Strong gradient winds associated with an approaching surface low and cold front were enhanced and brought to the surface by shower activity.
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.
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 LMK wrote it up.
Strong gradient winds associated with an approaching surface low and cold front were enhanced and brought to the surface by shower activity.
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 Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 28, 2:50 AM EST, 43 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 250 AM EST SUN DEC 28 2008 SHORT TERM (TODAY AND TONIGHT)... SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS A VERY SHARP COLD FRONT ATTM ALIGNED ALONG INTERSTATE 65. STRONG WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH A LINE OF SHOWERS HAVE OCCURRED WITH THIS FRONT...INCLUDING A WIND GUST OF OVER 50 MPH AT SDF. THIS FRONT WILL RACE EASTWARD AND WILL BE EXITING THE BLUEGRASS REGION AND OUR SOUTHEASTERN COUNTIES BY 5 OR 6 AM. PRIOR TO THIS...EXPECT OCCASIONAL SHOWERS AND GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS THROUGH 5 AM ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 75. NATIONALLY...AT 500MB...A TROUGH WILL QUICKLY LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES THIS MORNING. LOW PRESSURE WILL DEEPEN AS IT MOVES NORTH OF LAKE HURON LATER THIS MORNING. BY DAWN...SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FRONT WILL HAVE MOVED INTO EASTERN KENTUCKY. HIGH PRESSURE NOW ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL BUILD EASTWARD INTO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY BY LATE TODAY. WINDS THIS MORNING WILL STAY GUSTY FROM THE WEST FOR A WHILE...THEN RELAX BY EARLY AFTERNOON AS THE GREAT LAKES LOW RAPIDLY PULLS AWAY. FORECAST SOUNDINGS AND SATELLITE CONFIRM RAPID CLEARING THIS MORNING BEHIND THE FRONT. EXPECT MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES ARRIVING THIS AFTERNOON. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY...COOLER TEMPERATURES WILL ARRIVE TODAY. HOWEVER...THE AIR BEHIND THIS FRONT IS OF PACIFIC ORIGIN...AND TEMPERATURES WILL NOT TUMBLE AS MUCH AS THEY HAVE BEEN BEHIND RECENT FRONTS. HIGHS TODAY WILL BE RELATIVELY MILD...RANGING FROM THE MID 40S NORTH TO THE LOWER 50S IN THE SOUTH. .LONG TERM (MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)... A FAIRLY QUIET EXTENDED PERIOD WITH HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES KEEPING THE WEATHER DRY WITH NEAR TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES MONDAY THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY BEFORE A MORE ACTIVE PATTERN TRIES TO REESTABLISH ITSELF FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR. A WEAK LOW MOVING THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES WILL BRING SOME INCREASE IN CLOUD COVER TO THE REGION TUESDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE CWA...BUT ANY FORCING FOR PRECIPITATION SHOULD REMAIN WELL OFF TO THE NORTH AND WILL KEEP DRY FORECAST GOING. MODELS CONTINUE TO TREND MUCH SLOWER WITH THE APPROACH OF THE NEXT SYSTEM...WHICH IS NOW LOOKING MORE LIKE IT WILL BRING MOISTURE INTO THE REGION ON FRIDAY INSTEAD OF THURSDAY BUT WILL LEAVE POPS IN DUE TO HIGH UNCERTAINTY IN THE SLOWER SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE TRIES TO BUILD IN BEHIND THE SYSTEM LATE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY FOR A MOSTLY DRY AND COOLER WEEKEND. && .AVIATION (06Z TAFS)... PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS SDF AND BWG RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TAF PERIOD WITH LEX SEEING A WIND SHIFT AND A BRIEF PERIOD OF PRECIPITATION A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER. POST FRONTAL WE WILL HOLD ONTO SOME MVFR CIGS UNTIL 12Z WITH CLR SKIES AFTERWORDS. && .LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...WIND ADVISORY THROUGH 5 AM THIS MORNING IN...WIND ADVISORY THROUGH 5 AM THIS MORNING. && WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE SHORT TERM...JSD LONG TERM....MACZKO AVIATION.....JSD
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 320 AM EST SUN DEC 28 2008 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067- 070>078-081-082-290830- ORANGE IN-WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN-JEFFERSON IN-DUBOIS IN- CRAWFORD IN-PERRY IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN-HANCOCK KY- BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY-OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY- JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY- SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY- FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY- MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY-BOYLE KY- GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY-GREEN KY- TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY-LINCOLN KY-LOGAN KY-WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY- ALLEN KY-BARREN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY- CUMBERLAND KY-CLINTON KY- 320 AM EST SUN DEC 28 2008 /220 AM CST SUN DEC 28 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM. SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE BLUEGRASS REGION THROUGH THE PRE DAWN HOURS. ISOLATED WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ASSOCIATED WITH THESE SHOWERS MAY DAMAGE OR BLOW DOWN DISPLAYS OR LOOSE YARD ITEMS. ONCE THESE SHOWERS EXIT...WEST WINDS OF 25 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE MID MORNING HOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUIRED AT THIS TIME. JSD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 952 PM EST SAT DEC 27 2008 INZ076-077-084-089-090-KYZ023>027-061-280400- ORANGE IN-WASHINGTON IN-CRAWFORD IN-PERRY IN-HARRISON IN- HANCOCK KY-BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY-OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-BUTLER KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PAOLI...SALEM...MARENGO...TELL CITY... CORYDON...HAWESVILLE...HARDINSBURG...BRANDENBURG...BEAVER DAM... LEITCHFIELD...MORGANTOWN 952 PM EST SAT DEC 27 2008 /852 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008/ ...STRONG WINDS EXPECTED... A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA BETWEEN 10 AND 11 PM EST. THESE STORMS COMBINED WITH STRONG GRADIENT WINDS WILL PRODUCE WIND GUST FROM 45 TO 55 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG MAY CAUSE SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO OUT BUILDINGS AND MAY SNAP SOME WEAK TREES OR BRANCHES. IF DRIVING.... ESPECIALLY A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE... BE AWARE OF GUSTY WINDS. JA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 1056 PM EST SAT DEC 27 2008 INZ077-078-090>092-KYZ024>030-061-070-280500- WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN- BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY-OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY- JEFFERSON KY-BUTLER KY-LOGAN KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SALEM...SCOTTSBURG...CORYDON... NEW ALBANY...JEFFERSONVILLE...HARDINSBURG...BRANDENBURG... BEAVER DAM...LEITCHFIELD...ELIZABETHTOWN...FORT KNOX... MOUNT WASHINGTON...SHEPHERDSVILLE...LOUISVILLE...MORGANTOWN... RUSSELLVILLE 1056 PM EST SAT DEC 27 2008 /956 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008/ ...GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED... A LINE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA BETWEEN 11 PM AND MIDNIGHT EST. THESE STORMS COMBINED WITH STRONG GRADIENT WINDS WILL PRODUCE WIND GUST FROM 45 TO 55 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG MAY CAUSE SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO OUT BUILDINGS AND MAY SNAP SOME WEAK TREES OR BRANCHES. IF DRIVING.... ESPECIALLY A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE... BE AWARE OF GUSTY WINDS. ALSO A BRIEF PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES. JA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 1142 PM EST SAT DEC 27 2008 INZ078-079-090>092-KYZ024-025-027>032-061>063-070>072-280545- SCOTT IN-JEFFERSON IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN- BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY- JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY- LOGAN KY-WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SCOTTSBURG...MADISON...CORYDON... NEW ALBANY...JEFFERSONVILLE...HARDINSBURG...BRANDENBURG... LEITCHFIELD...ELIZABETHTOWN...FORT KNOX...MOUNT WASHINGTON... SHEPHERDSVILLE...LOUISVILLE...LA GRANGE...BEDFORD...MORGANTOWN... BROWNSVILLE...MUNFORDVILLE...RUSSELLVILLE...BOWLING GREEN... FRANKLIN 1142 PM EST SAT DEC 27 2008 /1042 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008/ ...GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED... A LINE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 1 AM EST. THESE STORMS ALONG WITH STRONG GRADIENT WINDS WILL PRODUCE WIND GUST FROM 45 TO 55 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG MAY CAUSE SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO OUT BUILDINGS AND MAY SNAP SOME WEAK TREES OR BRANCHES. IF DRIVING.... ESPECIALLY A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE... BE AWARE OF GUSTY WINDS. ALSO A BRIEF PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES. JA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 1231 AM EST SUN DEC 28 2008 KYZ033>036-038>040-045>047-053-054-064-065-073>076-280700- HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-SCOTT KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY- WOODFORD KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY-MERCER KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY- GREEN KY-TAYLOR KY-ALLEN KY-BARREN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEW CASTLE...SHELBYVILLE...FRANKFORT... GEORGETOWN...TAYLORSVILLE...LAWRENCEBURG...VERSAILLES... BARDSTOWN...SPRINGFIELD...HARRODSBURG...HODGENVILLE...LEBANON... GREENSBURG...CAMPBELLSVILLE...SCOTTSVILLE...GLASGOW... TOMPKINSVILLE...EDMONTON 1231 AM EST SUN DEC 28 2008 /1131 PM CST SAT DEC 27 2008/ A LINE OF SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 2 AM EST. BY 1 AM THIS LINE WILL STRETCH FROM JUST WEST OF FRANKFORT SOUTHWARD THROUGH MONROE COUNTY. THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH STRONG GRADIENT WINDS...WILL PRODUCE WIND GUSTS AROUND 40 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG MAY DAMAGE OR KNOCK DOWN YARD DISPLAYS OR ANY OTHER LOOSE ITEMS. IF DRIVING.... ESPECIALLY A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE... BE AWARE OF GUSTY WINDS. ALSO A BRIEF PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES. JSD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 204 AM EST SUN DEC 28 2008 KYZ028>034-038-045-053-280900- HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY-JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY-HENRY KY- SHELBY KY-SPENCER KY-NELSON KY-LARUE KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ELIZABETHTOWN...FORT KNOX... MOUNT WASHINGTON...SHEPHERDSVILLE...LOUISVILLE...LA GRANGE... BEDFORD...NEW CASTLE...SHELBYVILLE...TAYLORSVILLE...BARDSTOWN... HODGENVILLE 204 AM EST SUN DEC 28 2008 ...GUSTY WINDS ALONG WITH HEAVY SHOWERS WILL MOVE INTO THE WESTERN BLUEGRASS REGION... A LINE OF SHOWERS WILL CROSS LOUISVILLE AND OLDHAM COUNTY BY 215 AM EST. THIS LINE WILL PRODUCE WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN. THIS LINE OF SHOWERS WILL EXTEND FROM TRIMBLE COUNTY SOUTHWARD THROUGH HART COUNTY BY 240 PM AND WILL BE MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. EXPECT THIS LINE OF SHOWERS TO REACH FRANKFORT AND ANDERSON COUNTY BY 3 AM EST.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Lexington Airport ASOS reported a gust of 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, December 2008
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: 147141.