A squall line with embedded sustained supercells entered western Kentucky early in the morning. The embedded supercells raced east-northeast at 60 to 70 mph, while the line moved southeast at a slower rate. The storms strengthened as they encountered richer low-level moisture, with surface dew points around 60 degrees spreading rapidly north-northeastward up the Mississippi Valley. Intense low to mid-level wind fields maintained the intensity of tornadic storms despite weak instability due to lack of solar heating. A south-southwesterly low level jet from 60 to 70 knots veered to west-southwest around 75 knots at 500 mb. By mid-morning, the solid squall line evolved into a broken line of discrete storms over the Pennyrile region and Kentucky Lake region. While these discrete storms maintained severe levels, their tornado production decreased.

Hail in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 09:36:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: ENERGY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter-size hail fell in the Land-Between-The-Lakes National Recreation Area.

Tornado in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 06:40:00 to 29-FEB-12 06:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: MADISONVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported a tornado on the ground near exit 44 along the Pennyrile Parkway.

Hail in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 09:36:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: CADIZ
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter-size hail fell in Cadiz, including the Cadiz airport.

Hail in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 09:48:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRACEY
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 10:40:00 to 29-FEB-12 10:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPKINSVILLE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 10:14:00 to 29-FEB-12 10:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: CADIZ
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Flash Flood in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 11:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CADIZ
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

On U.S. Highway 68 east of Cadiz, law enforcement officers conducted a water rescue after a vehicle became stranded in floodwaters.

Hail in TODD, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 11:25:00 to 29-FEB-12 11:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELKTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Heavy Rain in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 07:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 08:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: MADISONVILLE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Street flooding occurred in the city of Madisonville.

Heavy Rain in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 09:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 10:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: CADIZ
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The mesonet site near Cadiz measured 2.30 inches of rain.

Hail in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 10:28:00 to 29-FEB-12 10:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPKINSVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 05:16:00 to 29-FEB-12 05:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: LA CENTER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A power pole was snapped and laying across a mobile home. The occupants were trapped inside.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 10:30:00 to 29-FEB-12 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPKINSVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A large barn was demolished. Tin debris was blown onto an adjacent roof.

Hail in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 06:45:00 to 29-FEB-12 06:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: HANSON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in HENDERSON, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 06:03:00 to 29-FEB-12 06:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: ZION
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 09:51:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRACEY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated a wind gust to 70 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 10:05:00 to 29-FEB-12 10:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPKINSVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated a wind gust to 70 mph in the city.

Heavy Rain in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 08:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: KIRKSEY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Minor flooding was reported across northern Calloway County, including the community of Almo. Radar estimated between one and 1.5 inches of rain fell in about an hour.

Heavy Rain in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 09:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRACEY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Near Gracey, flooded ditches were overflowing onto roads. A few miles northwest of Hopkinsville, water was over Highway 109. Radar indicated nearly two inches of rain had fallen.

Tornado in MUHLENBERG, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 08:45:00 to 29-FEB-12 08:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREENVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A very brief tornado occurred in the southwest part of Greenville. The path length was 700 feet, and the path width was 100 feet. An apartment building lost some of its roof decking. There was minor damage to the siding of a few houses. Large branches were snapped off trees. A barn lost part of its roof. Peak winds were estimated near 95 mph.

Tornado in MUHLENBERG, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 08:45:00 to 29-FEB-12 08:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREENVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado touched down on the east side of Greenville and moved rapidly northeast. A tied-down mobile home was completely destroyed. The mobile home rolled five times with an occupant in it, but he received only minor injuries. A modular home was moved off its block foundation. Roofs were blown off homes in Greenville, and the middle school lost a significant part of its roof. Numerous pine and cedar tree trunks were snapped off. There was minor siding damage to homes, and a barn lost its roof. Metal bleachers were tossed. The tornado damage path ended at U.S. Highway 431 at Cleaton. There was at least one eyewitness account of the tornado. Peak winds were near 120 mph.  The average path width was 180 yards.

Flood in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 09:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPKINSVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Little River rose out of its banks. A house in the city of Hopkinsville near Highway 1682 (the Hopkinsville Bypass) was surrounded by floodwater.

Hail in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 10:05:00 to 29-FEB-12 10:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPKINSVILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 09:55:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: CADIZ
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust to 71 mph was recorded at a mesonet site.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 06:40:00 to 29-FEB-12 06:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEE VEE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A roof was blown off a garage. A metal frame structure was damaged. Two outbuildings were blown onto U.S. Highway 41. Six mature trees were blown down on the south end of Madisonville.

Thunderstorm Wind in HENDERSON, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 06:03:00 to 29-FEB-12 06:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: ZION
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Two trained spotters in the same vicinity reported wind gusts to 60 mph. One of the gusts was measured, and the other was estimated.

Funnel Cloud in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 08:36:00 to 29-FEB-12 08:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRACEY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The funnel cloud was reported by a trained spotter north of the intersection of U.S. Highway 68 and Highway 3186.

Hail in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 06:40:00 to 29-FEB-12 06:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: MADISONVILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MUHLENBERG, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 06:57:00 to 29-FEB-12 06:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: BREMEN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 07:28:00 to 29-FEB-12 07:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: BENTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 09:10:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: DEXTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 09:24:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: AURORA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Tornado in MCCRACKEN, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 05:17:00 to 29-FEB-12 05:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAGLAND
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado continued into McCracken County from Ballard County. Six to eight residences were heavily damaged or destroyed. The residences were a mix of mobile homes and houses. The steeple was blown off a church. Numerous barns and sheds were destroyed or damaged, with debris carried several hundred yards and deposited in trees. There were several injuries, including one serious injury. Two semi-trailers were flipped on their side. A few stationary vehicles were moved 50 to 75 yards. The tornado exited the county when it crossed the Ohio River into Massac County, IL.

Tornado in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 05:07:00 to 29-FEB-12 05:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSCAR
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado crossed the Ohio River from Pulaski County, IL into the Ballard State Waterfowl Management Area along the river in Ballard County. Near Oscar, a few barns and a machine shed were blown down. A porch was blown off a home. The tornado carved a damage path near Bandana and Oscar. One mobile home and one farm was destroyed near Bandana. Hundreds of trees were uprooted or snapped. Some homes sustained minor to moderate roof damage. Other homes received siding and gutter damage. Several power poles were snapped. Several chicken houses were damaged or destroyed. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. The average path width was 125 yards. The tornado continued into McCracken County.

Tornado in HENDERSON, KENTUCKY
From 29-FEB-12 05:57:00 to 29-FEB-12 05:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHITE CITY
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 80.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado occurred on the north bank of the Ohio River. Three river cabins were partially destroyed, and one cabin was completely destroyed. The cabins were poorly constructed. Six to seven telephone poles were blown over. Peak winds were estimated near 90 mph. The average path width was 100 yards.