A squall line developed over southeast Missouri and moved rapidly east-southeast across western Kentucky. Areas along and southwest of a line from Hopkinsville to Princeton to Smithland received widespread strong winds. Locally damaging winds occurred, especially from Ballard County southeast across the Paducah, Mayfield, and Kentucky Lake regions to Hopkinsville. The bow-shaped squall line formed from a cluster of thunderstorms over central Missouri during the late morning hours. South of a surface front that extended from central Missouri to the I-64 corridor of southern Illinois, rapid heating of a moist air mass produced strong instability. Mixed layer cape values climbed above 3000 j/kg. A core of strong mid-level winds from 50 to 60 knots in the vicinity of the storms aided in rapid propagation and organization of the storms across western Kentucky.

Thunderstorm Wind in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 18-JUL-23 11:48:00 to 18-JUL-23 11:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: WICKLIFFE
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A few miles northeast of Wickliffe, multiple trees were down, and windows were blown out of a house. Trees were down at several other locations in the county, including Bandana.

Tornado in CALDWELL, KENTUCKY
From 18-JUL-23 13:04:00 to 18-JUL-23 13:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLACK HAWK
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph. A mobile home was lifted and moved about 30 feet. The mobile home as well as a small barn were destroyed. Several trees were snapped, with large limbs down as well. The brief tornado occurred along Highway 139, just northeast of the Interstate 24 exit.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 18-JUL-23 12:36:00 to 18-JUL-23 12:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: KIRKSEY
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trees and power lines were down in town. At least one home was damaged by downed trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCCRACKEN, KENTUCKY
From 18-JUL-23 12:00:00 to 18-JUL-23 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HEATH
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Southwest of Barkley Regional Airport near U.S. Highway 62, trees were down over the road. Several large tree limbs were down.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCCRACKEN, KENTUCKY
From 18-JUL-23 12:16:00 to 18-JUL-23 12:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: FREMONT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated winds gusted to 60 mph at the intersection of Old Mayfield Road and Bryan Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in GRAVES, KENTUCKY
From 18-JUL-23 12:35:00 to 18-JUL-23 12:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAYFIELD GRAVES 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 airport on Highway 58 east of Mayfeild.

Thunderstorm Wind in FULTON, KENTUCKY
From 18-JUL-23 12:25:00 to 18-JUL-23 12:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAYCE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Trees were down over a road in Fulton. South of Cayce, a tree was down east of the intersection of Kentucky Routes 166 and 239.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 18-JUL-23 12:30:00 to 18-JUL-23 12:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: BENTON
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Damaging winds accompanied a squall line across Marshall County. Multiple trees and power lines were down near Benton. A wind gust to 58 mph was measured with a handheld anemometer on the top of Kentucky Dam.

Thunderstorm Wind in LYON, KENTUCKY
From 18-JUL-23 12:50:00 to 18-JUL-23 12:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: EDDYVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree fell on a vehicle.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 18-JUL-23 13:30:00 to 18-JUL-23 13:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPKINSVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured a wind gust to 70 mph.

Tornado in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 18-JUL-23 11:43:00 to 18-JUL-23 11:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: GUM CORNERS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The brief tornado tracked about one-half mile along Oldham Road just southwest of Barlow. A house had minor roof damage. There was some minor to moderate tree damage, with a few small to medium size tree trunks snapped.