Kentucky, 1997

Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Kentucky, June 1 to 2, 1997

June 1 to 2, 1997 · NWS ILN · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

An upper level cut-off low pressure lingered across the Ohio valley from May 31st through the June 2nd. Much of northern Kentucky received 2-4 inches of rain on the 31st and 1st in widespread rain.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$78,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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 ILN wrote it up.

An upper level cut-off low pressure lingered across the Ohio valley from May 31st through the June 2nd. Much of northern Kentucky received 2-4 inches of rain on the 31st and 1st in widespread rain. Scattered thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall developed on the 2nd.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Mason

When
June 1, 12:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where
Mason County, Countywide
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
38.595, -83.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Persistent heavy rainfall caused creeks and streams to rise out of their banks. Several cars were washed away in Maysville.

Flash Flood, Campbell

When
June 1, 12:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where
Campbell County, Countywide
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
38.947, -84.380 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Persistent heavy rainfall caused many roads and creeks to be flooded.

Flash Flood, Boone

When
June 1, 12:00 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where
Boone County, Countywide
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
38.970, -84.728 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rainfall caused creeks and streams to rise out of their banks. Numerous roads and a bridge were flooded.

Flash Flood, Gallatin

When
June 1, 11:00 AM EST to 12:30 PM EST
Where
Gallatin County, Countywide
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
38.757, -84.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous roads flooded.

Flash Flood, Owen

When
June 1, 11:00 AM EST to 12:30 PM EST
Where
Owen County, Countywide
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
38.520, -84.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous roads flooded.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bracken

When
June 2, 4:45 PM EST
Where
Bracken County, Bradford
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
38.780, -84.150

Trees downed across Rt 8.

Flash Flood, Lewis

When
June 2, 8:00 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Lewis County, Vanceburg
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
38.532, -83.378 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Roads flooded.

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.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kentucky in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, June 1997

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: 5607155, 5607238, 5607239, 5607240, 5607241, 5607242, 5607243.