Lines of showers and thunderstorms are approaching West Kentucky.  No severe weather has been reported.  A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect for portions of southeast Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee.  Looks mainly like some heavy rain, gusty winds, and small hail. 

Stormy sky over Paducah – 5 PM

  I took this photo of a raindrop earlier this afternoon clinging to a flower petal.  You can see the cumulus clouds and blue sky reflected in the raindrop. 

Teardrops

  I miss taking "photographs".  🙁  Life will slow down a bit later this year 🙂 – school will be finished and the house will be built.  Then perhaps I can concentrate a bit more of taking photographs – once again.

  The sun popped out this afternoon and there are plenty of flowers blooming – everywhere.  Puffy Cumulus Clouds dot the sky.  I took these photos of a wasp outside of the house on one of our flowery bushes…

Grace

  Well, the clap of thunder woke Daisy and me up this morning.  She jumped straight up out of bed – so I had to grab her and hold onto her.  lol  There was a loud clap of thunder then another.  You could hear the rain hitting the windows of the house here in Lone Oak.  Woke up this morning and it was still raining.  Looks like a lot of water in the ditches.  Rain should continue through today and into this evening.  Strong storms are possible if the sun can come out later (heat things up and provide more energy for the atmosphere).

  We are nearing the 1" mark for rainfall since Midnight.

Morning radar showing widespread rain

Date: Sunday, April 19, 2009

Call to action: Spotters activation may be required later this morning and into the afternoon hours.

This forecast was issued by – Beau Dodson
Meteorological Specialist for the Paducah/McCracken County Office of Emergency Management

This outlook is issued for portions of southeast Missouri, South Illinois, southwest Indiana, State of Kentucky, West Tennessee, and northeast Arkansas.
Effective from .

Weather Event/Threats: Strong to possible severe thunderstorms later this morning and afternoon.

Storm Mode/Type:  Thunderstorms will form if the sun comes out later this morning and into the afternoon hours.  Wind fields are weak but colder air aloft will help trigger strong/severe storms.  Large hail and gusty winds will be the main threat.  Isolated tornadoes will be possible.  SPC has placed us in a slight risk for today.

Storm Movement: East/Northeast 30+ mph
Storm Prediction Center Risk Level: Slight – (remember there are three levels of risk – slight/moderate/high).

Area impacted:  Entire region is under a risk for severe thunderstorms.

As always, severe weather events are normally isolated.  One county may receive severe storms while the county next to it escapes with very little in the way of significant weather.  This is the nature of severe weather.  As always, it is also impossible to forecast what county will receive what type of severe weather.  So, those with an interest in this storm system or concerned about the severe weather potential should listen to NOAA weather radio and local media for later statements and the possibility of watches and/or warnings.

Paducah’s hazardous weather outlook can be read at the bottom of the email.

Storm Prediction Center
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/

NWS Paducah (radar/warnings)
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/

NWS Jackson, KY (radar/warnings)
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/jkl/

NWS Louisville (radar/warnings)
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/

NWS Memphis (radar/warnings)
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/meg/

NWS St Louis (radar/warnings)
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/

Large Radar
http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/full.php

Beau Dodson
Meteorological Specialist for the Paducah/McCracken County Office of Emergency Management

NWS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
ISSUED BY THE PADUCAH, KY NWS OFFICE
http://kamala.cod.edu/ky/latest.flus43.KPAH.html