An approaching cold front, combined with moist and unstable air over Eastern Kentucky, resulted in the development of severe thunderstorms across portions of the area during the late afternoon and evening hours of June 28th. There were numerous reports of damaging winds, with numerous trees down across the area.
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.
An approaching cold front, combined with moist and unstable air over Eastern Kentucky, resulted in the development of severe thunderstorms across portions of the area during the late afternoon and evening hours of June 28th. There were numerous reports of damaging winds, with numerous trees down across the area. A few locations also reported large hail.
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 28, 3:23 PM EST, 2 hours 17 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 423 PM EDT SAT JUN 28 2008 .SHORT TERM.../TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...UPDATED GFS AND SREF SEEMED TO HAVE THE BEST HANDLE ON SYNOPTIC PATTERN AND WEATHER FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...SO A BLEND OF THOSE TWO MODELS WAS USED FOR TODAYS FORECAST. VERY UNSTABLE AIR MASS CURRENTLY IN PLACE ACROSS FORECAST AREA WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS FIRING DURING PEAK DAYTIME HEATING AND ALONG AXIS OF A 39-40KT LOW LEVEL JET. EXPECT BEST POTENTIAL FOR MORE WIDESPREAD AND INTENSE CONVECTION AROUND 0Z THIS EVENING...AS AN MCV AND UPPER LEVEL JET STREAK MOVE ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY. INSPITE OF RATHER ANEMIC WIND PROFILES IN THE MODEL SOUNDINGS AND AREA VWP...ENOUGH INSTABILITY EXISTS FOR POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WITH THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING. MODEL SOUNDINGS ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES OF AROUND ONE AND THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH AND TALL SKINNY CAPE PROFILES THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING. MADE MENTION OF SEVERE POTENTIAL AND HEAVY RAINFALL IN BOTH THE HWO AND ZONE FORECAST PRODUCT. PREFERRED A BLEND BETWEEN THE WARMER MOS MEMBERS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY...AS MODEL SOUNDINGS AND CURRENTS OBSERVATIONS TRENDS SUPPORT WARMER TEMPS THAN THE LATEST MAVMOS NUMBERS HAVE. STAYED COOLER THAN THE WARMEST MOS NUMBERS FOR HIGHS ON MONDAY...GOING CLOSEST TO THE WARMER FWCMOS FOR HIGHS ON MONDAY. AT THIS POINT STILL NOT QUITE BELIEVING AIR MASS WILL BE AS COOL AS THE MAV/MET HIGHS FOR MONDAY. ALSO TOOK INTO ACCOUNT LINGERING CLOUD COVER WHICH WOULD HELP MODERATE TEMPERATURES A BIT. USED A BLEND OF HPC AND GFS QPF FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY...WITH A SLIGHTLY WESTWARD BIAS REGARDING THE AREAL COVERAGE OF THE BEST RAINFALL...AS IT APPEARS AN MCS WILL FORM DURING THE LATE EVENING HOURS TODAY AND SKIRT ACROSS THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. DEWPOINTS AND WINDS WERE IN MODIFIED SLIGHTLY BUT WERE OTHERWISE IN GOOD SHAPE. WENT DRY FOR MONDAY NIGHT AS BOTH THE GFS AND NAM12 MODELS KEEP TO THE EAST AND/OR NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. .LONG TERM.../TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...UPDATED OPERATIONAL MODELS AND ENSEMBLES AGREE PRETTY WELL FOR THIS PERIOD THOUGH THEY BEGIN TO DIVERGE AT THE END OF NEXT WEEK. DRY NORTHWEST FLOW AT 500 MB ARRIVES MON NIGHT AND NO WRAPAROUND MOISTURE IS EXPECTED WITHOUT A CLOSE LOW BY THEN AND A SHORTWAVE RIDGE JUST UPSTREAM...SO NO PRECIP EXPECTED. MODELS SHOW GENERAL WEST-SOUTHWEST FLOW AT DEPTH BY INDEPENDENCE DAY AND A RETURN TO MORE TYPICAL SUMMER CHANCES FOR THUNDER. 850 MB TEMPERATURES ALSO RETURN TO AROUND +18C...ENOUGH TO FAVOR MAXES ABOVE MEX GUIDANCE AND ACCEPTED HPC NUMBERS. && .AVIATION.../18Z TO 18Z/ THUNDERSTORMS HAVE INITIATED ACROSS THE AREA BUT EXPECT THEY WILL BE STRONGER AND MORE NUMEROUS LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. SEVERAL BANDS OF DEVELOPING CUMULUS APPARENT ON SATELLITE WILL ORGANIZE STORMS MOVING ACROSS EASTERN KY. MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE VORTICITY CENTER CURRENTLY SOUTH OF EHR IS ONLY MOVING EAST AT 21 KNOTS AND WILL HELP FIRE STORMS TOWARDS THE EAST. BUT ANYTHING FROM THAT WOULD MORE LIKELY ARRIVE DURING THE EVENING. WILL MONITOR THAT FOR POSSIBLE UPDATES NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. AM MORE CONFIDENT OF THE AFTERNOON FOR TEMPO GROUPS IN THE TAFS. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SHORT TERM...AR LONG TERM...GV AVIATION...GV
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 157 PM EDT SAT JUN 28 2008 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-292100- 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 157 PM EDT SAT JUN 28 2008 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 630 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY TODAY AND TONIGHT. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING WINDS...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND PENNY SIZE HAIL. IN ADDITION...ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT OCCUR TODAY AND TONIGHT COULD CONTAIN VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...POSSIBLY LEADING TO FLASH FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES FROM SUNDAY INTO TUESDAY. ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP ON SUNDAY WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. GREIF/AR
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 229 PM EDT SAT JUN 28 2008 KYZ104-106-107-109-281915- ELLIOTT-JOHNSON-MORGAN-MAGOFFIN- 229 PM EDT SAT JUN 28 2008 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN ELLIOTT AND EASTERN MORGAN AND JOHNSON AND NORTHERN MAGOFFIN COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM EDT SATURDAY AFTERNOON... AT 229 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CULVER TO ELKFORK TO MALONE...MOVING EAST AT 29 MPH. THE STORMS WILL BE NEAR WILLIAMS AROUND 235 PM EDT...WONNIE AROUND 240 PM EDT...TELLA AROUND 245 PM EDT...REDBUSH AROUND 250 PM EDT... WIN AROUND 255 PM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT TORRENTIAL RAIN...GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY. SCHOETTMER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 324 PM EDT SAT JUN 28 2008 KYZ118-282000- LETCHER- 324 PM EDT SAT JUN 28 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT CENTRAL LETCHER COUNTY THROUGH 400 PM EDT SATURDAY AFTERNOON... AT 324 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR KINGS CREEK... MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR OVEN FORK AROUND 330 PM EDT...ERMINE AROUND 335 PM EDT...WRIGHT AROUND 340 PM EDT...PAYNE GAP AROUND 345 PM EDT...GASKILL AROUND 350 PM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT TORRENTIAL RAIN...GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY. SCHOETTMER
The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:41 UTC.
26 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts on Upper Cane Creek Road.
One large tree and several large branches were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts at the Annville Institute.
Large limbs were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts within Irvine city limits.
Three trees were blown down on Winchester Road in Irvine.
Trees were blown down countywide by thunderstorm wind gusts.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts on Walnut Street.
Several trees were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts near Oneida on Highways 11, 1482, and 66.
A few trees were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Several trees were blown down around Booneville on Routes 30, 847, 708, and 2025.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts on Pleasant Run Road.
One tree and numerous 2 inch diameter limbs were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Numerous trees and other debris were blown down and onto Highways 1114, 1933, 1110, 1202 by thunderstorm wind gusts.
A tree was blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts on McClain Way.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts on Highway 191.
Multiple trees and other debris were blown down and onto Highways 3193, 1812, and 205 north of Jackson. A tree also fell onto a powerline near Vancleve.
Trees and other debris were blown down and onto Highway 542 between mile markers 0 and 18.
Three trees were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts on county roads just north of Hazard.
A tree was blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts on Improvement Road near the intersection of Route 1081.
Several trees were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts in the Oakley community.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts on Davella Road near Route 3.
Two trees were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts at 4692 Possum Trot Road.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts on Coldwater Road.
Numerous large limbs were torn from trees by thunderstorm wind gusts. A 14 inch diameter tree was also blown down.
A thunderstorm wind gust estimated at 60 mph occurred. A tent was blown away and lost near Stone Crest at an elevation of 1450 feet MSL.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down at the Jenny Wiley State Park. Part of one tree fell on a building. Several boats were blown loose from the dock on Dewey Lake. One tree was blown down on a vehicle near Dewey Lake.
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: 109371, 109374, 109377, 109380, 109382, 109387, 109388, 109362, 109390, 109368, 109391, 109394, 109396, 109398, 109405, 109411, 109413, 109416, 109418, 109422, 109425, 109428, 109431, 109439, 109440, 109441, 109442.