Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 19, NWS Louisville, KY
NWS Louisville, KY issued this tornado warning at Jun 18, 2026, 4:47 AM EDT for 4 counties in Kentucky. It was in force for 16 min. 4 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, 4:47 AM EDT (08:47 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 18, 2026, 5:03 AM EDT
- In force
- 16 min
- Issued by
- NWS Louisville, KY
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.0 in
Counties Bullitt County, KY, Jefferson County, KY, Shelby County, KY, Spencer County, KY
The radar
The Louisville radar (KLVX), 38 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:47 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 4:50 AM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nnw Highview, KY | Public report of roof damage to manufacturing building. |
| Jun 18, 5:05 AM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nne Okolona, KY | Time Estimated by Radar: Tree down on street blocking traffic. |
| Jun 18, 5:10 AM EDT | TSTM WND GST 62 | 3 Sw Saint Matthews, KY | ASOS station KLOU Louisville Bowmn. |
| Jun 18, 5:11 AM EDT | TSTM WND GST 62 | 1 N Louisville Int'L Ai, KY |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 10:13 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
| Jun 18, 4:39 AM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 00:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 209 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
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
911
WFUS53 KLMK 180847
TORLMK
KYC029-111-211-215-180930-
/O.NEW.KLMK.TO.W.0019.260618T0847Z-260618T0930Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Louisville KY
447 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026
The National Weather Service in Louisville has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northwestern Spencer County in central Kentucky...
Northwestern Shelby County in central Kentucky...
East central Jefferson County in central Kentucky...
Northeastern Bullitt County in central Kentucky...
* Until 530 AM EDT.
* At 447 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Newburg, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Louisville, Jeffersontown, West Buechel, Hollow Creek, Houston
Acres, Spring Mill, Highview, Buechel, Fern Creek, and Newburg
around 450 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include L S
Park, Forest Hills, Simpsonville, Fisherville, Louisville
International Airport, Elk Creek, Wilsonville, Routt, Thixton, and
Whitfield.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 3812 8574 3821 8574 3830 8533 3806 8534
TIME...MOT...LOC 0847Z 271DEG 23KT 3816 8567
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
Padgett1 follow-up statement
926 WWUS53 KLMK 180903 SVSLMK Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Louisville KY 503 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026 KYC029-111-211-215-180913- /O.CAN.KLMK.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-260618T0930Z/ Spencer KY-Shelby KY-Jefferson KY-Bullitt KY- 503 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN SPENCER...NORTHWESTERN SHELBY...EAST CENTRAL JEFFERSON AND NORTHEASTERN BULLITT COUNTIES IS CANCELLED... The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been cancelled. However, damaging winds remain likely and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 AM EDT for central Kentucky. && LAT...LON 3812 8574 3821 8574 3830 8533 3806 8534 TIME...MOT...LOC 0900Z 271DEG 23KT 3816 8554 $$ Padgett
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Jun 18, 1:33 AM EDT, 3 hours 14 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 14 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...SRWIn the hours before
Local storm report, Jun 18, 3:58 AM EDT, 49 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.
&&
SRWThe office that day
Everything else NWS Louisville, KY issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 3:08 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | LMK | Trimble | 33 min |
| Jun 18, 3:32 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Trimble | 43 min |
| Jun 18, 3:32 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | LMK | Trimble | 16 min |
| Jun 18, 3:42 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Jefferson | 33 min |
| Jun 18, 3:56 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Oldham, Trimble | 3 hr |
| Jun 18, 4:11 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Trimble | 4 hr |
| Jun 18, 4:11 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Meade | 34 min |
| Jun 18, 4:16 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Anderson, Bourbon, Franklin, Harrison, Scott, Shelby and 1 more | 29 min |
| Jun 18, 4:32 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | LMK | Meade | 19 min |
| Jun 18, 4:40 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Trimble | 5 hr |
| Jun 18, 4:40 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Bullitt, Hardin, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, Spencer | 35 min |
| Jun 18, 4:45 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Anderson, Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison and 5 more | 45 min |
| Jun 18, 5:04 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Franklin, Henry, Oldham, Scott, Shelby, Trimble | 4 hr |
| Jun 18, 5:11 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Scott and 3 more | 4 hr |
| Jun 18, 5:14 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Anderson, Bullitt, Franklin, Jefferson, Nelson, Shelby and 2 more | 31 min |
| Jun 18, 6:09 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Harrison, Nicholas, Scott | 4 hr |
| Jun 18, 6:21 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Anderson, Bullitt, Franklin, Jefferson, Nelson, Shelby and 2 more | 4 hr |
| Jun 18, 6:41 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Anderson, Bullitt, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Jessamine and 5 more | 4 hr |
| Jun 18, 7:11 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Breckinridge, Bullitt, Hardin, Jefferson, Meade | 3 hr |
| Jun 18, 7:14 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Anderson, Mercer, Nelson, Spencer, Washington, Woodford | 4 hr |
| Jun 18, 7:34 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Anderson, Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine and 3 more | 3 hr |
| Jun 18, 7:51 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Anderson, Boyle, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Garrard, Grayson and 11 more | 5 hr |
| Jun 18, 8:01 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Mercer, Woodford | 6 hr |
| Jun 18, 8:24 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Clark, Garrard, Madison | 7 hr |
| Jun 18, 8:30 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | LMK | Nelson, Washington | 30 min |
| Jun 18, 9:04 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Anderson, Boyle, Bullitt, Garrard, Jessamine, Mercer and 3 more | 5 hr |
| Jun 18, 9:17 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Boyle, Casey, Garrard, Larue, Lincoln, Madison and 2 more | 5 hr |
| Jun 18, 9:40 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Breckinridge, Casey, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Hart and 5 more | 5 hr |
| Jun 18, 10:25 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Boyle, Casey, Garrard, Lincoln, Madison, Marion and 2 more | 7 hr |
| Jun 18, 10:39 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | LMK | Lincoln | 51 min |
| Jun 18, 10:47 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | LMK | Grayson | 28 min |
| Jun 18, 12:32 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | LMK | Marion, Taylor | 28 min |
| Jun 18, 12:33 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Breckinridge, Bullitt, Grayson, Hancock, Hardin, Larue and 3 more | 6 hr |
| Jun 18, 12:44 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Green, Hart and 4 more | 6 hr |
| Jun 18, 1:30 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | LMK | Casey | 45 min |
| Jun 18, 1:51 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LMK | Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Mercer, Woodford | 5 hr |
| Jun 18, 1:54 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Green, Marion, Taylor | 3 hr |
| Jun 18, 2:00 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Adair, Allen, Barren, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland and 10 more | 6 hr |
| Jun 18, 2:01 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | LMK | Russell | 29 min |
| Jun 18, 2:14 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LMK | Anderson, Boyle, Bullitt, Garrard, Jessamine, Mercer and 3 more | 5 hr |
| Jun 18, 2:41 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Hart, Larue, Nelson and 1 more | 4 hr |
| Jun 18, 2:57 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LMK | Clark, Garrard, Madison | 4 hr |
| Jun 18, 3:21 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | LMK | Clinton | 24 min |
| Jun 18, 3:57 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | LMK | Cumberland, Russell | 33 min |
| Jun 18, 4:56 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | LMK | Green, Marion, Taylor | 2 hr |
| Jun 18, 5:29 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LMK | Boyle, Casey, Garrard, Larue, Lincoln, Madison and 4 more | 2 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Kentucky, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.