Kentucky, 2002

Flooding in Kentucky, March 17 to 23, 2002

March 17 to 23, 2002 · NWS JKL · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

The Cumberland River flooded between March 18th and 23rd due to relentless heavy rains. A total of 300 residents were displaced along the Cumberland River, 5 bridges were destroyed, and several vehicles were swept away.

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
$27 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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 JKL wrote it up.

The Cumberland River flooded between March 18th and 23rd due to relentless heavy rains. A total of 300 residents were displaced along the Cumberland River, 5 bridges were destroyed, and several vehicles were swept away.

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 Mar 17, 10:40 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 17, 10:40 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
1040 PM EST SUN MAR 17 2002

03Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS INVERTED TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE NOSING UP
INTO EAST KENTUCKY. THIS IS LEADING TO ALL SORTS OF QPF PROBLEMS AS
THE RADAR CONTINUES TO SHOW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS OUR
SOUTHERN TIER. ON SATELLITE THERE HAS BEEN SOME WARMING OF THE CLOUD
TOPS OVER EAST KENTUCKY...BUT THE NEXT BATCH APPEARS TO BE GEARING
UP TO OUR WEST. A QUICK LOOK AT THE NEW MESOETA INDICATES THAT THE
INVERTED TROUGH WILL REMAIN NEARBY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT KEEPING OUR
RAIN AND FLOOD THREATS AT A MAXIMUM.

CURRENTLY... NUMEROUS FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS OUT ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN
TIER AS THE MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS CONTINUE TO TRAIN OVER THE AREA.
DESPITE THE MESOSCALE AND SHORT TERM ACTION THE CURRENT ZONE PACKAGE
REMAINS IN GOOD SHAPE WILL UPDATE JUST TO FINE TUNE RAIN CHANCES AND
MINOR WIND ADJUSTMENTS. UPDATE OUT SHORTLY.

.JKL...FFA FOR THE ABOUT THE SOUTHERN 1/2 OF THE CWA OVERNIGHT.

GREIF

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Bell

When
March 17, 11:45 PM EST to March 20, 12:42 AM EST
Where
Bell forecast zone
Property damage
$27 million
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
36.731, -83.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Harlan

When
March 18, 12:20 AM EST to 8:55 AM EST
Where
Harlan forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
36.857, -83.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Whitley

When
March 18, 1:42 AM EST to March 23, 1:38 AM EST
Where
Whitley forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
36.758, -84.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Knox

When
March 18, 3:12 AM EST to March 21, 5:13 AM EST
Where
Knox forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
36.891, -83.854 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kentucky in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, March 2002

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: 5286550, 5286645, 5286647, 5286646.