Alert archive / Kentucky / Flash Flood Warnings in 2024

Flash Flood Warning 6, NWS Louisville, KY

May 22, 2024Clinton County, Cumberland County, Russell County, Kentucky

NWS Louisville, KY issued this flash flood warning at May 22, 2024, 5:32 PM CDT for Clinton County, Cumberland County, Russell County, Kentucky. It was in force for 3 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
May 22, 2024, 5:32 PM CDT (22:32 UTC)
Expired
May 22, 2024, 8:45 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Louisville, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Clinton County, KY, Cumberland County, KY, Russell County, KY

The radar

The Nashville radar (KOHX), 139 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:31 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

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 148 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2024-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 89 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2024-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 184 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
89 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-254 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1412 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
184 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
200 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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.

NWS Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 22, 4:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • * Strong/severe storms possible region wide this afternoon with damaging winds, hail, and very heavy rainfall being the main threats. * Stormy pattern with a risk for localized flooding Thursday through Tuesday with strong/severe storms possible Sunday.
Area forecast discussion, May 22, 4:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Louisville KY
520 PM EDT Wed May 22 2024

...Updated Mesoscale Discussion...

.KEY MESSAGES...

*   Strong/severe storms possible region wide this afternoon with
    damaging winds, hail, and very heavy rainfall being the main
    threats.

*   Stormy pattern with a risk for localized flooding Thursday
    through Tuesday with strong/severe storms possible Sunday.

&&

.MESOSCALE...
Issued at 519 PM EDT Wed May 22 2024

Widespread showers and thunderstorms are ongoing across southern KY
at this hour. Overall, have seen some fairly widespread rainfall
amounts between 1 and 2 inches, with locally higher amounts
approaching 3 inches in spots. Given that there is a bit of a
training aspect to the showers and storms, and more development
currently upstream, localized flooding is a concern going into the
evening hours. Will continue to monitor through late
afternoon/evening.

Also monitoring the threat for strong to severe storms over the next
several hours as a secondary area of storms are trying to form along
the frontal boundary currently draped across western KY up through
the Ohio River Valley. So far, these storms have struggled despite
good mid level lapse rates (~ -7C/Km), moderate instability (ML
CAPE values 2000-2500 J/KG), and sufficient deep layer shear
(~40 knots or so), and good surface convergence along the front.
A couple of factors could be limiting their development at the
moment. 1.) Current AMDAR soundings do show a notable capping
inversion around 750-800mb. In addition, the PWAT axis really
drops off with poleward extent, so less moisture may also be
playing a role.

Will have to watch the northern half our CWA over the next few
hours, because if storms are able to get established, then they
would likely have a higher damaging wind threat (DCAPE values around
1000 J/KG). Overall the drier lower levels combined with the
moderate instability would support some enhance microburst potential
with any stronger storm. Confidence is low in how much development
northward we will see, including SPC also being low confidence. A
conference call was recently held to discuss Watch potential, but
ultimately the worked over airmass over southern KY and lower
confidence northward were limiting factors for a Watch at this time.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 341 PM EDT Wed May 22 2024

Forecast is still on track to see scattered clusters of strong to
severe thunderstorms this afternoon into the evening hour. Sfc cold
front remains oriented northeast to southwest stretching from around
Ft. Wayne, IN, to around Bloomington, IN curving towards Vincennes,
IN and along the borders of far western KY and southern IL. Current
afternoon mesoanalysis shows Td mainly in the upper 60s to even a
few low 70s southern IN and most of KY. SBCAPE ranging from 1500-
3000 J/kg, with the lowest values mostly to the east/southeast where
shower/storm activity has been persistent most of the afternoon.
Visible satellite imagery shows partly to mostly clear skies along
the Ohio River into southern IN with mostly cloudy conditions across
our southern counties. Area WSR-88D continues to show a linear
cluster of showers/storms along a prefrontal boundary stretching
from the Bluegrass then southward along the KY/TN border. This
convection stretches back into far western TN. SPC continues to keep
all of central KY in a slight risk for severe storms with gusty
damaging winds being the main threat as DCAPE values along and ahead
of the sfc boundary across southern IN and along the OH River range
from 1100-800 J/Kg. Large hail can't be ruled out given the ample
amount of instability especially seen in the hail growth zone on
model soundings for later this afternoon and evening. While the
tornado threat is relatively low, shear still looks to be between 30-
40kts. Hi-res CAMS like to lift the cluster of convection currently
over far western TN northeastward into our southern CWA later this
afternoon and evening. Feel the main focus and highest probability
of strong to severe storms will be across our southern CWA along the
KY/TN border but any outflow associated with these storms working
into the higher instability to the north and interacting with the
slow approaching sfc boundary would likely initiate additional
convection north of the Parkways towards the Ohio River with the
potential for some supercells and even linear development later this
evening. While activity continues to along the KY/TN border, our
best chance remains between 5pm EDT this evening to around 10pm EDT
with the bulk of the activity pushing out between 11pm/Midnight EDT.

While focus is on severe potential the other impact will be the
potential for heavy rain and localized flooding. PWAT axis on
mesoanalysis stretching from Memphis TN where we have a bullseye of
2.00" into the Bluegrass where we have 1.60" is where we are seeing
the main focus of activity so far this afternoon. Any storms will
produce very heavy rainfall and if storms train over an area
localized flash flooding is a possibility. The one positive here is
that the dry weather the last couple of day has allowed current 1hr
FFG to range from around 1.75" at the lowest to as high as 3.00"
over our CWA.

Once activity pushes off and out of the area overnight we will be in
a bit of a lull but a second shortwave pulse will work across the
Ohio Valley overnight into tomorrow morning. This could produce
another cluster of showers and storms working from the Bootheel of
MO through KY and southern IN during the morning hours.  Sfc
boundary looks to stall out over the Ohio River for tomorrow with
more scattered showers/storms possible especially during the
afternoon. It's possible we could see a lull in the activity briefly
during late morning into early afternoon. The threat of severe
appears to be lower but remains as SPC has the southern half of our
CWA in a marginal risk (1 out of 5) for the potential for strong to
severe storms.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 400 PM EDT Wed May 22 2024

Looking into the long-term, temperatures this coming week will be
fairly seasonal with highs on Friday up to 5 degrees or so above
normal. These slightly warmer than normal temperatures from a mix of
sunshine and warm air advection will be replaced by slightly cooler
than normal temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday. This will be
possible as a cold front on Monday moves through the Lower Ohio
Valley which will help stop warm air advection and will begin
dropping dew points into the 50s from the 60s. Precipitable water
values will also drop to around an inch or below. Surface high
pressure, centered to the west, should help to produce mostly sunny
skies with high temperatures 5 degrees or so below normal.

But before this cold front pushes through and clears the area, a
series of warm and cold front moving over and around southern
Indiana and central Kentucky will provide chances for showers and
thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday. During most of this time,
precipitable water values will vary between 1.3-1.6". Just ahead of
a front, these values could reach up to 2". Model soundings and
hodographs look like your typical summer day. They have plenty of
instability but lack shear. This will limit the type of expected
severe weather. We could see heavy rain in isolated areas which
could cause some limited flooding issues and gusty winds.

Sunday is worth keeping an eye on. It's still a ways out, so the
details will come into better focus, but the region will be under
the exit region of an upper jet streak with backing winds towards
the surface. This will produce deep layer shear for the
continued continuedinstability which will help severe weather
to become more organized. Hodographs currently look favorable
for tornadoes, so all severe weather types are on the table.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1259 PM EDT Wed May 22 2024

Active weather expected in the near term with multiple rounds of
showers and storms likely to impact most TAF sites today. Most
shower and storm activity is south of a line from Madison County
(KY) to Simpson County (KY) and is gradually pushing east.
Additional showers and storms will develop to the west and southwest
later today and move into the region. Some of this activity will
likely clip TAF sites and result in briefly reduced cigs/vis.

We should see a lull in activity overnight, but more showers and
storms could develop toward dawn tomorrow and overspread much of the
region.

&&

.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...None.
IN...None.

&&

MESOSCALE...BJS
SHORT TERM...BTN
LONG TERM...KDW
AVIATION...DM
Hazardous weather outlook, May 22, 3:05 PM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Louisville KY
405 PM EDT Wed May 22 2024

INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-
070>078-081-082-232015-
Orange-Washington IN-Scott IN-Jefferson IN-Dubois-Crawford-Perry-
Harrison IN-Floyd-Clark IN-Hancock-Breckinridge-Meade-Ohio-Grayson-
Hardin-Bullitt-Jefferson-Oldham-Trimble-Henry-Shelby-Franklin-
Scott KY-Harrison KY-Spencer-Anderson-Woodford-Fayette-Bourbon-
Nicholas-Nelson-Washington KY-Mercer-Jessamine-Clark KY-Larue-Marion-
Boyle-Garrard-Madison-Butler-Edmonson-Hart-Green-Taylor-Casey-
Lincoln-Logan-Warren-Simpson-Allen-Barren-Monroe-Metcalfe-Adair-
Russell-Cumberland-Clinton-
405 PM EDT Wed May 22 2024 /305 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Indiana
and central Kentucky.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Scattered clusters of thunderstorms will continue to develop across
the region through the rest of the afternoon and into the evening
hours. Some of the storms may be strong to severe with damaging
winds, very heavy rainfall and hail being the main threats.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Periods of showers and thunderstorms are expected Thursday through
Tuesday. The main threats would be frequent lightning, gusty winds,
and heavy rainfall with this activity. There is a fairly strong
signal that severe storms will be possible Sunday afternoon and
evening.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY:

Storms will generally move from west to east between 25-35 mph

Any users of this storm motion must be aware that thunderstorm activity
can be erratic and constantly evolving.  Please use this with caution
and be prepared for changing conditions.

&&

More information, along with other weather, hydrological and
climate information can be found, at weather.gov/louisville.

BTN/KDW

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 22, 4:51 PM CDT, 41 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 22, 5:06 PM CDT, 26 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 22, 5:14 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
614 PM EDT Wed May 22 2024

INZ084-089-090-KYZ025-222245-
Crawford IN-Perry IN-Harrison IN-Meade KY-
614 PM EDT Wed May 22 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN HARRISON...
SOUTHEASTERN CRAWFORD...NORTHEASTERN PERRY AND NORTHWESTERN MEADE
COUNTIES THROUGH 645 PM EDT/545 PM CDT/...

At 614 PM EDT/514 PM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong
thunderstorm 8 miles southwest of Carefree Town, moving east at 30
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Carefree Town, Mount Pleasant, Leavenworth, Alton, Roberta, Oriole,
Moberly, Fredonia, Beechwood, and White Cloud.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3808 8653 3818 8659 3835 8622 3818 8612
TIME...MOT...LOC 2214Z 249DEG 30KT 3816 8648

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Webb
Special weather statement, May 22, 5:21 PM CDT, 11 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
521 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

KYZ027-062-063-222245-
Hart KY-Grayson KY-Edmonson KY-
521 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN HART...SOUTHEASTERN
GRAYSON AND NORTHERN EDMONSON COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM CDT...

At 521 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Brownsville, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Rock Creek, Black Gold, Cub Run, Broad Ford, Peonia, Sadler, Sunfish,
Huff, Asphalt, and Priceville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3734 8645 3749 8606 3748 8605 3746 8607
      3742 8602 3729 8591 3718 8636
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 247DEG 29KT 3729 8632

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Webb
Special weather statement, May 22, 5:22 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
522 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

KYZ075>078-081-082-222245-
Russell KY-Metcalfe KY-Monroe KY-Cumberland KY-Adair KY-Clinton KY-
522 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CLINTON...SOUTHEASTERN MONROE...
SOUTHWESTERN RUSSELL...CUMBERLAND...SOUTH CENTRAL ADAIR AND
SOUTHEASTERN METCALFE COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM CDT...

At 521 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles northwest of Burkesville to near
Livingston. Movement was east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3695 8549 3699 8495 3692 8496 3686 8506
      3683 8506 3681 8503 3677 8501 3669 8502
      3668 8501 3667 8501 3666 8500 3663 8500
      3662 8498 3663 8527 3661 8548
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 272DEG 43KT 3688 8541 3637 8540

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

BJS
Special weather statement, May 22, 5:24 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 22, 10:13 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKBarren17 min
May 22, 10:30 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKBarren15 min
May 22, 10:47 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKJessamine28 min
May 22, 10:53 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKMetcalfe37 min
May 22, 11:15 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKBoyle, Garrard, Jessamine, Madison30 min
May 22, 12:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKMonroe30 min
May 22, 1:09 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKCumberland36 min
May 22, 1:36 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKClinton24 min
May 22, 1:51 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKAllen24 min
May 22, 2:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKClark44 min
May 22, 2:25 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKCumberland, Russell35 min
May 22, 2:39 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKAllen, Barren, Simpson, Warren3 hr
May 22, 2:50 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKGreen40 min
May 22, 3:07 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKCumberland, Russell38 min
May 22, 3:19 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKCumberland, Metcalfe, Monroe5 hr
May 22, 3:48 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKAdair, Clinton, Cumberland, Russell4 hr
May 22, 4:04 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKAdair, Barren, Green, Metcalfe3 hr
May 22, 4:25 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKOhio35 min
May 22, 4:33 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKMetcalfe27 min
May 22, 4:51 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKMonroe24 min
May 22, 5:00 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKAllen, Barren, Metcalfe, Monroe3 hr
May 22, 5:21 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKEdmonson24 min
May 22, 5:22 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKClinton, Cumberland23 min
May 22, 5:24 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKCasey36 min
May 22, 5:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKClinton, Russell17 min
May 22, 5:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKHancock, Ohio27 min
May 22, 6:05 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKClinton3 hr
May 22, 6:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKBreckinridge37 min
May 22, 6:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKJefferson, Oldham32 min
May 22, 6:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBullitt, Hardin, Jefferson, Meade27 min
May 22, 6:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKBullitt, Jefferson33 min
May 22, 5:06 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKCrawford24 min
May 22, 5:14 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKCrawford31 min
May 22, 5:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKCrawford, Harrison, Orange30 min
May 22, 5:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKScott30 min
May 22, 5:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKJefferson, Scott37 min
May 22, 5:56 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKHarrison34 min
May 22, 6:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKClark, Floyd40 min
May 22, 6:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKJefferson24 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Kentucky, 2024Every flash flood warning in 2024

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.