Flash Flood in McCracken County, Kentucky

A major flash flood produced millions of dollars in damage in McCracken County. The flooding started out as significant street flooding two to three feet deep in the usual problem spots in the city of Paducah. The railroad underpass at U.S. Highways 62 and 45 in Paducah was closed. The flooding steadily increased to include low-lying sections of numerous roads throughout the county, some of which were impassable. At least three vehicles drove into floodwaters, becoming completely submerged and requiring assistance from rescue boats. Numerous other vehicles stalled out in floodwaters. The swift water rescue team rescued about 30 people from flooded cars and buildings. Creeks and streams rose far outside of their banks, inundating homes and businesses. An apartment complex in Paducah was flooded by up to several feet from Crooked Creek, along with roads and parking lots. Twenty to thirty residents of the apartment complex were evacuated. Perkins Creek flooded the business strip near the Interstate 24 exit to U.S. 60. A couple of hotels were flooded, and restaurants were inaccessible. Seventy units of one hotel were damaged. Water rescue teams evacuated three residences that were surrounded by water, stranding the occupants. Street and road flooding became widespread across the county, making travel very difficult or impossible. Vehicles were flooded in parking lots on the south side of Paducah. Several county roads were washed out or heavily damaged. A rainfall amount of 4.68 inches was measured in just three hours at the National Weather Service office at Barkley Regional Airport.

A mesoscale convective system that originated over the Missouri Ozarks maintained strength as it moved through the middle Mississippi Valley during the overnight hours. The system slowed down and then stalled as it crossed the Lower Ohio Valley very early in the morning. The stalled thunderstorm complex produced major flash flooding across parts of western Kentucky.