An organized complex of thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front as it approached southern Illinois and southeast Missouri during the hottest and most unstable time of day. Very strong instability, coupled with moderately strong mid-level winds, resulted in numerous damaging wind events. Most of the damaging winds were associated with small-scale bows that raced southeast ahead of the main storm complex.

Hail in MUHLENBERG, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 14:15:00 to 04-AUG-09 14:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROSEWOOD
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 17:12:00 to 04-AUG-09 17:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: CALVERT CITY
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trees were bowing due to wind gusts estimated up to 65 mph by a spotter.

Thunderstorm Wind in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 17:10:00 to 04-AUG-09 17:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: BARLOW
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several roads and intersections were blocked by downed trees and power lines. Damage was reported at several locations around the county, including Barlow. Downed power lines started small fires.

Funnel Cloud in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 18:14:00 to 04-AUG-09 18:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: HERNDON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A funnel cloud was observed for several minutes. The funnel was associated with a gust front.

Lightning in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 18:18:00 to 04-AUG-09 18:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: HERNDON
Property damage: 18.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Lightning struck a barn, which burned to the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 18:10:00 to 04-AUG-09 18:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALMO
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Countywide, several roads were blocked due to downed trees and power lines. There were scattered power outages.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIVINGSTON, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 16:30:00 to 04-AUG-09 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CARRSVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Shingles were blown off the roof of a house.

Heavy Rain in CALDWELL, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 18:00:00 to 04-AUG-09 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRINCETON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several roads were impassable due to water over them.

Heavy Rain in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 19:15:00 to 04-AUG-09 19:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEVIL
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Rainfall of 0.70 inch was measured in 15 minutes.

Flash Flood in MCCRACKEN, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 20:00:00 to 04-AUG-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PADUCAH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Water was over streets on the north side of downtown.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALDWELL, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 17:10:00 to 04-AUG-09 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: FREDONIA
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Widespread damaging wind gusts from 60 to 70 mph raked parts of Caldwell County. The mesonet site two miles southeast of Princeton measured a wind gust to 67 mph. A trained spotter in Princeton estimated gusts to 65 mph. Near Fredonia, two barn roofs were blown off, blocking County Road 902 East. On Highway 293 north of Princeton, a carport was blown down, and windows were blown out of a building.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCCRACKEN, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 17:15:00 to 04-AUG-09 17:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: KREBS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

About 30 feet of the roof of a mobile home was peeled back. Minor damage occurred at neighboring residences, and a road was blocked by downed limbs.

Thunderstorm Wind in HICKMAN, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 18:00:00 to 04-AUG-09 18:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW CYPRESS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were down countywide, including one that landed on Highway 307. Large limbs were down on other sections of Highway 307. A television antenna tower was toppled. The tower landed on an above-ground pool, destroying it.

Thunderstorm Wind in MUHLENBERG, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 18:18:00 to 04-AUG-09 18:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: BANCROFT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A 16-by-80 foot mobile home was blown over. A woman and her young son were at home at the time. Both people received only minor cuts.  The mobile home was a total loss.

Hail in CRITTENDEN, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 17:00:00 to 04-AUG-09 17:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARION
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 30.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A swath of large hail affected much of the county. Quarter-size hail fell in Marion. Golf-ball size hail fell in Crayne. Significant hail damage occurred in Crayne, where mobile homes were riddled with holes. Windows were broken, and vehicles were damaged. Roofs and siding of houses were heavily damaged. A dozen or more homes suffered  damage. Corn and soybean fields were badly damaged.

Tornado in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 17:55:00 to 04-AUG-09 17:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: GAINSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado briefly touched down twice within an area of downburst winds. The first brief touchdown, which was eyewitnessed by a trained spotter, began at the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and the bypass (Kentucky 1682). This tornado travelled just north of the bypass for about one-half mile. Damage included two fiberglass light poles snapped at the base, several trees snapped, and large limbs broken. An additional brief touchdown occurred just east of the Pennyrile Parkway on the south side of the bypass. Damage included a roof torn off a metal storage building, which was blown north back across the highway. One trained spotter was struck by a flying piece of wood and received a badly bruised shoulder which required hospital treatment. Peak winds were estimated near 80 mph.

Heavy Rain in CRITTENDEN, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 17:30:00 to 04-AUG-09 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARION
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A culvert along U.S. Highway 641 was washed out, causing minor damage to the road.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 17:55:00 to 04-AUG-09 18:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLEASANT GREEN HILL
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trees, power lines, and power poles were blown down. Trees fell on at least several vehicles. Tree limbs were down on roads, blocking several of them. The roof over an indoor pool at an apartment complex on the southwest side of Hopkinsville was ripped off. Large trees at the complex were snapped or uprooted. Vehicles in the parking lot of the complex were damaged by falling trees. A window was broken, and shingles were blown off apartment building roofs. Northwest of the city, a pole barn was destroyed and the roof of a home was damaged. About 4,000 utility customers lost power.

Thunderstorm Wind in CRITTENDEN, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 17:00:00 to 04-AUG-09 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARION
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 45.00K
Crop damage: 10.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. One home was damaged when power lines were pulled from the side of it. Carports were blown down. A barn was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 17:55:00 to 04-AUG-09 18:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCKCASTLE
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A wind gust to 70 mph was measured on the Trigg/Christian County line along Highway 272. Numerous tree limbs and power lines were blown down countywide, along with an occasional tree. One road was blocked by a downed tree. A few other roads were partially blocked. In Cadiz, most of the damage occurred on the south side of town in the form of downed trees and limbs.

Thunderstorm Wind in TODD, KENTUCKY
From 04-AUG-09 18:34:00 to 04-AUG-09 18:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELKTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Two large trees and a few power lines were blown down. One tree blocked Highway 181. A trained spotter estimated wind gusts near 60 mph.