Overview of the April 24 severe storms

HIGHLIGHTS: One of the strongest thunderstorm wind events in the past decade struck the East Prairie area of southeast Missouri with winds estimated around 120 mph. Elsewhere, a microburst and a weak tornado occurred in Christian and Todd Counties of western Kentucky. Several less intense damaging wind events occurred, mainly over western Kentucky.

BACKGROUND: A well-organized upper level low moved east from the central Plains into the Mid Missouri Valley during the day. Very strong winds aloft accompanied this system. A streak of very strong mid level winds punched northeast from the Arklatex region into the Lower Ohio Valley during the afternoon. A low level jet from 50 to 60 knots over the Lower Mississippi Valley nosed into the Lower Ohio Valley. At the surface, a low pressure center tracked from north central Arkansas to near St. Louis by late afternoon. Though surface dew points climbed into the lower to mid 60's, extensive cloudcover along and ahead of a warm front limited instability. The instability was generally weak, characterized by cape values below 1000 j/kg.

The Storm Prediction Center issued Tornado Watch 94 at 11:30 A.M., followed by Tornado Watch 96 at 1:20 P.M.

East Prairie, MO Macroburst Information

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
737 PM CDT MON APR 26 2010

...DAMAGE SURVEY RESULTS FOR EAST PRAIRIE AREA OF MISSISSIPPI AND
NEW MADRID COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...

THE FOLLOWING IS THE PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FOR THE MACROBURST
IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI.

* EVENT DATE - SATURDAY APRIL 24 2010

* EVENT TIME - 125 TO 137 PM CDT

* EVENT TYPE - DOWNBURST /MACROBURST/

* EVENT LOCATION - 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF EAST PRAIRIE TO 3 MILES
NORTHEAST OF EAST PRAIRIE

* PEAK WIND - 120 MPH

* AVERAGE PATH WIDTH - 3 MILES

* PATH LENGTH - 8 MILES

* INJURIES - 1 MINOR

* FATALITIES - NONE

* DISCUSSION/DAMAGE - HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF DAMAGE WAS IN EAST
PRAIRIE. ON COUNTY ROAD 535 ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF EAST
PRAIRIE...TWO MOBILE HOMES WERE DEMOLISHED. A SINGLE WIDE MOBILE
HOME WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME...WHICH WAS BLOWN
100 YARDS UNTIL IT STRUCK A BRICK HOUSE. THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF
THE MOBILE HOME WAS A YOUNG ADULT WHO RECEIVED ONLY NUMEROUS
ABRASIONS. A SECOND SINGLE WIDE MOBILE HOME WAS BLOWN A VERY
SHORT DISTANCE INTO TREES. A NEARBY HOUSE LOST MOST OF THE ROOF
AND A LARGE SECTION OF THE WINDWARD FACING EXTERIOR WALL.

OFF STATE ROAD OO IN NEARBY NEW MADRID COUNTY...A HOUSE UNDER
CONSTRUCTION LOST SOME WALLS AND THE ROOF. IN THE CITY OF EAST
PRAIRIE...THREE INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED OR
DESTROYED, ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO THE ROOF OF THE EAST PRAIRIE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN AND NEAR
EAST PRAIRIE...SOME DAMAGING HOMES. SEVERAL FARM BUILDINGS
RECEIVED MINOR TO MAJOR DAMAGE SOUTHWEST OF EAST PRAIRIE.

THE PEAK WIND OF 120 MPH...EQUIVALENT TO AN EF2 TORNADO...WAS
SUPPORTED BY DAMAGE TO SEVERAL STRUCTURES INCLUDING INDUSTRIAL
BUILDINGS IN EAST PRAIRIE AND HOMES WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF EAST
PRAIRIE. THIS WAS ONE OF THE STRONGEST DOWNBURSTS EVER
DOCUMENTED IN OUR REGION.

SURVEYORS...SHANKLIN/ YORK

map of macroburst in East Prairie. MO

Damage photos taken by NWS staff:

Mobile home demolished. The frame struck a brick home partially obscured by the trees but was relocated back to the original property before this photo was taken.

Mobile home demolished

Exterior wall of home partially blown in. The pre-existing condition of the house was rather poor.

wall partially blown out

CHRISTIAN AND TODD COUNTIES, KY: WEAK TORNADO AND MICROBURST

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
846 PM CDT SUN APR 25 2010

...DAMAGE SURVEY RESULTS FOR EXTREME SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN AND
SOUTHWEST TODD COUNTIES...

THE FOLLOWING IS THE PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FOR APRIL 24
EVENT # 1 FOR CHRISTIAN AND TODD COUNTIES. IN ADDITION,
INITIAL/INCOMPLETE SURVEYING WAS CONDUCTED INTO FAR NORTHERN
MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN TENNESSEE.

* EVENT DATE - SATURDAY APRIL 24 2010

* EVENT TIME - 4:43 PM CDT UNTIL 4:55 PM

* EVENT TYPE - MICROBURST

* EVENT LOCATION - FROM 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF OAK GROVE, KY
(ALONG/SOUTH OF THE KY-TN STATE LINE) TO 3 1/2 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF TRENTON, KY

* PEAK WIND - 90 MPH

* AVERAGE PATH WIDTH - 1.5 MILES

* MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH - APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES

* PATH LENGTH - 7+ MILES (FOR KENTUCKY PORTION, THE TENNESSEE
PORTION MAY BE FURTHER SURVEYED MONDAY)

* INJURIES - NONE

* FATALITIES - NONE

* DISCUSSION/DAMAGE - THE MICROBURST (DOWNBURST LESS THAN 2.5
MILES WIDE) DAMAGE IN KENTUCKY EXTENDED FROM ALONG THE KENTUCKY-
TENNESSEE BORDER SOUTHEAST OF OAK GROVE, KY FOR APPROXIMATELY 7
MILES TO THE NORTHEAST TO U.S. HWY 41...ABOUT 3.5 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF TRENTON, KY. DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED AT LEAST 1 MILE
SOUTH OF THE KY-TN BORDER INTO NORTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY TN.

MANY DOZENS OF TREES WERE UPROOTED OR BROKEN. ONE BARN WAS
LEVELED, WITH SEVERAL OTHER BARNS RECEIVING MODERATE TO MAJOR
DAMAGE. A FEW HOMES SUFFERED MAINLY MINOR DAMAGE (PORCH DAMAGE,
PARTIAL LOSS OF SHINGLES, ETC.). DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED ALONG OR
NEAR BARKERS MILL RD (HWY 1881), TRENTON RD (HWY 104),
HAMMACKSVILLE RD, CHESTER STALL RD, AND U.S. HWY 41.

Pictures from southeast Christian County, KY on Hwy 1881:

Pictures from Todd County, KY

Todd County Damage

THE FOLLOWING IS THE PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FOR APRIL 24
EVENT # 2 FOR CHRISTIAN AND TODD COUNTIES.

* EVENT DATE - SATURDAY APRIL 24 2010

* EVENT TIME - 4:23 PM CDT UNTIL 4:27 PM

* EVENT TYPE - EF0 TORNADO

* EVENT LOCATION - 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PEMBROKE, KY TO PEMBROKE,
KY

* PEAK WIND - 75 MPH

* AVERAGE PATH WIDTH - 40 YARDS

* PATH LENGTH - 2 MILES

* INJURIES - NONE

* FATALITIES - NONE

* DISCUSSION/DAMAGE - SEVERAL TREES OR TREE LIMBS WERE BLOWN DOWN
ALONG WITH MINOR DAMAGE TO A HOME (GUTTERS). THE TORNADO TRACK
WAS MOSTLY ACROSS FIELDS. THE TORNADO WAS PHOTOGRAPHED NEAR THE
INITIAL TOUCHDOWN ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PEMBROKE, AND WAS
ALSO OBSERVED ON THE GROUND LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM PEMBROKE.

* SURVEYOR/S....SHANKLIN/ POWELL

Summary of storm events

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
737 PM CDT SAT APR 24 2010

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

0130 PM     TSTM WND DMG     EAST PRAIRIE            36.78N 89.38W
04/24/2010                   MISSISSIPPI        MO   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TRAILER BLOWN OVER ON COUNTY ROAD 535 IN EAST PRAIRIE
            TRAPPING YOUNG BOY INSIDE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
            TREES DOWN IN EAST PRAIRIE. PART OF ROOF BLOWN OFF OF THE
            LOCAL POLICE DEPT. POWER OUTAGES IN WYATT, CHARLESTON AND
            EAST PRAIRIE.

0131 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 SW KARNAK             37.27N 89.00W
04/24/2010                   PULASKI            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORTED BY TRAINED STORM SPOTTER.

0145 PM     TSTM WND DMG     VIENNA                  37.41N 88.89W
04/24/2010                   JOHNSON            IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN AND SOUTH OF
            VIENNA ILLINOIS

0146 PM     TSTM WND GST     KARNAK                  37.29N 88.98W
04/24/2010 E70.00 MPH       PULASKI            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0147 PM     HAIL             KARNAK                  37.29N 88.98W
04/24/2010 M1.00 INCH       PULASKI            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0245 PM     HEAVY RAIN       KEVIL                   37.08N 88.89W
04/24/2010 M1.71 INCH       BALLARD            KY   AMATEUR RADIO

            NEARLY ONE AND THREE QUARTER INCH OF RAIN WITHIN ONE
            HOUR.

0314 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HAZEL                   36.51N 88.33W
04/24/2010                   CALLOWAY           KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            REPORT OF TREES DOWN IN THE COMMUNITY OF HAZEL. DIME SIZE
            HAIL ALSO REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.

0320 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 ESE MURRAY            36.58N 88.22W
04/24/2010                   CALLOWAY           KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS LARGE TREES DOWN. 10-15 WERE BLOCKING ROADS.
            SEVERAL POWERLINES ALSO DOWN

0329 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 S ELDORADO            37.78N 88.44W
04/24/2010                   SALINE             IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            WATER OVER STATE ROUTE 142 2 MILES SOUTH OF ELDORADO.
            MAJOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT AT LOCATION.

0353 PM     HEAVY RAIN       COBB                    37.02N 87.76W
04/24/2010 M0.75 INCH       CALDWELL           KY   CO-OP OBSERVER

            THREE QUARTER INCH RAIN IN 14 MINUTES.

0400 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 S MADISONVILLE        37.28N 87.51W
04/24/2010 M62.00 MPH       HOPKINS            KY   MESONET

0405 PM     FLASH FLOOD      S ELDORADO              37.81N 88.44W
04/24/2010                   SALINE             IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            STANDING WATER ALONG STATE ROUTE 142 ONE HALF MILE SOUTH
            OF ELDORADO. SEVERAL ROADWAYS IN EASTERN SALINE COUNTY
            ARE UNDER WATER.

0414 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 E HOPKINSVILLE        36.85N 87.45W
04/24/2010 U0.00 INCH       CHRISTIAN          KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN AND MINOR FLOODING REPORTED EAST OF
            HOPKINSVILLE.

0426 PM     TORNADO          PEMBROKE                36.77N 87.36W
04/24/2010                   CHRISTIAN          KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            UNCONFIRMED.

0426 PM     TORNADO          PEMBROKE                36.77N 87.36W
04/24/2010                   CHRISTIAN          KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPEAT STORM REPORT. THIS EVENT IS UNCOMFIRMED.

0430 PM     HEAVY RAIN       8 NE HOPKINSVILLE       36.94N 87.39W
04/24/2010 M1.00 INCH       CHRISTIAN          KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN OF ONE INCH WITHIN 15 MINUTES REPORTED AND
            ROADWAY FLOODING IN THE COMMUNITY OF LACY.

0446 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 NE PHILPOT            37.75N 86.96W
04/24/2010 M62.00 MPH       DAVIESS            KY   BROADCAST MEDIA

0448 PM     HEAVY RAIN       POWDERLY                37.24N 87.16W
04/24/2010 M1.05 INCH       MUHLENBERG         KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN REPORTED WITHIN 40 MINUTES. MINOR ROADWAY
            FLOODING REPORTED COUNTYWIDE.

0500 PM     TSTM WND GST     GUTHRIE                 36.66N 87.17W
04/24/2010 E70.00 MPH       TODD               KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            POWER OUTAGES REPORTED.

0507 PM     TSTM WND DMG     TRENTON                 36.72N 87.26W
04/24/2010                   TODD               KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            LATE REPORT...FEW TREES DOWN THAT WERE BLOCKING A ROAD ON
            SOUTHWEST SIDE OF COMMUNITY. MINOR LOW-LYING STREET
            FLOODING.

0517 PM     HEAVY RAIN       ELKTON                  36.81N 87.16W
04/24/2010 U0.00 INCH       TODD               KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAINS HAD PRODUCED STANDING WATER ALONG MANY
            ROADWAYS COUNTYWIDE.

0643 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BENTON                  38.01N 88.92W
04/24/2010                   FRANKLIN           IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ONE TWELVE INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN

0645 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 E MOUNT VERNON        38.32N 88.89W
04/24/2010                   JEFFERSON          IL   PUBLIC

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN ON GOLF COURSE JUST EAST OF MOUNT
            VERNON. POWER OUTAGES IN THE AREA.

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CADIZ                   36.87N 87.82W
04/24/2010                   TRIGG              KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL TREES REPORTED DOWN

&&

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office