Kentucky, 2000

Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in Kentucky, August 24, 2000

August 24, 2000 · NWS LMK · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
2
Injuries
0
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When
August 24, 12:15 AM EST
Where
Meade County, Countywide
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.950, -86.217

Trees and power lines were downed by thunderstorm winds. Some of the trees were blown on to power lines.

Lightning, Nelson

When
August 24, 2:00 AM EST
Where
Nelson County, New Haven
Deaths
2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
37.805, -85.466 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During the early morning hours of Thursday August 24, 2000, a complex of thunderstorms across South Central Indiana moved south into North Central Kentucky. The area of thunderstorms produced very heavy rain, locally strong winds and frequent lightning. A lightning strike apparently started a fire in a mobile home around 2 AM EST, possibly after striking near a propane tank. Two females, ages 7 and 9, were killed in the mobile home, apparently due to smoke inhalation.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Lightning, Nelson2000-08-247FemaleMobile/Trailer HomeDirect
Lightning, Nelson2000-08-249FemaleMobile/Trailer HomeDirect

What these are

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kentucky in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, August 2000

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: 5170573, 5170574.