Severe thunderstorms developed across Eastern Kentucky as a cold front approached and moved through the area on June 16th. Numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds were received, with one report of tennis ball size hail in Owsley County.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Severe thunderstorms developed across Eastern Kentucky as a cold front approached and moved through the area on June 16th. Numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds were received, with one report of tennis ball size hail in Owsley County. The wind damage consisted of mainly downed trees.
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 Jun 16, 9:00 AM EST, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 1000 AM EDT MON JUN 16 2008 .SHORT TERM.../THE REST OF TODAY/...UPDATED HAVE UPDATED GRIDS AND ASSOCIATED FORECAST PRODUCTS FOR EARLIER ONSET OF THUNDERSTORMS AND THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. NO SEVERE REPORTS YET WITH STORMS MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHERN PART OF FORECAST AREA...BUT HAVE HAD REPORTS OF ONE-HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL IN NORTHERN FLEMING COUNTY. AIR MASS WILL CONTINUE TO DESTABILIZE IN AREAS OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING. GOES SATELLITE DERIVED LI/S DOWN TO -4. RUC AND MSAS ANALYSIS SHOWS LI/S DOWN TO -6 WITH THE LATEST RUC FORECASTING LI/S DOWN TO -8 BY EARLY AFTERNOON. OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES FROM THIS MORNING/S CONVECTION SHOULD SERVE AS FOCUS FOR ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON. ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING IS ALSO A THREAT THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. COLD FRONT WILL NOT BE THROUGH THE AREA UNTIL THIS EVENING. THE PREVIOUS SHORT TERM FORECAST DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... /TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/ MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT WITH LARGE SCALE FEATURES BUT DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY IN DETAILS...PARTICULARLY IN THE BOUNDARY LAYER. THIS HAS SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE POTENTIAL OF SEVERE WEATHER TODAY. IN PARTICULAR THE NAM IS CONSIDERABLY MORE MOIST IN THE BOUNDARY LAYER THAN THE GFS AND ECMWF FCST SOUNDINGS. BUT BASED ON THE 12Z/0Z OHX SOUNDINGS FORM THE PAST 24 HOURS THE NAM HAS HAD THE BEST HANDLE ON MOISTURE PROFILES. WITH MOST OTHER PARAMETERS BEING SIMILAR...THE TENDENCY WAS TO LEAN MORE TOWARDS THE NAM SOLUTION FOR THE OVERALL EVOLUTION OF EVENTS DURING THE FIRST 24 HOURS OF THE SHORT TERM PERIOD. A COLD FRONT CURRENTLY DRAPED ACROSS THE MIDWEST WILL SLIDE SOUTHWARD TODAY AND ENTER EASTERN KENTUCKY DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON TIME FRAME. A SHORTWAVE ROTATING AROUND AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CENTERED OVER THE GREAT LAKES WILL CAUSE A GOOD BIT OF MID LEVEL COOLING OVER THE REGION...EFFECTIVELY STEEPENING MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES. THE COMBINATION OF THESE FEATURES WILL SET THE STAGE FOR THE POTENTIAL OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS OUR CWA LATER TODAY WITH THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. TIMING OF COLD FRONT PUTS IT INTO EASTERN KENTUCKY DURING PRIME HEATING. USING THE NAM BUFR SOUNDING AFTERNOON CAPES CLIMB TO AROUND 2000 J/KG WHILE LI/S DROP TO BETWEEN -5 AND -7. DRY AIR AT THE MID LEVELS LEAD TO A WET BULB ZERO BEING AROUND THE 11K LEVEL...WITHIN THE MARGINS FOR LARGE HAIL. WITH ONLY MODERATE WIND SPEEDS AND WIND FLOW PROFILES BECOMING MORE UNIDIRECTIONAL WITH TIME...EXPECT THE PRIMARY CONVECTIVE MODE TO EVOLVE FROM INDIVIDUAL THUNDERSTORM CELLS INTO LINEAR MULTICELL CLUSTERS...OR LINES. WITH THE POTENTIAL OF BOWING SEGMENTS WIND DAMAGE WILL BECOME AN INCREASING THREAT WITH TIME. SPC HAS PLACED EASTERN KENTUCKY IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE PRIMARY THREAT BEING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS AND WILL MENTION THIS POTENTIAL IN THE HWO. .LONG TERM.../WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/ EAST COAST TROF TO BE THE PRIMARY WX MAKER FOR THE LONG TERM. A SERIES OF MINOR WAVES TO ROTATE AROUND THE PRIMARY LOW...WHICH BECOMES ESTABLISHED OVER SRN CANADA BEFORE SLIDING UP THE ST LAWRENCE SEAWAY NEXT WEEKEND. TIMING OF THE DISTURBANCES THAT WILL AFFECT OUR PCPN CHANCES IS PROBLEMATIC AT BEST...SO HAVE OPTED TO FOLLOW A DIURNAL PATTERN FOR FRI/SAT PCPN CHANCES WITH BEST POP IN THE LATE AFTERNOONS. THIS TIMING SEEMS TO MATCH UP WELL WITH HPC AND SURROUNDING OFFICES. && .AVIATION.../12Z TO 12Z/ SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING WEST OF INTERSTATE 75 AS OF 640 AM. THESE WILL BE MOVING EAST THROUGH THE MORNING...AND WILL CARRY A TEMPO GROUP FOR MVFR CONDITIONS AT JKL. WILL MENTION VCTS AT LOZ AND SME...BUT EXPECT THE BULK OF THE ACTIVITY WILL STAY NORTH OF THOSE TERMINALS. MORE TSRA EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AS A COLD FRONT DROPS SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA. WILL GO WITH PREDOMINANT VFR CONDITIONS...BUT KEEP A MENTION OF VCTS THROUGH THE DAY. TRIED TO TIME THE BEST CHANCES OF SEEING TSRA...USING A TEMPO GROUP FROM 18 TO 21Z AT JKL...AND 19 TO 22Z AT LOZ AND SME. EXPECT IFR CONDITIONS IN THE HEAVIER STORMS. IN ADDITION...SOME OF THE STORMS TODAY COULD BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN THREATS. BY 00 TO 01Z...MOST OF THE ACTIVITY SHOULD BE SOUTHEAST OF THE TAF SITES. WILL BRING SOME MVFR FOG IN TONIGHT AT LOZ AND SME...WITH CONDITIONS DROPPING TO IFR TOWARDS SUNRISE. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SHORT TERM...RAY/SBH LONG TERM....DUSTY AVIATION...WJM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 500 AM EDT MON JUN 16 2008 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-171100- 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- 500 AM EDT MON JUN 16 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP...MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES EASTERN KENTUCKY. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE MAIN THREATS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON...MAINLY ALONG AND NORTH OF THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY AND SATURDAY EVENING ACROSS THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY OCCURRENCES OF HAIL OR DAMAGING WINDS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON. RAY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 749 AM EDT MON JUN 16 2008 KYZ044-052-161245- FLEMING-ROWAN- 749 AM EDT MON JUN 16 2008 ...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT FLEMING AND NORTH CENTRAL ROWAN COUNTIES THROUGH 845 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING... AT 749 AM EDT...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED 12 MILES WEST OF FAIRVIEW...MOVING EAST AT 32 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR COWAN AROUND 810 AM EDT...NEPTON AROUND 815 AM EDT...CRAINTOWN AROUND 820 AM EDT...FLEMINGSBURG AROUND 825 AM EDT...AND DALESBURG AROUND 830 AM EDT. RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT UP TO ONE HALF INCH OF RAIN...GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER THEN LIGHTNING IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE A HAZARD. WJM
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 845 AM EDT MON JUN 16 2008 KYZ044-051-052-161345- FLEMING-ROWAN-BATH- 845 AM EDT MON JUN 16 2008 ...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT FLEMING...NORTHERN ROWAN...AND NORTH CENTRAL BATH COUNTIES THROUGH 945 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING... AT 845 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM FOXPORT TO FLEMINGSBURG TO 6 MILES WEST OF SHERBURNE...MOVING EAST AT 38 MPH. THE STORMS WILL BE NEAR WALLINGFORD AROUND 850 AM EDT...PEBBLE AROUND 855 AM EDT...PLUMMERS LANDING AROUND 900 AM EDT...RINGOS MILLS AROUND 905 AM EDT...AND WALTZ AROUND 910 AM EDT. ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO THE WEST WILL MOVE EAST THROUGH THE AREA THIS MORNING. RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT UP TO ONE INCH OF RAIN...GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. THE HEAVY RAIN WILL LIKELY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE CAREFULLY. WJM
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 959 AM EDT MON JUN 16 2008 KYZ044-050>052-161500- FLEMING-ROWAN-BATH-MONTGOMERY- 959 AM EDT MON JUN 16 2008 ...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT FLEMING...NORTHERN ROWAN...NORTHWESTERN BATH AND NORTHWESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES THROUGH 1100 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING... AT 959 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN JACKSON SHOWED AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF FAIRVIEW TO FAIRVIEW TO SHARPSBURG...MOVING EAST AT 36 MPH. THE STORMS WILL BE NEAR COWAN AROUND 1005 AM EDT...REYNOLDSVILLE AROUND 1010 AM EDT...SHERBURNE AROUND 1015 AM EDT...WYOMING AROUND 1020 AM EDT...AND POPLAR PLAINS AROUND 1025 AM EDT. ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO THE AREA FROM THE WEST THIS MORNING. RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES OF RAIN...GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER THEN LIGHTNING IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE A HAZARD. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY. WJM
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 1216 PM EDT MON JUN 16 2008 KYZ052-104-161700- ROWAN-ELLIOTT- 1216 PM EDT MON JUN 16 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT CENTRAL ROWAN AND ELLIOTT COUNTIES THROUGH 100 PM EDT MONDAY AFTERNOON... AT 1216 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LAKEVIEW HEIGHTS...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR VALE AROUND 1225 PM EDT...ELLIOTTVILLE AROUND 1230 PM EDT...STARK AROUND 1240 PM EDT...BRUIN AROUND 1245 PM EDT. THE STORM WILL LIKELY PRODUCE ONE-HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY. SBH
The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:22 UTC.
16 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts. One tree fell onto a home and another onto a powerline.
Two trees were blown down in the Big Creek area.
Trees were blown down onto Route 777 by thunderstorm wind gusts.
A tree was blown down onto a transformer by thunderstorm wind gusts.
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, June 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: 108893, 108896, 108898, 108899, 108902, 108903, 108904, 108906, 108908, 108909, 108912, 108914, 108915, 108916, 108917, 108919, 108920, 108921, 108922, 108923.