National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

 

2006 Weather Highlights in Western Kentucky … Southern Illinois … Southwest Indiana … and Southeast Missouri

 

WINTER SEASON (December 2005 – February 2006)

 

Synopsis:  The winter of 2005-2006 experienced a swing of temperatures and precipitation across much of the quad state area.  December was cooler than normal for much of the month with mean temperatures averaging between 2 to 3 degrees below normal for many communities. At Cape Girardeau Missouri the mean monthly temperature was 33.8 degrees making it the 8^th coolest December on record. With a strong upper level ridge settled over the Midwest, unusually warm temperatures occurred during the month of January.  Monthly means were at least 10 degrees above normal and Paducah Kentucky tied the record for being the warmest January on record, with the original record set in 1950. February experienced a return to more season-like temperatures, but once again, on the cool side.

            Along with the cooler temperatures during December, very little precipitation fell also. Many communities had between one half and two inches of accumulation for the month…with the Evansville and southwest Indiana area receiving the most rain and snow but still nearly one inch below normal. For Cape Girardeau Missouri it was the driest January on record, and the second driest on record for Carbondale Illinois. But the dry spell was gone by January with many areas recording over 3 inches of liquid accumulation between rain and snow.  And a strong frontal system moved through the mid Mississippi Valley area dumping snow between February 17^th and the 19^th. This month became the 8^th snowiest February on record for both Paducah Kentucky and Carbondale Illinois.

            The heavy rains that occurred during January produced minor flooding along the lower Ohio River, as well as the lower Wabash and White Rivers in southwest Indiana. The rivers remained at or above flood levels for nearly a week, with no major damage reported in southwest Indiana, western Kentucky or southern Illinois. 

 

DECEMBER 2005	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	34.4°	-2.5°
Evansville, IN	32.8°	-2.8°
Carbondale, IL	33.3°	-1.5°
Poplar Bluff, MO	35.4°	-2.1°
Cape Girardeau MO	33.8	-2.7°	8th Coolest

 

 

JANUARY 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	44.0°	+11.1°	Tied as Warmest
Evansville, IN	42.7°	+11.7°	3rd Warmest
Carbondale, IL	42.4°	+12.0°	2nd Warmest
Poplar Bluff, MO	43.7°	+10.2°	2nd Warmest
Cape Girardeau MO	42.8	+10.6°	Tied 2nd Warmest

 

 

FEBRUARY 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	36.9°	-1.2°
Evansville, IN	35.4°	-0.4°
Carbondale, IL	35.2°	-0.1°
Poplar Bluff, MO	36.6°	-2.2°
Cape Girardeau MO	35.1	-2.4°

 

 

DECEMBER 2006	Monthly Precip.	Departure from Normal	Monthly Snowfall	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	1.44	-2.94	0.9 in.	-0.6 in.	5th Driest
Evansville, IN	2.55	-0.99	2.3 in.	-0.5 in.
Carbondale, IL	0.60	-3.13	Trace	-2.6 in.	2nd Driest
Poplar Bluff, MO	0.65	-3.66	0.0 in.	-0.8 in.	4th Driest
Cape Girardeau, MO	0.61	-3.67	0.0 in.	-1.9 in.	Driest

 

 

JANUARY 2006	Monthly Precip.	Departure from Normal	Monthly Snowfall	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	6.28	+2.81	0.8 in.	-3.9 in.	8th Wettest
Evansville, IN	4.09	+1.18	1.0 in.	-4.6 in.
Carbondale, IL	3.46	+0.43	0.0 in.	-4.6 in.
Poplar Bluff, MO	3.55	+0.59	Trace	-3.0 in.
Cape Girardeau, MO	4.38	+1.11	Trace	-4.4 in.	10th Wettest

 

 

FEBRUARY 2006	Monthly Precip.	Departure from Normal	Monthly Snowfall	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	2.72	-1.21	7.3 in.	+4.0 in.	8th Snowiest
Evansville, IN	2.17	-0.93	2.5 in.	-1.3 in.
Carbondale, IL	2.01	-0.93	1.0 in.	-2.5 in.	8th Snowiest
Poplar Bluff, MO	2.12	-1.11	Trace	-1.8 in.
Cape Girardeau, MO	2.01	-1.47	2.5 in.	-1.9 in.

 

SPRING SEASON (March 2006 – May 2006)

 

Synopsis: Spring of 2006 six saw widespread outbreaks of severe weather during each of the 3 months, with tornados, damaging winds, large hail and flooding that occurred throughout the Quad State area.

Fairly seasonal temperatures occurred during March and May, with a long warm spell during April. Many communities had average temperatures 3 to 6 degrees above normal. Poplar Bluff Missouri recorded the 9^th warmest April on record averaging 63 degrees. This spring was the 9^th warmest on record for Paducah Kentucky.

   Heavy rainfall occurred across the area, mainly associated with severe weather outbreaks. The large and rapid accumulations attributed to widespread flash flooding as well as rivers and creeks flowing out of their banks occasionally during each of the three months. March was the 5^th wettest on record for both Carbondale Illinois and Cape Girardeau Missouri.

Strong frontal systems brought severe weather into the area, with several major outbreaks. The first occurred March 9^th to the 13^th. Large hail was reported along with flash flooding. With the heavy rains, moderate flooding occurred along the Wabash and White Rivers in southwest Indiana, southern Illinois and western Kentucky. The Little Wabash River had major flooding that lasted for several days. Flash flooding occurred in Evansville Indiana on the 12^th, when a total of 7.9 inches of rainfall occurred between the 9^th and 12^th of the month. Many areas had some form of flooding from the 11^th to the last week of the March. Several funnel clouds and tornados were reported on April 2^nd, with widespread damaging hail occurring on the 7^th. The spring season had to other major outbreaks of severe weather, one event was on April 30^th and the second was on May 25^th. Tragically, a few deaths and numerous injuries occurred due to the severe weather and flash flooding over the 3-month period.

 

 

 

MARCH 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	48.8°	+1.2°
Evansville, IN	46.5°	+0.7°
Carbondale, IL	47.1°	+2.2°
Poplar Bluff, MO	48.7°	+0.6°
Cape Girardeau, MO	47.2	-0.4°

 

 

APRIL 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	62.7°	+5.7°	5th Warmest
Evansville, IN	60.3°	+4.8°	7th Warmest
Carbondale, IL	61.2°	+6.1°	10th Warmest
Poplar Bluff, MO	63.9°	+6.0°	9th Warmest
Cape Girardeau, MO	61.5°	+3.7°	Tied 5th Warmest

 

 

MAY 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	66.5°	+0.6°
Evansville, IN	64.1°	-1.5°
Carbondale, IL	65.0°	+0.4°
Poplar Bluff, MO	67.6°	-0.2°
Cape Girardeau, MO	66.0°	-1.2°

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMER SEASON (June 2006 – August 2006)

 

Synopsis: Aside from a couple of severe weather outbreaks, the summer season received near normal temperatures and precipitation throughout the area.

            Temperatures over the three months were near normal with June and July having temperatures close to seasonal averages. August had warmer days than normal, when monthly mean temperatures ranged from one half to just over two degrees above normal. Three days of 90 degree weather occurred from July 19 to the 21^st, with heat indices reaching 105 to 110 degrees. Another period of 90 degree temperatures with humid conditions occurred during the first week of August, with the same results.

            Communities across the Quad State area received below normal rainfall during June, with Cape Girardeau Missouri recording the 7^th driest June on record when only 1.55 inches of rain fell during the month. Rainfall totals were on the high side during July, but much of that occurred during severe weather outbreaks. Over 8 inches fell in Paducah Kentucky during July, making it the 5^th wettest July on record.

            Heavy rains and flash flooding occurred in Jefferson and Perry counties in Illinois on June 1^st, with Mount Vernon Illinois receiving over 3 inches of rain in less than 3 hours. On June 7^th severe weather occurred in portions of western Kentucky with grapefruit size hail falling in southern Christian county. Dime to Grapefruit size hail also fell on the June 20^th around Evansville Indiana. Although there wasn’t as much severe weather during the summer as in the spring, a major outbreak did occur on July 21^st. Widespread damaging winds with a line of thunderstorms brought winds in excess of 90 mph to portions of southern Illinois. The community of Mount Vernon Illinois had 14 percent of all the homes damaged.

 

JUNE 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	75.4°	-0.9°
Evansville, IN	74.0°	-0.8°
Carbondale, IL	74.8°	+1.3°
Poplar Bluff, MO	76.2°	+0.2°
Cape Girardeau, MO	75.3°	-0.7°

 

 

JULY 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	78.5°	+0.3°
Evansville, IN	78.5°	-0.1°
Carbondale, IL	78.3°	+0.8°
Poplar Bluff, MO	79.0°	-1.4°
Cape Girardeau, MO	78.3°	-1.5°

 

 

AUGUST 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	78.5°	+2.3°
Evansville, IN	78.1°	+1.6°
Carbondale, IL	76.9°	+1.5°
Poplar Bluff, MO	78.7°	+0.5°
Cape Girardeau, MO	78.1°	+0.5°

 

 

 

 

 

AUTUMN SEASON (September 2006 – November 2006)

 

Synopsis:  Some individuals feel that with the approach of autumn, the strong storms of summer will come to an end. Individuals think of cooling temperatures and the changing of color on leaves lead into a false belief that the threat of severe weather is over. But many forget that autumn is the second major outbreak of severe weather for the lower Ohio River Valley. September of 2006 was not exception with widespread severe weather affecting much of southern Illinois, western Kentucky and far southwest Indiana.

            Due to a series of very active frontal systems passing across the area, much of the Quad State area experienced variable cloudy skies for much of September and October, leading to unseasonably cool temperatures for the two months. All five stations of interest recorded monthly average temperatures anywhere from two to almost five degrees below normal. The temperatures were so cool that for both months, the mean monthly temperature was within the top 10 coolest recorded for each station, with September being the 2^nd coolest on record for Cape Girardeau Missouri. A return to more seasonal temperatures occurred during November.

            The strong thunderstorms that occurred in September and heavy rains in October brought record-setting accumulations for several communities. Paducah Kentucky recorded 11.65 inches in September, beating the old record rainfall for September of 9.23 inches in 1985. September was also the 2^nd wettest on record for Evansville Indiana and 10^th wettest at Poplar Bluff Missouri. Heavy thunderstorm events continued into October, but without all of the severe weather. The rainfall accumulations associated with the storms helped Cape Girardeau Missouri to be the 4^th wettest October on record, and the 8^th wettest October for Poplar Bluff Missouri.

            Major widespread flash flooding occurred in Evansville Indiana on September 12^th, when torrential rains moved across the metro area. Nearly 250 buildings received some type of damage and over 30 water-rescues were performed by emergency response personnel, mostly stalled vehicles stalled in floodwaters. The soil moisture in the area was very high causing a slow recede of standing water in affected communities. The last major outbreak of severe weather for the year occurred September 22^nd, with major flash flooding, tornados, large damaging hail and microburst winds occurring over much of the area. The strongest hit area was in far southern Illinois and into the northern Pennyrile region of western Kentucky and southern Indiana.  

 

SEPTEMBER 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	66.4°	-2.7°	4th Coolest
Evansville, IN	65.2°	-3.9°	4th Coolest
Carbondale, IL	64.4°	-3.4°	5th Coolest
Poplar Bluff, MO	66.9°	-3.9°	8th Coolest
Cape Girardeau, MO	65.0°	-4.7°	2nd Coolest

 

 

OCTOBER 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	55.9°	-2.1°	7th Coolest
Evansville, IN	54.4°	-2.9°	8th Coolest
Carbondale, IL	53.7°	-2.3°	10th Coolest
Poplar Bluff, MO	56.0°	-3.2°	9th Coolest
Cape Girardeau, MO	54.4°	-4.2°	4th Coolest

 

 

NOVEMBER 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	48.0°	+1.2°
Evansville, IN	46.8°	+0.9°
Carbondale, IL	46.0°	+0.7°
Poplar Bluff, MO	46.9°	-0.5°
Cape Girardeau, MO	46.4°	-0.6°

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WINTER (December 2006)

 

Synopsis:  Many communities in the Quad State area experienced a very mild December with unseasonably warm temperatures. Average monthly temperatures were 4 to 6 degrees above normal, with Paducah Kentucky having the 7^th warmest December on record, and Cape Girardeau reaching the 6^th warmest.

            Extended periods of light to moderate rains fell, as Evansville Indiana received over one inch above normal accumulation. Toward the end of the month, minor to moderate flooding developed along the White and Wabash Rivers in southwest Indiana, as well as in south central Illinois. The flooding persisted into early January, 2007.

            On a yearly basis, 2006 was one of the wettest on record for communities in southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, far southwest Indiana and western Kentucky. Evansville Indiana received 66.18 inches of rain and melted snow, or 21.91 inches above normal. This was the wettest year on record, dating back to 1897. Paducah Kentucky accumulated 67.1 inches, making it the 2^nd wettest year on record, going back to 1949. Cape Girardeau Missouri received 54.14 inches, making it the 9^th wettest, and in Poplar Bluff Missouri it was the 4^th wettest with 67.56 inches. Not to be outdone, Carbondale Illinois had 57.96 inches or rain and melted snow, making it the 7^th wettest year on record.

 

DECEMBER 2006	Average Monthly Temp.	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	42.8°	+5.9°	7th Warmest
Evansville, IN	41.0°	+5.4°
Carbondale, IL	40.6°	+5.8°
Poplar Bluff, MO	41.9°	+4.4°
Cape Girardeau, MO	41.5°	+5.0°	6th Warmest

 

 

 

DECEMBER 2006	Monthly Precip.	Departure from Normal	Monthly Snowfall	Departure from Normal	Records
Paducah, KY	4.47	+0.09	Trace	-1.5 in.
Evansville, IN	4.59	+1.05	Trace	-2.8 in.
Carbondale, IL	3.08	-0.65	Trace	-2.6 in.
Poplar Bluff, MO	3.12	-1.19	0.0 in.	-0.8 in.
Cape Girardeau, MO	3.72	-0.56	Trace	-1.9 in.