Two fast-moving lines of strong to severe storms moved east across western Kentucky, accompanied by strong winds, isolated large hail, and torrential rainfall. A few bowing segments along the lines produced damaging winds. Conditions were favorable for severe storms. A negatively-tilted mid-level trough from the central high Plains to the Arklatex ejected northeast through the middle Mississippi Valley. At the surface, an area of low pressure over northeast Kansas moved to central Wisconsin. A trailing cold front surged eastward through the Mid-Mississippi and Lower Ohio Valleys. The storms were fed by a broadening and strengthening southwesterly low-level jet, which moistened and destabilized the atmosphere ahead of the storms. Some places received about 1.5 inches of rain within 45 minutes. The presence of strong winds aloft enhanced the risk of wind damage.

Hail in WEBSTER, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 16:18:00 to 23-DEC-15 16:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: SLAUGHTERS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 15:30:00 to 23-DEC-15 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAK LEVEL
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A couple of trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in WEBSTER, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 16:05:00 to 23-DEC-15 16:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: CATESVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

About midway between Dixon and Slaughters, a path of damage was investigated by a National Weather Service meteorologist. The damage path was one-half mile wide and about three miles long. Two unanchored very old sheds were destroyed. The steel roof was partially peeled off a new metal building under construction. Numerous tree limbs were blown down, along with many dead or rotten trees. The state road department cleared dozens of trees or limbs from roads.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 16:22:00 to 23-DEC-15 16:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALMO
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Just west of Almo near U.S. Highway 641, thunderstorm winds destroyed an old 65-by-30 foot wooden barn. Debris from the barn landed on a road and knocked down power lines. One power pole was snapped. Numerous trees and large limbs were blown down across the county, although most were rotten or dead. In Murray, a glass door of a business was broken.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 15:26:00 to 23-DEC-15 15:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: CALVERT CITY
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

A wind gust to 58 mph was measured by an off-duty National Weather Service employee near the Interstate 24 exit to the Purchase Parkway. Near Sharpe, a trained spotter reported small tree limbs down on U.S. Highway 68. The spotter estimated wind gusts near 65 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIVINGSTON, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 15:32:00 to 23-DEC-15 15:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAND RIVERS
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 23-DEC-15 17:44:00 to 23-DEC-15 17:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPKINSVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A wind gust to 60 mph was measured just south of Hopkinsville. A trained spotter estimated a wind gust around 60 mph in Hopkinsville. A large tree was down near Fruit Hill. There were power outages in the city of Hopkinsville.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALDWELL, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 16:50:00 to 23-DEC-15 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRINCETON ARPT
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The Kentucky mesonet site near Princeton measured a wind gust to 58 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 17:05:00 to 23-DEC-15 17:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: MADISONVILLE ARPT
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A wind gust to 63 mph was measured at the municipal airport near Madisonville.

Thunderstorm Wind in MUHLENBERG, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 17:30:00 to 23-DEC-15 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREENVILLE
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust to 61 mph was measured at a Kentucky mesonet site about six miles north of Greenville. Several trees were blown down in Greenville. In Central City, a tree landed on a power line.

Thunderstorm Wind in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 16:57:00 to 23-DEC-15 16:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: CADIZ
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree fell on a house. A radio station in Cadiz measured a wind gust to 56 mph.

Flash Flood in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 16:17:00 to 23-DEC-15 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HARVY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

There were numerous reports of flooded roads throughout the county, including washed out shoulders. A street in Benton was covered with fast-moving floodwaters. In a couple cases, police or fire personnel were needed to block traffic in western and northern parts of the county. A trained spotter in Benton received 1.5 inches of rain in 45 minutes.

Flash Flood in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 16:22:00 to 23-DEC-15 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALMO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A culvert was washed out on a dead-end street off Highway 1429 in northern Calloway County.

Flash Flood in MCCRACKEN, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 16:34:00 to 23-DEC-15 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONE OAK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

The intersection of Highways 994 and 1014 was closed due to flash flooding from Champion Creek.

Flash Flood in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 17:05:00 to 23-DEC-15 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MADISONVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flash flooding was reported on the north side of Madisonville. U.S. Highway 41 was impassable at the railroad tunnel.

Heavy Rain in DAVIESS, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 17:03:00 to 23-DEC-15 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: (OWB)OWENSBORO ARPT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Street flooding was reported on Carter Road.

Heavy Rain in WEBSTER, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 16:24:00 to 23-DEC-15 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PROVIDENCE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Street flooding was reported in Providence. Other locations with water over the road included the Sebree area along Highway 132 West and Highway 857 between Clay and Dixon.

Heavy Rain in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 17:44:00 to 23-DEC-15 18:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: CROFTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Water was over a primary road near Crofton.

Funnel Cloud in GRAVES, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 15:18:00 to 23-DEC-15 15:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: SYMSONIA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A funnel cloud was reported by state police along the Marshall and McCracken County line.

Funnel Cloud in DAVIESS, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 15:30:00 to 23-DEC-15 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEST LOUISVILLE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A funnel cloud was reported by a trained spotter.

Hail in WEBSTER, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 15:03:00 to 23-DEC-15 15:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: PROVIDENCE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in GRAVES, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 15:24:00 to 23-DEC-15 15:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAYFIELD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in DAVIESS, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 15:30:00 to 23-DEC-15 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: DELAWARE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in GRAVES, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 15:25:00 to 23-DEC-15 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINGO
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A brief period of golf-ball size hail was reported.

Hail in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 15:28:00 to 23-DEC-15 15:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELVA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 16:20:00 to 23-DEC-15 16:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: HANSON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in CALDWELL, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 16:50:00 to 23-DEC-15 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLACK HAWK
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

This hail was at the intersection of Interstate 24 and Highway 139.

Hail in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 23-DEC-15 17:26:00 to 23-DEC-15 17:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPKINSVILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager