Flood in Kentucky, March 18, 2002

Name: Flood in Kentucky, March 18, 2002
Start: 2002-03-18T07:00
End: 2002-03-18T07:00
Location: Kentucky

March 18, 2002 · NWS JKL · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 flood, 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
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 Mar 18, 2:40 AM EST, 4 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 18, 2:40 AM EST, 4 hours 20 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
240 AM EST MON MAR 18 2002

DUE TO NUMEROUS FLOODING PROBLEMS THIS MORNING...WILL HAVE TO BE
KIND OF BRIEF WITH THIS AFD. VERY SERIOUS FLOODING IS OCCURRING IN
THE CUMBERLAND RIVER BASIN EARLY THIS MORNING AND THE HEADWATERS OF
THE KY RIVER ARE RISING. PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS PACKAGE WILL HAVE TO
DEAL WITH THE SHORT TERM...AND FOR HOW LONG TO CONTINUE WITH THE
FLOOD WATCH.

05Z SFC CHART SHOWING A COMPLEX PATTERN OVER THE OHIO AND TN
VALLEYS...BUT OVERALL SHOWING ONE COLD FRONTAL BNDRY WITH NUMEROUS
LOWS OVER OH/IN/IL AND DOWN INTO AR, WITH ANOTHER BNDRY OVER THE
TN/MS VALLEY INTO E TN. 00Z 8H AND 5H CHART SHOWING A VERY MOIST SW
FLOW. RADAR SHOWING THAT THE HEAVIEST RAINS THIS MORNING CONTINUE TO
FALL OVER THE SOUTHERN MOST PORTIONS OF THE CWA WITH LIGHTER RAINS
FALLING ACROSS THE REST OF THE AREA. STORM TOTAL PRECIPS SHOWING THAT
3 TO 5 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN
COUNTIES...TAPERING OFF STEADILY TO THE NORTH ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA.

MODELS ARGUE THAT THE RAIN TODAY WILL TAPER OFF AS THE MORNING
PROGRESSES. THIS DIURNAL TREND HAS BEEN THE CASE THE LAST FEW DAYS
AND BASED ON RADAR MOSAICS THIS LOOKS ON TRACK. WILL GO WITH LIKELY
POPS TODAY WITH MENTION OF MAINLY THIS MORNING. THEN WE SHOULD GET
INTO A LULL (AGAIN) THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT. MODELS ARE IN
GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE NEXT WAVE/ROUND OF RAINS WONT MOVE IN
UNTIL LATE TONIGHT...HOWEVER MODELS HAVE NOT BEEN HANDLING TIMING OF
PCPN WELL AT ALL LATELY SO I AM A LITTLE LEARY. MODELS HAVE ALSO
BEEN TOO LIGHT ON THE QPFS. DUE TO THE FACT THAT SO MUCH FLOODING IS
ONGOING AT THIS TIME...WILL CONTINUE WITH THE FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 4 PM
TODAY FOR THE SOUTHERN 1/2-2/3 OF THE CWA. WILL LET DAYSHIFT MAKE
THE CALL ON WHETHER OR NOT TO EXTEND THE WATCH INTO TONIGHT FOR THE
NEXT ROUND OF RAINS.

ETA/AVN MODELS HAVE BEEN FLIP FLOPPING A BIT ON WHERE THE HEAVIEST
RAIN AXIS WILL SET UP FOR TUE-WED. NOW THE MODELS ARE BRINGING THE
RAINS BACK MORE SO ACROSS KY AND SOUTHERN OH/IL/IN...THE CANADIAN
MODEL IS EVEN MORE PESSIMISTIC. THE EXTENDED ETA IS SIMILAR TO THE
AVN/CANADIAN. OVERALL...IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAVIEST RAIN AXIS WILL
MOVE TO THE NORTH...BUT HOW FAR NORTH IS IN QUESTION. IM GOING TO
REMAIN A LITTLE PESSIMISTIC FOR TUE AND WED AND KEEP LIKELY POPS
GOING...WHICH WILL ADD INSULT TO INJURY AS FAR AS FLOODING PROBLEMS
ARE CONCERNED. HOWEVER...IT APPEARS THAT THE AREA OF FLOOD PROBLEMS
WILL LIFT MORE NORTHWARD AND AWAY FROM THE CUMBERLAND BASIN...BUT
MORE INTO THE KY RIVER BASIN AND THE LICKING BASIN.

PCPN SHOULD END ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WED NIGHT AS THE WHOLE SYSTEM
FINALLY WINDS UP AND LIFTS OUT. NO CHANGES PLANNED AT THIS TIME FOR
THE EXTENDED ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE THE BETTER CHC FOR LIGHT PCPN
MAY BE THUR AND NOT FRIDAY AS WE HAVE IN THE ZONES NOW. THAT PCPN
WOULD BE QUITE LIGHT THOUGH AND NOT CAUSE ANYMORE FLOOD PROBLEMS.

AVN/NGM MOS SIMILAR AND LOOK CLOSE. WILL USE A BLEND WHERE
DIFFERENCES DO OCCUR.

GFE/IFPS...JUST PLAN ON TWEAKING THE DATA BASE HERE AND THERE AS
NEEDED BASED ON LATEST GUIDANCE. WILL RAISE THE POPS SOMEWHAT FOR
WED DURING THE DAY.

WORK ZONES OUT BEFORE TOO AWFUL LONG UNDER SDFOZFJKL. FURTHER
COORDINATION WELCOME.

THANKS TO SDF AND MRX FOR COORDINATION.

.JKL...FFA FOR THE ABOUT THE SOUTHERN 1/2 OF THE CWA TODAY UNTIL 4
PM.

HALL

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 18, 2:56 AM EST, 4 hours 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON, KY
256 AM EST MON MAR 18 2002

TIME(EST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1000 PM    BARBOURVILLE              KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/18/02   KNOX                           A FEW BRIDGES WASHED OUT.
                                          TRAILER WASHED DOWN HILL.
                                          HIGHWAYS 229 AND 25 CLOSED.
                                          HIGHWAY 1527 BLOCKED.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1030 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/18/02   BELL                           MANY COUNTY ROADS UNDER
                                          WATER AND CLOSED. REPORTED
                                          BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0830 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/18/02   MCCREARY                       MANY ROADS CLOSED AND
                                          UNDER WATER. NUMEROUS
                                          ROCKSLIDES. WATER OVER
                                          HIGHWAYS 92E AND 1470.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1100 PM    LONDON                    KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/18/02   LAUREL                         ROAD CLOSED AT MIDDLE
                                          GROUND WAY AND COURT ROAD.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT.

1145 PM    SOMERSET                  KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/18/02   PULASKI                        STORM DRAINS BACKED UP.
                                          WALL COLLAPSE. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

1045 PM    MONTICELLO                KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/18/02   WAYNE                          ROUTES KY92 AND 1009
                                          CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1100 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/18/02   WHITLEY                        MANY ROADS CLOSED AND
                                          EVACUATIONS. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

1130 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/18/02   HARLAN                         MANY EVACUATIONS AND ROADS
                                          CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1215 AM    STINNETT                  KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/19/02   LESLIE                         ROADS CLOSED DUE TO
                                          FLOODING. HOMES EVACUATED
                                          IN STINNETT. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

CEG

Local storm report, Mar 18, 2:56 AM EST, 4 hours 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON, KY
256 AM EST MON MAR 18 2002

TIME(EST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1000 PM    BARBOURVILLE              KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   KNOX                           A FEW BRIDGES WASHED OUT.
                                          TRAILER WASHED DOWN HILL.
                                          HIGHWAYS 229 AND 25 CLOSED.
                                          HIGHWAY 1527 BLOCKED.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1030 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   BELL                           MANY COUNTY ROADS UNDER
                                          WATER AND CLOSED. REPORTED
                                          BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0830 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   MCCREARY                       MANY ROADS CLOSED AND
                                          UNDER WATER. NUMEROUS
                                          ROCKSLIDES. WATER OVER
                                          HIGHWAYS 92E AND 1470.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1100 PM    LONDON                    KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   LAUREL                         ROAD CLOSED AT MIDDLE
                                          GROUND WAY AND COURT ROAD.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT.

1145 PM    SOMERSET                  KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   PULASKI                        STORM DRAINS BACKED UP.
                                          WALL COLLAPSE. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

1045 PM    MONTICELLO                KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   WAYNE                          ROUTES KY92 AND 1009
                                          CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1100 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   WHITLEY                        MANY ROADS CLOSED AND
                                          EVACUATIONS. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

1130 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   HARLAN                         MANY EVACUATIONS AND ROADS
                                          CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1215 AM    STINNETT                  KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/18/02   LESLIE                         ROADS CLOSED DUE TO
                                          FLOODING. HOMES EVACUATED
                                          IN STINNETT. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

CEG

Local storm report, Mar 18, 3:37 AM EST, 3 hours 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON, KY
256 AM EST MON MAR 18 2002

TIME(EST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1000 PM    BARBOURVILLE              KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   KNOX                           A FEW BRIDGES WASHED OUT.
                                          TRAILER WASHED DOWN HILL.
                                          HIGHWAYS 229 AND 25 CLOSED.
                                          HIGHWAY 1527 BLOCKED.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1030 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   BELL                           MANY COUNTY ROADS UNDER
                                          WATER AND CLOSED. REPORTED
                                          BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0830 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   MCCREARY                       MANY ROADS CLOSED AND
                                          UNDER WATER. NUMEROUS
                                          ROCKSLIDES. WATER OVER
                                          HIGHWAYS 92E AND 1470.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1100 PM    LONDON                    KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   LAUREL                         ROAD CLOSED AT MIDDLE
                                          GROUND WAY AND COURT ROAD.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT.

1145 PM    SOMERSET                  KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   PULASKI                        STORM DRAINS BACKED UP.
                                          WALL COLLAPSE. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

1045 PM    MONTICELLO                KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   WAYNE                          ROUTES KY92 AND 1009
                                          CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1100 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   WHITLEY                        MANY ROADS CLOSED AND
                                          EVACUATIONS. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

1130 PM    COUNTY WIDE               KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/17/02   HARLAN                         MANY EVACUATIONS AND ROADS
                                          CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

1215 AM    STINNETT                  KY   FLASH FLOODS
03/18/02   LESLIE                         ROADS CLOSED DUE TO
                                          FLOODING. HOMES EVACUATED
                                          IN STINNETT. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

CEG

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Letcher

When: March 18, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Letcher County, Whitesburg
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.121, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A small amount of water was reported over highway 15.

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

Every storm in Kentucky in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 5286661.