Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 30, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this tornado warning at Aug 11, 2026, 5:03 PM EDT for Carter County, Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was in force for 42 min. 1 report 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
- Aug 11, 2026, 5:03 PM EDT (21:03 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 11, 2026, 5:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 42 min
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Carter County, KY, Lawrence County, KY
The radar
The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 74 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:04 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 5:15 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 6 Wnw Olive Hill, KY | Tree on power line. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 2:36 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 148 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
- 3952 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -27 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 708 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 29 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 144 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 188 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 2.4
- Supercell composite
- 13.3
The text
As transmitted.
072
WFUS51 KRLX 112103
TORRLX
KYC043-127-112145-
/O.NEW.KRLX.TO.W.0030.260811T2103Z-260811T2145Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
503 PM EDT Tue Aug 11 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston West Virginia has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northwestern Lawrence County in northeastern Kentucky...
Carter County in northeastern Kentucky...
* Until 545 PM EDT.
* At 503 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Camp Dix, or 11 miles northwest of Carter Caves
State Park, moving southeast at 45 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...
Olive Hill, Carter Caves State Park, and Gesling around 510 PM
EDT.
Grayson Lake State Park around 525 PM EDT.
Webbville around 535 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Houckville, Grahn, Soldier, Globe, Carter, Willard, and Hitchins.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3834 8323 3843 8324 3850 8316 3826 8279
3824 8279 3818 8267 3796 8300 3801 8302
3811 8289 3817 8292 3817 8297 3820 8301
3818 8305 3823 8309 3827 8317 3824 8322
3820 8323 3819 8326 3821 8330 3832 8334
TIME...MOT...LOC 2103Z 322DEG 41KT 3846 8330
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
25What 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 Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Aug 11, 3:38 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1.) Episodic rounds of showers and storms so far today sets the stage for additional activity moving in late this afternoon and evening, leading to little to no reprieve. 2.) Daily chances of showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain prevails through the end of the week. A small window of reprieve arrives on Saturday before filling back in quickly with active weather for the second half of the weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 11, 3:38 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
338 PM EDT Tue Aug 11 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Thunderstorm activity thus far today leaves behind widespread
tree and power line damage and rainfall amounts in excess of 2
to 4 inches. While a Severe Thunderstorm Watch gradually reduces
in size across SE West Virginia with the departure of these
storms, renewed severe potential arrives in the next few hours
from the west, warranting a new Watch for portions of Kentucky
and Ohio.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1.) Episodic rounds of showers and storms so far today sets the
stage for additional activity moving in late this afternoon and
evening, leading to little to no reprieve.
2.) Daily chances of showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain
prevails through the end of the week. A small window of reprieve
arrives on Saturday before filling back in quickly with active
weather for the second half of the weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
Radar trends at the time of writing depicts several clusters of
thunderstorm activity from the Midwest into the Appalachians.
Several rounds of severe and flooding have already pressed
through the forecast area today, contributing to widespread tree
and power line damage, as well as life-threatening flash
flooding.
Atmospheric recovery efforts already appears underway, with the
western flank of the forecast area branching back out into
sunshine and temperatures quickly rising back into the 70s to
almost low 80s. Focusing on convection upstream, a corridor of
severe strength storms stretches from central Indiana into the
Columbus area of Ohio and tracking south-southeastward. Storms
will likely follow the path of least resistance when it comes to
their propagation through the Ohio Valley, and that will be
strongly based on areas of best destabilization. With that in
mind, opted to hoist a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for parts of
Kentucky and Ohio through the afternoon as we closely track this
line. As has been the case with the history of storms today,
convective activity will be capable of producing damaging to
destructive wind gusts, quarter size hail, embedded rotation
that could touch down into a tornado, and heavy downpours.
Confidence in the forecast for the overnight period remains low,
with each cycle run of our readily Convective Available Models
suggesting additional development of storms along a pseudo-warm
front parked overhead. Repetition of these overnight storms will
contribute to ongoing flash flooding concerns across the
forecast area. The Flood Watch remains in effect tonight into
most of the work week.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms triumphs through at
least Thursday while a frontal boundary remains draped through
the heart of the Ohio Valley. Propagation of these storms will
remain closely tied to the low to mid level wind field each day,
which will sometimes cause a southeastward approach of
convection and at other times bypass our forecast area
altogether. Complexes that are able to hold their composure and
venture into the area will bring damaging wind gusts and
torrential heavy rain. Sufficient rainfall producers will only
exacerbate already inundated soils more and could lead to easily
achievable flash flooding. Thus, the Flood Watch remains in
place through Friday morning.
The start of the weekend trends slightly drier with the mass
exodus of the stalled front, but may quickly fill back in with
additional convection aiming for the Central Appalachians for
Sunday and onward.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Flight conditions remain tarnished by showers and thunderstorms
through the afternoon and evening as clusters of activity
continue to drive in from the northwest. Storms today have had a
history of strong wind gusts from 40 to 70 knots as well as IFR
vsbys, so will maintain that trend as this line of storms track
into southeast West Virginia. Additional activity propagates in
from the Ohio Valley late this afternoon into this evening.
Behind thunderstorm activity tonight, excess moisture and
calming winds will work in tandem to create locally dense fog
and low ceilings over our airspace. All sites will be
susceptible overnight to fog development, especially those who
have received rain amounts of an inch or more today.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Low.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Thunderstorm timing and associated
restrictions may vary.
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.
UTC 1HRLY 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04
EDT 1HRLY 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00
CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H L M H L L
HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H M H
BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H M M H L
EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H M H H M
PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H M H H H L H
CKB CONSISTENCY M H H H H H H H H H H H
AFTER 18Z WEDNESDAY...
Wednesday through Friday, additional convective complexes favor
daily chances of showers and thunderstorms with MVFR or IFR in
heavy rain. Morning valley fog or low stratus may return after
wetting rains, especially at EKN and other sheltered sites.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through Friday morning for WVZ005>011-013>020-
024>034-039-040-515>526.
OH...Flood Watch through Friday morning for OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through Friday morning for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Flood Watch through Friday morning for VAZ003-004.
&&
DISCUSSION...05
AVIATION...05In the hours before
Local storm report, Aug 11, 4:33 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
433 PM EDT Tue Aug 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1215 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 W Chesapeake 38.43N 82.47W
08/11/2026 Lawrence OH 911 Call Center
Tree down on Tallow Ridge Road.
&&
JLBLocal storm report, Aug 11, 4:34 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
434 PM EDT Tue Aug 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1205 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 NNE Hanging Rock 38.60N 82.70W
08/11/2026 Lawrence OH 911 Call Center
Tree down on State Route 650.
&&
JLBLocal storm report, Aug 11, 4:36 PM EDT, 27 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
436 PM EDT Tue Aug 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1221 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 6 NNW Chesapeake 38.51N 82.48W
08/11/2026 Lawrence OH 911 Call Center
Tree down on County Road 230.
&&
JLBLocal storm report, Aug 11, 4:37 PM EDT, 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
437 PM EDT Tue Aug 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1223 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 N Proctorville 38.50N 82.39W
08/11/2026 Lawrence OH 911 Call Center
Tree on lines on State Route 775.
&&
JLBLocal storm report, Aug 11, 4:45 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
445 PM EDT Tue Aug 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0745 AM Flash Flood 6 NW Leon 38.81N 82.02W
08/11/2026 Mason WV Public
High water over Greer Road. Location is
estimated.
&&Local storm report, Aug 11, 5:03 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
503 PM EDT Tue Aug 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0235 PM Flash Flood 2 NNE Mount Hope 37.93N 81.16W
08/11/2026 Fayette WV Public
High water surrounding a building in Glen
Jean.
&&
GWThe office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 11:28 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Greenup | 32 min |
| Aug 11, 12:07 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Boyd, Carter, Greenup | 23 min |
| Aug 11, 12:21 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Boyd | 24 min |
| Aug 11, 12:30 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Boyd, Carter, Lawrence | 30 min |
| Aug 11, 12:41 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Martin | 34 min |
| Aug 11, 12:59 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Lawrence | 31 min |
| Aug 11, 4:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Boyd, Carter, Greenup | 30 min |
| Aug 11, 5:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Boyd, Carter, Greenup, Lawrence | 79 min |
| Aug 11, 5:25 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Boyd, Carter, Greenup | 20 min |
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.