Alert archive / Kentucky / Areal Flood Warnings in 2021

Areal Flood Warning 11, NWS Louisville, KY

February 28, 202112 counties in Kentucky

NWS Louisville, KY issued this areal flood warning at Feb 28, 2021, 10:04 PM EST for 12 counties in Kentucky. It was in force for 9 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 28, 2021, 10:04 PM EST (03:04 UTC)
Expired
Mar 1, 2021, 7:00 AM EST
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Louisville, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Anderson County, KY, Bourbon County, KY, Clark County, KY, Fayette County, KY, Franklin County, KY, Garrard County, KY, Harrison County, KY, Jessamine County, KY, Mercer County, KY, Nicholas County, KY, Scott County, KY, Woodford County, KY

The radar

The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 120 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:03 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 00:00Z, 3.1 hours before the alert went out and 163 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, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 00:00Z on 2021-03-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 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, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 00:00Z on 2021-03-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 94 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
702 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
88 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
94 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
42 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this areal flood warning went out at Feb 28, 8:20 PM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 8:20 PM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Louisville KY
820 PM EST Sun Feb 28 2021

.Mesoscale Update...
Issued at 820 PM EST Sun Feb 28 2021

Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued ahead of cluster of strong
to severe storms cruising just north of the Tennessee line. Radar
showing strong rear inflow jet pushing the storms forward and a few
stronger wind gusts have made it to the surface. Will continue to
watch this feature as it heads toward Lake Cumberland.

Dropped Logan County from the Tornado Watch as a couple of
boundaries have moved through there and the aforementioned storms
are east of there. Atmosphere very thoroughly worked over in that
county as well.

Also of note...this is now the wettest day ever recorded in February
in Bowling Green. Have received several reports of flooding and
closed roads across south central Kentucky this evening.

&&

.Forecast Update...
Issued at 713 PM EST Sun Feb 28 2021

Widespread showers and embedded thunder will continue through the
evening ahead of an advancing cold front. Instability has waned and
should continue to decrease with weak low and mid level lapse rates.
Still, some stronger gusts have managed to make it to the surface in
the past hour in southwest Indiana and northwest Kentucky. Spoke
with SPC and decided to hang on to the Tornado Watch in the Bowling
Green area just a bit longer as the current convection moves
through, but the watch will probably be dropped in the next hour or
two.

&&

.Short Term...(This evening through Monday)
Issued at 320 PM EST Sun Feb 28 2021

It's been an active weather day across the Ohio Valley as we have
seen training showers and thunderstorms drop significant rainfall
amounts in a short period of time, leading to flooding issues across
the Commonwealth. Kentucky Mesonet shows 24 hour rainfall amounts
are around 2-3 inches, with some locally higher amounts. Sfc
analysis places our CWA within the warm sector of the sfc low
(located over Green Bay), with the warm front situated to our north,
and the cold front trailing through IL and SE MO. Temps have surged
to the 60s and 70s, and even dewpoints in the low 60s.

The current environment remains supportive for heavy rain and
potentially strong storms for this afternoon. The core of the LLJ
is working off to our east this afternoon, where 850mb winds are
around 55kts. Over our CWA, still expect to see 35-45kt winds as the
tail end of the jet pushes east. At the sfc, historic PWATs for late
Feb are in the 1.5-1.6" range, and with model soundings showing a
tall and skinny CAPE profile and a deep warm cloud layer, efficient
rain-producing cells will continue this evening ahead of the
approaching cold front and within a deep SW flow conducive to
extreme moisture transport.

Glancing at KY Mesonet obs, current SW wind gusts are highest
(roughly 15-25 mph) from south central KY to the Bluegrass region.
This matches up well with where the greatest moisture transport and
nosing of highest PWATs are located. SPC Mesoanalysis reveals
MUCAPE of 500-1000 J/kg over our south-central KY counties, with
MUCAPE of 1500 J/kg just to the south in TN. Best chance to see any
potentially strong storms should be this afternoon, where the best
wind energy combined with instability will be. Still think the best
environment will be to our south, but can't completely rule out a
rogue strong/severe storm. Best wind energy is in the lowest 1 km.
Effective Bulk Shear will be around 50 kts, along with SRH sfc-1km
near 150-300 m2/s2, there is a threat for brief spin ups. Given the
threat for our SW CWA, coordinated with SPC and neighboring WFOs to
include Warren/Allen/Logan/Simpson in Tornado Watch 13. CAPE should
mostly diminish by this evening, but should still see precip
continue tonight as the frontal boundary pushes through.

Cold front will pass through our southern IN counties around 00z,
and should be our entire CWA by 03-04z tonight, evident by NW flow
and CAA advection. PoPs will linger over our SE CWA through tomorrow
morning despite being post-frontal. We will dry out across the
entire region by noon or so tomorrow. Clouds hang around until
tomorrow afternoon, but temps are still expected to reach near 50F.

.Long Term...(Monday night through Sunday)
Issued at 245 PM EST Sun Feb 28 2021

The main weathermaker for the upcoming week is a progressive
southern stream wave that will make its way east from the Red River
Valley across the Tennessee Valley Tuesday night and into the
Carolinas on Wednesday. Model agreement isn't great, but there
remains some potential for light precip across mainly southern
Kentucky. Temperatures are marginal for precip type, but keep in
mind the temp guidance seems more in line with a suppressed
solution, so will adjust to limit or perhaps eliminate snow
mentions, as it should be warm enough for mostly/entirely rain as
far north as we actually see precip. Low probability and low QPF
should yield little or no impact.

Once that disturbance departs the rest of the week looks quiet, with
fairly strong sfc high pressure to our N/NW for much of the time.
Plains ridging and east coast trofiness will maintain a NW to at
times zonal flow aloft, so temps should be near or slightly above
climo.  Slight cooling trend into the weekend as the deep upper low
backs up across the Maritimes into Quebec, and heights drop across
the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.

&&

.Aviation...(00Z TAF Issuance)
Issued at 613 PM EST Sun Feb 28 2021

One last wave of widespread showers and embedded thunder, stretching
from northeast Texas to southwest Indiana at press time, will
translate across the TAF sites this evening and into the overnight
hours. Primarily MVFR visibilities and ceilings can be expected in
this activity. BWG stands the best shot at thunder this evening.

Low clouds will hang around into Monday morning before mostly clear
skies take over in the afternoon as high pressure builds in. Expect
northwest winds in the 10-15kt range behind tonight's departing cold
front.

&&

.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...Flood Watch until 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ Monday for INZ083-084-
     089>092.

KY...Flood Watch until 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ Monday for KYZ023>043-
     045>049-053>057-061>067-070>078-081-082.

&&

Mesoscale...13
Update...13
Short Term...CJP
Long Term...RAS
Aviation...13
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 28, 9:57 PM EST, 7 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 28, 8:20 PM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
720 PM CST Sun Feb 28 2021

KYZ062-070>074-010145-
Warren-Logan-Simpson-Allen-Edmonson-Barren-
720 PM CST Sun Feb 28 2021

...GUSTY WINDS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN LOGAN...CENTRAL
SIMPSON...NORTHWESTERN ALLEN...CENTRAL WARREN...NORTHWESTERN BARREN
AND SOUTHEASTERN EDMONSON COUNTIES...

At 719 PM CST, radar indicated stronger wind gusts were coming down
in the wake of earlier heavy rains. Wind gusts up to 50 mph are
possible over the next up until around 8 PM CST.

Locations impacted include...
Bowling Green, Glasgow, Crestmoor, Memphis Junction, Mount Victor,
Auburn, Smiths Grove, Woodburn, Oakland and Red Cross.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They can relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Louisville.

LAT...LON 3669 8660 3669 8641 3695 8593 3718 8616
      3697 8643 3700 8683
TIME...MOT...LOC 0119Z 321DEG 19KT 3668 8664 3668 8632 3688 8610

RJS
Special weather statement, Feb 28, 9:07 PM EST, 57 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
807 PM CST Sun Feb 28 2021

KYZ077-078-081-082-010230-
Russell-Cumberland-Adair-Clinton-
807 PM CST Sun Feb 28 2021

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL AFFECT
CLINTON...RUSSELL...CUMBERLAND...AND SOUTH CENTRAL ADAIR COUNTIES...

At 806 PM CST, radar indicated strong thunderstorms from 10 miles
south of Columbia to near Burkesville to 10 miles west of Albany.
Movement was east at 45 mph.

Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.

Locations impacted include...
Albany, Jamestown, Burkesville, Russell Springs, Littrell, Desda,
Cartwright, Snow, Cundiff and Savage.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

LAT...LON 3663 8524 3662 8542 3681 8542 3701 8540
      3704 8489 3701 8486 3700 8484 3695 8491
      3696 8493 3696 8495 3692 8496 3686 8506
      3683 8506 3681 8503 3677 8501 3670 8502
      3666 8500 3663 8500 3662 8498
TIME...MOT...LOC 0206Z 276DEG 33KT 3695 8531 3681 8528 3670 8533

13
Local storm report, Feb 28, 9:37 PM EST, 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
937 PM EST SUN FEB 28 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0844 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N TOMPKINSVILLE       36.71N 85.69W
02/28/2021                   MONROE             KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ONE TREE DOWN.

&&

13
Local storm report, Feb 28, 9:41 PM EST, 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
941 PM EST SUN FEB 28 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0840 PM     FLASH FLOOD      TOMPKINSVILLE           36.70N 85.69W
02/28/2021                   MONROE             KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            WATER OVER WATT BRIDGE ON KY 163.

&&

13
Local storm report, Feb 28, 9:43 PM EST, 21 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
943 PM EST SUN FEB 28 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0930 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 NW MARROWBONE         36.82N 85.51W
02/28/2021                   CUMBERLAND         KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FLOODING ON GRAY GAP ROAD AT TURNER BRANCH
            ROAD.

&&

13
Local storm report, Feb 28, 9:49 PM EST, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
949 PM EST SUN FEB 28 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0748 PM     FLOOD            EDMONTON                36.98N 85.61W
02/28/2021                   METCALFE           KY   PUBLIC

&&

13

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 28, 8:01 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningLMKAllen, Barren, Logan, Simpson, Warren6 hr
Feb 28, 8:07 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKAllen, Barren, Monroe38 min
Feb 28, 8:20 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementLMKSimpson25 min
Feb 28, 8:37 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKCumberland, Monroe38 min
Feb 28, 8:59 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningLMKAdair, Clinton, Cumberland, Metcalfe, Monroe, Russell4 hr
Feb 28, 9:07 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementLMKClinton, Cumberland, Russell23 min
Feb 28, 9:14 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKAdair, Clinton, Russell16 min
Feb 28, 9:43 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningLMKBoyle, Casey, Garrard, Lincoln, Madison13 hr
Feb 28, 9:46 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningLMKBarren, Edmonson, Green, Hart, Larue, Marion and 3 more13 hr
Feb 28, 10:21 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningLMKButler, Logan, Warren12 hr
Mar 1, 1:01 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningLMKAdair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Metcalfe, Monroe and 1 more9 hr
Mar 1, 1:48 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningLMKAllen, Barren, Logan, Simpson, Warren9 hr
Mar 1, 3:52 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningLMKWarren44 hr
Mar 1, 5:04 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningLMKCumberland, Monroe9 hr
Mar 1, 9:55 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningLMKAdair, Allen, Barren, Boyle, Butler, Casey and 17 more12 hr
Mar 1, 11:31 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningLMKHancock21 days
Feb 28, 7:49 PM ESTRiver Flood WarningLMKJefferson, Scott9 hr

Nearby

Areal Flood Warnings in Kentucky, 2021Every areal flood warning in 2021

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.