A high wind event occurred across eastern Kentucky on the morning of |December 1, 2006. At 7 AM, an area of low pressure was centered over |extreme eastern Illinois, with a cold front trailing south through |eastern Kentucky.
Every event with a place to put it; 30 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS JKL wrote it up.
A high wind event occurred across eastern Kentucky on the morning of |December 1, 2006. At 7 AM, an area of low pressure was centered over |extreme eastern Illinois, with a cold front trailing south through |eastern Kentucky. There was a tight pressure gradient associated with |this weather system. This helped to produce strong damaging winds |across eastern Kentucky. Winds were southwest at around 60 mph at a |couple of thousand feet above the surface of the earth. A strong jet |stream was also located over the area. Showers moving through the area helped to transport some of the high winds to the ground. Reports indicate that wind damage began around 5 AM, and continued through around 9 AM. Over 30 reports of wind damage were received at the National Weather Service office in Jackson. Trees, or tree limbs down was the most common occurence reported, however a few reports of structural damage were also received.
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 Dec 1, 4:49 AM EST, 49 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 449 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 .DISCUSSION... AT 3AM...A VERY STRONG SURFACE LOW WAS LOCATED OVER SOUTHWEST INDIANA. A COLD FRONT EXTENDED SOUTH ACROSS WESTERN KENTUCKY AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE AND THEN CURVED TTHROUGHMISSISSIPPI. A STATIONARY FRONT EXTENDED FROM THE LOW ACROSS SOUTHERN INDIANA TO JUST NORTH OF CINCINNATI AND THEN CONTINUED ACROSS EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS LOW AND COLD FRONT IS STARTING TO ACCELERATE AND WILL MOVE RAPIDLY ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING. IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY...THERE WERE REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE WITH THE CONVECTION THAT IS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA. THIS WIND DAMAGE CAME FROM A LINE OF CONVECTION THAT DID NOT EVEN HAVE ANY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THE DOPPLER RADAR VAD WINDS WERE SHOWING WINDS OF UP TO 67 MPH AT 5 THOUSAND FEET. THE SHOWERS MOVING THE AREA WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MIX THIS HIGHER VELOCITY WIND DOWN TO THE SURFACE AS THEY MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING. AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER...A TORNADO WATCH WAS ISSUED FOR THE WESTERN AND NORTHWESTERN COUNTIES OF THE FORECAST AREA. THE MAIN THREAT FOR A TORNADO IS REALLY MORE THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. EVEN THERE...THE CHANCES OF ONE ACTUALLY FORMING ARE PRETTY REMOTE. THE DYNAMICS OF THIS WEATHER PATTERN IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT CAUSED TORNADOS OVER NORTH CAROLINA RECENTLY. DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE LOW AND THE INTENSE SPEED SHEAR...A TORNADO COULD BE RAPIDLY SPUN UP. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT ANY TORNADO THAT FORMED WOULD MOST LIKELY BE SHORT LIVED AND WILL HAVE VERY LOW TOPS ON THE RADAR. IT MAY EVEN BE POSSIBLE FOR A TORNADO TO FORM IN A CELL THAT DOES NOT PRODUCE ANY THUNDER. THE TEMPERATURE CHANGE ACROSS THIS FRONT WILL BE PRETTY DRAMATIC AND THE SHOWERS THAT FORM BEHIND THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON MAY CONTAIN SOME SNOW OR A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW AS THEY MOVE THROUGH. THIS FRONT SHOULD MOVE THROUGH PRETTY QUICKLY TODAY AND ALL THE SHOWERS SHOULD BE OUT OF THE AREA BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR THE DAY...AND MAYBE FOR THE MONTH...WILL OCCUR THIS MORNING OUT AHEAD OF THE FRONT. ONCE THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH...TEMPERATURES WILL RETURN TO NORMAL DECEMBER VALUES. && .PREV DISCUSSION... 0103 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 AVIATION... GENERALLY IFR CONDITION WILL PREVAIL UNTIL A COLD FRONT ARRIVES AROUND SUNRISE...PUSHING QUICKLY ACROSS THE AREA. EXPECT THE TYPICAL LOWERING OF CIGS BEHIND THE FRONT TO MVFR. ALSO THERE WILL BE A BRIEF WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY...ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO...FOR THUNDER AS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY PUSHES THROUGH. HOWEVER...THE MAIN STORY WILL BE THE WINDS BEHIND THE EXITING SYSTEM. FORECAST SOUNDINGS AND TIME HEIGHT SECTIONS WOULD SUGGEST THE POTENTIAL FOR SUSTAINED WINDS TO OCCASIONALLY CLIMB TO BETWEEN 20 AND 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH WITH AND BEHIND THE FRONT. 1106 PM EST THU NOV 30 2006 3Z SFC ANALYSIS HAD THE WAVE OVER WESTERN TN. MAINLY HIGH CLOUDS WERE OVER THE BULK OF THE CWA...WITH SOME LOW AND MID CLOUDS OVER THE WESTERN CWA. SHOWERS HAVE GENERALLY REMAINED WEST OF THE CWA THUS FAR...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NW COUNTIES. THE LOW WILL RAPIDLY DEEPEN OVERNIGHT...AND IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE IND AREA BY 12Z. SHOWERS WILL FINALLY ADVANCE EAST INTO THE CWA ONCE THE LOW REACHES THE LOWER OH VALLEY...AFFECTING MOST OF THE CWA IN THE 9 TO 15Z TIME FRAME. OVERALL...THE PREVIOUS FORECAST WAS IN GREAT SHAPE. MADE SOME SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT IN THE HOURLY T AND POP GRIDS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE LATEST TRENDS. THE WIND ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE CWA ON FRI STILL LOOKS ON TRACK BASED. 535 PM EST THU NOV 30 2006 21Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS THE PRE-EXISTING COLD FRONT QUITE WELL RUNNING FROM NEAR ERIE SOUTH WEST TO NEAR EVV THEN IT GETS WRAPPED UP IN THE DEVELOPING SFC WAVE OVER ARKANSAS. THIS DEEPENING LOW WILL RAPIDLY COME NORTHEAST TONIGHT AND FRIDAY WITH A WHOLE GAMUT OF WEATHER FOR EAST KENTUCKY. ON RADAR...A STEADY STREAM OF MODERATE SHOWERS IS RIDING NORTH ALONG THE FRONT. FURTHER EAST...THE UP-GLIDE LIGHT RAINS CONTINUE OVER FAR EAST KENTUCKY. MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES TODAY KEPT TEMPERATURES IN CHECK WITH READINGS TOPPING OUT IN THE UPPER 60S...JUST SHY OF RECORD HIGHS. THIS PLEASANT WEATHER WILL COME TO A CRASHING HALT TOMORROW MORNING AS THE SYSTEM AND ITS COLD FRONT COME THROUGH. AFTER A PERIOD OF GOOD AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MODELS THE LATEST RUNS ARE A BIT OFF FROM EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPACT...CLOSED UPPER LOW COMING OUT OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND RACING TO NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND BY FRIDAY NIGHT. THE NAM IS RUNNING ABOUT 3 HOURS SLOWER THAN THE GFS WITH SIMILAR STRENGTH. DUE TO BETTER SUPPORT FROM THE OTHER MODELS AND ENSEMBLES HAVE GONE WITH THE GFS TIMING FOR THIS SYSTEM. IN THE WAKE OF THIS LOW...THE PATTERN QUICKLY FLATTENS OUT THROUGH THE WEEKEND BEFORE ANOTHER ILL-TIMED TROUGH PASSES THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY. THIS WAVE PASSES QUICKLY...AS WELL...WITH MORE MODERATION IN ITS WAKE. TOWARD THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD...THE NEXT TROUGH MAY BE BREWING OVER THE PLAINS FOR THURSDAY. SENSIBLE WEATHER WILL BE QUITE ACTIVE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS AS THE POTENT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ROLLS PAST JUST TO THE WEST. THE SYSTEM/S COLD FRONT WILL BE PROPELLED BY 850 MB WINDS OF 65 KTS. MUCH OF THIS WIND WILL BE TRANSFERED TO THE SFC AS WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH ESPECIALLY WITH SHOWERS OR ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT MANAGE TO DEVELOP IN THE LOW CAPE...HIGH DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT. AS A RESULT...HAVE EXTENDED THE WIND ADVISORY TO THE REST OF THE CWA FOR FRIDAY WITH THE HIGHER TERRAIN IN THE EAST SEEING THE HIGHEST WIND GUSTS...APPROACHING 50 MPH. FOLLOWING THE GFS...HAVE TIMED THE FRONT THROUGH BETWEEN 7 AND 10 AM EST...WHEN THE WORST WEATHER IS EXPECTED. BEHIND THE FRONT...SHALLOW COLD AIR WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE CWA...EVENTUALLY CHANGING LINGERING SHOWERS TO SNOW. THE DEEPER MOISTURE WILL MOVE OUT WITH THE FRONT BUT THE NAM TIME HEIGHT SERIES SHOWS A LAYER OF HIGH RH BEHIND THE FRONT IN THE COLD AIR WITH TEMPERATURES LOW ENOUGH TO SUPPORT ICE CRYSTALS FOR A TIME. HOWEVER...THE FLOW WILL NOT BE FAVORABLE FOR UPSLOPE AND THE MOISTURE TOO LIMITED FOR ANY ACCUMULATION. THE SNOW SHOWER AND FLURRY ACTIVITY WILL DIE OFF IN THE EVENING...BUT THERE MAY ALSO BE POCKETS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE LEFT BEHIND AS THE LOW CLOUDS LOSE THEIR ICE CRYSTALS. HAVE ADDED A TOUCH OF THIS TO THE GRIDS...BUT LEFT OUT OF THE TEXT ZONES FOR NOW. THE REST OF THE WEEKEND WILL SEE MODERATION OF THE SHALLOW COLD AIR BEFORE ANOTHER...DRY...FRONT PASSES THROUGH SUNDAY TO RE-ENFORCE THE CHILL. FOLLOWING THIS...MODERATION IS EXPECTED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...BEFORE ANOTHER FRONT AND LOW SETTLE INTO THE AREA WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SNOW OR RAIN SHOWERS THANKS TO A DEVELOPING BAROCLINIC ZONE OVER THE AREA COMBINING WITH MOISTURE STREAMING NORTH OUT OF THE GULF. AGAIN USED A BLEND OF THE NAM AND GFS RAW TEMPERATURE GRIDS TO COME UP WITH THE NON-DIURNAL TEMP CURVE EXPECTED FRIDAY WITH THE FRONT. MOS TEMPERATURES WERE SIMILAR AFTER FRIDAY...SO GENERALLY FOLLOWED A BLEND ALONG WITH THE INHERITED TEMPS. AS FOR POPS...GENERALLY WENT ABOVE MOS TONIGHT AND FRIDAY DUE TO EXPECTING MEASUREMENT BEFORE AND AFTER 12Z. ALSO WENT A TAD ABOVE MOS IN THE MOUNTAINS FRIDAY NIGHT FOR LINGERING SNOW SHOWERS. AFTERWARDS...POPS WERE NEGLIGIBLE SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. AS FOR THE NDFD/IFPS GRIDS...USED MY USUAL PROCEDURE TO POPULATE THE WIND AND DEWPOINT GRIDS FROM THE NAM12 THROUGH 84 HOURS. BOTH THE DEWPOINTS AND THE WINDS CAME IN REASONABLE SO ONLY MINOR TWEAKS WERE MADE. DID FINE TUNE THE SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS AND GUSTS FOR MIDDAY FRIDAY TO BETTER MATCH THE EXPECTATIONS AND OUR ADVISORY VALUES. AGAIN THE REST OF THE FORECAST WAS IN TERRIFIC SHAPE WITH THE TIMING AND EXTENT OF THE SKY AND POP GRIDS. DID END UP SPENDING A GOOD DEAL TO TIME GETTING THE WEATHER GRIDS TO REFLECT THE COMPLICATED WEATHER PATTERN AND THE VARIOUS TRANSITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. 1123 AM EST THU NOV 30 2006 SOUTHERLY FLOW MAINTAINING ENOUGH OF A DOWNSLOPE TO REALLY HELP HOLD PRECIP OFF SO FAR TODAY. LATE TODAY HOWEVER...LARGE SCALE FORCING FOR LIFT WILL INCREASE AS POWERFUL UPPER SYSTEM BEGINS TO LIFT NORTHEAST AND WINDS WILL SHIFT A LITTLE MORE SSW AS FRONT GETS A LITTLE CLOSER. WITH THIS IN MIND KEPT POPS IN THE 40-50 PERCENT RANGE TODAY....BUT STRESSED LATE DAY NATURE OF PRECIP CHANCES IN THE FORECAST. PREV NEAR RECORD WARM FORECAST HIGHS IN THE L70S STILL LOOK ON TRACK. REAL ACTION WILL BE OVERNIGHT AS DYNAMIC SYSTEM WITH VERY POWERFUL COLD FRONT AFFECTS THE REGION. INSTABILITY WILL BE LIMITED...BUT STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE CONVECTION (WITH OR WITHOUT THUNDER) WILL BE LIKELY GIVEN DEGREE OF FORCING AND KINEMATICS. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR KYZ044-KYZ050- KYZ051-KYZ052-KYZ058-KYZ059-KYZ060-KYZ068-KYZ069-KYZ079-KYZ080- KYZ083-KYZ084-KYZ085-KYZ086-KYZ104-KYZ106-KYZ107-KYZ108-KYZ109- KYZ110-KYZ111-KYZ112-KYZ113-KYZ114-KYZ115-KYZ116-KYZ117-KYZ119. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR KYZ087-KYZ088- KYZ118-KYZ120. && JJ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 510 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 CORRECTED SEVERAL FORMATTING ERRORS KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-083-104-106-108-111-021315- FLEMING-MONTGOMERY-BATH-ROWAN-ESTILL-POWELL-MENIFEE-ROCKCASTLE- JACKSON-PULASKI-WAYNE-ELLIOTT-MORGAN-WOLFE-LEE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FLEMINGSBURG...MOUNT STERLING... OWINGSVILLE...MOREHEAD...IRVINE...STANTON...FRENCHBURG... MOUNT VERNON...MCKEE...SOMERSET...MONTICELLO...SANDY HOOK... WEST LIBERTY...CAMPTON...BEATTYVILLE 510 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... ...TORNADO WATCH 872 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A VERY REMOTE POSSIBILITY OF A TORNADO FORMING THIS MORNING AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. A TORNADO IS POSSIBLE EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF THUNDER. AS SHOWERS AND OR THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS MORNING...WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON WITH NO ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS OVER PORTIONS OF THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL IN ANY WIND DAMAGE REPORTS THIS MORNING. KYZ080-084>086-107-109-110-112>117-119-021315- LAUREL-MCCREARY-WHITLEY-KNOX-JOHNSON-MAGOFFIN-FLOYD-BREATHITT-KNOTT- OWSLEY-PERRY-CLAY-LESLIE-MARTIN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LONDON...WHITLEY CITY...CORBIN... WILLIAMSBURG...BARBOURVILLE...PAINTSVILLE...SALYERSVILLE... PRESTONSBURG...JACKSON...HINDMAN...BOONEVILLE...HAZARD... MANCHESTER...HYDEN...INEZ 510 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. AS SHOWERS AND OR THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS MORNING...WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON WITH NO ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS OVER PORTIONS OF THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL IN ANY WIND DAMAGE REPORTS THIS MORNING. KYZ087-088-118-120-021315- BELL-HARLAN-LETCHER-PIKE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MIDDLESBORO...PINEVILLE...HARLAN... WHITESBURG...PIKEVILLE 509 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. AS SHOWERS AND OR THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS MORNING...WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE TODAY AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE 2500 FT. SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON WITH LITTLE OR NO ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS OVER PORTIONS OF THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL IN ANY WIND DAMAGE REPORTS THIS MORNING. JJ
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
30 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees down countywide including the London area.
Trees down countywide including the Williamsburg area.
Five trees down across county including the Beattyville area.
Tree down on car along Highway 27 near Whitley City.
Trees down on Highways 90 and 896 three miles northwest of Honeybee.
Tree down six miles north of Mount Sterling.
Tree on roadway on Hingston Pike 1 mile east of Mount Sterling.
A tree down 12 miles north of Irvine.
One tree down 3 miles north of Irvine.
One tree down 2 miles west of Irvine.
Trees down countywide including the Hyden area.
One tree down in Stanton.
Tree down on Fletcher Ridge near Mariba.
Tree down in Clay City.
Tree through house in Cawood 1 mile southeast of Bobs Creek.
Several trees down at Carons Creek on Highway 72 west near Liggett.
Tree on car in Keith.
Large tree down in McKee.
One tree down on Highway 746 at mile marker number 8 in Calboose.
Gust of 50 kts measured at Jkl Asos.
Eight trees down around the county.
Three trees down across the county.
County garage has responded to approximately 20 trees down countywide. Events occured between 6 and 9 am.
Roof blown off of old building in downtown West Liberty. Three vehicles damaged by the debris.
Several trailers in a mobile home park 3 miles south of Clearfield damaged. One trailer had the roof blown off.
Five trees down in David.
Twenty five to thirty trees down across the county.
Six trees down on Highways 119 and 160.
Several trees down countywide.
Three trees were blown down along with powerlines. Damage occurred in Pikeville and Biggs.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, December 2006
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: 7002, 7003, 7005, 7006, 7007, 7009, 7010, 7117, 7118, 7119, 7120, 7121, 7122, 7123, 7124, 7125, 7126, 7127, 7128, 7129, 7130, 7131, 7132, 7133, 7798, 7799, 7800, 7801, 7802, 9812.