Alert archive / Kentucky / Flash Flood Warnings in 2025
Flash Flood Warning 16, NWS Jackson, KY
NWS Jackson, KY issued this flash flood warning at Feb 16, 2025, 3:16 AM EST for Laurel County, Pulaski County, Rockcastle County, Kentucky. It was in force for 2 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 16, 2025, 3:16 AM EST (08:16 UTC)
- Expired
- Feb 16, 2025, 5:45 AM EST
- In force
- 2 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Jackson, KY
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Laurel County, KY, Pulaski County, KY, Rockcastle County, KY
The radar
The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 101 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:15 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 00:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 234 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -203 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 708 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 66 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 590 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 660 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
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 Jackson, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Feb 15, 11:33 PM EST, 3 hours 43 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Additional heavy rainfall, along with a round or two of thunderstorms, through tonight will continue the ongoing significant flash flooding and river flooding event.
- Rain changing to light snow Sunday morning with widely scattered snow showers persisting into the evening. Lingering moisture freezing to roadways could lead to slippery travel at some locations Sunday evening and night.
- A moderate to heavy accumulating snowfall is possible for the middle of the upcoming work week.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 15, 11:33 PM EST, 3 hours 43 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Jackson KY 1133 PM EST Sat Feb 15 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Additional heavy rainfall, along with a round or two of thunderstorms, through tonight will continue the ongoing significant flash flooding and river flooding event. - Rain changing to light snow Sunday morning with widely scattered snow showers persisting into the evening. Lingering moisture freezing to roadways could lead to slippery travel at some locations Sunday evening and night. - A moderate to heavy accumulating snowfall is possible for the middle of the upcoming work week. && .UPDATE... Issued at 930 PM EST SAT FEB 15 2025 The forecast largely remains on track this evening. A wide swath of 2-4" of rainfall has already occurred across much of eastern Kentucky, especially south of an Irvine to Pikeville line. Widespread Areal Flood and River Flood Warnings are in effect across this region. As of 9 PM, scattered to numerous showers and a few thunderstorms continue generally north of a Mount Vernon to Jackson to Pleasant line. This activity is associated with a broad area of isentropic upglide in the vicinity of a surface warm front. Activity south of this line is more isolated in nature. Heading into the overnight period, we remain confident that surface low pressure will track right over eastern Kentucky with a cold front trailing the low. A forced, thin line of convection will occur along the front albeit in an area of rather weak instability (MUCAPE values generally less than 300 J/kg). Despite the weak instability, we are still expecting momentum transfer to result in wind gusts of 30-40 mph with this line. Isolated gusts to 50 mph will be possible west of a Mount Vernon to Williamsburg line where the "highest" instability will be located. Additional rainfall amounts overnight will generally range from 0.50" to 1.50" with the highest amounts north of a Mount Sterling to Morehead line. As we head into Sunday morning, confidence continues to increase that rain will change to light snow as cold air rushes in behind that cold front. We will continue to look at 00Z model data to determine the potential for light snow accumulations. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday night) Issued at 330 PM EST SAT FEB 15 2025 Rainfall/Flooding - Ongoing rainfall and flooding event remains on track. Currently, moderate to heavy rainfall is occurring in a west to east oriented zone across the central CWA where the warm front is stalled. The northern and southern portions of the CWA are seeing lighter rain with some occasional breaks. Training should continue through the central CWA through late afternoon/early evening before it shifts northward ahead of the parent surface low. As the low moves through the area, a line of convection is expected to move through from around midnight tonight to just before sunrise Sunday. Additional rainfall through tonight is forecast to by 1-2" over the southern CWA and 2-3 inches over the central and northern CWA. Central and northern portions of the CWA could see locally higher amounts up to 3-5 inches of additional rainfall as seen in HREF LPMM values. This will continue and enhance the ongoing flooding situation. There is a marginal severe risk over the southwestern CWA tonight, mainly for winds of 50-60 mph. SPC has the risk at 5% for winds, which makes sense given linear convective mode. Overall expect storm strength to be diminishing as the line of storms moves into the area, but thunderstorms with gusty winds will be possible across the entire area. Gusty winds will be possible tonight into Sunday behind the front front on the back side of the system. A few gusts of 40-45 mph are possible over higher terrain, but not expecting to reach Wind Advisory criteria at this time. Behind the front, expected temperatures to be warmest (low to mid 50s) in the morning on Sunday, falling through the day to the mid to upper 30s by noon and the mid to upper 20s by late Sunday evening. As the upper trough moves through the area Sunday, snow showers will develop that will linger into early Sunday night. Most areas could see a dusting, with some higher terrain areas seeing up to an inch of snow. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 330 PM EST SAT FEB 15 2025 Monday and Tuesday are currently forecast to be dry with highs mainly in the 20s and Monday night lows in the upper teens to mid 20s. Attention then turns to a potential moderate to heavy snowfall event and colder temperatures starting Tuesday night. Current forecast calls for snow Tuesday night into Thursday morning. Several inches of snowfall is possible, but uncertainty remains (especially with finer details). NBM snowfall probabilities: >=1": 70-90% >=2": 60-80% >=4": 30-60% >=6": 20-40% Probabilistic Winter Storm Severity Index shows the following impact potentials: At least minor impacts: 60-80% At least moderate impacts: 20-40% Look for highs in the mid 20s to mid 30s Wednesday, then in the 20s on Thursday. Lows are forecast to be in the teens Wednesday night (wind chills in the single digits to low teens), followed by lows in the single digits Thursday night but with light winds. Saturday is forecast to see lows in the teens and highs in the 30s. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Monday night) ISSUED AT 10PM EST SAT FEB 15 2025 A strong low pressure system will continue to bring multiple aviation impacts to eastern Kentucky through Sunday. A large band of rain showers will bring MVFR and brief IFR conditions to the area overnight. Brief wind gusts up to 35 knots are also expected along a passing cold front. There is still a slight chance (around 20%) of isolated thunderstorms. Low-level wind shear will persist outside of the thunderstorms. The rain will then change to snow Sunday morning with IFR conditions expected. The steadier snow will then taper to widely scattered snow showers in the afternoon with MVFR becoming prevailing. Brisk and gusty west winds will occur for the entire day. Gusts around 25 knots will be common. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Sunday evening for KYZ044-050>052-058>060- 068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120. && UPDATE...WFO SGF SHORT TERM...WFO SGF LONG TERM...WFO SGF AVIATION...WFO SGF
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 15, 8:41 PM EST, 6 hours 35 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson KY 841 PM EST Sat Feb 15 2025 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-170145- Fleming-Montgomery-Bath-Rowan-Estill-Powell-Menifee-Rockcastle- Jackson-Pulaski-Laurel-Wayne-McCreary-Whitley-Knox-Bell-Harlan- Elliott-Morgan-Johnson-Wolfe-Magoffin-Floyd-Lee-Breathitt-Knott- Owsley-Perry-Clay-Leslie-Letcher-Martin-Pike- 841 PM EST Sat Feb 15 2025 ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a portion of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Warnings and Watches. Periods of heavy rainfall, including a few thunderstorms, will continue overnight. Widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected. However, in locations where heavier showers and thunderstorms are more persistent, rainfall totals could approach or exceed 5 inches and cause scattered to numerous instances of flash flooding. A thin line of heavy showers and a few thunderstorms will produce wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph as it pushes east across the area between midnight and 4 AM. Localized gusts up to 50 mph will be possible west of a Mount Vernon to Williamsburg line. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. As runoff from heavy rainfall enters the larger creeks and rivers, significant rises are likely to lead to flooding. Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph are expected on Sunday while temperatures fall back to near or below freezing. Rain will change to light snow Sunday morning with widely scattered snow showers then persisting into Sunday evening. The snow in addition to freezing of lingering moisture on roadways may lead to slick spots and black ice at some locations Sunday evening and night. A moderate to heavy accumulating snow is possible next Tuesday night through Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. JKL
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Feb 16, 1:54 AM EST, 1 hour 22 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Jackson, KY issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 15, 8:51 PM EST | River Flood Warning | JKL | Floyd | 48 hr |
| Feb 15, 8:52 PM EST | Areal Flood Warning | JKL | Bath, Fleming, Menifee, Montgomery, Powell, Rowan | 18 hr |
| Feb 15, 9:20 PM EST | Areal Flood Warning | JKL | Elliott, Fleming, Rowan | 18 hr |
| Feb 15, 10:31 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | JKL | Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Powell | 6 hr |
| Feb 15, 10:39 PM EST | River Flood Warning | JKL | Magoffin | 26 hr |
| Feb 15, 10:47 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | JKL | Bath, Fleming | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 12:51 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Bath, Rowan | 24 min |
| Feb 16, 1:18 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Estill, Jackson, Lee, Menifee, Powell, Rockcastle | 42 min |
| Feb 16, 1:26 AM EST | Flash Flood Warning | JKL | Bath, Fleming, Montgomery, Rowan | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 1:48 AM EST | Flash Flood Warning | JKL | Estill, Jackson, Laurel, Montgomery, Powell, Rockcastle | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 1:54 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Clay, Jackson, Lee, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley and 1 more | 36 min |
| Feb 16, 2:08 AM EST | Flash Flood Warning | JKL | Clay, Estill, Jackson, Laurel, Lee, Owsley | 3 hr |
| Feb 16, 2:13 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JKL | Breathitt, Lee, Leslie, Magoffin, Owsley, Perry and 1 more | 32 min |
| Feb 16, 2:26 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Breathitt, Clay, Elliott, Johnson, Magoffin, Morgan | 34 min |
| Feb 16, 2:48 AM EST | Flash Flood Warning | JKL | Clay, Jackson, Lee, Owsley | 3 hr |
| Feb 16, 3:14 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Bell, Floyd, Knott, Leslie, Perry | 46 min |
| Feb 16, 3:38 AM EST | Flash Flood Warning | JKL | Clay, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, McCreary, Owsley and 3 more | 3 hr |
| Feb 16, 3:47 AM EST | Winter Weather Advisory | JKL | Bath, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Jackson, Lee and 7 more | 10 hr |
| Feb 16, 4:03 AM EST | Flash Flood Warning | JKL | Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Letcher and 2 more | 3 hr |
| Feb 16, 8:15 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Elliott, Menifee, Morgan, Rowan | 60 min |
| Feb 16, 8:17 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Clay, Estill, Jackson, Laurel, Lee, Owsley and 2 more | 58 min |
| Feb 16, 8:21 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Bell, Knox, Laurel, Whitley | 54 min |
| Feb 16, 8:53 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JKL | Breathitt, Clay, Knott, Knox, Leslie, Owsley and 1 more | 37 min |
| Feb 16, 9:01 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Harlan, Letcher | 59 min |
| Feb 16, 9:06 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Breathitt, Elliott, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Magoffin and 1 more | 54 min |
| Feb 16, 9:28 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JKL | Breathitt, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, Letcher, Magoffin and 2 more | 62 min |
| Feb 16, 9:32 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Johnson, Magoffin, Martin | 58 min |
| Feb 16, 9:44 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Bath, Estill, Fleming, Menifee, Montgomery, Powell and 1 more | 61 min |
| Feb 16, 10:20 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JKL | Martin, Pike | 10 min |
| Feb 16, 10:28 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JKL | Martin, Pike | 17 min |
| Feb 16, 10:45 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Elliott, Morgan, Rowan, Wolfe | 30 min |
| Feb 16, 10:55 AM EST | Special Weather Statement | JKL | Breathitt, Magoffin | 35 min |
| Feb 16, 1:48 PM EST | Winter Weather Advisory | JKL | Bath, Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Elliott, Estill and 27 more | 17 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Kentucky, 2025Every flash flood warning in 2025
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.