Alert archive / Kentucky / Flash Flood Warnings in 1989

Flash Flood Warning 8, NWS Louisville, KY

April 26, 1989Jefferson County, Shelby County, Spencer County, Kentucky

NWS Louisville, KY issued this flash flood warning at Apr 26, 1989, 8:51 PM EDT for Jefferson County, Shelby County, Spencer County, Kentucky. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 26, 1989, 8:51 PM EDT (00:51 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 1989, 12:00 AM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Louisville, KY
Area
Whole counties

Counties Jefferson County, KY, Shelby County, KY, Spencer County, KY

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Dayton/James M C, OH (KDAY), launched 00:00Z, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 221 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Dayton/James M C, OH at 00:00Z on 1989-04-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 11 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Dayton/James M C, OH at 00:00Z on 1989-04-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 34 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
11 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-352 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1168 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
100 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KSDF 270052
FFWSDF
KYC111-211-215-270400-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
851 PM EDT WED APR 26 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY
          ...SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON...WESTERN SHELBY
          ...NORTHWESTERN SPENCER
 
AT 8 45 PM EDT FLASH FLOODING WAS REPORTED OVER SOUTHEAST JEFFERSON
COUNTY NEAR FISHERVILLE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES HAVE BEEN
REPORTED BETWEEN FISHERVILLE AND SIMPSONVILLE. RAINFALL HAS BEEN
REPORTED OVER THE ROADS NEAR FISHERVILLE IN SOUTHEAST JEFFERSON
COUNTY.
 
BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE
THE DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS.  IF FLASH FLOODING IS
OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY.  MOVE UP TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.  DO
NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS
THE ROADWAY.  NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVE<N A SMALL
ONE...ON FOOT.  TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.
 
SCHOLZ

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 26, 5:29 PM EDT, 3 hours 22 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LEXINGTON KY
530 PM EDT WED APR 26 1989

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY...

AT 530 THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING OVER SCOTT AND BOURBON COUNTIES
AND WERE MOVING INTO NORTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM THE NORTHWEST PART OF SCOTT
COUNTY ABOUT 18 MILES NORTH OF LEXINGTON TO NORTHERN MONTOGOMERY
COUNTY OR 23 MILES EASTNORTHEAST OF LEXINGTON.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM IN THIS LINE WAS LOCATED OVER THE
BOURBON/MONTOGOMERY COUNTY LINE ABOUT 20 MILES EASTNORTHEAST OF
LEXINGTON. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AROUND 25 TO 30
MPH AND WILL LIKELY CONTAIN VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONGW GUSTY WINDS
AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING GROUND STRIKES...SOME HAIL IS ALSO POSSIBLE
WITH THE STORM IN NORTHERN MONTOGOMERY COUNTY.
HENRICK
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 6:10 PM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LEXINGTON KY
610 PM EDT WED APR 26 1989

...THUNDERSTORM INTENSITY DIMINISHES IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY...

AT 610PM EDT INTENSITY OF THUNDERSTORMS IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY WERE
DIMINISHING...A MODERATE TO STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN
NORTHERN SCOTT COUNTY NEAR SADIEVILLE ABOUT 21 MILES NORTH OF
LEXINGTON. OTHER THUNDERSHOWERS WERE LOCATED OVER HARRISON...BOURBON
...CLARK AND MONTGOMwERY COUNTIES. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH.

HENRICK
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 6:42 PM EDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
640 PM EDT WED APR 26 1989

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND
   SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...

AT 635 PM EDT STRNG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING TO THE SOUTHEAST OF
LOUISVILLE FROM SOUTHEAST JEFFERSON COUNTY INTO SPENCER COUNTY TO
NEAR WILMORE TO THE SOUTHEAST OF LEXINGTON.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE NEAR AND  NORTH OF TAYLORSVILLE. HAIL HAS
BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS.

ALL THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND WERE
LIKELY TO BE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL.

BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF THE WEATHER BECOMES UNUSUALLY
THREATENING AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
SCHOLZ
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 6:51 PM EDT, 2 hours before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LEXINGTON KY
610 PM EDT WED APR 26 1989

...THUNDERSTORM INTENSITY INCREASING IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY...

AT 645PM EDT INTENSITY OF THUNDERSTORMS IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY WAS
INCREASING...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN CENTRAL CLARK COUNTY
WITH MARBLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED WITH THIS STORM. OTHER STRONG THUNDER/
STORMS WERE MOVING INTO ANDERSON COUNTY. ALL OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH AND WILL CONTAIN HEAVY
RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WIND AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING GROUND STRIKES...
PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL WILLALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE
SHELTER INSIDE AND REFRAIN FROM USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
INCLUDING TELEPHONES. REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRENCE
TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.
HENRICK
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 6:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LEXINGTON KY
645 PM EDT WED APR 26 1989

...THUNDERSTORM INTENSITY INCREASING IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY...

AT 645PM EDT INTENSITY OF THUNDERSTORMS IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY WAS
INCREASING...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN CENTRAL CLARK COUNTY
WITH MARBLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED WITH THIS STORM. OTHER STRONG THUNDER/
STORMS WERE MOVING INTO ANDERSON COUNTY. ALL OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH AND WILL CONTAIN HEAVY
RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WIND AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING GROUND STRIKES...
PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL WILLALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE
SHELTER INSIDE AND REFRAIN FROM USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
INCLUDING TELEPHONES. REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRENCE
TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.
HENRICK
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 7:51 PM EDT, 1 hour before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LEXINGTON KY
750 PM EDT WED APR 26 1989

...THUNDERSTORM WARNING INEFFECT FOR ANDERSON AND MERCER COUNTIS
   TIL 815PM EDT...

AT 750PM EDT INTENSITY OF THUNDERSTORMS IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY WAS
CONTINUEING TO  INCREASE...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING THROUGH
ANDERSON AND MERCER COUNTIES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...DEADLY LIGHTNING...3/4 INCH HAIL
AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN A LINE FROM NEAR LOUISVILLE
SOUTHEAST THROUGH ANDERSON...WOODFORD...MERCER...AND JESSAMINE
COUNTIES. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS YOU ARE ADVISED
TO TAKE SHELTER INSIDE AND REFRAIN FROM USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
INCLUDING TELEPHONES. REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRENCE
TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.
HENRICK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Louisville, KY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 26, 8:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKGarrard46 min
Apr 26, 9:49 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKGarrard, Jessamine, Mercer56 min
Apr 26, 9:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKGarrard, Jessamine, Mercer56 min
Apr 26, 10:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKShelby, Spencer63 min
Apr 26, 10:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKJefferson, Oldham62 min
Apr 26, 10:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBullitt56 min
Apr 26, 11:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKNelson, Spencer45 min
Apr 27, 6:41 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKRowan34 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Kentucky, 1989Every flash flood warning in 1989

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.