Alert archive / Kentucky / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2024

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 201, NWS Louisville, KY

August 17, 20245 counties in Kentucky

NWS Louisville, KY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 17, 2024, 3:52 PM EDT for 5 counties in Kentucky. It was in force for 23 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 17, 2024, 3:52 PM EDT (19:52 UTC)
Expired
Aug 17, 2024, 4:15 PM EDT
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS Louisville, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Anderson County, KY, Fayette County, KY, Franklin County, KY, Scott County, KY, Woodford County, KY

The radar

The Louisville radar (KLVX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:51 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, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 277 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 2024-08-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 986 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 2024-08-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 73 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
986 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-68 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
985 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
73 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
88 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 17, 1:40 PM EDT, 2 hours 12 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • * Strong to severe storms will be possible this afternoon and evening if morning convection doesn't limit diurnal warming. The main threats are damaging winds and hail. * Scattered showers and storms will be possible Sunday afternoon, but severe weather is not expected. Lingering isolated showers will be possible on Monday, mainly east of US 127. * Dry weather is expected Tuesday through Friday.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 17, 1:40 PM EDT, 2 hours 12 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Louisville KY
140 PM EDT Sat Aug 17 2024

...Updated Aviation Discussion...

.KEY MESSAGES...

*   Strong to severe storms will be possible this afternoon and
    evening if morning convection doesn't limit diurnal warming. The
    main threats are damaging winds and hail.

*   Scattered showers and storms will be possible Sunday afternoon,
    but severe weather is not expected. Lingering isolated showers
    will be possible on Monday, mainly east of US 127.

*   Dry weather is expected Tuesday through Friday.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 1214 PM EDT Sat Aug 17 2024

Have bumped up high temperatures by a degree or two given latest obs
overperforming the going forecast. Forecast products will be updated
shortly.

Issued at 1046 AM EDT Sat Aug 17 2024

So far this morning, isolated convection has moved across southern
Indiana and into north central Kentucky, with latest radar returns
showing this activity moving east of the I-75 corridor at this time.
Earlier in the morning, outflow from these storms produced gravity
waves which appeared to be trapped within the low-level stable
layer, and areas of low clouds developed along these waves. By this
time, a lot of that energy has mixed out as we have begun to
destabilize; however, a lingering area of additional clouds is noted
along the Ohio River, in addition to an unrelated area of low clouds
across east central KY. Otherwise, mostly sunny skies are present
across much of the area at this hour, allowing temperatures to
quickly warm into the upper 70s and lower 80s. We should continue to
warm into the upper 80s and lower 90s by this afternoon, with
current satellite showing relatively little cloud cover that could
stop the ascent in temperatures.

As far as the shower and storm potential for this afternoon is
concerned, preliminary 12Z guidance has trended a few hours later
for convective initiation. While cameras from across the area do
show nascent cu developing, SDF ACARS sounding in addition to 12Z
BNA sounding shows elevated LFCs just above 850 mb, so it should
take a while for things to destabilize enough to get additional
rounds of convection. Additionally, faster mid-level winds will
swing around the base of the trough later this afternoon,
contributing additional shear and possibly a bit of vort advection
which could add broad lifting. Finally, there is the sfc cold front
which should begin to drop through the region later this evening.
Any of the aforementioned features will assist in convective
initiation, and it is probable that there will be multiple waves of
showers and storms later today. Given latest guidance, would key on
18-20Z for afternoon convective initiation, with the main window for
showers and storms expected between 20-03Z (4-11pm EDT). Have added
PoPs across southern IN, though this would mainly be associated with
the cold front later this afternoon. With poor mid-level lapse rates
expected, and latest WV imagery showing quite a bit of mid-level dry
air (higher DCAPE), it still looks like damaging winds would be the
main severe threat, with hail being a secondary threat.

Updated products with tweaks to afternoon and evening PoPs were sent
a few moments ago.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 335 AM EDT Sat Aug 17 2024

The radar is quiet now, but another chance of thunderstorms is
expected to return today. To our north, a stacked low pressure
system sits over the Great Lakes, and as we head through the short-
term this system will only slide from the western side of the Great
Lakes to the eastern side. This will place the strongest winds on
the southern side of the trough directly over southern Indiana and
central Kentucky. Closer to the surface, the system's cold front
which is really weak and slow moving, making it hard to pinpoint its
location at times, is approaching the CWA from its current location
near the top of Illinois. The speed of this front and its passage is
slower than what was expected a few days ago. It is now on track to
get to southern Indiana this afternoon.

Currently, ahead of the front, precipitable water values are near an
inch, but with the approaching system increasing the pressure
gradient over the Lower Ohio Valley, 10-20 mph southwest winds will
lift precipitable water values to around 1.7" ahead of the front
this morning. Dew points will be in the low 70s, so we have the
moisture in place to develop some convection.

Looking to our west, over southeast Missouri and central Illinois,
there is some ongoing convection which is producing cloud debris,
and some CAM model guidance has some more cells developing over
southern Illinois over the next few hours. If these cells do develop
they will produce more cloud cover and likely work east into the
CWA. This convection could produce lightning and some gusts, but
wouldn't be severe. It could however produce enough cloud cover to
limit the strength of any afternoon convection.
.
Most model guidance places the bulk of afternoon convection in the
Bluegrass region, but this could also extend to near Louisville and
south through the Lake Cumberland area. Hodographs show
unidirectional marginal deep layer shear up to around 30 knots. The
driving force for any convection today will be the instability, and
this is where early convection and cloud debris could determine the
chances for severe weather later today. If cloud cover helps to
limit surface warming, MLCAPE values will likely be limited to
around 1,500 J/kg, but if cloud cover is more limited, MLCAPE values
could increase to around 2,000 J/kg, and where DCAPE values could
approach 1,200 J/kg, wind gusts could be more of a concern. Some
hail is also a possibility.

As the front slowly works south through the CWA, winds will veer
towards the west and west-northwest as they drop below 10 mph. Early
in the night, lines of convection will likely move to the southeast
as drier conditions follow from the northwest. Behind the front, an
isolated shower can't be ruled out, but most will remain dry.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 335 AM EDT Sat Aug 17 2024

Renewed convection is expected on Sunday near the left exit region
of an upper jet streak advancing from the Midwest to the lower Ohio
Valley. Chances will be highest east of Interstate 65 closer to the
axis of a 5H trough over the Appalachians. Mid-level lapse rates and
instability will be weak, and deep layer shear will be low with a
fairly uniform NW flow throughout the column. Nevertheless, seasonal
atmospheric moisture and convective temperatures reached in the 80
to 85 degree range will lead to development of scattered popcorn
showers and thunderstorms. No severe weather is expected. High
temperatures will be in the lower and middle 80s.

On Monday the upper trough over the Appalachians will shift only
slightly eastward, with topographically assisted diurnal convective
development expected over eastern Kentucky. A few showers and
possibly a small low-topped thunderstorm or two could percolate as
far west as the Interstate 75 corridor. Afternoon highs will only be
in the upper 70s to around 80.

The Tuesday through Friday period still looks dry as a large dome of
high pressure slides from Ontario to the East Coast. This will
initially provide southern Indiana and central Kentucky will cooler
than normal weather, with highs Tuesday around 80 and lows Tuesday
night in the 50s. Each subsequent day after Tuesday temperatures
will moderate as the high moves by, and by Friday afternoon
temperatures will be back in the middle and upper 80s with dew
points in the 60s.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 140 PM EDT Sat Aug 17 2024

Scattered thunderstorms have developed near BWG over the past hour
as well as between SDF and LEX. During the afternoon and early
evening hours, thunderstorms will be the primary hazard across the
region, bringing localized visibility reductions and gusty winds.
The greatest chances for TSRA this afternoon and evening are at LEX,
BWG, and RGA, with timing of storms expected between now and 01-02Z
tonight. Outside of storms, winds have picked up out of the west and
southwest ahead of a cold front, with gradient winds of 10-15 kt and
gusts of 20-25 kt expected this afternoon.

Once storms clear the area tonight, VFR conditions are expected
through much of the overnight, with localized fog possible where
heavy rainfall is observed today. Tomorrow morning, low stratus will
move in from the north, bringing MVFR ceilings primarily between 13-
17Z. Winds will veer to W/NW behind the cold front.

&&

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

&&

UPDATE...CSG
SHORT TERM...KDW
LONG TERM...13
AVIATION...CSG
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 17, 11:32 AM EDT, 4 hours 20 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Louisville KY
1132 AM EDT Sat Aug 17 2024

INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-
070>078-081-082-181545-
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-
1132 AM EDT Sat Aug 17 2024 /1032 AM CDT Sat Aug 17 2024/

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. A
few of the storms may produce strong gusty winds and small hail.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Scattered storms will be possible again on Sunday, but severe
weather is unlikely.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed for reports of damaging winds this
afternoon and evening.

GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY:

Storms will move to the east-southeast at 25 to 30 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.

CSG/EBW

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 17, 2:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 17, 2:34 PM EDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 17, 2:42 PM EDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 17, 3:29 PM EDT, 23 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 17, 3:31 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 17, 3:47 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 17, 12:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKNicholas23 min
Aug 17, 1:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKWarren31 min
Aug 17, 1:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKWarren31 min
Aug 17, 2:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKBarren34 min
Aug 17, 2:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKFranklin46 min
Aug 17, 2:27 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKBullitt33 min
Aug 17, 2:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKSpencer29 min
Aug 17, 2:34 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKHarrison26 min
Aug 17, 2:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKHarrison, Nicholas24 min
Aug 17, 2:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKAnderson, Franklin, Scott, Shelby, Woodford24 min
Aug 17, 2:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKFayette, Scott, Woodford32 min
Aug 17, 3:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKAnderson, Fayette, Jessamine, Mercer, Woodford26 min
Aug 17, 3:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKAnderson, Mercer, Nelson, Washington31 min
Aug 17, 3:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKCumberland29 min
Aug 17, 3:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBourbon, Clark, Fayette23 min
Aug 17, 3:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Woodford35 min
Aug 17, 3:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBoyle, Mercer, Washington23 min
Aug 17, 3:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLMKClark, Fayette, Jessamine, Madison50 min
Aug 17, 3:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatLMKBourbon, Clark19 min
Aug 17, 4:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBoyle, Garrard, Jessamine, Madison, Mercer, Washington45 min
Aug 17, 4:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKGarrard, Madison28 min
Aug 17, 4:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBoyle, Casey, Garrard, Lincoln, Marion, Washington53 min
Aug 17, 5:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKButler34 min
Aug 17, 5:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKMadison30 min
Aug 17, 5:45 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKWarren30 min
Aug 17, 6:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKOldham, Shelby27 min
Aug 17, 6:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKMeade25 min
Aug 17, 6:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKMeade34 min
Aug 17, 6:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKHenry23 min
Aug 17, 7:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBullitt, Hardin, Jefferson, Meade36 min
Aug 17, 7:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKLogan, Simpson30 min
Aug 17, 7:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKSpencer26 min
Aug 17, 7:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKAnderson, Nelson, Spencer, Washington30 min
Aug 17, 7:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKAdair, Clinton, Cumberland, Russell25 min
Aug 17, 7:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKLincoln24 min
Aug 17, 7:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKAllen, Simpson37 min
Aug 17, 7:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKNelson36 min
Aug 17, 7:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKMetcalfe29 min
Aug 17, 7:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKClinton31 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kentucky, 2024Every severe thunderstorm 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.