Alert archive / Kentucky / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 69, NWS Charleston, WV

April 28, 2026Carter County, Greenup County, Lawrence County, Kentucky

NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 28, 2026, 2:33 AM EDT for Carter County, Greenup County, Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was in force for 27 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: Apr 28, 2026, 2:33 AM EDT (06:33 UTC)
Expired: Apr 28, 2026, 3:00 AM EDT
In force: 27 min
Issued by: NWS Charleston, WV
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Possible
Hail: 0.88 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Carter County, KY, Greenup County, KY, Lawrence County, KY

The radar

The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 88 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:33 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

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 00:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 147 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 176 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1403 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 131 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 183 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.8

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 Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 28, 12:37 AM EDT, 1 hour 56 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

1.) An cold front brings showers and thunderstorms this morning. 2.) A low pressure system brings beneficial rainfall Tuesday night into Wednesday, along with the potential for strong thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon. 3.) Much cooler weather for the end of the work week into the weekend, with widespread frost/freeze possible.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 28, 12:37 AM EDT, 1 hour 56 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1237 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
932 PM Update... Precipitation is moving into southeast Ohio
and northeast Kentucky earlier than previously expected. Have
freshened up PoP grids to reflect this earlier timing.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1.) An cold front brings showers and thunderstorms this morning.

2.) A low pressure system brings beneficial rainfall Tuesday
night into Wednesday, along with the potential for strong
thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon.

3.) Much cooler weather for the end of the work week into the
weekend, with widespread frost/freeze possible.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

Showers and thunderstorms in advance of a cold front have
already arrived in northeastern Kentucky and portions of
southeastern Ohio and western West Virginia. The showers and
thunderstorms will continue to move eastward through the area
this morning. Much of the area will receive a beneficial
wetting rain. A low level wind jet will allow for some 30 to 40
mph gusts early this morning over the higher terrain and gust
west of the mountains.

KEY MESSAGE 2...

A wave of low pressure riding along a stalled frontal boundary
will bring much needed rain to the area Tuesday night and
Wednesday. Over half an inch of rain is expected throughout much
of the area. Low end probabilities are saying at least a
widespread tenth or two, with high end probabilities of over an
inch.

Confidence remains low on how much heating can occur behind the
rain for Wednesday afternoon. If enough heating and
destabilization occurs, some dry air in the mid levels could
provide some damaging winds in stronger thunderstorms.

KEY MESSAGE 3...

Models agree that much colder air will work into the region for
the end of the work week and into the weekend. This will lead
to the potential of frost/freeze conditions for much of the
region, possibly for several nights. At the current time, it
appears that Saturday night could be the coldest.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...

A band of showers and thunderstorms will move across the area
this morning providing restrictions. A strong low level jet can
be expected. A cold front will stall over northern West
Virginia and southeastern Ohio today. Conditions are expected to
improve to VFR on today south of the front, although there is a
chance of some afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

This evening is highly uncertain. If clouds remain, VFR
conditions could remain. If clouds clear however, areas of dense
fog could form.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing/intensity of restrictions in showers
and thunderstorms could vary. Fog may or may not form this
evening.

EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY
OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION:
H = HIGH:   TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS.
L = LOW:    TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.

DATE                                        TUE 04/28/26
UTC 1HRLY       04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15
EDT 1HRLY       00   01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    H

AFTER 06Z WEDNESDAY...
IFR conditions are possible in showers and thunderstorms
late Tuesday night into Wednesday.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...None.
OH...None.
KY...None.
VA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...RPY
AVIATION...RPY

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 27, 11:38 PM EDT, 2 hours 55 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1138 PM EDT Mon Apr 27 2026

KYZ105-WVZ005-013-280400-
Lawrence KY-Lincoln WV-Wayne WV-
1138 PM EDT Mon Apr 27 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL LAWRENCE...WEST
CENTRAL LINCOLN AND CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTIES THROUGH MIDNIGHT EDT...

At 1137 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Dunlow, or near Louisa, moving east 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...
Louisa, Fort Gay, Kiahsville, Dunlow, East Lynn Lake, East Lynn,
Genoa, Clifford, and Glenhayes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead
to reduced visibility.

&&

LAT...LON 3823 8229 3823 8227 3805 8222 3799 8256
      3811 8260
TIME...MOT...LOC 0337Z 253DEG 38KT 3807 8250

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

01

Special weather statement, Apr 28, 12:23 AM EDT, 2 hours 10 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1223 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026

WVZ005-024-280445-
Mingo WV-Wayne WV-
1223 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN MINGO AND SOUTH
CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTIES THROUGH 1245 AM EDT...

At 1223 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Inez, moving east at 35 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...
Wilsondale and Crum.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3796 8247 3797 8248 3801 8233 3782 8230
      3780 8238 3782 8238 3781 8240 3783 8240
      3786 8242 3787 8241 3790 8244 3791 8247
      3790 8247 3792 8249 3792 8248 3794 8250
TIME...MOT...LOC 0423Z 253DEG 31KT 3787 8251

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

01

Special weather statement, Apr 28, 1:47 AM EDT, 46 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
147 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026

VAZ003-004-280600-
Dickenson VA-Buchanan VA-
147 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN DICKENSON AND
CENTRAL BUCHANAN COUNTIES THROUGH 200 AM EDT...

At 147 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Haysi, moving east at 50 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...
Grundy, Haysi, Stacy, Vansant, and Roseann.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3715 8228 3723 8232 3740 8197 3719 8191
TIME...MOT...LOC 0547Z 252DEG 43KT 3722 8220

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

01

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 27, 11:38 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Wayne	22 min
Apr 28, 3:14 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Wayne	16 min
Apr 28, 3:29 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Cabell, Wayne	16 min
Apr 28, 3:44 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Cabell, Lincoln, Wayne	16 min
Apr 28, 3:58 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Lincoln	17 min
Apr 28, 4:15 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Boone, Kanawha	30 min
Apr 28, 12:23 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Martin	22 min
Apr 28, 3:00 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Boyd, Carter, Greenup, Lawrence	15 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kentucky, 2026 Every severe thunderstorm 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.