Alert archive / Kentucky / Flash Flood Warnings in 1989

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Louisville, KY

April 26, 1989Garrard County, Jessamine County, Mercer County, Kentucky

NWS Louisville, KY issued this flash flood warning at Apr 26, 1989, 9:49 PM EDT for Garrard County, Jessamine County, Mercer County, Kentucky. It was in force for 56 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 26, 1989, 9:49 PM EDT (01:49 UTC)
Expired
Apr 26, 1989, 10:45 PM EDT
In force
56 min
Issued by
NWS Louisville, KY
Area
Whole counties

Counties Garrard County, KY, Jessamine County, KY, Mercer 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

Huntington/Tri S, WV (KHTS), launched 00:00Z, 1.8 hours before the alert went out and 201 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, Huntington/Tri S, WV at 00:00Z on 1989-04-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 354 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, Huntington/Tri S, WV at 00:00Z on 1989-04-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 40 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
354 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-71 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1173 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
40 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
152 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KLEX 270151
FFWLEX
KYC079-113-167-270245-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LEXINGTON KY
949 PM EDT WED APR 26 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LEXINGTON HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1045 PM EDT
AND A FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1045 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY
          ...NORTHERN GARRARD...SOUTHERN JESSAMINE...MERCER
 
AT 945PM EDT RADAR AND LANCASTER POLICE ALONG WITH SKYWARN SPOTTERS
REPORTED AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS, HAIL AND
NUMEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES. THIS STORM WAS MOVING SLOWLY SOUTHEAST
ACROSS GARRARD MERCER AND JESSAMINE COUNNTIES 15 TO 20 MILES SOUTH OF
LEXINGTON KENTUCKY. FLASH FLOODING WILL LIKELY OCCUR WITH THESE
STORMS.
 
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD
PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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, 6:10 PM EDT, 3 hours 39 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, 3 hours 7 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 58 minutes 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, 2 hours 51 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 58 minutes 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
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 9:22 PM EDT, 27 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
920 PM EDT WED APR 26 1989

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT FOR SOUTHEAST
   JEFFERSON AND NORTHWEST SPENCER COUNTY OF NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES UNTIL 1AM EDT FOR MUCH OF
   SOUTH INDIANA AND NORTH KENTUCKY INCLUDING LOUISVILLE METRO AREA...

AT 9PM EDT...RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDING FROM WEST OF BLOOMINGTON INDIANA TO 40 MILES SOUTH OF
LEXINGTON KENTUCKY.  THE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

NUMEROUS REPORTS OF MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN WERE RELAYED TO
THIS WEATHER OFFICE SINCE 6PM EDT.

ALSO..AT 845 PM EDT THE PUBLIC REPORTED 5 INCHES OF RAIN NEAR
FISHERVILLE KENTUCKY...ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LOUISVILLE.

THE STORMS IN INDIANA WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO KENTUCKY
OVER THE SAME GENERAL LOCATIONS AS EARLIER THIS EVEING SO EXCESSIVE
RAINFALL TOTALS WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE.

THOSE TRAVELING THIS EVENING CAN EXPECT PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS
THAT HAVE RECEIVED RAIN.  DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH WATER FLOWING OVER
ROAD SURFACES. SMALL CREEKS AND DITCHES IN THESE AREAS ARE LIKELY
TO BE FLOODING AS WELL.  THESE ARE DANGEROUS AREAS...PLEASE AVOID
THEM.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE DEADLY LIGHTNING
AND PERHAPS SOME SMALL HAIL.

PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATING TO YOUR NEAREST LAW
ENFORECEMNT AGENCY FOR REALY TUO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TUCEK

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, 8:51 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKJefferson, Shelby, Spencer3 hr
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.