A cold front pressing east across the central U.S. will be the focus for areas of strong to severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall through this weekend. Strong to severe thunderstorms my bring damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes while excessive rainfall may lead to areas of flooding. Heat will build across the western U.S. with heat-related watches, warnings, and advisories issued. Read More >
Overview
A thunderstorm complex in the form of a bow echo traversed across portions of southeast Missouri into southern areas of western Kentucky during the afternoon hours on May 3. The bow echo produced an EF-1 tornado that caused damage in Marston, MO, in New Madrid County. Widespread straight line wind damage was also observed with these storms from Van Buren, Doniphan, and Poplar Bluff, Missouri eastward into the Mayfield, Murray, and Fulton areas of western Kentucky. Winds of 60 to 70 mph caused tree and roof damage along with power outages in some areas.
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Tornado - Marston, MO
Track Map  
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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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Photos
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| Tree damage in Lynnville, KY via Charles McCrimmon | Roof damage in Marston, MO via Marcus Cook | Tree damage in Murray, KY via Fawn McDonald | Tree down on I-69 near Fulton, KY via Madison Myers |
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| Barn damage near Marston, MO, via Marcus Cook | Tree damage near Fulton, KY, via Lew Jetton. | Farm damage near Marston, MO, via Marcus Cook | Damage to the city hall building in Marston, MO, via Marcus Cook |
Radar
Here are 30 minute snapshots of the thunderstorm complex/bow echo from 1 to 3:30 PM as it progressed quickly east/southeastward across southeast Missouri into southern portions of western Kentucky. (Click on the images to enlarge)
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| 1 PM Radar Reflectivity | 1:30 PM Radar Reflectivity | 2 PM Radar Reflectivity |
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| 2:30 PM Radar Reflectivity | 3 PM Radar Reflectivity | 3:30 PM Radar Reflectivity |
Storm Reports
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 439 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2020 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS..
1240 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 S VAN BUREN 37.00N 91.01W 05/03/2020 CARTER MO LAW ENFORCEMENT NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ACROSS CARTER COUNTY. PEOPLE TRAPPED BY FALLING TREES IN A CAMPGROUND NEAR VAN BUREN. 1244 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 S VAN BUREN 37.00N 91.01W 05/03/2020 CARTER MO PUBLIC TREE LIMBS DOWN. 1/4 INCH HAIL. 1245 PM TSTM WND DMG 9 W GRANDIN 36.80N 90.99W 05/03/2020 RIPLEY MO PUBLIC 3 LARGE TREES UPROOTED. GUST TO 52MPH MEASURED WITH AMBIENT WEATHER WS. 1255 PM TSTM WND DMG DONIPHAN 36.62N 90.82W 05/03/2020 RIPLEY MO BROADCAST MEDIA NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ON THE NORTH SIDE OF DONIPHAN. 0101 PM TSTM WND GST 5 N OXLY 36.66N 90.71W 05/03/2020 M52 MPH RIPLEY MO PUBLIC 0107 PM TSTM WND GST 5 N OXLY 36.66N 90.71W 05/03/2020 M58 MPH RIPLEY MO TRAINED SPOTTER 0112 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 WNW POPLAR BLUFF 36.79N 90.47W 05/03/2020 BUTLER MO TRAINED SPOTTER 2 TREES DOWN IN A BACKYARD, 1 WAS A HEALTHY 1 FOOT THICK TREE THAT SNAPPED. 0115 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 NE HENDRICKSON 36.94N 90.45W 05/03/2020 WAYNE MO PUBLIC REPORT FROM MPING: TREES UPROOTED OR SNAPPED; ROOF BLOWN OFF. 0118 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 SW NEELYVILLE 36.55N 90.52W 05/03/2020 BUTLER MO BROADCAST MEDIA ROOF COMPLETELY BLOWN OFF OF CLOSED BUSINESS 1MI S OF US67/RTE142. 0118 PM TSTM WND DMG NEELYVILLE 36.56N 90.51W 05/03/2020 BUTLER MO BROADCAST MEDIA LIVE POWER LINES DOWN ON HOME IN NEELYVILLE. 0118 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 NE HENDRICKSON 36.94N 90.43W 05/03/2020 WAYNE MO EMERGENCY MNGR TREE DOWN ON A CAMPER ON HIGHWAY 172 EAST OF US 67. TIME ESTIMATED. 0118 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 E POPLAR BLUFF 36.77N 90.39W 05/03/2020 BUTLER MO EMERGENCY MNGR TREE DOWN ON A HOUSE WITH RESIDENTS TRAPPED INSIDE. 0119 PM TSTM WND GST 5 E POPLAR BLUFF 36.77N 90.32W 05/03/2020 M66 MPH BUTLER MO ASOS 0130 PM TSTM WND DMG QULIN 36.60N 90.25W 05/03/2020 BUTLER MO BROADCAST MEDIA TREES DOWN AND ROOF DAMAGE. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. 0135 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 SW DEXTER 36.75N 90.01W 05/03/2020 STODDARD MO TRAINED SPOTTER ONE FOOT DIAMETER TREE SPLIT BY HIGH WINDS. 0139 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 W DEXTER 36.79N 89.97W 05/03/2020 STODDARD MO TRAINED SPOTTER SNAPPED TREES IN DEXTER. 0140 PM TSTM WND DMG BERNIE 36.67N 89.97W 05/03/2020 STODDARD MO PUBLIC BRANCHES DOWN AND SHINGLES BLOWN OFF ROOF. 0145 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 S BROWNWOOD 37.05N 89.96W 05/03/2020 STODDARD MO LAW ENFORCEMENT CAR FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES BY HIGH WINDS. POSSIBLY TORNADO. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. 0146 PM TSTM WND DMG MCGEE 37.07N 90.19W 05/03/2020 WAYNE MO PUBLIC TREES DOWN, PEA SIZE HAIL. 0158 PM TSTM WND DMG MARSTON 36.52N 89.61W 05/03/2020 NEW MADRID MO TRAINED SPOTTER ROOF DAMAGE THE CITY HALL BUILDING. HOMES WITH ROOF DAMAGE. SEVERAL TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. POSSIBLE TORNADO. TIME ESTIMATED. 0215 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SSE BROWNWOOD 37.05N 89.94W 05/03/2020 STODDARD MO PUBLIC TREE DOWN COVERING CR 216 EAST OF HWY BB. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. 0220 PM TSTM WND DMG EAST PRAIRIE 36.78N 89.38W 05/03/2020 MISSISSIPPI MO EMERGENCY MNGR SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN/AROUND EAST PRAIRIE. (RADAR TIME ESTIMATE). 0225 PM TSTM WND GST 2 ENE HICKMAN 36.57N 89.16W 05/03/2020 M47 MPH FULTON KY MESONET MESONET STATION HCKM HICKMAN 2 E. 0233 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 WNW CLINTON 36.67N 89.01W 05/03/2020 HICKMAN KY EMERGENCY MNGR LARGER LIMBS AND SMALL TREES DOWN WEST OF CLINTON. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. 0234 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 W FULTON 36.51N 88.97W 05/03/2020 FULTON KY BROADCAST MEDIA SEVERAL LARGE TREE LIMB DOWN. 0239 PM TSTM WND DMG FULTON 36.52N 88.88W 05/03/2020 FULTON KY TRAINED SPOTTER TREES DOWN IN FULTON. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. 0240 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NE FULTON 36.53N 88.85W 05/03/2020 HICKMAN KY PUBLIC TREE DOWN OVER I-69 SOUTH. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. 0245 PM TSTM WND DMG WINGO 36.64N 88.74W 05/03/2020 GRAVES KY PUBLIC TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN JUST SOUTH OF GRAVES. TIME ESTIMATED. 0248 PM TSTM WND DMG WINGO 36.64N 88.73W 05/03/2020 GRAVES KY PUBLIC REPORT FROM MPING: TREES UPROOTED OR SNAPPED; ROOF BLOWN OFF (RADAR ESTIMATED TIME). 0250 PM TSTM WND GST 6 SW MAYFIELD 36.68N 88.72W 05/03/2020 M64 MPH GRAVES KY MESONET KY MESONET OBSERVATION. 0251 PM TSTM WND DMG 7 SE WATER VALLEY 36.51N 88.72W 05/03/2020 GRAVES KY TRAINED SPOTTER NUMEROUS TREES DOWN INCLUDING A TREE ON A HOME AND ON A SUV. SEVERAL POWER LINES DOWN IN THE AREA. OCCURRED NEAR DUKEDOM 1 MILE NORTH OF THE TENNESSEE BORDER. 0251 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 N WINGO 36.69N 88.72W 05/03/2020 GRAVES KY PUBLIC REPORT FROM MPING: 3-INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN; POWER POLES BROKEN (RADAR ESTIMATED TIME). 0252 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 NE WINGO 36.69N 88.71W 05/03/2020 GRAVES KY PUBLIC REPORT FROM MPING: TREES UPROOTED OR SNAPPED; ROOF BLOWN OFF. (RADAR ESTIMATED TIME). 0310 PM TSTM WND DMG MURRAY 36.61N 88.32W 05/03/2020 CALLOWAY KY TRAINED SPOTTER A COUPLE TREES UPROOTED. 0310 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SSW MURRAY 36.58N 88.33W 05/03/2020 CALLOWAY KY EMERGENCY MNGR ROOF PEELED BACK FROM A HORSE BARN. 0312 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 WSW LYNN GROVE 36.57N 88.48W 05/03/2020 CALLOWAY KY EMERGENCY MNGR TREE ON RESIDENCE. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. 0315 PM TSTM WND GST 3 ESE KIRKSEY 36.66N 88.37W 05/03/2020 M51 MPH CALLOWAY KY AWOS AWOS KCEY. 0318 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 WSW MURRAY 36.61N 88.35W 05/03/2020 CALLOWAY KY EMERGENCY MNGR TREES DOWN AT KY 94 AND ROBERTSON ROAD. TREES ALSO DOWN AT KY 464 AND KY 1836. 0320 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 SSE DEXTER 36.69N 88.27W 05/03/2020 CALLOWAY KY LAW ENFORCEMENT DISPATCH REPORTS TREE ON POWER LINE CAUSING A FIRE. BROOKS CHAPEL RD 1/2 MILE N OF KY464. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
Environment
As a cold front sank southward across the region, plenty of sunshine early in the day boosted temperatures into the upper 70s to near 80 by early afternoon. This resulted in the development of 1000-2000 J/kg of surface CAPE from the Missouri Bootheel into western Kentucky.
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| Surface CAPE at 2 PM | Surface Temperatures at 1 PM |
Other Graphics
The Storm Prediction Center upgraded portions of our area to an enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) with the late morning update. The primary hazard was expected to be damaging winds.
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| Figure 7: Caption | Timing Graphic from NWS Paducah |
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued around 11:45 AM for southern portions of our forecast area. The other graphic shows the warnings issued by our office for this event.
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| Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued at 11:45 AM | Warning Polygons issued for the event |
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