Severe thunderstorms moved across portions of eastern Kentucky on the morning of May 8th; leaving in there wake downed trees and power lines and leaving thousands of people without power.
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 moved across portions of eastern Kentucky on the morning of May 8th; leaving in there wake downed trees and power lines and leaving thousands of people without power.
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 8, 2:21 AM EST, 3 hours 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 321 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 .SHORT TERM.../TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...UPDATED THE WAVE TRAIN CONTINUES FOR THE SHORT TERM PERIOD. A FAIRLY HEALTHY MCS IS MOVING TOWARD THE AREA AND WILL BE MOVING ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY THIS MORNING. THE NAM SEEMS TO HAVE THE BEST HANDLE ON THE SYSTEM AND HAVE PRETTY MUCH USED A BLEND OF THE NAM AND ECMWF TO COME UP WITH THE FORECAST. THE GFS CONTINUES TO SHOW AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF QPF FOR TONIGHT. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE GFS TIME HEIGHT FOR TONIGHT...IT DOES NOT EVEN A COUPLING OF THE SURFACE AND UPPER SYSTEMS. FURTHERMORE...THEN GFS MOS IS ONLY GOING FOR 60 TO 70 PERCENT POPS FOR TONIGHT. CONSIDERING BOTH THOSE FACTS...I JUST DO NOT BELIEVE THE MODEL QPF AMOUNTS AND HAVE BLENDED THE ECMWF...NAM...AND HPC QPF AMOUNTS FOR THE FORECAST. AFTER A GOOD ROUND OF STORMS THIS MORNING AND THE SECOND ROUND TONIGHT AND CONSIDERING THE ANTECEDENT SOIL AND STREAM CONDITIONS...THE POSSIBILITY OF FLASH FLOODS IS A REAL POTENTIAL TONIGHT. FOR TEMPS WENT A BIT LOWER THAN THE NAM MOS. WITH ALL OF THE MODEL DIFFERENCES...THE EXACT TRACK OF THE HIGHEST BAND OF PRECIPITATION IS STILL QUITE A BIT UP IN THE AIR. WE WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE A BETTER HANDLE ON IT THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL ALSO KNOW HOW MUCH WILL FALL DURING THE DAY TODAY TO PRIME THE PUMP. .LONG TERM.../FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/ QUESTIONS IN THE LONG TERM REMAIN FOR HOW FAR SOUTH FRONTAL BOUNDARY PUSHES AT THE START OF THE PERIOD AS UPPER LEVEL RIDGING BUILDS INTO THE EASTERN CONUS BY LATE MONDAY. HAVE NOT MADE MANY CHANGES TO PREVIOUS FORECAST AS HIGHER CHANCE POPS SEEM MORE LIKELY IN SOUTHERN CWA ON SUNDAY NIGHT BEFORE THE HIGH PRESSURE CAN TAKE HOLD. SFC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE OHIO VALLEY REGION ON MONDAY AND COMBINES WITH UPPER LEVEL RIDGING TO PROVIDE A PERIOD OF GENERALLY DRY...AND FAIR WEATHER. HIGH PRESSURE WILL ENSURE DRY WEATHER FOR THE START OF THE UPCOMING WEEK WITH ONLY A DEVELOPING WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY TO CONTEND WITH WEDNESDAY. A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA AT THE VERY END OF THE PERIOD. PREFERRED THE SLOWER ECMWF SOLUTION...BUT LEANED CLOSER TO NATIONAL GUIDANCE WHICH PREFERRED THE FASTER GFS SOLUTION WHICH HAD SUPPORT FROM SEVERAL OTHER EXTENDED MODELS...INCLUDING ENSEMBLE RUNS. GENERALLY TWEAKED TEMPS THROUGH THE PERIOD TOWARDS LATEST GUIDANCE WHERE REQUIRED. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST WAS TUESDAY MORNING. HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE AREA...ALONG WITH LIGHT WINDS AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES WILL LIKELY BE A CATALYST FOR A VERY CHILLY MORNING. WENT WITH SOME UPPER 30S IN OUR TYPICALLY COLDER EASTERN VALLEY LOCATIONS. && .AVIATION.../06Z TO 06Z/ THE TAFS ARE A MIXED BAG BECAUSE OF THE PATCHY FOG THIS MORNING. MY CONFIDENCE IN TRYING TO NAIL THIS DOWN IS PRETTY LOW. EXPECT TO SEE QUITE A BIT A VARIABILITY IN THE CIGS AND VIS AT TAF STATIONS BEFORE STARTING TO IMPROVE AFTER 10Z AS THE NEXT WAVE APPROACHES. THE FIRST WAVE OF SHOWERS WILL BE MOVING THROUGH AFTER 10Z AND THEN ANOTHER WAVE WILL MOVE THROUGH AFTER 2Z. THIS WILL BE MAINLY MVFR CONDITIONS...HOWEVER WILL SEE SOME TEMPO IFR VICINITY OF THE HEAVIEST SHOWERS. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120. && SHORT TERM...JJ LONG TERM...RAY/SCHOETTMER AVIATION...JJ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 501 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-091115- 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 501 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING. A SECOND WAVE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING. THIS WILL BRING PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN TO THE AREA. THIS NEW RAIN WILL BRING THE THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING AS WELL AS RISES ON AREA RIVERS. SEE THE CURRENT FLOOD WATCH FOR THE LATEST FLOOD POTENTIAL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ENDING ON SATURDAY. A FLOOD WATCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN ON THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY LOCAL FLOODING AND RAINFALL OVER ONE INCH. JJ
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 430 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 KYZ068-069-079-080-083>088-112>118-080930- ROCKCASTLE-JACKSON-PULASKI-LAUREL-WAYNE-MCCREARY-WHITLEY-KNOX-BELL- HARLAN-BREATHITT-KNOTT-OWSLEY-PERRY-CLAY-LESLIE-LETCHER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MOUNT VERNON...MCKEE...SOMERSET...LONDON... MONTICELLO...WHITLEY CITY...CORBIN...WILLIAMSBURG...BARBOURVILLE... MIDDLESBORO...PINEVILLE...HARLAN...JACKSON...HINDMAN...BOONEVILLE... HAZARD...MANCHESTER...HYDEN...WHITESBURG 430 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING... PATCHY DENSE FOG WILL BE LIFTING BY 5 AM. THE FOG IS MOSTLY NEAR LARGE BODIES OF WATER AND IN THE DEEPER OR MORE SHELTERED VALLEYS AND CAN CAUSE A RAPID DECREASE IN VISIBILITY OVER A SHORT DISTANCE. DRIVERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN DRIVING. JJ
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 605 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 KYZ079-083-084-081030- PULASKI-WAYNE-MCCREARY- 605 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN PULASKI AND WAYNE AND SOUTHWESTERN MCCREARY COUNTIES THROUGH 630 AM EDT FRIDAY MORNING... AT 606 AM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF PARNELL TO CABELL TO 7 MILES SOUTH OF SUNNYBROOK...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THE STORMS WILL BE NEAR SLICKFORD AROUND 615 AM EDT...NAOMI AROUND 620 AM EDT...GREAT MEADOWS CAMPSITES AROUND 625 AM EDT...GRIFFIN AROUND 630 AM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE INCH PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. SCHOETTMER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 630 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 KYZ079-080-083>087-081115- PULASKI-LAUREL-WAYNE-WHITLEY-MCCREARY-KNOX-BELL- 630 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT SOUTHERN PULASKI AND SOUTHWESTERN LAUREL AND SOUTHWESTERN KNOX AND WAYNE AND WHITLEY AND MCCREARY AND SOUTHWESTERN BELL COUNTIES THROUGH 715 AM EDT FRIDAY MORNING... AT 630 AM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NAOMI TO CO-OPERATIVE TO 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GREAT MEADOWS CAMPSITES...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THE STORMS WILL BE NEAR TRIMBLE AROUND 635 AM EDT...KIDDER AROUND 640 AM EDT...WIBORG AROUND 645 AM EDT...SOMERSET PULASKI AIRPORT AROUND 650 AM EDT...RUTH AROUND 655 AM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE INCH PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. SCHOETTMER
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 147 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:06 UTC.
10 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A couple of trees were blown down in the Monticello area; one on Hwy 5 west on KY Hwy 200 and the other 2 miles northeast on KY Hwy 3285. High water was over roads county wide but no roads were closed.
Downed power lines caused 100 people to be without power in Jackson.
Thunderstorm wind gusts downed numerous power lines around the county; leaving around 3500 people without power.
Thunderstorm wind gusts downed power lines in the communities of Acup, Stormking, Coal Harbor, Tiger Hill, and Scuddy. Three thousand people were without power throughout the county.
Twenty two hundred people were reported without power across the county.
Numerous trees were reported downed in Hazard and areas south.
A 12 inch diameter tree was blocking Osborne Fork Road.
Downed power lines left 3500 people without power across the county.
Downed power lines left 2000 people without power across the county.
Numerous trees were reported down on Hwys 317, 805 and 343. Similar problems were also reported in Fleming Neon and Jenkins.
Abrief EF-0 tornado touched down on the west side of Sand Hill Road just north of Sand Hill and south of Lower Bend. The roof over the porch on one house collapsed when an uprooted tree fell on it. Two other homes and an outbuilding had roof or metal roof damage. The tornado was short lived and lifted prior to reaching the Kentuckky River around 525 pm.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kentucky, 2009Warnings in Kentucky, May 2009
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: 175702, 175703, 175704, 175707, 175708, 175709, 175710, 175711, 175712, 175713, 175714.