Strong winds ahead of an approaching cold front were reported across some locations in Eastern Kentucky during the morning hours of March 19th. These winds caused some structural damage, and brought down trees and power lines as well.
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 JKL wrote it up.
Strong winds ahead of an approaching cold front were reported across some locations in Eastern Kentucky during the morning hours of March 19th. These winds caused some structural damage, and brought down trees and power lines as well.
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 Mar 19, 2:30 AM EST, 2 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 330 AM EDT WED MAR 19 2008 ...GUSTY WINDS OVER EASTERN KENTUCKY TODAY... .SHORT TERM.../TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...UPDATED COMPLEX AND POTENT STORM SYSTEM FINALLY MAKING IT/S MOVE TOWARDS EASTERN KENTUCKY TODAY AS UPPER LEVEL LOW MOVES NORTHEAST OUT OF TEXAS...EVENTUALLY OPENING UP INTO A WAVE. MODELS HAVE OVERALL SYNOPTIC PATTERN PRETTY MUCH PEGGED. HOWEVER...DIFFERENCES IN DETAILS ARE SEEN IN THE FIRST 12 HOURS. MOST SIGNIFICANTLY...THE NAM IS MUCH STRONGER WITH BOUNDARY LAYER WIND FIELDS THAN THE GFS AND ECMWF...WHICH DROP OFF QUICKLY AFTER 12Z THIS MORNING. HOWEVER... BASED ON UPSTREAM OBS THE NAM INITIALIZED BETTER AND SEEMS TO BE THE BEST CHOICE TO FOLLOW THROUGH THE FIRST 12 HOURS. THAT BEING SAID WILL ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE CWA UNTIL MID AFTERNOON WHEN WIND FIELDS DROP ENOUGH THAT HIGHER WINDS GUSTS ARE NO LONGER A THREAT...WHICH IS BASICALLY WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE. I.E. HIGHER WINDS GUST THREAT SHOULD BE LIMITED TO WARM SECTOR OF THIS SYSTEM...AND WITH ANY STRONGER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THERE IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WINDS WITH THE STRONGEST SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SPC NOW HAS OUR CWA IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER WITH DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE GREATEST THREAT. WITH NAM ADVERTISING BETTER INSTABILITY...AND WITH THE CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF LOW LEVEL SHEAR ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM...AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO COULD NOT BE RULED OUT. STILL EXPECT LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...BUT THREAT FOR FLOODING DOES NOT APPEAR THAT GREAT AS THE SYSTEM BECOME MORE PROGRESSIVE WITH TIME...EFFECTIVELY LIMITING OVERALL QPF TOTALS. WILL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIAL IN THE HWO. .LONG TERM.../THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/ THE MODELS ARE IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT FOR THURSDAY WITH BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF SHOWING HIGH PRESSURE TO START BUILDING INTO THE AREA. THE NEXT SYSTEM OF INTEREST IS A SHORT WAVE MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM THE NORTHWEST ON FRIDAY NIGHT. THE GFS IS SHOWING A MUCH MORE AMPLIFIED SOLUTION AND HAS THE SHORT WAVE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA BY SATURDAY NIGHT. THE ECMWF HAS A WEAKER SHORT WAVE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND THEN DEVELOPS A STRONGER SHORT WAVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL US LEAVING A FRONTAL BOUNDARY NEAR THE AREA. A STRONG UPPER TROUGH THEN FINALLY PASSES ON SUNDAY NIGHT. THESE TWO SOLUTIONS HAVE A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS BECAUSE THE SECONDARY SHORT WAVE ON THE GFS WOULD HAVE A MUCH COLDER TRAJECTORY FOR THE AIR MASS. AS SUCH...CONFIDENCE IS PRETTY LOW FOR PRECIPITATION TYPE AND TEMPERATURE FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE SOME RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY BEFORE STRONGLY SUPPORTING ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS. THE FORECAST WAS REALLY A BLEND...LEANING MORE TOWARD THE GFS...BUT KEEPING THE TEMPS A BIT WARMER DUE TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE ECMWF SOLUTION. EXPECTING SOME POST FRONTAL SNOW SHOWERS ON SUNDAY NIGHT WITH LITTLE OR NO ACCUMULATION. THE GFS SOLUTION MIGHT PRODUCE A SKIFF TO A HALF INCH OF SNOW. && .AVIATION.../06Z TO 06Z/ A NEARLY STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY STILL IN PLACE NORTH OF LINE FROM HUNTINGTON TO FRANKFORT TO LOUISVILLE AT TAF ISSUANCE. THIS BOUNDARY WILL EVENTUALLY BEGIN AN EASTWARD PUSH AFTER 12Z. A COLD FRONT WILL THEN TRAVERSE EASTERN KENTUCKY BETWEEN 14 AND 18Z. SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACCOMPANY THE FRONT AS IT MOVE OFF TO THE EAST. THE PRIMARY CONCERN BEFORE THE FRONT AND SHOWERS/STORMS ARRIVE WILL BE GUSTY WINDS. WINDS WILL REMAIN OUT OF THE SOUTH AND WILL STRENGTHEN AS THE FRONT APPROACHES...WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH POSSIBLE OFF AND ON DURING MOST OF THE TAF PERIOD. EXPECTING VFR CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL AT ALL TAF SITES UNTIL AT LEAST 15Z. LOW LEVEL CLOUD COVER...WITH MVFR CIGS OF 2500 TO 3000 FEET...WILL OVERSPREAD EASTERN KENTUCKY AFTER 15Z...ALONG WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS. ONCE THE SHOWERS AND STORMS MOVE INTO THE AREA...MVFR CIGS WILL LIKELY PERSIST UNTIL THE END OF THE TAF PERIOD. VSBYS COULD DROP TO IFR VALUES ON OCCASION WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS OR INTENSE RAIN SHOWERS BETWEEN 15 AND 20Z. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR KYZ044-050>052- 058>060-068-069-079-080-083>086-104-106>117-119. WIND ADVISORY EXTENDED UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR KYZ087-088-118- 120. && SHORT TERM...RAY LONG TERM...JJ AVIATION...AR
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 1120 PM EDT TUE MAR 18 2008 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>086-104-106>117-119- 200630- FLEMING-MONTGOMERY-BATH-ROWAN-ESTILL-POWELL-MENIFEE-ROCKCASTLE- JACKSON-PULASKI-LAUREL-WAYNE-MCCREARY-WHITLEY-KNOX-ELLIOTT-MORGAN- JOHNSON-WOLFE-MAGOFFIN-FLOYD-LEE-BREATHITT-KNOTT-OWSLEY-PERRY-CLAY- LESLIE-MARTIN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FLEMINGSBURG...MOUNT STERLING... OWINGSVILLE...MOREHEAD...IRVINE...STANTON...FRENCHBURG... MOUNT VERNON...MCKEE...SOMERSET...LONDON...MONTICELLO... WHITLEY CITY...CORBIN...WILLIAMSBURG...BARBOURVILLE...SANDY HOOK... WEST LIBERTY...PAINTSVILLE...CAMPTON...SALYERSVILLE...PRESTONSBURG... BEATTYVILLE...JACKSON...HINDMAN...BOONEVILLE...HAZARD...MANCHESTER... HYDEN...INEZ 1120 PM EDT TUE MAR 18 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. WINDS MAY GUST UP TO 35 MPH TONIGHT...MAINLY ON THE RIDGES...AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES EAST ACROSS THE AREA. THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE MORE INTENSE RAIN SHOWERS AND ANY THUNDERSTORMS COULD CONTAIN ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. OUTSIDE OF ANY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS...WINDS COULD GUST TO 35 MPH ON WEDNESDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY AS WELL... ESPECIALLY NORTH OF THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY...WHERE UP TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN COULD FALL THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 64 AND IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. NO ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED. SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE AGAIN ON SUNDAY NIGHT...WITH NO SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT DAMAGING WINDS...OR HEAVY RAINFALL IN EXCESS OF ONE INCH...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON. KYZ087-088-118-120-200630- BELL-HARLAN-LETCHER-PIKE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MIDDLESBORO...PINEVILLE...HARLAN... WHITESBURG...PIKEVILLE 1120 PM EDT TUE MAR 18 2008 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. EXPECT WINDS TO GUST UP TO 35 MPH FOR MOST PLACES OVERNIGHT...WHILE THE RIDGES HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. THIS WILL TAKE PLACE AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES EAST ACROSS THE AREA. THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE MORE INTENSE RAIN SHOWERS AND ANY THUNDERSTORMS COULD CONTAIN ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. OUTSIDE OF ANY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS...WINDS COULD GUST TO 35 MPH ON WEDNESDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY AS WELL... ESPECIALLY NORTH OF THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY...WHERE UP TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN COULD FALL THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 64 AND IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. NO ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED. SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE AGAIN ON SUNDAY NIGHT...WITH NO SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT DAMAGING WINDS...OR HEAVY RAINFALL IN EXCESS OF ONE INCH...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON. GREIF
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong winds destroyed the porch and chimney of the Ellis Grocery Store buidling in Faubush.
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, March 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: 86430.