A strong cold front moved east across Kentucky during the evening hours of January 8th, into the early morning hours of January 9th. Numerous reports of downed trees were received.
Every event with a place to put it; 27 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 strong cold front moved east across Kentucky during the evening hours of January 8th, into the early morning hours of January 9th. Numerous reports of downed trees were received. Some minor structural damage was also reported in Perry County.
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 Jan 8, 12:52 PM EST, 58 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 1252 PM EST TUE JAN 8 2008 .SHORT TERM.../THE REST OF TODAY/ UPDATED THE FORECAST TO GET RID OF THE MORNING WORDING. THE FORECAST IS ON TRACK. DO SOME EXTRAPOLATION AND CHECKING THE MODEL OUTPUT...THE SOONEST THAT ANY PRECIP IS POSSIBLE IS AFTER 2PM TODAY IN THE I 75 CORRIDOR. THE MORE LIKELY TIME WOULD BE AFTER 4 PM TODAY BEFORE ANY PRE FRONTAL SHOWERS MOVE INTO THE FORECAST AREA. THE NAM IS SHOWING THE FRONTAL REACHING THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA AT 2 AM AND WILL EXIT PIKE COUNTY BY 6 AM. THERE IS A THREAT OF SOME WINDS MIXING DOWN THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AND GETTING SOME GUSTS AROUND 40 MPH...BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE VERY WIDE SPREAD. THE GREATEST THREAT OF THE WIND GUSTS WILL BE JUST AHEAD OF AND BEHIND OF COLD FRONT AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. THE PREVIOUS SHORT TERM FORECAST DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... /TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY/ EARLY THIS MORNING...AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE REMAINED FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO NE INTO THE ATLANTIC OFF OF THE SE US COAST. MEANWHILE A SW/V TROUGH WAS PROGRESSING EAST THROUGH THE PLAINS TOWARD THE MS VALLEY. AT THE SFC...AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WAS OVER NE MO...WITH A STATIONARY FRONT TO ITS NE INTO SOUTHERN CANADA AND A COLD FRONT TRAILING SOUTH INTO TX. PLENTY OF CONVECTION HAS OCCURRED IN ADVANCE OF THIS SYSTEM. CLOSER TO HOME...MOISTURE RETURN IS BEGINNING UPSTREAM WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL KY...MIDDLE TN AS WELL AS ALABAMA AND GA. DEWPOINTS HAVE CLIMBED WELL INTO THE 40S ACROSS THE RIDGETOPS OF THE EASTERN KY MTNS...BUT A FEW AREAS IN THE DEEPER VALLEYS HAVE TEMPS AND DEWPOINTS IN THE MID AND UPPER 30S ATTM. THE PLAINS SW/V WILL MOVE INTO THE EASTERN US TONIGHT AND WED...WITH ANOTHER SW/V EMERGING INTO THE PLAINS FROM THE ROCKIES ON WED NIGHT. OVER TIME...HEIGHTS WILL RISE IN THE WESTERN US...WITH MORE TROUGHING OVER THE CENTRAL US AND MS VALLEY BY THE END OF THE PERIOD. WITH THE PRESSURE GRADIENT GRADUALLY INCREASING THIS MORNING...AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING FRONT...EVEN AREAS WITH CURRENTLY LOWER DEWPOINTS WILL MIX OUT. CLOUDS WILL ALSO INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY...MAINLY AT MID AND HIGH LEVELS IN THE EAST...WITH SOME LOWER CLOUDS...ESPECIALLY LATE IN THE DAY AND ACROSS THE WEST. WITH THE INCREASING PRESS GRADIENT WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY...WITH 15 TO 25 MPH SUSTAINED COMMON BY MID AFTERNOON. EVEN STRONGER WINDS ALOFT COULD ALSO BE MIXED DOWN DURING A FEW HOURS EITHER SIDE OF 18Z...WITH GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH EXPECTED. WITH THIS IN MIND PLAN TO HANDLE THE AFTERNOON WIND POTENTIAL WITH AN SPS. THE GFS AND NAM TREND ALONG WITH THE SREF IS FOR A SLIGHTLY LATER IN TIME CHANCE FOR PRECIP. OPTED TO CUT BACK PRECIP CHANCE FOR TODAY ACROSS THE BOARD...PARTICULARLY OVER THE DOWNSLOPE INFLUENCED EASTERN TWO THIRDS OF THE CWA. WITH TEMPS ALREADY RUNNING IN THE 50S ACROSS THE RIDGETOPS AND NEAR 60 NEAR LK CUMBERLAND...HIGHS SHOULD REACH NEAR 70 IN MOST PLACES...SETTING ADDITIONAL RECORD HIGHS...DESPITE INCREASING CLOUDS. THE PRESS GRADIENT AND WINDS ALOFT AS WELL AS THE LLJ WILL BE STRONGEST TONIGHT...WITH THE WINDS ALOFT AT THEIR STRONGEST A FEW HOURS EITHER SIDE OF 6Z. THE MODELS HAVE 925MB WINDS NEAR 50KT AND 850 MB WINDS NEAR 60KT NEAR 6Z. A LOW LEVEL INVERSION MAY LEAD TO A TEMPORARY LULL IN WINDS DURING THE EVENING...BUT WITH SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY ISOLATED THUNDER EXPECTED AHEAD OF AND ALONG THE FRONT...A GOOD SHARE OF THIS MOMENTUM COULD BE MIXED DOWN...AND SUBSIDENCE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE FRONT SHOULD ALSO PROMOTE MOMENTUM TRANSFER. WITH THIS IN MIND...HOISTED A WIND ADVISORY FOR ALL OF THE CWA FOR THE 0Z TO 12Z WED PERIOD. THE GREATEST THREAT FOR WIND ADVISORY GUSTS AS HIGH AS 50 MPH APPEAR TO BE BETWEEN 3Z AND 10Z. INSTABILITY APPEARS TO BE ELEVATED MAINLY AT 850 MB OR ABOVE AND TIMING OF THE DAY MAY ALSO BE A LIMITING FACTOR FOR THUNDER. HOWEVER...GIVEN STRONG DYNAMICS AND IMPRESSIVE LOW LEVEL JET...THUNDER CANNOT BE RULED OUT AND COVERAGE COULD BE MORE SCATTERED THAN THE CURRENTLY FORECAST ISOLATED. SW/V UPPER LEVEL RIDGING AND SFC HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION ON WED...WITH A LITTLE BIT OF LINGERING PRECIP POSSIBLE IN THE FAR E EARLY ON WED AM. HOWEVER...A SW/V WILL APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE SW ON WED NIGHT...WITH ISENTROPIC LIFT LEADING TO INCREASING CLOUDS OVERNIGHT...WITH THE CHANCE FOR RAIN TOWARD 12Z...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTH. MOS GUIDANCE AND SREF POPS WERE IN THE GOOD CHANCE TO LIKELY RANGE FOR MANY AREAS ON THU...WITH EVEN CAT IN THE EXTREME SE. THE MAIN SW/V TROUGH SHOULD APPROACH THE AREA LATE IN THE DAY ON THU...WITH THE SFC BOUNDARY NEARING THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE CWA. PRECIP AND CLOUD COVER SHOULD SUPPRESS TEMPS ON THU AND OPTED TO LOWER THEM A DEGREE OR TWO FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. CUT BACK POPS A LITTLE IN WESTERN AREAS ON THU AM...AND RAISED POPS TO CAT IN THE FAR SE ON THU. .LONG TERM.../THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/ A GRADUAL PATTERN CHANGE TAKES PLACE THROUGH THE PERIOD AS THE LONGWAVE TROUGH GRADUALLY SHIFTS EASTWARD TO A POSITION OVER THE EASTERN CONUS BY MONDAY. THIS SHIFT IS ACCOMPLISHED AS A COUPLE OF SHORTWAVES DROP SOUTHEAST FROM CANADA AND GRADUALLY SHIFT THE WESTERN ATLANTIC RIDGE TO THE SOUTH AND EAST. THESE CHANGES ALL POINT TO A GRADUAL COOLING TREND THROUGH TIME WITH A COUPLE ROUNDS OF PRECIP... THE FIRST EARLY IN THE PERIOD AND THE SECOND SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY... AN INCREASING LOW LEVEL JET CONTINUES TO FEED MOISTURE NORTHWARD THURSDAY NIGHT AS SURFACE LOW MOVES NORTHEAST ACROSS THE STATE AND HAVE INCREASED POPS WELL INTO THE LIKELY RANGE TO EVEN CAT NEAR THE VA LINE ON THURSDAY NIGHT. MODELS ARE INDICATING QUITE A LOT OF SPREAD WITH THE TRACK OF THE SURFACE LOW... WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL RECEIVED...ESPECIALLY WHEN FACTORING IN THE POSSIBILITY FOR A DOWNSLOPE FLOW CUTTING BACK ON TOTALS. NEGATIVELY TILTED UPPER TROUGH... STRONG LOW LEVEL JET AND EXCELLENT MOISTURE RETURN FAVOR THE POSSIBILITY OF HEAVY RAINFALL...HOWEVER. SYSTEM IS PROGRESSIVE ENOUGH THOUGH THAT WIDESPREAD WATER PROBLEMS ARE NOT CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED. THE SYSTEM EXITS FRIDAY LEAVING A COOLER WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW REGIME IN PLACE. MODELS ARE TRENDING COLDER BEHIND THE FRONT WITH CONSIDERABLE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AROUND SO A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING. SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY... AREA LIES BETWEEN SYSTEMS WITH WEAK HIGH PRESSURE IN CONTROL SATURDAY AND EXPECT PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND SEASONABLE TEMPS IN THE 40S. PROGS THEN CONTINUE TO INDICATE CYCLOGENESIS OVER THE NORTHERN GULF SATURDAY NIGHT AS A SHORTWAVE DROPS INTO THE MIDWEST. THERE REMAINS A LARGE SPREAD IN PROJECTED TRACK OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM BETWEEN LONG RANGE MODELS. I CONTINUE TO FAVOR A NORTHWEST TRACK UP INTO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS OR UPPER OHIO VALLEY AS SIMILAR SYSTEMS THIS SEASON WHICH HAVE INITIATED IN THIS AREA HAVE WANTED TO PUSH IN THIS DIRECTION AS COMPARED TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST TRACK OFFERED BY THE 07/12Z GFS. THE 07/00Z ECMWF OFFERS THE CLOSEST SOLUTION TO THIS... AND IS GENERALLY PREFERRED... ALTHOUGH A SURFACE LOW TRACK EVEN FURTHER TO THE NORTHWEST IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE. WILL BUMP UP POPS A LITTLE BUT THERE REMAINS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH STORM EVOLUTION (TO ILLUSTRATE SEE THE NON EVENT OFFERED BY THE 07/12Z ECMWF) SO WILL ONLY CARRY CHANCE POPS AT THIS TIME SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER A RAIN/SNOW MIX THROUGH THE PERIOD. UPPER TROUGH AXIS SHIFTS CLOSER TO THE AREA ON MONDAY AS THE STORM SYSTEM EXITS TO THE NORTHEAST. COOL NORTHWEST FLOW PATTERN SUPPORTS A RETURN TO SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE TEMPS AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS AS THE NEW WORK WEEK BEGINS. && .AVIATION.../18Z TO 18Z/...UPDATED VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE AREA FOR THE BULK OF THE TAF CYCLE. HIGH CLOUDS HAVE OVERSPREAD THE AREA AND SOME BANDS OF MID CLOUDS ARE BEGINNING TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA AS WELL. WINDS HAVE INCREASED FROM THE SOUTH AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO INCREASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AS STRONGER WINDS MOVE IN FROM THE WEST. EARLIER THIS MORNING...LEXINGTON HAD A GUST OF 44 KTS. THIS AREA OF STRONGER WINDS SHOULD BECOME EVEN STRONGER AFTER SUNSET AS MODELS ADVERTISE 70KT...PLUS WINDS DEVELOPING AROUND 3 KFT AGL DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE PERIOD. WITH FRONT AND DYNAMICS...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. THEREFORE...INCLUDED A CB CLOUD GROUP. OTHERWISE...EXPECT A PERIOD OF MVFR CIGS AND VSBYS TONIGHT AND VERY GUSTY WINDS...ESPECIALLY IN AND AROUND ANY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GUST TO BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...AND AS HIGH AS 50 MPH TONIGHT. THIS IS THE TYPE OF SYSTEM THAT CAN CAUSE SOME SIGNIFICANT LLWS WHEN LANDING NEAR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM EST WEDNESDAY FOR KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120. && SHORT TERM...JP/JJ LONG TERM....ABE AVIATION...JJ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 702 AM EST TUE JAN 8 2008 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-091200- FLEMING-MONTGOMERY-BATH-ROWAN-ESTILL-POWELL-MENIFEE-ROCKCASTLE- JACKSON-PULASKI-LAUREL-WAYNE-MCCREARY-WHITLEY-KNOX-BELL-HARLAN- ELLIOTT-MORGAN-JOHNSON-WOLFE-MAGOFFIN-FLOYD-LEE-BREATHITT-KNOTT- OWSLEY-PERRY-CLAY-LESLIE-LETCHER-MARTIN-PIKE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FLEMINGSBURG...MOUNT STERLING... OWINGSVILLE...MOREHEAD...IRVINE...STANTON...FRENCHBURG... MOUNT VERNON...MCKEE...SOMERSET...LONDON...MONTICELLO... WHITLEY CITY...CORBIN...WILLIAMSBURG...BARBOURVILLE...MIDDLESBORO... PINEVILLE...HARLAN...SANDY HOOK...WEST LIBERTY...PAINTSVILLE... CAMPTON...SALYERSVILLE...PRESTONSBURG...BEATTYVILLE...JACKSON... HINDMAN...BOONEVILLE...HAZARD...MANCHESTER...HYDEN...WHITESBURG... INEZ...PIKEVILLE 702 AM EST TUE JAN 8 2008 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM EST WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION TODAY...PASSING THROUGH EASTERN KENTUCKY TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AHEAD OF AND ALONG THE FRONT FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. IN ADDITION... WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON...WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 45 TO 50 MPH POSSIBLE TONIGHT AS THE COLD FRONT CROSSES THE REGION. LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS COULD OCCUR IN STRONGER SHOWERS AND ANY THUNDERSTORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SNOW SHOWERS LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND ON FRIDAY. HOWEVER...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE TOO WARM FOR ANY ACCUMULATIONS. SNOW IS POSSIBLE FROM SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. ACCUMULATIONS DURING THIS PERIOD...IF ANY SHOULD BE LIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON TODAY AND TONIGHT. JP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 1142 AM EST TUE JAN 8 2008 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-090000- FLEMING-MONTGOMERY-BATH-ROWAN-ESTILL-POWELL-MENIFEE-ROCKCASTLE- JACKSON-PULASKI-LAUREL-WAYNE-MCCREARY-WHITLEY-KNOX-BELL-HARLAN- ELLIOTT-MORGAN-JOHNSON-WOLFE-MAGOFFIN-FLOYD-LEE-BREATHITT-KNOTT- OWSLEY-PERRY-CLAY-LESLIE-LETCHER-MARTIN-PIKE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FLEMINGSBURG...MOUNT STERLING... OWINGSVILLE...MOREHEAD...IRVINE...STANTON...FRENCHBURG... MOUNT VERNON...MCKEE...SOMERSET...LONDON...MONTICELLO... WHITLEY CITY...CORBIN...WILLIAMSBURG...BARBOURVILLE...MIDDLESBORO... PINEVILLE...HARLAN...SANDY HOOK...WEST LIBERTY...PAINTSVILLE... CAMPTON...SALYERSVILLE...PRESTONSBURG...BEATTYVILLE...JACKSON... HINDMAN...BOONEVILLE...HAZARD...MANCHESTER...HYDEN...WHITESBURG... INEZ...PIKEVILLE 1142 AM EST TUE JAN 8 2008 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM EST WEDNESDAY... A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE WEST TODAY. WINDS HAVE INCREASED THIS MORNING AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN RESPONSE TO A STRENGTHENING PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN THIS FRONT AND HIGH PRESSURE OFF OF THE SOUTHEAST US COAST. GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE...MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON. LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS COULD OCCUR IN ANY STRONGER SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP LATE IN THE DAY. WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION. RESIDENTS SHOULD SECURE LIGHT WEIGHT OBJECTS WHICH COULD BE TOSSED AROUND BY THESE GUSTY WINDS. A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TONIGHT AS EVEN STRONGER WIND GUSTS ARE EXPECTED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND UPDATES. FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT OUR INTERNET WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/JACKSONKY. JP/JJ
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
20 strong wind, 7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
One tree was blown down on Highway 399 by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
One tree was blown down on Highway 399 near Heidelberg and 1 other tree was blown down on Highway 2026 by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
A few trees were blown down on KY 194 by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
Two trees were blown down on Route 1912 by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
Two trees were blown down on Quisenberry Road and Camargo Levee Road by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
Numerous trees were blown down county wide by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Several trees were blown down on Highways 11 South and 30 East by wind gusts estimated at 56 mph.
One tree was blown down on Highway 1013 North by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
A power line was blowndown on Highway 211 just inside the Bath and Menifee county line or 4 miles south of Salt Lick by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
Two trees were blown down near the Left Fork of Maces Creek by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
Two trees were blown down on Highways 52 and 213 by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
Two trees were blown down on Highways 92 and 1193 by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
Trees were blown down on Routes 1695 and 2001 by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
One tree was blown down on Highway 577 by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
Several trees were blown down throughout the county by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
One tree was blown down on KY 92 by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
Several trees were blown down throughout the county by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Two trees were blown down on Highway 3439 and a road sign was blown over on Highway 25 E by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
One tree was blown down in Frenchburg and another tree was blown down near Sudith by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
Several trees and large limbs were blown down throughout the county by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Several trees were blown down on Route 486 by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Several trees were blown down throughout the county by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
One tree was blown down on Route 1884 by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
One tree was blown down on KY 1088 near Lotts Creek by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
Numerous trees were blown down county wide by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
One tree was blown down on Highway 1409 by wind gusts estimated at 52 mph.
One tree was blown down on U.S. 421 by wind gusts estimated at 52 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, January 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: 68943, 68944, 68958, 68962, 68959, 68956, 68955, 68945, 68947, 68952, 68953, 68954, 68961, 68942, 68951, 68941, 68948, 68949, 68950, 68932, 68946, 68960, 68937, 68938, 68933, 68939, 68940.