PM FUNNEL CLOUD BERNIE 36.67N 89.97W 04/03/2018 STODDARD MO TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED NNE OF COMMUNITY. 0550 PM TSTM WND GST EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU 37.30N 89.50W 04/03/2018 M50.00 MPH ALEXANDER IL TRAINED SPOTTER 0550 PM HAIL DEXTER 36.79N 89.96W 04/03/2018 M1.75 INCH STODDARD MO PUBLIC GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED. 0553 PM HAIL ULLIN 37.28N 89.18W 04/03/2018 M1.00 INCH PULASKI IL TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED ALONG INTERSTATE 57 0555 PM FUNNEL CLOUD MORTONS GAP 37.24N 87.47W 04/03/2018 HOPKINS KY TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED IN COMMUNITY. 0608 PM TORNADO GREENVILLE 37.21N 87.18W 04/03/2018 MUHLENBERG KY LAW ENFORCEMENT ...UNCOMFIRMED...TORNADO PERIODIC TOUCHDOWNS ON HIGHWAY 181 NEAR THE COMMUNTIY. 0611 PM HEAVY RAIN GOREVILLE 37.56N 88.97W 04/03/2018 M1.10 INCH JOHNSON IL TRAINED SPOTTER 15 MINUTE RAINFALL ON SOUTH SIDE OF LAKE OF EYGPT 0612 PM TORNADO 2 E GALATIA 37.84N 88.58W 04/03/2018 SALINE IL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT OF TORNADO AND DAMAGE TO HOME IN THE GALATIA AREA. ...TORNADO UNCONFIRMED...9 HOMES DAMAGED ALONG HARPER ROAD. 3 TO 4 HOMES DESTROYED. 2 BARNS/POLEBARNS DAMAGED. ROOF OFF OF HOUSE ALONG BANK LICK ROAD. 0624 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N MATTHEWS 36.79N 89.58W 04/03/2018 NEW MADRID MO EMERGENCY MNGR TWO STRUCTURES DOWN AS WELL AS POWER POLES ALONG STATE HIGHWAY FF NEAR CR820 0638 PM FUNNEL CLOUD BREMEN 37.36N 87.22W 04/03/2018 MUHLENBERG KY EMERGENCY MNGR RELAYED TO EM...PUBLIC REPORT OF 3 FUNNEL CLOUDS BUT EM CAN NOT COMFIRM 0642 PM FUNNEL CLOUD EAST PRAIRIE 36.78N 89.38W 04/03/2018 MISSISSIPPI MO TRAINED SPOTTER FUNNEL CLOUD MOVING EASTWARD. TELEPHONE POLES DOWN. 0649 PM FUNNEL CLOUD SMITHLAND 37.14N 88.40W 04/03/2018 LIVINGSTON KY TRAINED SPOTTER LOCATED BETWEEN THE DAM AND THE COMMUNITY. 0702 PM TORNADO SALEM 37.27N 88.24W 04/03/2018 LIVINGSTON KY PUBLIC TORNADO REPORTED NEAR THE COMMUNITY RELAYED THROUGH TRAINED SPOTTER. 0705 PM TSTM WND DMG MARION 37.73N 88.94W 04/03/2018 WILLIAMSON IL UTILITY COMPANY TIME UNKNOWN...399 CUSTOMERS LOST POWER THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. 0711 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 NW CLINTON 36.71N 89.05W 04/03/2018 HICKMAN KY EMERGENCY MNGR TREE ON MOBILE HOME AT INTERSECTION OF STATE HIGHWAY 1540 AND 58 WEST. NO INJURIES REPORTED. RESCUE SQUAD RESPONDED. 0711 PM FUNNEL CLOUD CALVERT CITY 37.03N 88.35W 04/03/2018 MARSHALL KY TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED NNW OF COMMUNITY NEAR TENNESSEE RIVER. 0730 PM TSTM WND DMG BURNA 37.26N 88.39W 04/03/2018 LIVINGSTON KY EMERGENCY MNGR TIME ESTIMATED. BARN AND HOUSE DAMAGED. 0730 PM HAIL MARION 37.73N 88.94W 04/03/2018 M0.75 INCH WILLIAMSON IL STORM CHASER 0743 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 NE HICKORY 36.85N 88.61W 04/03/2018 GRAVES KY LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED BY STATE POLICE. ALONG HIGHWAY 45. 0744 PM FUNNEL CLOUD HICKORY 36.82N 88.65W 04/03/2018 GRAVES KY LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED BY STATE POLICE ALONG HIGHWAY 45. 0749 PM HAIL GALATIA 37.84N 88.61W 04/03/2018 M1.00 INCH SALINE IL TRAINED SPOTTER 0750 PM TSTM WND GST CADIZ 36.87N 87.82W 04/03/2018 M49.00 MPH TRIGG KY MESONET 0805 PM TSTM WND GST HOPKINSVILLE 36.85N 87.49W 04/03/2018 M60.00 MPH CHRISTIAN KY EMERGENCY MNGR MEASURED AT INTERSECTION OF I-24 AND COX MILL ROAD JUST SOUTH OF TOWN. 0808 PM TSTM WND DMG HOPKINSVILLE 36.85N 87.49W 04/03/2018 CHRISTIAN KY EMERGENCY MNGR PART OF A ROOF OFF A BUILDING ON EAST NINTH STREET NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CLAY STREET. TIME RADAR ESTIMATED. 0822 PM HEAVY RAIN OWENSBORO 37.76N 87.12W 04/03/2018 E2.00 INCH DAVIESS KY TRAINED SPOTTER ESTIMATED RAINFALL ACCUMULATION WITHIN 45 MINUTES. &&
Environment
A strong cold front moved rapidly east. A broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms formed along the front during the warmth of the afternoon hours over southeast Missouri. This line of storms progressed rapidly east across the lower Ohio Valley, accompanied by scattered reports of large hail and wind damage. Surface-based instability was moderately strong when the storms developed, then decreased as the event progressed. Winds aloft were quite strong, with 850 mb winds around 50 knots.
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Surface Pressure, Dewpoint, and Temperature valid at 2 PM | 850mb Height/Temp/Wind valid at 3 PM | 500mb Height/Temp/Wind valid at 3 PM |
Near-storm environment:
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Effective Bulk Shear valid at 4 PM | 0-3km Storm Relative Helicity valid at 2 PM | Surface Based CAPE valid at 4 PM |
Convective Outlooks Issued from the Storm Prediction Center:
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SPC Day 3 Outlook | SPC Day 2 Outlook | SPC Day 1 Outlook (Early Morning) | SPC Day 1 Outlook (Late Morning Update) |
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SPC Day 1 Tornado Probabilities (Late Morning Update) | SPC Day 1 Wind Probabilities (Late Morning Update) | SPC Day 1 Hail Probabilities (Late Morning Update) | SPC Local Storm Reports Issued |
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