Kentucky, 1997

Flash Flood in Kentucky, March 1, 1997

March 1, 1997 · NWS PAH · 1 event in 1 county or zone

About 6 inches of rain within 48 hours caused flash flooding of roads and streams. Only a few evacuations were necessary.

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.

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  • Wind
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  • Cold
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$70,000
Crop damage
None recorded
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 PAH wrote it up.

About 6 inches of rain within 48 hours caused flash flooding of roads and streams. Minor flooding of a nursing home was reported.Only a few evacuations were necessary. U.S. 45 was closed by high water between Water Valley and Wingo. Extensive flooding of streets and creeks occurred in Mayfield, but few if any buildings were affected.

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:14 UTC.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Graves

When
March 1, 5:15 PM CST to 8:45 PM CST
Where
Graves County, Mayfield
Property damage
$70,000
Coordinates
36.723, -88.651 (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 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, March 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: 5594888.