Alert archive / Kentucky / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2025

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 201, NWS Jackson, KY

May 20, 2025Bell County, Knox County, Whitley County, Kentucky

NWS Jackson, KY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 20, 2025, 3:24 PM EDT for Bell County, Knox County, Whitley County, Kentucky. It was in force for 36 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
May 20, 2025, 3:24 PM EDT (19:24 UTC)
Expired
May 20, 2025, 4:00 PM EDT
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Jackson, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Possible
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Bell County, KY, Knox County, KY, Whitley County, KY

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:23 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 20, 1:10 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 253 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 2025-05-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1162 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 2025-05-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 114 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1162 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-41 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
904 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
114 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
137 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.9
Supercell composite
3.9

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 Jackson, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 20, 2:57 PM EDT, 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 20, 2:57 PM EDT, 27 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 20, 1:23 PM EDT, 2 hours 1 minute before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Jackson KY
123 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

KYZ050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-211100-
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-
123 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...
...TORNADO WATCH 302 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a portion of eastern Kentucky.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Thunderstorms are expected at times through late tonight. Some of
these storms may be severe, with the greatest risk being damaging
wind. However, tornadoes and large hail are also a possibility.
Thunderstorms could also bring heavy rainfall and localized
flooding.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

There is a slight chance of thunderstorms on Wednesday. Thunderstorms
are also possible in some locations Thursday evening, and Sunday
afternoon through Monday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed.

KYZ044-211100-
Fleming-
123 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

...TORNADO WATCH 302 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a portion of eastern Kentucky.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Thunderstorms are expected at times through late tonight. Some of
these storms may be severe, with the greatest risk being damaging
wind. However, tornadoes and large hail are also a possibility.
Thunderstorms could also bring heavy rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed.

HAL

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 20, 1:38 PM EDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
138 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

KYZ083-084-201815-
McCreary KY-Wayne KY-
138 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN WAYNE AND SOUTHWESTERN
MCCREARY COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM EDT...

At 138 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Byrdstown, moving northeast at 50 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...
Monticello, Parmleysville, Oil Valley, Coopersville, Susie, Burfield,
Barrier, Hidalgo, Rockeybranch, Slickford, Griffin, Zula, Mount
Pisgah, Powersburg, Sunnybrook, and Cooper.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for south central
Kentucky.

&&

LAT...LON 3661 8487 3662 8499 3663 8500 3668 8500
      3669 8502 3672 8502 3676 8500 3689 8479
      3668 8462 3660 8486
TIME...MOT...LOC 1738Z 240DEG 44KT 3662 8509

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

VORST
Special weather statement, May 20, 1:57 PM EDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
157 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

KYZ079-201830-
Pulaski KY-
157 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL PULASKI COUNTY THROUGH
230 PM EDT...

At 157 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Nancy, or 7 miles west of Somerset, moving northeast at 45 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...
Somerset, Science Hill, Naomi, Bobtown, Nancy, Grade, Ruth, Elihu,
Shopville, Dykes, Dabney, Valley Oak, Bent, Pulaski County Park,
Somerset Pulaski Airport, Faubush, Trimble, and Ferguson.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
 Kentucky Highway 80 in Pulaski County between mile markers 17 and
35.
 Louis B. Nunn Parkway

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for south central
Kentucky.

&&

LAT...LON 3729 8446 3710 8431 3698 8468 3698 8470
      3697 8473 3696 8477 3698 8479 3700 8483
      3705 8486
TIME...MOT...LOC 1757Z 242DEG 39KT 3704 8474

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

VORST
Special weather statement, May 20, 2:02 PM EDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
202 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

KYZ079-083-084-201830-
McCreary KY-Wayne KY-Pulaski KY-
202 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL WAYNE...SOUTH CENTRAL
PULASKI AND CENTRAL MCCREARY COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM EDT...

At 202 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Burfield, or 9 miles south of Monticello, moving northeast at 45 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...
Whitley City, Parmleysville, Slavens, Sloans Valley, Parkers Lake,
Barrier, Gregory, Co-
Operative, Slickford, Ritner, Denney, Wiborg, Oil Valley,
Coopersville, Marshes Siding, Greenwood, Burfield, Beulah Heights,
Alpine, and Kidds Crossing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for south central
Kentucky.

&&

LAT...LON 3661 8483 3674 8494 3697 8451 3673 8435
TIME...MOT...LOC 1802Z 243DEG 41KT 3671 8480

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

VORST
Special weather statement, May 20, 2:25 PM EDT, 59 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 20, 3:00 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 20, 3:09 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 1:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLWayne37 min
May 20, 1:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLPulaski33 min
May 20, 2:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLMcCreary28 min
May 20, 2:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLJackson, Laurel, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Whitley50 min
May 20, 2:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLEstill, Jackson, Lee, Rockcastle44 min
May 20, 2:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLBell, Clay, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Lee and 5 more38 min
May 20, 2:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLBath, Estill, Jackson, Lee, Menifee, Montgomery and 3 more47 min
May 20, 3:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLBath, Fleming, Montgomery30 min
May 20, 3:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLBell, Breathitt, Clay, Jackson, Knox, Laurel and 3 more37 min
May 20, 3:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLBell36 min
May 20, 3:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLBath, Breathitt, Elliott, Estill, Lee, Menifee and 4 more51 min
May 20, 3:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLBell, Breathitt, Clay, Harlan, Knott, Knox and 4 more38 min
May 20, 4:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLBreathitt, Elliott, Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Morgan and 2 more45 min
May 20, 4:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLBreathitt, Floyd, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin and 1 more38 min
May 20, 4:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLHarlan, Letcher35 min
May 20, 4:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLFloyd, Johnson, Knott, Martin, Pike37 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kentucky, 2025Every severe thunderstorm 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.