A surface low pressure system deepened as it moved northeast across western Tennessee, reaching the Lower Ohio Valley in the evening. A strong, negatively tilted shortwave at 500 mb ejected northeast from the southern Plains, providing strong forcing for ascent. A squall line organized near the Mississippi River and then surged east-northeast in association with the strengthening surface low. Unseasonably warm and moist air advanced across western Kentucky and southwest Indiana ahead of the squall line. Though instability was weak, it was based near the ground. Very strong low-level wind shear supported embedded circulations within the squall line. These resulted in pockets of very damaging winds and an isolated tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 17:32:00 to 21-DEC-13 17:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: HARVY
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 38.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Strong damaging winds around 70 mph were observed throughout the Benton area. A wind gust to 72 mph was measured at a firefighter's home in Benton. A trained spotter on the west side of town estimated a wind gust to 65 mph. Roof damage was reported to a couple of businesses in Benton. Power lines were blown down near U.S. Highway 641. On U.S. Highway 68 northeast of Benton, large trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 17:27:00 to 21-DEC-13 17:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: COLDWATER
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Some minor damage occurred at a house near Coldwater. At a farm near Kirksey, the hood was torn off a tractor, the top was blown out of a cedar tree, and a truck topper was wrapped around a tree.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 20:05:00 to 21-DEC-13 20:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEWSTEAD
Magnitude: 72.00 MG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter in Hopkinsville measured a wind gust to 83 mph. Other trained spotters measured wind gusts around 60 mph. At the intersection of Highways 117 and 164 in Newstead, the wind gusted to 60 mph. On U.S. Highway 68 West at the Hopkinsville by-pass, a wind gust was measured to 58 mph. About four miles west of Hopkinsville, a new barn sustained damage to the roof and walls. A tree about 18 inches in diameter was uprooted in Hopkinsville.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 18:05:00 to 21-DEC-13 18:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEULAH
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A secondary road off of Highway 70 was blocked by downed trees and flooding.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAVIESS, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 18:38:00 to 21-DEC-13 18:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: OWENSBORO
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Trees and power lines were damaged in Owensboro. A barn collapsed near Utica. The peak wind gust at the Owensboro airport was 58 mph. A trained spotter in Utica measured a wind gust to 58 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 18:30:00 to 21-DEC-13 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CALHOUN
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 80.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The roof of the county high school was partially torn off. The gymnasium sustained major water damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAVIESS, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 18:50:00 to 21-DEC-13 18:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: KNOTTSVILLE
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

One barn was blown off its foundation. The roof was blown off another barn.

Hail in GRAVES, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 17:16:00 to 21-DEC-13 17:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLEAR SPGS
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Tornado in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 17:31:00 to 21-DEC-13 17:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: WADESBORO
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A relatively weak tornado touched down 2 miles west of Dexter in northern Calloway County. The tornado uprooted a couple of trees and downed power lines during its brief touchdown.

Thunderstorm Wind in GRAVES, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 17:18:00 to 21-DEC-13 17:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAYFIELD GRAVES ARPT
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A microburst was oriented in a northeast direction across Kentucky Highway 58, just west of the intersection with Route 301. A trampoline was tossed about 25 yards. Several shingles on the west side of two garages were dislodged. A large dead tree was knocked over. Large tree limbs were down. The damage path width was about 90 yards. The microburst developed along a north to south oriented squall line that moved through eastern Graves County.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 17:31:00 to 21-DEC-13 17:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALMO
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several trees were blown down and power poles were snapped. The area of spotty damage extended from U.S. Highway 641 north of Murray to Highway 783 west-southwest of Murray. On U.S. Highway 641 a few miles north of Murray, a trampoline was blown into the middle of the road. Construction barrels were blown over. The peak wind gust at the Murray/Calloway County airport was 67 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 18:08:00 to 21-DEC-13 18:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONTGOMERY
Magnitude: 65.00 MG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A trained spotter measured a wind gust to 75 mph on Interstate 24 near Montgomery, which is near the Cadiz exit. About 1,000 households were without power in Trigg County.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 21-DEC-13 20:20:00 to 21-DEC-13 20:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEMBROKE
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A section of roofing was removed from an attached garage.