URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   Tornado Watch Number 10
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   115 PM EST Thu Feb 19 2026

   The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

   * Tornado Watch for portions of 
     Southeast Illinois
     Southern Indiana
     Western and Central Kentucky

   * Effective this Thursday afternoon and evening from 115 PM until
     900 PM EST.

   * Primary threats include...
     A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes possible
     Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
       inches in diameter possible
     Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

   SUMMARY...Thunderstorm development is anticipated this afternoon
   from southeast Illinois into southern Indiana and western/central
   Kentucky. In these areas, increasing low-level moisture will lead to
   airmass destabilization. Strong vertical shear is in place,
   supporting the potential for some of these storms to organize into
   supercells. All severe hazards are possible with any supercells that
   develop, including very large hail greater than 2" in diameter and
   tornadoes. Low-level shear is strong enough to support the potential
   for a strong (EF2+) tornado.

   The tornado watch area is approximately along and 75 statute miles
   north and south of a line from 50 miles west of Evansville IN to 50
   miles east northeast of Louisville KY. For a complete depiction of
   the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
   WOU0).

   PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

   REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
   tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
   area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
   threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
   and possible warnings.
 

 

@theguru

These individual cells could become a supercell storm that could produce all severe weather modes. Everyone in the affected area should be planning what to do in case a severe weather warning is issued for your area. 

This map covers the time the tornado watch is in effect. 

The watch area has been expanded.

 

WATCH COUNTY NOTIFICATION FOR WATCH 10
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
318 PM EST THU FEB 19 2026

KYC017-049-067-079-097-113-151-181-209-239-200200-
/O.EXA.KLMK.TO.A.0010.000000T0000Z-260220T0200Z/

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXTENDED TORNADO WATCH 10 TO
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING AREAS UNTIL 9 PM EST THIS EVENING

IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 10 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY

BOURBON               CLARK                 FAYETTE
GARRARD               HARRISON              JESSAMINE
MADISON               NICHOLAS              SCOTT
WOODFORD

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BEREA, BRECKINRIDGE, BRYANTSVILLE,
BUCKEYE, CARLISLE, CLINTONVILLE, COLVILLE, CYNTHIANA, DUCKERS,
FORD, GEORGETOWN, HIGH BRIDGE, HOOKTOWN, KEENE, KINGSTON,
KIRKSVILLE, LANCASTER, LEESBURG, LEXINGTON, LOWELL, MCCREARY,
MILLVILLE, MYERS, NEW ZION, NEWTOWN, NICHOLASVILLE, ODDVILLE,
OXFORD, PAINT LICK, PARIS, REDHOUSE, RICHMOND, RUCKERVILLE,
VALLEY VIEW, VERSAILLES, WILMORE, AND WINCHESTER.

 

 Mesoscale Discussion 0100
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   0256 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026

   Areas affected...portions of southeastern Illinois...southern
   Indiana...and northern Kentucky

   Concerning...Tornado Watch 10...

   Valid 192056Z - 192300Z

   The severe weather threat for Tornado Watch 10 continues.

   SUMMARY...Storm intensity will continue to gradually increase over
   the next 1-2 hours with additional development expected across the
   watch area. Modest buoyancy and favorable shear profiles will
   continue to support a threat for all severe hazards across WW0010,
   with some increase in tornado potential expected into this evening.

   DISCUSSION...Thunderstorms have gradually increased in coverage over
   the past 1-2 hours, primarily over northern/central Kentucky, with
   several discrete/semi-discrete supercells noted across the area.
   While only a few isolated instances of marginally severe hail have
   been noted thus far, gradual strengthening has been observed with
   some cells as surface heating/moistening coupled with cold
   temperatures aloft has yielded a modestly unstable air mass (MLCAPE
   of 500-1000 J/kg) overlapped by favorable deep layer shear profiles
   (effective bulk shear of 50+ kts). Farther west, latest guidance
   continues to depict additional thunderstorm development and
   strengthening across the western portions of the watch area. 

   As storms continue to strengthen, all severe hazards will be
   possible, with steep mid-level lapse rates and elongated hodographs
   supporting the threat for large hail and favorable low-level veering
   wind profiles (0-1 km SRH of 100-150+ m2/s2 per regional VWP)
   supporting a risk for tornadoes. While the gradual loss of diurnal
   heating is expected to contribute to low-level stabilization with
   time later this evening, strengthening flow is expected to support
   additional increases to low-level hodograph curvature. The favorable
   shear profiles and increasing SRH will support an increasing tornado
   threat over the next couple of hours, with the potential for a
   strong tornado or two.