Overview
Another significant flooding event occurred across southeast Missouri into far southwest Kentucky on August 3rd and 4th. This was just 2 weeks after the historic flooding that occurred on July 19th. The hardest hit areas this time were approximately one county west of the July 19th event. Locations from Marble Hill and Sikeston, Missouri southeast to Hickman, Kentucky and Union City, Tennessee observed amounts of 6 to 12 inches. There were 2 waves of heavy rain, one occurring from around midnight into the morning on August 3rd and the second from around midnight into the morning on August 4th. The environment in place allowed very efficient rainfall production as thunderstorms trained over the same locations.Flooding
Numerous Flash Flood Warnings were issued during the overnight and morning hours on August 3rd and again on August 4th. A rare Flash Flood Emergency was issued around 6:30 AM for Fulton County Kentucky, including the city of Hickman. Numerous roads were closed due to high water over them, several evacuations of homes occurred, and there were a few water rescues.
Several creeks and smaller rivers saw significant rises in a short time period due to the excessive rainfall amounts. Here are some of the more notable jumps along rivers in southeast Missouri and west Kentucky:
Hydrographs
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| Hubble Creek above Dutchtown, MO | Little River Ditch above Morehouse, MO | Castor River above Zalma, MO | South Fork Little River at Hopkinsville, KY 68/80 |
Photos
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| Aerial footage of Hickman, KY courtesy of Ryan C. Hermens | Hickman, KY courtesy of Tori Watts | Backyard in Hickman, KY courtesy of KyleJona Kimmons | South of Sikeston, MO courtesy of Christina |
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| Loves Truck Stop in Sikeston, MO courtesy of Tracy Wilson | Sikeston, MO courtesy of KFVS-12 | Marble Hill, MO courtesy of Emily Pike | Marble Hill, MO courtesy of City of Marble Hill Facebook page |
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| Marble Hill, MO courtesy of City of Marble Hill Facebook page | Advance, MO courtesy of Emily Pike |
Radar
Click here for a radar loop from the 1st wave of heavy rain from 10 PM August 2nd - 12 PM August 3rd.
Click here for a radar loop from the 2nd wave of heavy rain from 11 PM August 3rd - 2 PM August 4th.
Storm Reports
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary National Weather Service Paducah KY 812 PM CDT Fri Aug 4 2023 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0926 AM Rain 2 E Hickman 36.57N 89.15W 08/04/2023 M11.05 inch Fulton KY Mesonet Measured over the past 48 hours. 0400 PM Rain 1 NW Sikeston 36.89N 89.59W 08/04/2023 M10.94 inch Scott MO Public 2 day rainfall total at personal weather station in Sikeston. 0400 PM Rain 2 SSW Miner 36.87N 89.55W 08/04/2023 M10.84 inch Scott MO Public 2 day rainfall total at personal weather station in Sikeston. 0400 PM Rain Benton 37.10N 89.56W 08/04/2023 M9.01 inch Scott MO Public 2 day rainfall total at personal weather station in Benton. 0400 PM Rain Advance 37.10N 89.91W 08/04/2023 M8.95 inch Stoddard MO Public 2 day rainfall total at personal weather station in Advance. 0400 PM Rain 7 NNW Zalma 37.24N 90.12W 08/04/2023 M8.77 inch Bollinger MO Public 2 day rainfall total at personal weather station south of Grassy. 0700 AM Rain 2 W Sikeston 36.88N 89.62W 08/04/2023 M8.48 inch Scott MO CO-OP Observer 2 day rainfall at Sikeston COOP station. Rain still ongoing at time of report. 0100 PM Rain Marble Hill 37.30N 89.98W 08/04/2023 M7.97 inch Bollinger MO CO-OP Observer 2 day rainfall total at COOP station in Marble Hill. 0400 PM Rain Chaffee 37.18N 89.66W 08/04/2023 M7.81 inch Scott MO Public 2 day rainfall total at personal weather station just east of Chaffee. 0530 PM Rain 4 SSW Gravelton 37.24N 90.27W 08/04/2023 M7.49 inch Wayne MO Mesonet Corrects previous rain report from 4 SSW Gravelton. 2 day rainfall total for Piedmont RAWS site which is located in far northeast Wayne County along Hwy 34 between the towns of Clubb and Cascade. 0912 AM Rain New Hamburg 37.13N 89.59W 08/03/2023 E7.00 inch Scott MO Public Rainfall total through 9 AM. 0456 PM Rain Benton 37.10N 89.56W 08/03/2023 E6.29 inch Scott MO Public Rainfall total since midnight at personal weather station. 0400 PM Rain 2 ESE Sikeston 36.87N 89.55W 08/03/2023 M6.04 inch Scott MO Public Rainfall total since midnight at Personal Weather Station. 0400 PM Rain Advance 37.10N 89.91W 08/03/2023 M5.86 inch Stoddard MO Public Rainfall total since midnight at personal weather station. 1100 AM Rain Marble Hill 37.30N 89.98W 08/03/2023 M5.83 inch Bollinger MO CO-OP Observer 12 hour rainfall total ending at 11AM at COOP station in Marble Hill. 36 hour rainfall total is 7.38 inches. 0600 AM Rain Albion 38.37N 88.06W 08/03/2023 M5.71 inch Edwards IL Trained Spotter Storm total rainfall. 0459 PM Rain 6 NNW Zalma 37.23N 90.11W 08/03/2023 M5.24 inch Bollinger MO Public Rainfall total since midnight at personal weather station 2 miles south of Grassy. 1003 AM Flash Flood Diehlstadt 36.96N 89.43W 08/03/2023 Scott MO Trained Spotter Spotter reports street flooding continues in Diehlstadt, Scott County MO. 0440 PM Rain 2 ENE Hickman 36.57N 89.16W 08/03/2023 M4.75 inch Fulton KY Mesonet Kentucky Mesonet station HCKM Hickman KY 2 E. Rainfall total since midnight. 0440 PM Rain 2 NW Anniston 36.85N 89.36W 08/03/2023 M4.61 inch Mississippi MO Mesonet Mesonet station MOA27 Charleston, MO South. 24 hour rainfall total. 0500 PM Rain 3 SE Burfordville 37.34N 89.77W 08/03/2023 M4.29 inch Cape Girardeau MO Public Rainfall total since midnight at personal weather station. 0938 AM Rain East Prairie 36.78N 89.38W 08/03/2023 M3.00 inch Mississippi MO Trained Spotter Trained spotter report of 3 inches of rain in East Prairie. 0411 PM Rain 5 SE Evansville 37.93N 87.48W 08/03/2023 M1.60 inch Vanderburgh IN Trained Spotter 1.6 inches of rainfall measured since midnight on Angel Mounds, southeast side of Evansville. 0125 AM Hail Williamsville 36.97N 90.55W 08/03/2023 E0.75 inch Wayne MO Emergency Mngr Penny size hail in Williamsville MO. 0937 AM Flash Flood Hickman 36.56N 89.19W 08/04/2023 Fulton KY Emergency Mngr Five homes in Hickman were evacuated earlier due to flash flooding in Hickman. Water levels are slowly receding, but numerous streets remained closed. 0912 AM Landslide Hickman 36.56N 89.19W 08/04/2023 Fulton KY Emergency Mngr Kentucky Highway 94 is closed in downtown Hickman due to a mudslide caused by heavy rain. 0900 AM Flash Flood 1 WNW Oakton 36.67N 89.09W 08/04/2023 Hickman KY Emergency Mngr Kentucky Highway 123 closed at Obion Creek between mile markers 14 to 16. 0753 AM Flash Flood 1 SW Delta 37.19N 89.75W 08/04/2023 Cape Girardeau MO Emergency Mngr Highway 25 is closed again due to flooding near Delta. 0740 AM Flash Flood 1 NE New Madrid 36.60N 89.54W 08/04/2023 New Madrid MO Emergency Mngr Water of portions of US Highway 61 near New Madrid. Approximate location. 0735 AM Flash Flood 2 N Zalma 37.17N 90.09W 08/04/2023 Bollinger MO Emergency Mngr Highway H north of Zalma is closed due. 0625 AM Flash Flood Hickman 36.56N 89.19W 08/04/2023 Fulton KY Emergency Mngr Widespread flash flooding occurring in Hickman. Numerous roads are closed. At least one home has been evacuated due to flooding. 0549 AM Flash Flood Hickman 36.56N 89.19W 08/04/2023 Fulton KY 911 Call Center Several streets flooded in Hickman. 1032 AM Flash Flood Advance 37.10N 89.91W 08/03/2023 Stoddard MO Broadcast Media Streets flooded and homes with flooded basements on Benton Ave and Grissom St in Advance. 1030 AM Flash Flood Sikeston 36.88N 89.58W 08/03/2023 Scott MO Public Public photo shared on Facebook of flooded streets and water threatening homes in Sikeston. 1004 AM Flash Flood 1 NE Hickman 36.57N 89.18W 08/03/2023 Fulton KY Emergency Mngr Fulton County emergency manager report of road flooding near senior center in Hickman, KY. 0849 AM Flash Flood 1 SW Delta 37.19N 89.75W 08/03/2023 Cape Girardeau MO Emergency Mngr Water over Highway 25 near the community of Arbor. 0836 AM Flash Flood 3 NNW New Hamburg 37.16N 89.61W 08/03/2023 Scott MO Emergency Mngr Flash flooding of County Highway 217 east of Chaffee. 0815 AM Flash Flood Marble Hill 37.30N 89.98W 08/03/2023 Bollinger MO Emergency Mngr Marble Hill park has flooded. 0813 AM Flash Flood Marble Hill 37.30N 89.98W 08/03/2023 Bollinger MO Broadcast Media Highway 34 is starting to flood near Roark Wood Products in Marble Hill. 0658 AM Flash Flood Patton 37.50N 90.01W 08/03/2023 Bollinger MO 911 Call Center Several streets flooded in Patton. 0633 AM Flood 2 ESE Owensville 38.26N 87.65W 08/03/2023 Gibson IN Trained Spotter Water over State Route 168 between Owensville and Fort Branch at the 2, 3, and 5 mile markers. 0400 AM Flash Flood Cisne 38.51N 88.44W 08/03/2023 Wayne IL Law Enforcement US 45 is closed due to flooding north of Cisne. 0228 AM Flash Flood 1 N Albion 38.39N 88.06W 08/03/2023 Edwards IL Law Enforcement Water was reported covering Route 130 about 1 mile north of Albion at 228 AM. Semi driver relayed to dispatch that it felt like the water was trying to sweep the semi-truck off the road. 0204 AM Flash Flood Jeffersonville 38.45N 88.40W 08/03/2023 Wayne IL Law Enforcement Water reported over a portion of US 45 north of Jeffersonville. Report relayed by Fairfield Police Department. 1155 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Fruitland 37.45N 89.64W 08/02/2023 Cape Girardeau MO Broadcast Media Trees down with power outages in Fruitland. Report relayed by KFVS 12. Time estimated from radar. 1132 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Patton 37.50N 90.01W 08/02/2023 Bollinger MO Broadcast Media Power lines down near Patton. Relayed by KFVS 12. Time estimated from radar. 1120 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 WSW Silver Lake 37.66N 90.05W 08/02/2023 Perry MO Broadcast Media Trees down with power outages at Lake Perry.
Rainfall
The primary axis of heaviest rain occurred across southeast Missouri into far southwest Kentucky. However, there were secondary narrow bands of heavy rain that occurred to the northeast across portions of southeast Illinois, southwest Indiana, and the southern Pennyrile region of west Kentucky. The corridor of 6 to 12 inches was focused from Bollinger County Missouri southeast into Fulton County Kentucky and northwest Tennessee. The 24 hour images show that the heaviest rain from the 2nd batch occurred roughly over the same area that experienced the heaviest from the 1st batch. The bullseye was displaced further southeast with the 2nd wave though, over Hickman and Union City, as opposed to over Marble Hill and into southern Cape Girardeau County with the initial wave.
The Fulton County Mesonet located 2 miles east of Hickman, KY observed 11.28" of rain in 33 hours from 3 AM August 3rd through 12 PM August 4th. This broke the previous 2 day rainfall record for Fulton County which was 9.80" back on January 1-2, 1966. The 1 day record also was shattered, with 9.69" occurring between 8 AM August 3rd and 8 AM August 4th. The previous 1 day record for the county was 7.24" set back on September 23, 2006.
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| 48 Hour MRMS rainfall estimates ending at 7 PM August 4th | |
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| 24 Hour MRMS rainfall estimates ending at 7 PM August 3rd | 24 Hour MRMS rainfall estimates ending at 7 PM August 4th |
Environment
The synoptic pattern featured northwest flow at 500mb across the lower Ohio Valley. Meanwhile, surface analysis indicated a frontal boundary was drapped across southeast Missouri into west Tennessee.
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| 500mb chart at 7 PM August 3rd | 500mb chart at 7 PM August 4th | Surface chart at 7 PM August 3rd | Surface chart at 7 PM August 4th |
Southwest of the frontal boundary, extreme heat and humidity were present which led to high levels of instability. MUCAPE values of 2000-4000 j/kg were present across south central Missouri into northern Arkansas during the overnight on August 3rd. Even stronger instability was realized during the overnight on the 4th with values of 3000-5000 j/kg. The thunderstorms developed along the CAPE gradient which was positioned near and west of the Mississippi River. The mean steering flow was southeastward parallel to the boundary in place.
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| MUCAPE at 1 AM August 3rd | MUCAPE at 7 AM August 3rd | MUCAPE at 7 PM August 3rd | MUCAPE at 1 AM August 4th |
Precipitable water values were extremely high, peaking around 2.3 to 2.4 inches each night/morning. Meanwhile, a healthy low level jet developed late night into the morning which helped provide the lift needed to allow the thunderstorms to back build and continuously move over the same locations.
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| Precipitable water at 7 AM August 3rd | Precipitable water at 1 AM August 4th | 850 mb chart at 7 AM August 3rd | 850 mb chart at 1 AM August 4th |
Additional Information
The Forecast - WFO Paducah started mentioning the pattern favored heavy rain/training thunderstorm potential in their AFD's a week beforehand. We issued a Flash Flood Watch shortly after 1 AM on August 2nd. The initial watch went through Noon on the 3rd but as the signal for a secondary heavy rain event grew, we extended the watch through Noon on the 4th.
As confidence grew that training thunderstorms would produce copious amounts of rainfall, WPC upgraded their excessive rainfall outlooks both on the evening of August 3rd and again on the 4th.
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| Initial WPC Day 1 Outlook for Aug 3rd | WPC early evening update for Aug 3rd | Initial WPC Day 1 Outlook for Aug 4th | WPC early evening update for Aug 4th |
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