Kentucky, 1996

Flash Flood in Kentucky, July 19, 1996

July 19, 1996 · NWS RLX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Some of the creeks left high water marks 8 to 12 feet abovetheir banks. Local residents said it was the worst flashflood there since the early 1950s.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$400,000
Crop damage
$100,000
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS RLX wrote it up.

Creeks in the Webbville, Needmore, Cherokee region flooded.Some of the creeks left high water marks 8 to 12 feet abovetheir banks. Local residents said it was the worst flashflood there since the early 1950s. Caney Creek, Dry Fork,and Brushy Branch damaged 5 single family homes. About 15familes were evacuated. Cherokee Creek knocked a small wooded church off its foundation. Tobacco crops were damaged. Small bridges across the creeks were damaged ordestroyed.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Lawrence

When
July 19, 8:15 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Lawrence County, Webbville
Property damage
$400,000
Crop damage
$100,000
Coordinates
38.068, -82.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kentucky in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, July 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5565209.