An organized severe weather outbreak affected western Kentucky with numerous damaging wind gusts and isolated large hail. By the afternoon hours, large amounts of moisture and instability were present, along with plenty of deep-layer wind shear. As a mid-level disturbance lifted out of the Southern Plains, multiple storm clusters and bowing segments formed across Missouri and western Kentucky in a very favorable environment for severe thunderstorms. Dew points were in the lower 70's in many locations in the afternoon, coupled with surface cape values of 3000-4000 j/kg. Boundaries left over from early morning storms also played a role in the placement of afternoon thunderstorm development. Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms impacted the area on the first day of the Memorial Day holiday weekend. There were two or three bowing lines of thunderstorms that impacted the region with damaging winds. Individual storm cells and clusters also developed early on in the event, producing mainly large hail. Multiple rounds of storms over the same locations also resulted in locally heavy rain. Rainfall totals of 1.5 to 3 inches were observed from southeast Missouri into Carlisle and northern Graves Counties in Kentucky.

Hail in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 14:55:00 to 27-MAY-17 14:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEVIL
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Public

The hailstones ranged from nickel size to a few golf ball size stones.

Hail in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 15:20:00 to 27-MAY-17 15:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: CERULEAN
Magnitude: 1.85 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

In Cerulean, hail just under two inches in diameter was photographed alongside a tape measure. One-inch hail was observed by a trained spotter near the Cadiz exit (exit 65) on Interstate 24.

Thunderstorm Wind in MUHLENBERG, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 17:00:00 to 27-MAY-17 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CENTRAL CITY
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust to 64 mph was measured at the Kentucky mesonet site six miles north of Greenville, near Central City.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 15:40:00 to 27-MAY-17 15:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: SINKING FORK
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

An unoccupied house trailer was blown off its foundation on Highway 91 near the Trigg County line. South of Crofton, one lane of U.S. Highway 41 was blocked by a downed tree, and a trained spotter estimated a wind gust to 60 mph on the nearby Pennyrile Parkway. A tree was blown down on a trailer on U.S. Highway 41 about seven miles north of Hopkinsville.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIVINGSTON, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 15:50:00 to 27-MAY-17 15:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: SMITHLAND
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was blown down along the Ohio River riverfront.

Thunderstorm Wind in GRAVES, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 17:55:00 to 27-MAY-17 17:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: LYNNVILLE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated winds gusted to at least 65 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in LYON, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:07:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: KUTTAWA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Several trees and power poles were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CRITTENDEN, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:10:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARION
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust to 64 mph was measured at a Kentucky mesonet site. A few tree limbs were down on roads.

Thunderstorm Wind in MUHLENBERG, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:17:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: CENTRAL CITY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 7.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Small trees and several large limbs were blown down. A tree was down across the Western Kentucky Parkway just west of the Central City exit.

Thunderstorm Wind in WEBSTER, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:20:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHEATCROFT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree was blocking Highway 109.

Thunderstorm Wind in HICKMAN, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 17:37:00 to 27-MAY-17 17:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEELERTON
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

On Highway 1529 just west of Highway 307, thunderstorm winds damaged a barn and took down a number of trees and tree limbs. A couple of small to medium-size trees were uprooted. A very large oak tree was snapped. One of the trees landed on a corner of a house roof, causing moderate damage. Part of the wall of a large barn or shed was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:25:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURRAY
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 7.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were blown down, blocking Highway 94 a few miles east of Murray. Three miles northeast of Murray, a downed tree blocked a secondary road.

Thunderstorm Wind in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:30:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CERULEAN
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Large tree limbs over two inches in diameter were down.

Thunderstorm Wind in WEBSTER, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:30:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: PROVIDENCE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Tree limbs were blown down on Highway 41-A in Providence and Dixon, as well as Highway 109 in Diamond. Power outages affected a large portion of Providence.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:35:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: EARLINGTON
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

In southern Hopkins County, damaging thunderstorm winds gusted up to 62 mph. A trained spotter in Mortons Gap estimated winds gusted to 60 mph, causing a power outage and snapping a large tree. Another nearby large tree was uprooted onto a home. A Kentucky mesonet site just east of Earlington measured a wind gust to 62 mph.

Hail in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 14:20:00 to 27-MAY-17 14:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: WICKLIFFE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:40:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: MERRITTSTOWN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A few miles west of Hopkinsville, a downed tree blocked Highway 272 near Highway 164.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:40:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: MADISONVILLE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Damaging thunderstorm winds occurred throughout the Madisonville area. A trained spotter on the southwest side of Madisonville estimated winds gusted to 65 mph, downing small tree limbs. In Madisonville, downed power lines blocked travel on a portion of U.S. Highway 41. At the Madisonville airport east of the city, the automated observing system clocked a gust to 60 mph.

Hail in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 14:43:00 to 27-MAY-17 14:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEVIL
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MCCRACKEN, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 15:00:00 to 27-MAY-17 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: (PAH)BARKLEY ARPT PA
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

A few hailstones up to 1.25 inches were observed at the National Weather Service office. The hail was mostly dime to nickel size.

Thunderstorm Wind in TODD, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 17:10:00 to 27-MAY-17 17:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTH ZION
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A couple of trees were down on Highway 181 south of Elkton. Another tree was down on Highway 104 near the Tennessee state line.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIVINGSTON, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 17:32:00 to 27-MAY-17 17:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: JOY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A number of trees and power lines were blown down in northern Livingston County. About a mile northeast of Lola, roofing material was blown off a garage, and a utility pole was snapped. Kentucky Highways 133 and 838 were blocked by downed tree limbs and power lines in the Lola area. Kentucky Highway 1436 was partially blocked near Joy.

Hail in LIVINGSTON, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 15:42:00 to 27-MAY-17 15:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEDBETTER
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in CARLISLE, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:15:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: BARDWELL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 17:50:00 to 27-MAY-17 17:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: BREWERS
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Trees were blown down on Highway 58 southwest of Highway 402.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 18:00:00 to 27-MAY-17 18:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURRAY
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Pockets of damaging winds occurred in the county. Just west of Murray, trees were down at the intersection of Highway 94 and Kentucky Highway 1660. Several trees were blown down along Kentucky Highway 121 near New Concord.

Hail in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:20:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURRAY
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MUHLENBERG, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:30:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: POWDERLY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 18:20:00 to 27-MAY-17 18:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPKINSVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Power lines were down on a residential street on the south side of the city.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 27-MAY-17 16:30:00 to 27-MAY-17 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEBO
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated wind gusts around 60 mph at mile marker 10 on U.S. Highway 41A.