A strong cold front moving across the area brought severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail to portions of Eastern Kentucky during the morning hours of May 11th. Numerous reports of downed trees and power lines were received.
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.
A strong cold front moving across the area brought severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail to portions of Eastern Kentucky during the morning hours of May 11th. Numerous reports of downed trees and power lines were received. Hail up to the size of golf balls was also reported. Two tornadoes touched down as well, with one in Leslie County, and the other in Whitley 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 May 11, 6:45 AM EST, 1 hour earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 745 AM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 .SHORT TERM.../TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY/ A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM IS LOOKING RATHER IMPRESSIVE ON THE SURFACE CHART. AT 06Z...A STRONG 991 MB LOW WAS OVER WESTERN ILLINOIS...WITH A COLD FRONT TRAILING SOUTH INTO WESTERN KENTUCKY TO MISSISSIPPI. THE CONVECTION OUT AHEAD OF THE FRONT HAS LOST MUCH OF ITS LIGHTNING OVER KENTUCKY...WITH THE CONVECTION OVER TENNESSEE AND POINTS SOUTH THE MOST IMPRESSIVE. EXPECTING SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TO CONTINUE TO WORK EAST ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING. SHOWERS WERE ALREADY IN THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF OUR CWA. AS THE FRONT MOVES EAST TODAY WE SHOULD SEE REDEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. WILL CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL TODAY...WITH CAPES RANGING FROM NEAR 1000 TO 2000 J/KG...AND LI/S -2 TO -4 AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH. A DRY SLOT BETWEEN THE PREFRONTAL PRECIP AND THE FRONT ITSELF SHOULD HELP THE ATMOSPHERE DESTABILIZE AS WELL. WILL MENTION A THREAT FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IN THE FORECAST AND IN THE HWO. WITH GOOD SPEED AND DIRECTIONAL SHEAR...AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT AS WELL. EVEN OUTSIDE OF ANY THUNDERSTORMS...EXPECTING OCCASIONAL WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH OVER MUCH OF THE AREA WITH STRONG WINDS JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE. WITH THIS IN MIND...WILL ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY FOR OUR AREA RUNNING FROM 10 AM THROUGH 8 PM THIS EVENING. WILL STILL SEE SOME DECENT GUSTS IN THE HIGHEST TERRAIN THIS EVENING IN THE EAST...BUT THESE SHOULD BE BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA WIND SPEEDS. H5 LOW WITH PLENTY OF MOISTURE AND LIFT WILL BE MOVING INTO THE AREA LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT...AND WILL GO WITH CATEGORICAL POPS FOR SHOWERS. THE LOW WILL SLOWLY EXIT MONDAY AND MONDAY EVENING...WITH POPS GRADUALLY TAPERING DOWN DURING THIS PERIOD. TUESDAY SHOULD BE DRY AND MOSTLY SUNNY WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN. .LONG TERM.../TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/ STILL SOME DISAGREEMENT IN THE MODELS LATER IN THE EXTENDED PERIOD. IN GENERAL...FOLLOWED A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE ECMWF...WHICH WAS ALSO CLOSER TO THE EARLIER HPC MANUAL PROGS. EXPECTING A COLD FRONT TO MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY...AND HAVE INCREASED POPS TO LIKELY FOR THIS PERIOD. THE FRONT SHOULD BE MOVING JUST EAST OF THE AREA LATER WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY...AS A WAVE DEVELOPS ALONG IT. WILL TAPER POPS DOWN TO THE CHANCE RANGE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY WITH THIS SYSTEM CLOSE BY. WILL NOT MENTION OF THUNDER THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...AS WE SHOULD BE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE FRONTAL SYSTEM AND SLOW MOVING FRONTAL WAVES. WILL KEEP THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE FORECAST HOWEVER. PLENTY OF UNCERTAINTY STILL EXISTS WITH EXACT POSITION OF THE FRONT AND WAVES. && .AVIATION.../12Z TO 12Z/...UPDATED DAYLIGHT SHOULD PROMPT A MORE MIXED BOUNDARY LAYER SO HAVE DROPPED THE WIND SHEAR WITH THIS ISSUANCE AND ADDED GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 KTS TO THE TAFS. A DEVELOPING COLD FRONT IS SPINNING TOWARD EASTERN KENTUCKY AND THIS SHOULD BE THE MAIN FOCUS FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. HAVE TIMED THESE ACROSS THE CWA FROM MID MORNING INTO EARLY AFTERNOON. THE STORMS WILL CONTAIN CIGS AND VIS DOWN TOWARD IFR WHILE THE WIND GUSTS BECOME MORE ROBUST. FOLLOWING THE FRONT...LINGERED THE POSSIBILITY OF A STRAY THUNDERSTORM BEFORE SUNSET. LATER THIS EVENING EXPECT THE WINDS TO SETTLE DOWN SOMEWHAT FROM THE WEST TO NORTHWEST BUT STILL OCCASIONAL GUST. ALSO HAVE BROUGHT THE PREVAILING CIGS DOWN WITH ONGOING LIGHT SHOWERS BENEATH THE WRAP AROUND MOISTURE FROM THE STRONG AND DEEP SFC LOW PRESSURE AREA PULLING OUT OF THE OHIO VALLEY. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR KYZ044-050>052- 058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120. && SHORT TERM...WJM LONG TERM....WJM AVIATION...GREIF
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 425 AM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-121100- 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 425 AM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA TODAY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE MAIN THREATS...HOWEVER AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. IN ADDITION...OUTSIDE OF ANY THUNDERSTORMS...WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO GUST TO 45 MPH AT TIMES TODAY. GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN NEAR THE VIRGINIA BORDER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES FROM TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT WIND DAMAGE OR HAIL TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON TODAY. WJM
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 441 AM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-111530- 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 441 AM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TODAY... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE AREA TODAY...BRINGING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH IT. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE MAIN THREATS...HOWEVER AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. THE TIME FOR THE GREATEST RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE FROM LATER THIS MORNING THROUGH AROUND LUNCHTIME ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM FLEMINGSBURG TO LONDON. TO THE EAST OF THIS LINE...THE GREATEST THREAT WILL BE FROM LATER THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON. THE THREAT WILL PERSIST FROM LATER THIS MORNING INTO THE MID AFTERNOON HOURS TOWARDS THE WEST VIRGINIA AND VIRGINIA BORDERS. IN ADDITION...OUTSIDE OF ANY THUNDERSTORMS...WINDS MAY GUST TO 45 MPH AT TIMES TODAY. GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN NEAR THE VIRGINIA BORDER. WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE MAY BRING DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS...AND CAUSE DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS... ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES TODAY ON THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION...VISIT OUR INTERNET WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/JACKSONKY. WJM
The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 126 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:46 UTC.
28 thunderstorm wind, 19 hail, 2 tornado, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide by thunderstorm wind gusts.
An EF-1 tornado touched down 1 mile west of the Cumberland Falls State Park on Highway 90 and continued into Whitley County and across the park. Wind speeds with this tornado were estimated at 105 mph. Significant damage was done to the park supervisor's residence. Extensive numbers of large trees were blown across roads which made access to parts of the park impossible until they were cleared away. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted with some of the trees falling on cars and powerlines.
Park officials reported that numerous trees had been blown down by straight line winds. Some trees fell on occupired cabins, cars, and the Cumberland Falls State Park gift shop. Numerous minor injuries were reported, none of which required medical attention.
One large tree was snapped off near its base by thunderstorm wind gusts.
A 5 inch diameter tree limb was blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Utility poles and power lines were blown down along Cumberland Falls Highway or 18th Street.
Numerous trees were blown down on Highway 377.
Numerous tree branches were torn off along Spout Springs Road. Branches were 2 to 5 inches in diameter. One tree was also blown down on Highway 2001.
Numerous trees were blown down county wide, blocking roads. Worst hit area was between Mount Sterling and Jefferson. Camargo was also hit hard.
Nickel size hail was observed.
The roof was blown off an old post office building on Highway 421. Several trees were also blown down.
Numerous tree branches between 2 and 5 inches in diameter were blown down on Highway 52. A couple of trees were also split down the middle and had to be removed from the roadway.
Numerous trees were blown down across a fifty foot wide by one quarter mile long path.
A large tree was blown down onto a tractor crushing it. Numerous large limbs and a couple of other large trees were also blown down.
Golf ball size hail fell for about 3 minutes.
A 59 mph wind gust was measured by the Triangle Mountain RAWS observation platform.
Nickel size hail fell for one to two minutes. A wind gust estimated at 50 mph brought down several two to three inch diameter tree limbs and an eight inch diameter tree.
Golf ball size hail fell for nearly 5 minutes at Hell For Certain.
Two trees were blown down. Numerous tree branches were also blown down.
Penny size hail fell for 5 minutes.
Numerous trees were blown down from West Liberty to Ezel.
Several trees and large limbs were blown down.
Nickel size hail fell at the NWS office at the airport. The event lasted for 4 minutes.
An EF-1 tornado with wind speeds of around 95 mph briefly touched down one mile southeast of Wooton. Large trees were either snapped off or blown over. One tree fell onto a power line.
Penny size hail fell for about 5 minutes. A thunderstorm wind gust estimated at between 50 and 75 mph also occurred while the hail was falling.
A funnel cloud was observed passing over a house in Wooton and then touching down on Highway 1807 approximately 1 mile east of Wooton. Extensive tree and power line damage occurred along a 150 yard damage path.
Numerous reports were received of downed trees and power lines. The State Police reported that at least 50 trees had fallen across roads as a result of thunderstorm wind gusts.
Nickel size hail was reported across a wide area north of Harlan.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts in the eastern portion of the county.
Large limbs were blown down between mile markers 3 and 4 on KY HWY 114.
Four trees were blown down in the Wallens Creek area.
A few trees and power lines were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thundestorm wind gusts downed several power lines in the Browning Acres neighborhood.
Two trees were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Numerous large tree limbs up to 5 inches in diameter were blown down. Two chimneys were also blown down from two very old and poorly constructed houses.
Two trees were blown down along Highway 23 at a cemetery.
Quarter go golfball size hail was observed by a state trooper. Large limbs and power lines were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Penny size hail and a wind gust estimated at 50 mph were reported by a state trooper.
Numerous trees were blown down or shredded by thunderstorm wind gusts. Hall Branch Road was partially blocked by a mudslide and cable lines were down.
Eight to ten trees were blown down in the eastern part of the county.
Nickel size hail fell for about 5 minutes.
Thunderstorm wind gusts downed trees and caused damage to roofs and chimneys on homes in the Blair Branch community.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kentucky, 2008Warnings in Kentucky, May 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: 101165, 101166, 101170, 101171, 101172, 101173, 101174, 101175, 101176, 101177, 101178, 101179, 101180, 101181, 101182, 101192, 101183, 101184, 101185, 101186, 101193, 101188, 101189, 101190, 101191, 101194, 101195, 101197, 101196, 101198, 101394, 101395, 101397, 101398, 101399, 101400, 101402, 101408, 101404, 101406, and more.