Kentucky, 1998

Flash Flooding and Hail in Kentucky, July 20, 1998

July 20, 1998 · NWS ILN · 7 events in 4 counties and zones

3 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
$50,000
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.

The radar

The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Campbell

When
July 20, 1:30 AM EST to 1:35 AM EST
Where
Campbell County, Alexandria
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.970, -84.380

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When
July 20, 2:00 AM EST to 2:05 AM EST
Where
Campbell County, Newport
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.080, -84.480

Strong winds caused a roof to be blown off a structure.

Lightning, Campbell

When
July 20, 2:00 AM EST
Where
Campbell County, Highland Hgts
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
38.947, -84.380 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck an apartment building, causing the roof and top floor to catch on fire.

Thunderstorm Wind, Owen

When
July 20, 4:00 AM EST to 4:20 AM EST
Where
Owen County, Countywide
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.530, -84.830

Numerous trees downed.

Flash Flood, Carroll

When
July 20, 5:30 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Carroll County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.668, -85.124 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours of heavy rainfall caused county creeks to rise out of their banks. People were evacuated from a few mobile homes. Also, numerous county roads were covered by the high water.

Flash Flood, Owen

When
July 20, 6:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Owen County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.520, -84.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rainfall caused several county roads to be covered with water.

Flash Flood, Gallatin

When
July 20, 6:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Gallatin County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.757, -84.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours of heavy rainfall left roads covered in water and some creeks out of their banks.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, July 1998

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: 5657084, 5657085, 5657089, 5657083, 5657086, 5657087, 5657088.