Alert archive / Kentucky / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 32, NWS Louisville, KY

June 18, 20269 counties in Kentucky

NWS Louisville, KY issued this flash flood warning at Jun 18, 2026, 5:11 AM EDT for 9 counties in Kentucky. It was in force for 4 hr. 15 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 18, 2026, 5:11 AM EDT (09:11 UTC)
Expired
Jun 18, 2026, 9:15 AM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Louisville, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Fayette County, KY, Franklin County, KY, Henry County, KY, Jefferson County, KY, Oldham County, KY, Scott County, KY, Shelby County, KY, Trimble County, KY, Woodford County, KY

The radar

The Louisville radar (KLVX), 99 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:14 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 18, 5:48 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD4 Se Sand Lick, KYHigh water present nearly causing a lifted truck to float.
Jun 18, 6:37 AM EDTRAIN 2.211 W Defoe, KYCocorahs station KY-HY-23 Pleasureville 2.6 E.
Jun 18, 7:00 AM EDTRAIN 1.162 Ne New Castle, KYCocorahs station KY-HY-22 New Castle 2.0 NE.
Jun 18, 7:00 AM EDTRAIN 1.581 N Shelbyville, KYCocorahs station KY-SH-15 Shelbyville 1.3 N.
Jun 18, 7:00 AM EDTRAIN 2.962 W Forks Of Elkhorn, KYCO-OP Observer station RVEK2 Ridgeview Estates 3 NE.
Jun 18, 7:00 AM EDTRAIN 3.151 Wnw Forks Of Elkhorn, KYCocorahs station KY-FR-1 Frankfort 3.3 NE.
Jun 18, 7:30 AM EDTRAIN 1.222 Ese New Castle, KYCocorahs station KY-HY-20 Eminence 4.0 NNE.
Jun 18, 8:00 AM EDTRAIN 1.152 Ese Sulphur, KYCocorahs station KY-HY-21 Sulphur 2.6 ESE.
Jun 18, 8:00 AM EDTRAIN 1.583 Ne Smithfield, KYCocorahs station KY-HY-10 Eminence 4.0 NW.
Jun 18, 8:00 AM EDTRAIN 1.944 N Alton, KYCocorahs station KY-FR-23 Frankfort 5.0 SW.
Jun 18, 8:00 AM EDTRAIN 2.346 Nw Switzer, KYCocorahs station KY-FR-8 Frankfort 8.0 NNE.
Jun 18, 8:00 AM EDTRAIN 2.352 N Frankfort, KYCocorahs station KY-FR-6 Frankfort 1.9 N.
Jun 18, 8:00 AM EDTRAIN 2.992 Wnw Chestnut Grove, KYCocorahs station KY-SH-7 Shelbyville 7.6 NNW.
Jun 18, 8:00 AM EDTRAIN 3.351 Wnw Frankfort, KYCocorahs station KY-FR-25 Frankfort.
Jun 18, 8:16 AM EDTRAIN 1.491 Wnw Eminence, KYCocorahs station KY-HY-19 Eminence 1.1 WNW.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 37 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 00:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 153 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 2026-06-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 136 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 2026-06-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 427 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
136 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1205 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
78 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
427 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
684 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
3.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

067 
WGUS53 KLMK 180911
FFWLMK
KYC067-073-103-111-185-209-211-223-239-181315-
/O.NEW.KLMK.FF.W.0032.260618T0911Z-260618T1315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Louisville KY
511 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026

The National Weather Service in Louisville has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Fayette County in central Kentucky...
  Franklin County in central Kentucky...
  Henry County in central Kentucky...
  Eastern Jefferson County in central Kentucky...
  Southeastern Oldham County in central Kentucky...
  Western Scott County in central Kentucky...
  Shelby County in central Kentucky...
  Southeastern Trimble County in central Kentucky...
  Northern Woodford County in central Kentucky...

* Until 915 AM EDT.

* At 511 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of 
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are 
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Georgetown, Frankfort, Shelbyville, La Grange, New Castle, 
  Pendleton, Eminence, Simpsonville, Pleasureville and Stamping 
  Ground.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 3850 8532 3852 8503 3851 8503 3852 8498
      3849 8499 3847 8495 3843 8495 3846 8491
      3843 8493 3842 8488 3838 8490 3836 8487
      3835 8475 3842 8465 3815 8457 3813 8462
      3817 8466 3819 8475 3813 8487 3815 8543

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

BJS
1 follow-up statement
433 
WGUS73 KLMK 181310
FFSLMK

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
910 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026

KYC067-073-103-111-185-209-211-223-239-181320-
/O.EXP.KLMK.FF.W.0032.000000T0000Z-260618T1315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Fayette KY-Franklin KY-Henry KY-Jefferson KY-Oldham KY-Scott KY-
Shelby KY-Trimble KY-Woodford KY-
910 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 915 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR 
FRANKLIN, HENRY, EASTERN JEFFERSON, SOUTHEASTERN OLDHAM, WESTERN 
SCOTT, SHELBY, SOUTHEASTERN TRIMBLE AND NORTHERN WOODFORD COUNTIES...

Flood waters have receded. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no 
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining 
road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM EDT for portions of 
Indiana and Kentucky.

&&

LAT...LON 3850 8532 3852 8503 3851 8503 3852 8498
      3849 8499 3847 8495 3843 8495 3846 8491
      3843 8493 3842 8488 3838 8490 3836 8487
      3835 8475 3842 8465 3815 8457 3813 8462
      3817 8466 3819 8475 3813 8487 3815 8543

$$

AMS

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 Jun 18, 1:33 AM EDT, 3 hours 38 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • * Storms are ongoing across south central IN and southern IL that will continue to move east into the forecast area. All severe threats remain on the table as these storms have a history of producing. * A Flood Watch is in effect from 9 PM EDT tonight to 9 AM EDT tomorrow, mainly along and north of I-64. * The cold front stalls across the region, leading to additional potential for scattered strong to severe storms, excessive rainfall, and isolated flash flooding across south-central KY Thursday afternoon and evening. * A reprieve from rainfall comes Friday and Saturday before the next round of widespread rain returns starting late Saturday night.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 18, 1:33 AM EDT, 3 hours 38 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Louisville KY
133 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Storms are ongoing across south central IN and southern IL
  that will continue to move east into the forecast area. All
  severe threats remain on the table as these storms have a
  history of producing.

* A Flood Watch is in effect from 9 PM EDT tonight to 9 AM EDT
  tomorrow, mainly along and north of I-64.

* The cold front stalls across the region, leading to additional
  potential for scattered strong to severe storms, excessive
  rainfall, and isolated flash flooding across south-central KY
  Thursday afternoon and evening.

* A reprieve from rainfall comes Friday and Saturday before the next
  round of widespread rain returns starting late Saturday night.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 133 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026

A low pressure system is currently centered over the Wisconsin and
Illinois border with a cold front stretched SW through northern
Illinois and north central Missouri. A low level jet is also
centered over central Indiana that will begin to sink south slightly
as the cold front starts to push SE.

Ahead of the front, a line of strong to severe storms will move
through the Ohio Valley overnight. Southern IN counties can expect
storms to start to move in between 12 and 2 am EDT, and continue to
move SE into northern KY through the early morning hours. Storms
will have the potential to produce wind, hail, and even a few
tornadoes. The greatest severe potential remains in southern IN and
northern KY along the Ohio River. The environment is expected to
hold on to 1500 - 2000 J/kg with the capping expected to diminish
through the night. Additionally, low level wind shear values will
likely range from 40-50 kts as a strong low level jet is over the
area through the night. There is a possibility that the lower level
inhibition holds on and decreases the severe threat to the area by
preventing any additional growth. PWAT values are currently hovering
around 2" and are expected to hold steady. As storms move through
this leads to a flash flooding concern, especially with training
storms. QPF values will likely range 1" to 2" throughout the area,
with some localized values of 3" possible with longer residence
times. A Flood Watch is has been issued for the northern part of the
CWA through Thursday morning.

Thursday afternoon and evening another round of severe storms are
possible for central and southern parts of KY as the cold front
slows over the Ohio Valley. As ample moisture stays in place over
the region flooding will be an area of concern, along with damaging
winds. A secondary Flood Watch for tomorrow is likely for areas in
south central KY. The overall shear profile will weaken through the
day tomorrow, deceasing the threat for tornado potential. Scattered
rain showers and a few thunderstorms will move in behind this line
of storms that will persist overnight.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 133 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026

The previously mentioned cold front will finally move out of eastern
KY Friday morning, along with any lingering rain showers. Surface
high pressure will build in behind the front bringing warm and dry
weather. Northwesterly flow will become dominant keeping maximum
temperatures on Friday in the low 80s with mostly clear skies.
Dewpoints are expected to stay in the upper 50s and low 60s, leading
to a very nice Friday. Saturday is looking to be a rinse and repeat
with highs in the low to mid 80s.

Dry weather comes to an end for the later half of the weekend as a
shortwave ejects from the Rockies Saturday night into Sunday morning.
A surface low pressure will then form and move into the Ohio Valley.
Widespread rain showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected to
move ESE through the forecast area Sunday afternoon and evening into
Monday. Severe threats are uncertain at this point, but is not out
of the question. Instability seems to be marginal with the highest
values remaining elevated. PWAT values greater than 1.5" will
quickly build into the area ahead of the low. Long range guidance is
estimating QPF near 1.5" by Monday night, therefore continued
monitoring will be needed for any flooding concerns.

The surface low will move east out of the area Monday evening, with
another area of high pressure building in behind it. Several chances
for scattered rain showers through midweek will be possible as
several shortwaves move through. However, chances remain low as the
high pressure and drier air stays in place. Temperatures are
expected to remain in the low to mid 80s through midweek.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 127 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026

Gusty southwesterly winds will prevail through the overnight period.
A line of showers and storms will drop south through the overnight
hours. Some storms will be strong to severe bringing a chance for
severe weather hazards and heavy rainfall. This line of showers and
storms will weaken as it moves south. VIS will likely drop to 1-2SM
at times. South of I64, CIGs are expected to be high-end MVFR in the
morning and into the early afternoon and showers and storms
continue.

&&

.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...Flood Watch until 9 AM EDT this morning for KYZ025-029>043-049.
IN...Flood Watch until 9 AM EDT /8 AM CDT/ this morning for
     INZ076>079-083-084-089>092.

&&

SHORT TERM...CAL
LONG TERM...CAL
AVIATION...SRW

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 18, 3:58 AM EDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Louisville KY
358 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026

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

0302 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NNE Becks Mill        38.57N 86.13W
06/18/2026                   Washington         IN   911 Call Center

            Tree down at the intersection of South Becks
            Mill Road and West Mitchell Road.

&&

SRW
Local storm report, Jun 18, 5:01 AM EDT, 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Louisville KY
501 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026

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

0410 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 S Eminence            38.33N 85.17W
06/18/2026  M58 MPH          Shelby             KY   Mesonet

            Measured by the Shelby County North Mesonet
            station.

&&

CAL
Local storm report, Jun 18, 5:09 AM EDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Louisville KY
509 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026

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

0440 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NW Pewee Valley       38.32N 85.50W
06/18/2026                   Oldham             KY   911 Call Center

            Power lines/ wires down.

&&

CAL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 18, 3:08 AM EDTTornado WarningLMKTrimble33 min
Jun 18, 3:32 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKHenry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Trimble43 min
Jun 18, 3:32 AM EDTTornado Warning Tornado observedLMKTrimble16 min
Jun 18, 3:42 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKJefferson33 min
Jun 18, 3:56 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKOldham, Trimble3 hr
Jun 18, 4:11 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKTrimble4 hr
Jun 18, 4:11 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKMeade34 min
Jun 18, 4:16 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKAnderson, Bourbon, Franklin, Harrison, Scott, Shelby and 1 more29 min
Jun 18, 4:32 AM EDTTornado WarningLMKMeade19 min
Jun 18, 4:40 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKHenry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Trimble5 hr
Jun 18, 4:40 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBullitt, Hardin, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, Spencer35 min
Jun 18, 4:45 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKAnderson, Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison and 5 more45 min
Jun 18, 4:47 AM EDTTornado WarningLMKBullitt, Jefferson, Shelby, Spencer16 min
Jun 18, 5:04 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKFranklin, Henry, Oldham, Scott, Shelby, Trimble4 hr
Jun 18, 5:14 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKAnderson, Bullitt, Franklin, Jefferson, Nelson, Shelby and 2 more31 min
Jun 18, 6:09 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKBourbon, Clark, Fayette, Harrison, Nicholas, Scott4 hr
Jun 18, 6:21 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKAnderson, Bullitt, Franklin, Jefferson, Nelson, Shelby and 2 more4 hr
Jun 18, 6:41 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKAnderson, Bullitt, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Jessamine and 5 more4 hr
Jun 18, 7:11 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKBreckinridge, Bullitt, Hardin, Jefferson, Meade3 hr
Jun 18, 7:14 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKAnderson, Mercer, Nelson, Spencer, Washington, Woodford4 hr
Jun 18, 7:34 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKAnderson, Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine and 3 more3 hr
Jun 18, 7:51 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKAnderson, Boyle, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Garrard, Grayson and 11 more5 hr
Jun 18, 8:01 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKFayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Mercer, Woodford6 hr
Jun 18, 8:24 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKClark, Garrard, Madison7 hr
Jun 18, 8:30 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKNelson, Washington30 min
Jun 18, 9:04 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKAnderson, Boyle, Bullitt, Garrard, Jessamine, Mercer and 3 more5 hr
Jun 18, 9:17 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKBoyle, Casey, Garrard, Larue, Lincoln, Madison and 2 more5 hr
Jun 18, 9:40 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKBreckinridge, Casey, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Hart and 5 more5 hr
Jun 18, 10:25 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKBoyle, Casey, Garrard, Lincoln, Madison, Marion and 2 more7 hr
Jun 18, 10:39 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKLincoln51 min
Jun 18, 10:47 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKGrayson28 min
Jun 18, 12:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKMarion, Taylor28 min
Jun 18, 12:33 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKBreckinridge, Bullitt, Grayson, Hancock, Hardin, Larue and 3 more6 hr
Jun 18, 12:44 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKBarren, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Green, Hart and 4 more6 hr
Jun 18, 1:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKCasey45 min
Jun 18, 1:51 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningLMKFayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Mercer, Woodford5 hr
Jun 18, 1:54 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningLMKGreen, Marion, Taylor3 hr
Jun 18, 2:00 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKAdair, Allen, Barren, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland and 10 more6 hr
Jun 18, 2:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKRussell29 min
Jun 18, 2:14 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningLMKAnderson, Boyle, Bullitt, Garrard, Jessamine, Mercer and 3 more5 hr
Jun 18, 2:41 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKBreckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Hart, Larue, Nelson and 1 more4 hr
Jun 18, 2:57 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningLMKClark, Garrard, Madison4 hr
Jun 18, 3:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKClinton24 min
Jun 18, 3:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKCumberland, Russell33 min
Jun 18, 4:56 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKGreen, Marion, Taylor2 hr
Jun 18, 5:29 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningLMKBoyle, Casey, Garrard, Larue, Lincoln, Madison and 4 more2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Kentucky, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.