A few damaging wind events and an isolated tornado occurred across western Kentucky during the late night/early morning hours. Instability was meager, but very strong wind shear contributed to an environment favorable for a few severe storms. The storms occurred in the warm sector of a surface low centered over northeast Kansas. The storms were far removed from the primary surface fronts, but a 500 mb shortwave rotating northeast toward the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley provided strong forcing for storms. The storms were mainly in bands with embedded weak mesovortices. The multiple bands of storms produced locally heavy rainfall that caused pockets of flash flooding, mainly southeast of a line from Murray to Madisonville. The heavy rain pushed the Green River slightly above flood stage.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 03-JAN-23 04:25:00 to 03-JAN-23 04:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: HERNDON
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Trees were blown down.

Flood in MCCRACKEN, KENTUCKY
From 02-JAN-23 23:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 00:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROWLANDTOWN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flooded roadways were reported at several locations in the Paducah area, mostly flood-prone underpasses and low spots. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches were reported. The highest 24-hour rainfall report in the county was 3.46 inches from a cocorahs observer in Lone Oak, southwest of Paducah.

Flash Flood in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 03-JAN-23 04:47:00 to 03-JAN-23 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: TRIGG FURNACE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Fairly widespread flooding of low-lying roads occurred in the county, several of which were closed. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches were reported. The highest 24-hour rainfall report in the county was 4.98 inches from the fire weather station at Golden Pond in the Land Between The Lakes area.

Flash Flood in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 03-JAN-23 04:56:00 to 03-JAN-23 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEEDEE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Water was over several county secondary roads throughout the county. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches were reported. The highest 24-hour rainfall report in the county was 4.38 inches just north of Crofton, from a co-op observer.

Flood in WEBSTER, KENTUCKY
From 03-JAN-23 05:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLACKFORD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A couple of state roads were closed due to flooding, including portions of Kentucky 138 at mile markers 7 to 8 and Kentucky 270. These were flood-prone locations.

Flood in DAVIESS, KENTUCKY
From 03-JAN-23 05:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ENSOR
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Water was over numerous roads in the county, though no closures were reported. Some of the roads with water on them included Kentucky Routes 762, 298, 919, and 69, U.S. Highway 62 at the 10-mile marker, and U.S. Highway 231.

Flood in MUHLENBERG, KENTUCKY
From 04-JAN-23 16:45:00 to 06-JAN-23 01:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PARADISE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Minor flooding of the Green River inundated some low-lying fields and woodlands.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 02-JAN-23 23:20:00 to 02-JAN-23 23:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: FAIRDEALING
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A metal carport was blown into some trees.

Tornado in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 03-JAN-23 04:35:00 to 03-JAN-23 04:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: MERRITTSTOWN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A brief weak tornado with estimated peak winds of 85 mph struck the southwest side of Hopkinsville. Most of the damage was in the form of several large, snapped trees. A cinder block garage attached to a home lost its roof. A portion of an adjacent house lost some roofing. A large carport was tossed at least 25 yards into a wooded area.  The path of the tornado roughly paralleled Kentucky Route 695 from the U.S. 68 bypass northeast to a residential area neighboring the Hopkinsville high school.

Flash Flood in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 03-JAN-23 04:43:00 to 03-JAN-23 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: POTTERTOWN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flooding was reported in low-lying areas of the county. A pickup truck was stalled in the floodwaters. A culvert was washed out on a secondary road about four miles east-southeast of Murray. Significant flooding was reported on Kentucky Route 783, near the community of Wiswell. Rainfall amounts of 2 to over 5 inches were reported. The highest 24-hour rainfall report in the county was 5.20 inches on the southeast side of Murray.

Flash Flood in MUHLENBERG, KENTUCKY
From 03-JAN-23 05:07:00 to 03-JAN-23 08:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: CENTRAL CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Significant flash flooding was reported. A few water rescues were conducted. Water was in a few residences. Numerous roads were closed due to flooding throughout the county. The state highways that were closed were Kentucky 181, Kentucky 2590, and Kentucky 2533. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches were reported. The highest 24-hour rainfall report in the county was 4.98 inches from a Cocorahs observer near Bancroft.

Thunderstorm Wind in TODD, KENTUCKY
From 03-JAN-23 05:01:00 to 03-JAN-23 05:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELKTON
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were down on Highway 181 north of Elkton.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 03-JAN-23 03:30:00 to 03-JAN-23 03:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAWKINS
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were down along Highway 91.