Flooding

Major flash flooding occurred from the evening of July 6 through the early morning of July 7. A slow-moving thunderstorm complex backed slowly southwestward across western Kentucky and southern Illinois. Rainfall rates up to 8 inches in 6 hours were reported at the peak of the event in Marshall County, KY. The Kentucky mesonet site near Draffenville, KY measured 8.11 inches between midnight and 6 A.M. A state of emergency was declared by county government officials in Marshall County, where at least 22 roads were washed out. The Purchase Parkway (future Interstate 69) was closed for a few hours in Marshall County due to a couple feet of water across it.

The event began during the evening in the Pennyrile region of western Kentucky. The cities of Madisonville and Central City reported severe street flooding, with  vehicles stranded in floodwaters up to four feet deep. Many other locations across the Pennyrile reported high water over roads, which were closed or impassable at times. Similar flash flood impacts were experienced in parts of southern Illinois, especially from the Harrisburg area east and south. A trained spotter near Cadiz, Kentucky measured 3.16 inches of rain in one hour.  Major flooding occurred on the Little River in the Hopkinsville area.

After midnight, the most intense rainfall shifted to the Kentucky Lake region of western Kentucky, including Lyon and Marshall Counties. An off-duty meteorologist near Calvert City, KY measured 4 inches of rain in just two hours between midnight and 2 A.M. Evacuations were conducted in several places in Marshall and extreme southern Livingston Counties. A number of road washouts were reported in Livingston and Trigg Counties.

Radar/Photos - click for full size

Three-hour rainfall estimate 1 A.M. - 4 A.M. (Paducah radar)

Radar:

Regional radar loop for the night of July 6, 2016 (click for full size)

Radar loop of the July 6-7 flash flood

Storm Reports

HERE ARE ALL THE FLOODING REPORTS FROM THE EVENING OF JULY 6 THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING OF JULY 7

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


0830 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 ENE NEBO              37.40N 87.61W
07/06/2016                   HOPKINS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            WATER COVERING SEVERAL PORTIONS OF EASTBOUND 
            HWY 41A...WATER FLOWING OVER THE ROAD IN 
            SOME SPOTS. 

0940 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MARION                  37.33N 88.08W
07/06/2016                   CRITTENDEN         KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            WATER OVER PORTIONS MULTIPLE COUNTY ROADS 
            AND HIGHWAYS INCLUDING HWY 60 EAST. 

0940 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 SSW STURGIS           37.51N 88.01W
07/06/2016                   CRITTENDEN         KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            WATER OVER PORTIONS OF SEVERAL COUNTY ROADS 
            AND PORTIONS OF HWY 365. 

1003 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 NW BUSH               37.85N 89.14W
07/06/2016                   WILLIAMSON         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            HWY 149 ALONG FRANKLIN COUNTY LINE. 

1003 PM     FLOOD            1 NW BUSH               37.85N 89.14W
07/06/2016                   WILLIAMSON         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            COUPLE INCHES OF WATER OVER HIGHWAY 149. 

1016 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 SW DIXON              37.49N 87.73W
07/06/2016                   WEBSTER            KY   911 CALL CENTER  

            PORTIONS OF KY ROUTE 132 WEST BEING CLOSED 
            DUE TO WATER COVERING THE ROADS. 

1021 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 E MADISONVILLE        37.34N 87.41W
07/06/2016                   HOPKINS            KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            HWY 70 AT NEALIE WEBB ROAD IS CLOSING DUE TO 
            HIGH WATER. VEHICLE IS STUCK IN HIGH WATER. 

1023 PM     FLASH FLOOD      4 NNW FREDONIA          37.26N 88.08W
07/06/2016                   CRITTENDEN         KY   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            WATER COVERING SEVERAL PARTS OF 641 WEST 
            FROM FREDONIA KY TO MARION KY...AT TIMES 
            WATER COVERING ROAD WAS NEARLY IMPASSABLE. 

1025 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MARION                  37.73N 88.94W
07/06/2016                   WILLIAMSON         IL   PUBLIC           

            COURT STREET IN MARION IS FLOODED. 

1030 PM     FLASH FLOOD      CENTRAL CITY            37.30N 87.13W
07/06/2016                   MUHLENBERG         KY   911 CALL CENTER  

            3 TO 4 FEET OF WATER OVER ROADS THROUGHOUT 
            CENTRAL CITY AND MANY ROADS ARE 
            IMPASSABLE...SEVERAL VEHICLES COMPLETELY 
            SUBMERGED...WORST CONDITIONS IN COUNTY ARE 
            IN CENTRAL CITY. 

1042 PM     FLASH FLOOD      STURGIS                 37.55N 87.99W
07/06/2016                   UNION              KY   911 CALL CENTER  

            PORTIONS OF SEVERAL ROADS WITH WATER 
            COVERING THEM NEAR STURGIS...INCLUDING US 
            HWY 60 WEST AND BLUEBERRY HILL ROAD. 

1044 PM     FLASH FLOOD      HARRISBURG              37.74N 88.55W
07/06/2016                   SALINE             IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            NUMEROUS CITY STREETS IN HARRISBURG FLOODED. 

1055 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MORTONS GAP             37.24N 87.47W
07/06/2016                   HOPKINS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            AT LEAST SIX INCHES OF FLOWING WATER ON 
            ROADS IN DOWNTOWN MORTONS GAP. 

1106 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 S JUNCTION            37.69N 88.24W
07/06/2016  E3.00 INCH       GALLATIN           IL   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            AT LEAST 3 INCHES OF RAIN IN 2 HOURS AND 45 
            MINUTES. 

1106 PM     FLASH FLOOD      EQUALITY                37.74N 88.34W
07/06/2016                   GALLATIN           IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            CAR STUCK IN WATER ON ILLINOIS 142 NEAR 
            EQUALITY. 

1116 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 NW EQUALITY           37.75N 88.36W
07/06/2016                   GALLATIN           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            NUMEROUS STATE ROUTES IN GALLATIN COUNTY 
            COVERED PARTIALLY WITH WATER...INCLUDING HWY 
            142 AT SALINE GALLATIN COUNTY LINE WHICH IS 
            IMPASSABLE. 

1154 PM     FLASH FLOOD      ELIZABETHTOWN           37.45N 88.30W
07/06/2016                   HARDIN             IL   911 CALL CENTER  

            WATER OVER PORTIONS OF ONE STATE ROAD AND 
            SEVERAL CITY AND COUNTY ROADS...A FEW 
            PORTIONS OF THESE WERE IMPASSABLE AT TIMES. 
            A FEW CITY AND COUNTY ROADS TEMPORARILY 
            CLOSED. 

1154 PM     FLASH FLOOD      ROSICLARE               37.42N 88.35W
07/06/2016                   HARDIN             IL   911 CALL CENTER  

            WATER COVERING PORTIONS OF A FEW CITY ROADS. 

1154 PM     FLASH FLOOD      GOLCONDA                37.36N 88.49W
07/06/2016                   POPE               IL   911 CALL CENTER  

            SEVERAL COUNTY ROADS PARTIALLY COVERED WITH 
            WATER. 

1156 PM     FLASH FLOOD      CARBONDALE              37.72N 89.22W
07/06/2016                   JACKSON            IL   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            ROUTE 13 EASTBOUND NEAR WALL STREET IN 
            CARBONDALE COVERED BY SEVERAL INCHES OF 
            WATER WITH TWO CARS STRANDED. MANHOLE COVERS 
            BLOW OUT WITH WATER UP/OUT. 

1200 AM     HEAVY RAIN       CARBONDALE              37.72N 89.22W
07/07/2016  M4.26 INCH       JACKSON            IL   AWOS             

            DAILY RAINFALL TOTAL FROM JULY 6TH. 

1200 AM     FLASH FLOOD      6 SW GREENVILLE         37.15N 87.26W
07/07/2016                   MUHLENBERG         KY   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            ROADWAYS FLOODING IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS 
            ACROSS THE COUNTY. 

1204 AM     FLASH FLOOD      MADISONVILLE            37.34N 87.51W
07/07/2016                   HOPKINS            KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            SOME ROADS IN MADISONVILLE STILL 
            IMPASSABLE...INCLUDING EAST CENTER FROM 
            MADISON SQUARE DRIVE TO PARK AVENUE...AS 
            WELL AS THE PARKWAY PLAZA MALL AREA. 

1222 AM     FLASH FLOOD      5 W FRYER               37.26N 87.91W
07/07/2016                   CALDWELL           KY   PUBLIC           

            PORTIONS OF SHADY GROVE ROAD IMPASSABLE NEAR 
            CRESWELL. 

1237 AM     FLASH FLOOD      1 NE MORTONS GAP        37.25N 87.46W
07/07/2016                   HOPKINS            KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            WHITE CITY ROAD IMPASSABLE A HALF MILE FROM 
            THE PARKWAY. 

1245 AM     FLASH FLOOD      2 W DYCUSBURG           37.16N 88.22W
07/07/2016                   LIVINGSTON         KY   PUBLIC           

            SUGAR CREEK ROAD IN TILENE AREA IS UNDER 
            WATER...NEARBY FIELDS HAVE PONDING OF WATER. 

0100 AM     FLASH FLOOD      VIENNA                  37.41N 88.89W
07/07/2016                   JOHNSON            IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            WATER COVERING SOME PORTIONS OF LOCAL ROADS. 

0109 AM     FLASH FLOOD      ELKTON                  36.81N 87.16W
07/07/2016                   TODD               KY   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            NORTH FORK OF ELK FORK CREEK IS OUT OF ITS 
            BANKS. 

0115 AM     FLASH FLOOD      3 N MURPHYSBORO         37.81N 89.34W
07/07/2016                   JACKSON            IL   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            FLASH FLOODING OF ROADS AND YARDS...DRIVEWAY 
            OF HOME COMPLETELY FLOODED AND DITCHES 
            OVERFLOWING INTO THE STREET IN SEVERAL 
            LOCATIONS NEAR HARRISON ROAD. 

0117 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 NNW CADIZ             36.90N 87.84W
07/07/2016  M3.16 INCH       TRIGG              KY   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            3.16 INCHES OF RAIN IN TWO HOURS. 

0118 AM     FLASH FLOOD      PRINCETON               37.11N 87.88W
07/07/2016                   CALDWELL           KY   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            SEVERAL FEET OF FLOWING WATER COVERING 
            PORTIONS OF PARKING LOTS AND BALL FIELDS 
            ALONG HWY 139. 

0121 AM     FLASH FLOOD      CADIZ                   36.87N 87.82W
07/07/2016                   TRIGG              KY   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            WATER IN HOME ON BROWN STREET...SEVERAL 
            ROADS IN TRIGG NOW COVERED WITH WATER. 

0148 AM     FLASH FLOOD      CALVERT CITY            37.03N 88.35W
07/07/2016                   MARSHALL           KY   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            VEHICLE THREE-QUARTERS FULL OF WATER. 
            APARTMENT BUILDING FLOODING. 3.23 INCHES OF 
            RAIN...MOSTLY IN PAST HOUR. 

0149 AM     FLASH FLOOD      2 S CALVERT CITY        37.00N 88.35W
07/07/2016                   MARSHALL           KY   NWS EMPLOYEE     

            STANDING AND FAST FLOWING WATER ALONG NEARBY 
            ROADS AND IN YARD. 

0159 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 S CALVERT CITY        37.00N 88.35W
07/07/2016  M4.00 INCH       MARSHALL           KY   NWS EMPLOYEE     

            FOUR INCHES OF RAIN SINCE MIDNIGHT. 

0205 AM     FLASH FLOOD      5 SE LEDBETTER          37.01N 88.43W
07/07/2016                   MARSHALL           KY   911 CALL CENTER  

            SIX PEOPLE TRAPPED IN APARTMENT DUE TO 
            FLOODING...ALONG DRIVERS ROAD. 

0319 AM     FLASH FLOOD      2 SW GILBERTSVILLE      37.01N 88.33W
07/07/2016                   MARSHALL           KY   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 

            EVACUATIONS ARE UNDERWAY IN GILBERTSVILLE 
            KY...INCLUDING EVACUATION OF ONE MOBILE 
            HOME...THIS MOBILE HOME SITS WAIST HIGH AND 
            WATER WAS UP TO THE DOOR. 

0332 AM     HEAVY RAIN       BENTON                  36.85N 88.36W
07/07/2016  E0.50 INCH       MARSHALL           KY   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            HALF OF AN INCH OF RAIN IN 10 MINUTES. 

0349 AM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SSE DEXTER            36.68N 88.28W
07/07/2016                   CALLOWAY           KY   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            LAWN FURNITURE DAMAGED...SMALL TREE LIMBS 
            BLOWN DOWN...GUTTERS BLOWN OFF OF HOME. 

0421 AM     HEAVY RAIN       6 N BENTON              36.94N 88.34W
07/07/2016  M6.87 INCH       MARSHALL           KY   MESONET          

            RAINFALL SINCE MIDNIGHT ON KENTUCKY MESONET 
            STATION. 

0432 AM     FLASH FLOOD      BENTON                  36.85N 88.36W
07/07/2016                   MARSHALL           KY   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            MULTIPLE AGENCIES IN PROCESS OF EVACUATIONS 
            THROUGHOUT MARSHALL COUNTY. 

0437 AM     FLASH FLOOD      2 N BENTON              36.88N 88.36W
07/07/2016                   MARSHALL           KY   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 

            ONE FOOT OF WATER OVER PURCHASE PARKWAY 
            /FUTURE I-69/ AT MILE MARKER 46. 

Rain Reports

The following graphic is the observed precipitation analysis for July 1-7, as generated on the AHPS website. Isolated maximum rainfall amounts of 10 to 15 inches were observed in southwest Kentucky for the week. Most of the precipitation in western Kentucky occurred during the flash flood event of July 6-7.

I

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Paducah KY
455 AM CDT Fri Jul 8 2016

...Selected Rainfall Reports for past 72 hours...

Location                     Amount    Time/Date       Provider
Ohio R at Smithland KY       7.91 in   0600 AM 07/07   COOP
LBL - Golden Pond KY         7.23 in   0421 AM 07/08   RAWS
4 SE Allegre KY              7.21 in   0436 AM 07/08   CWOP
2 NNW Cadiz KY               6.93 in   0600 AM 07/07   COOP
Kenlake Resort KY            6.92 in   0600 AM 07/06   COOP
Canton KY                    6.52 in   0400 AM 07/08   HADS
Madisonville KY airport      6.22 in   0655 AM 07/07   AWOS
1 NE Grand Rivers KY         5.65 in   0430 AM 07/08   HADS
Hopkinsville KY              5.65 in   0430 AM 07/08   GOES
Powderly KY                  5.64 in   0800 AM 07/07   COOP
3 WNW Fort Campbell North    5.52 in   0658 AM 07/07   AWOS
2 SW Calvert City KY         5.50 in   0640 AM 07/05   COCORAHS
2 ENE Paducah KY             5.42 in   0400 AM 07/08   HADS
Gracey KY                    5.12 in   1021 PM 07/07   COCORAHS
Crofton KY 3 N               4.87 in   0700 AM 07/06   COOP
5 NW Rosiclare IL            4.79 in   0700 AM 07/06   COOP
Dixon Springs IL             4.78 in   0408 AM 07/08   RAWS
1 SSW Elkton KY              4.70 in   0830 PM 07/07   HADS
Southern Illinois Airport    4.53 in   0652 AM 07/07   ASOS
Hanson KY 2.2 NE             4.43 in   0600 AM 07/07   COCORAHS
Greenville KY                4.33 in   0415 AM 07/08   RAWS
Grand Chain IL               4.17 in   0600 AM 07/07   COOP
3 SE Herndon KY              4.15 in   1139 PM 07/07   CWOP
1 ENE Newburgh IN            4.09 in   0700 AM 07/05   COCORAHS
2 SE Cairo IL                4.02 in   0100 PM 07/06   HADS
1 NE Perryville MO           3.96 in   0700 AM 07/07   COCORAHS
2 WNW Melody Hill IN         3.87 in   0700 AM 07/06   COCORAHS
Madisonville KY              3.81 in   0157 PM 07/07   CWOP
3 WNW Cerulean KY            3.71 in   0830 PM 07/07   HADS
Marion KY                    3.59 in   0700 AM 07/07   COOP
Francisco IN                 3.57 in   0700 AM 07/06   COCORAHS
KY State Police Post 1       3.47 in   0600 AM 07/07   COOP
Scott City MO                3.35 in   0700 AM 07/05   COCORAHS
Fairfield IL                 3.20 in   0655 AM 07/05   AWOS
Metropolis IL                3.19 in   0655 AM 07/05   AWOS
De Soto IL                   3.13 in   0700 AM 07/06   COCORAHS
6 W Hamlin KY                3.09 in   0531 PM 07/07   CWOP
Murphysboro IL               2.86 in   0400 AM 07/08   HADS
Lake Wappapello State Pk MO  2.82 in   0800 AM 07/07   COOP
2 S Bloomfield MO            2.61 in   0700 AM 07/07   COCORAHS
Calhoun KY                   2.57 in   0300 AM 07/08   HADS
Paducah KY                   2.53 in   0653 PM 07/07   ASOS


Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official.

$$

NWS Paducah KY
IRIS System

Environment -

 Synoptic maps. Graphics below are valid at 2 A.M. CDT (0700 GMT) July 7. Images are from the Storm Prediction Center.

500 mb map	850 mb map	Mean sea-level pressure (mslp)

Instability and moisture maps. Graphics below are valid at 2 A.M. CDT (0700 GMT) July 7. Images are from the Storm Prediction Center.

Mixed-layer cape (mlcape) and cin	Precipitable water (pw)	Most unstable cape (mucape)