Kentucky, 2001Flash Flood in Kentucky, August 4, 2001
August 4, 2001 · NWS JKL · 1 event in 1 county or zone
1 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.
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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- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $548,000
- 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 forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Jackson, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 4, 2:30 AM EST, 0 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 2:30 AM EST, 0 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
330 AM EDT SAT AUG 4 2001
COMPLEX MESOSCALE EVENT UNDERWAY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AT THIS TIME.
LATEST RADAR IMAGES SHOW A DEVELOPING MESO LOW CENTERED OVER PIKE
COUNTY WITH CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF WARM TOP CONVECTION OVER THE
MOUNTAINS. THIS HAS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL OVER SEVERAL
COUNTIES FROM HARLAN TO PIKE COUNTIES AND MUCH OF THE HEADWATER
REGIONS FOR THE KENTUCKY AND CUMBERLAND RIVERS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF
2 TO 4 INCHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THUS THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM OF THE
DAY...WHAT TO DO WITH THE LINGERING RAINFALL OVER THE REGION TODAY.
FOR NOW HAVE OPTED TO NOT ISSUE A FLASH FLOOD WATCH. THE RAINFALL
WILL DECREASE IN INTENSITY AND COVERAGE BEFORE 10 AM AND EXPECT THAT
ISOLATED SHOWERS WILL EXIT THE STATE BEFORE NOON. STILL THE RIVERS
AND CREEKS WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW AND BEST HANDLED WITH THE CURRENT
BATTERY OF FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS IN EFFECT. MAY HAVE TO EXTEND A FEW
THROUGH EARLY MORNING.
NEXT PROBLEM WILL BE TEMPERATURES TODAY AND TIMING OF NEXT ROUND OF
PRECIPITATION TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK.
THE MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT AND FEEL THAT THE CLOUD COVER
WILL PERSIST OVER THE EASTERN KENTUCKY MOUNTAINS THROUGH MIDDAY.
THIS WILL HELP TO KEEP TEMPS FROM CLIMBING TOO RAPIDLY TODAY AND
HAVE DECIDED TO GO SLIGHTLY BELOW MOS GUIDANCE VALUES. FOG THIS
MORNING IS ESPECIALLY DENSE IN THE FAR WESTERN PORTION OF THE CWA AS
REPORTED BY THE MT STERLING AWOS AND OTHER STATIONS IN THE
BLUEGRASS. FOR NOW WILL MENTION IN THE MORNING PORTION OF THE ZONES
AND NOT GO WITH ANY ADVISORY.
.EXTENDED...
THIS IS THE OTHER PROBLEMATIC AREA. THE MRF HAS SUGGESTIONS THAT THE
RIDGE WILL ROLL OVER AND ALLOW FOR A SERIES OF SHORTWAVES AND AN
ASSOCIATED FRONTAL PUSH TO MOVE OVER THE FORECAST AREA BY MID WEEK.
FOR NOW HAVE OPTED TO INCLUDE SHRA/TSRA OVER MOST AREAS BEGINNING
TUES AND CONTINUEING INTO THE END OF THE WORKWEEK. COVERAGE AND
INTENSITY STILL IN QUESTION. WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEW MRF TO
MAKE MORE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE EXTENDED. IT APPEARS THAT THE
BULK OF THE HEAT WILL STILL REMAIN WEST OF THE REGION AND THE
FORECAST AREA SHOULD BE AT OR NEAR NORMALS FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.
.JKL...NONE
LEWIS
In the hours before
Local storm report, Aug 3, 10:33 PM EST, 3 hours 57 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON, KY
1133 PM EDT FRI AUG 3 2001
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0915 PM 5 E ALLEN KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 FLOYD EVACUATION OF HOME ON
CLARKS BRANCH ROAD AT COW
CREEK. REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND COUNTY DES.
0930 PM GULNARE KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 PIKE DRIFT BRANCH ROAD, NEAR
LOWER JOHN CREEK,
COMPLETELY IMPASSABLE DUE
TO FLOWING WATER AND
MUDSLIDES. REPORTED BY
MEMBER OF GULNARE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
0930 PM 4 NW PIKEVILLE KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 PIKE EVACUATION ATTEMPT ON
VEHICLE PUSHED OFF ROAD BY
HIGH WATER ON STATE ROUTE
1384 NEAR HURRICANE CREEK.
REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
0940 PM 5.5 SE ALLEN KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 FLOYD EVACUATION OF HOME AT MARE
CREEK. REPORTED BY COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGER.
0945 PM 5 NW PIKEVILLE KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 PIKE 4.32 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE
7 PM. CREEK NEXT TO HOUSE
OUT OF ITS BANKS. WATER
FLOWING INTO RESIDENCE.
REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE
OBSERVER.
1115 PM COUNTYWIDE KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 PIKE NUMEROUS STRANDED VEHICLES
DUE TO HIGH WATER. REPORTED
BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
1115 PM HAROLD TO HI HAT KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 KENTUCKY STATE ROUTE 979
CLOSED FROM HAROLD TO HI
HAT DUE TO HIGH WATER.
REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
KBLocal storm report, Aug 3, 10:33 PM EST, 3 hours 57 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON, KY
1133 PM EDT FRI AUG 3 2001
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0915 PM 5 E ALLEN KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 FLOYD EVACUATION OF HOME ON
CLARKS BRANCH ROAD AT COW
CREEK. REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND COUNTY DES.
0930 PM GULNARE KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 PIKE DRIFT BRANCH ROAD, NEAR
LOWER JOHN CREEK,
COMPLETELY IMPASSABLE DUE
TO FLOWING WATER AND
MUDSLIDES. REPORTED BY
MEMBER OF GULNARE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
0930 PM 4 NW PIKEVILLE KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 PIKE EVACUATION ATTEMPT ON
VEHICLE PUSHED OFF ROAD BY
HIGH WATER ON STATE ROUTE
1384 NEAR HURRICANE CREEK.
REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
0940 PM 5.5 SE ALLEN KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 FLOYD EVACUATION OF HOME AT MARE
CREEK. REPORTED BY COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGER.
0945 PM 5 NW PIKEVILLE KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 PIKE 4.32 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE
7 PM. CREEK NEXT TO HOUSE
OUT OF ITS BANKS. WATER
FLOWING INTO RESIDENCE.
REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE
OBSERVER.
1115 PM COUNTYWIDE KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 PIKE NUMEROUS STRANDED VEHICLES
DUE TO HIGH WATER. REPORTED
BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
1115 PM HAROLD TO HI HAT KY FLASH FLOODS
08/03/01 FLOYD KENTUCKY STATE ROUTE 979
CLOSED FROM HAROLD TO HI
HAT DUE TO HIGH WATER.
REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
CORRECTED FOR SPACING
KBLocal storm report, Aug 3, 11:41 PM EST, 2 hours 49 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON, KY
1241 AM EDT SAT AUG 4 2001
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1220 AM HAROLD KY FLASH FLOODS
08/04/01 FLOYD MUD CREEK FLOWING OVER HWY
979. REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
1225 AM BRINKLEY KY FLASH FLOODS
08/04/01 KNOTT DEEP WATER FLOWING OVER
HWY 160. REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.Local storm report, Aug 4, 1:51 AM EST, 39 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON, KY
251 AM EDT SAT AUG 4 2001
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0156 AM ISOM KY FLASH FLOODS
08/04/01 LETCHER WATER FLOWING OVER DOTY
CREEK ROAD. REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
0200 AM MCDOWELL KY FLASH FLOODS
08/04/01 FLOYD WATER FLOWING OVER
NUMEROUS ROADS. REPORTED BY
SPOTTER.
0230 AM VICCO KY FLASH FLOODS
08/04/01 PERRY WATER FLOWING OVER
MONTGOMERY CREEK ROAD. ALSO
TWO FAMILIES TRAPPED DUE TO
FLASH FLOODING NEAR VICCO.
REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
0230 AM HINDMAN KY FLASH FLOODS
08/04/01 KNOTT FIVE FEET OF WATER OVER
HIGHWAY 550. REPORTED BY
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
0235 AM BLACKEY KY FLASH FLOODS
08/04/01 LETCHER WATER FLOWING OVER HWY 7.
REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
0245 AM BLACKEY KY FLASH FLOODS
08/04/01 LETCHER ELK CREEK OUT OF ITS BANKS
COVERING 3408 AT HWY 7.
REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.Local storm report, Aug 4, 2:19 AM EST, 11 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON, KY
319 AM EDT SAT AUG 4 2001
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0306 AM TOTZ KY FLASH FLOODS
08/04/01 HARLAN HWY 522 FLOODED AFFECTING
3 HOMES IN THE TOWN OF
TOTZ. REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.Flash Flood, Letcher
- When
- August 4, 2:30 AM EST to 6:00 AM EST
- Where
- Letcher County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $548,000
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 37.121, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Public roads and bridges were no match for the flash flooding that moved through the county. Heavy rains on already saturated ground produced widespread damage. The damage was extensive enough for the county to be classified as a Presidentially Declared Disaster Area. Homes were also damaged in the deluge in the Gilley and Gordon areas. Kentucky Highway 510 was completely flooded and residents of the area had to be rescued from the high water.
- 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.
- Heat in Minnesota, August 4 to 8, 20015 deaths · 42 events
- Tropical Storm in Florida, August 4 to 6, 2001$5.0 million · 14 events
- Flash Flood in North Carolina, August 4, 2001$3.7 million · 1 event
- Tropical Storm in Florida, August 4 to 6, 2001$700,000 · 6 events
- Flash Flood in Kentucky, August 4, 2001$800,000 · 1 event
- Flash Flood in Kentucky, August 4, 20011 injured · $385,000 · 1 event
- Flash Flooding in Pennsylvania, August 4, 2001$300,000 · 2 events
- Damaging Wind in New Jersey, August 4, 20016 injured · 50 kt wind · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, August 4, 20011 injured · $50,000 · 65 kt wind · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Arkansas, August 4, 2001$50,000 · 61 kt wind · 1 event
- Tropical Storm in Alabama, August 4 to 5, 2001$40,000 · 4 events
- Lightning Strike in New Jersey, August 4, 2001$25,000 · 1 event
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: 5264003.