An isolated severe thunderstorm blew down trees in Montgomery county during the predawn hours of July 17th. The more significant event, however, occurred during the later afternoon and evening hours in Pike 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.
An isolated severe thunderstorm blew down trees in Montgomery county during the predawn hours of July 17th. The more significant event, however, occurred during the later afternoon and evening hours in Pike county. Slow moving, training thunderstorms dumped between 3 and 7 inches of rain on portions of eastern Pike County in a very short period of time. The sudden inundation of the higher terrain around the Raccoon and Harless Creek drainage basins created a wall of water that swept away nearly everything in its path. The town of Raccoon was the hardest hit of the areas that received flooding. One woman was swept away and drowned by the flood waters. A man also fell to his death after leaning over the railing of a highway bridge and falling 240 feet into the raging creek below.
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 Jul 17, 1:50 AM EST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 250 AM EDT SAT JUL 17 2010 .SHORT TERM.../TODAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...UPDATED EASTERN KENTUCKY REMAINS IN VERY HUMID AIR MASS...WITH DEWPOINTS SOLIDLY IN THE LOWER 70S ACROSS THE AREA. CONVECTION HAS FIRED UP IN NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY...WHERE A NORTHEASTWARD ADVANCING OUTFLOW BOUNDARY WAS ABLE TO TAP SOME FESTERING INSTABILITY...ALONG WITH THE APPROACH OF A WEAK SHORT WAVE TROUGH. WILL HAVE TO WATCH THE BLUEGRASS COUNTIES TO SEE IF THE EASTERN FLANK OF THIS COMPLEX CAN CLIP THEM IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. AT THE SURFACE A DIFFUSE QUASI-STATIONARY BOUNDARY REMAINS JUST NORTH OF THE OHIO RIVER. THE MAIN TRIGGER FOR CONVECTION TODAY WILL BE PASSING SHORT WAVE TROUGHS AS WELL AS ANY ADVANCING OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES. ALL MODELS HAVE DECENT COVERAGE ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA...SO HAVE BUMPED THE POPS UP TO NO LESS THAN 50 PERCENT EVERYWHERE. A BIT DRIER AIR IN THE MID- LEVELS WILL ENHANCE ANY ROBUST DOWNDRAFTS. WILL MENTION THE POTENTIAL FOR A SOME STORMS CONTAINING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...ALTHOUGH AT LEAST SOME SMALL HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE AS WELL. CONVECTION WILL BE ON THE WANE WITH THE LOSS OF HEATING TONIGHT. AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW...THE MODELS AGREE ON MORE SUPPRESSED CONVECTION AS WE WILL BE UNDER MORE OF THE INFLUENCE OF SHORT WAVE RIDGING. HAVE MAINTAINED ISOLATED CHANCES. THE DOWNWARD TREND OF POPS WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY NIGHT...BEFORE RAMPING BACK UP AGAIN ON MONDAY...AS A MORE ROBUST SHORT WAVE TROUGH APPROACHES...AS AN ADVANCING FRONTAL BOUNDARY FROM THE NORTH. HAVE UPPED POPS UP TO GOOD CHANCE FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE AREA...FOLLOWING THE UPTICK IN MOS FOR THIS TIME PERIOD. AGAIN...POPS WILL DROP OFF QUICKLY INTO MONDAY NIGHT WITH THE LOSS OF HEATING AND THE EXITING SHORT WAVE TROUGH. FOR TEMPERATURES...GENERALLY USED A BLEND OF THE INHERITED GRIDS AND THE LATEST MOS. HUMID CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE...WITH SUNDAY LOOKING TO BE THE WARMEST DAY OUT OF THE NEXT THREE. .LONG TERM.../TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...UPDATED HAVE LEFT THE INHERITED GRIDS INTACT FOR THE LONG TERM AS CURRENT MODEL SUITE FAVORS CONTINUITY. DID MAKE A FEW MINOR TEMPERATURE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THE LATEST MOS GUIDANCE. THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS BELOW... ON TUESDAY THE TROUGH BEGINS TO RETREAT AND THE RIDGE BUILDS...WITH THIS SCENARIO CONTINUING ON WEDNESDAY. AS A RESULT...POPS WILL DROP EACH DAY. HAVE STILL MAINTAINED A 20-30 PERCENT POP ON TUESDAY...WITH ONLY 10-20 PERCENT BY WEDNESDAY...WITH THE HIGHEST POPS IN OUR NE COUNTIES. MODELS ARE SHOWING THE RIDGE AXIS SETTING UP A BIT FURTHER S AND SW AS COMPARED TO RUNS FROM THURSDAY. IN LIGHT OF THIS HAVE INSERTED A SLIGHT CHANCE POP FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY IN OUR NE COUNTIES. WITH 500 MB HEIGHTS BUILDING DURING THE WEEK...WILL CONTINUE TO EXPECT AN OVERALL SLOW BUILDING OF THE HEAT DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD. && .AVIATION.../06Z TO 06Z/ A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY HAS STALLED OVER THE AREA. A SURFACE TROUGH WHICH EXTENDS FROM WEST CENTRAL KY TO SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI IS MOVING TO THE EAST AND WILL BRING THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM TO THE AREA OVERNIGHT. WITH ALL THE PRECIP THAT FELL IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF EASTERN KENTUCKY TONIGHT... EXPECT THERE WILL BE MORE VALLEY FOG GENERALLY SOUTH OF JACKSON. DUE TO THE SCATTERED NATURE OF THE EXPECTED STORMS ON SATURDAY... WILL GENERALLY USE A VCTS UNTIL STORMS CAN BE TIMED INTO THE INDIVIDUAL TAF SITES. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SHORT TERM...GEOGERIAN LONG TERM...HAL/GEOGERIAN AVIATION...DUSTY
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 417 PM EDT FRI JUL 16 2010 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-104-106>115-118>120-170730- FLEMING-MONTGOMERY-BATH-ROWAN-ESTILL-POWELL-MENIFEE-ELLIOTT-MORGAN- JOHNSON-WOLFE-MAGOFFIN-FLOYD-LEE-BREATHITT-KNOTT-OWSLEY-PERRY- LETCHER-MARTIN-PIKE- 417 PM EDT FRI JUL 16 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH DAY...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. KYZ068-069-079-080-083>088-116-117-170730- ROCKCASTLE-JACKSON-PULASKI-LAUREL-WAYNE-MCCREARY-WHITLEY-KNOX-BELL- HARLAN-CLAY-LESLIE- 417 PM EDT FRI JUL 16 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AT TIMES FROM SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. RAY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 418 AM EDT SAT JUL 17 2010 KYZ044-170845- FLEMING- 418 AM EDT SAT JUL 17 2010 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTY THROUGH 445 AM EDT SATURDAY MORNING... NORTHWESTERN FLEMING. AT 418 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF FAIRVIEW...OR 14 MILES EAST OF CYNTHIANA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...COWAN AROUND 435 AM EDT...NEPTON AROUND 440 AM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...VERY 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. GEOGERIAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 434 AM EDT SAT JUL 17 2010 KYZ050-051-059-060-170900- BATH-MONTGOMERY-MENIFEE-POWELL- 434 AM EDT SAT JUL 17 2010 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 500 AM EDT SATURDAY MORNING... SOUTH CENTRAL BATH... SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY... WESTERN MENIFEE AND NORTHERN POWELL. AT 434 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KLONDIKE...OR 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WINCHESTER...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...KLONDIKE AROUND 440 AM EDT...LEVEE AROUND 445 AM EDT...CAMARGO AROUND 450 AM EDT... JEFFERSONVILLE AROUND 455 AM EDT...CLAY LICK AROUND 500 AM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 40 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. GEOGERIAN
The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 77 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:43 UTC.
12 flash flood, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
County dispatch reported that one tree had been blown down near Mt. Sterling.
One tree was blown down 5 miles east northeast of Mount Sterling.
Two trees were blown down n Meta.
The following creeks in the Millard area were out their banks and causing flooding as of 9 pm: Powells Creek, Jimmies Creek, Bigs Branch Creek, Harles Creek, and Marrowbone Creek.
At least a foot of water was estimated to have been flowing across portions of Abner Fork of Ferrels Creek, removing the pavement from portions of the roadway. Water also was reported to have flooded a couple of basements.
Water was flowing over private bridges undermining and destroying one with the water from Lock Creek flowing over Highway 1373 at Lick Creek. Water estimated at one to four feet deep was flowing over portions of Elswick Fork Rd along Elswich Fork of Lick Creek, removing pavement from 10 and 40 yard sections of the roadway. Water along Elswick Fork reached into an SUV and to the bottom of porches at several homes.
A woman was swept away in flood waters near the intersection of Walters Road and KY Hwy 1460 east of Pikeville.
Hurricane Creek was out of its banks; leading to the flooding and subsequent closure of Hwy 194 in Kimper.
A house was being flooded at 1622 Bigs Branch in Millard. The local Fire Dept had been dispatched to the location to evaluate the situation.
People were trapped on the roof of their home in Meta on Highway 119 along Coons Creek. Flooding problems began around 8 pm. Two people died during this flooding event. Both deaths were health related and not directly caused by flood waters.
Greasey Creek was out of its banks, causing flooding on roads in the town of Greasey Creek. The rising water was also beginning to pose a threat to homes in the area.
Creeks in the area were flowing over their banks causing water to rise toward area homes.
Greasey Creek was causing flooding of roadways 2 miles southeast of Garden Village.
A man leaned over the railing of a highway bridge and fell over 240 feet to his death on the hillside below. The man was watching the flood waters of Racoon Creek from the bridge.
Streams in the Pikeville area had left their banks and were entering buildings between 930 and 940 pm.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Pike | 2010-07-17 | Female | In Water | Direct | |
| Flash Flood, Pike | 2010-07-17 | Mobile/Trailer Home | Indirect | ||
| Flash Flood, Pike | 2010-07-17 | Mobile/Trailer Home | Indirect | ||
| Flash Flood, Pike | 2010-07-17 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, July 2010
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: 242689, 242690, 242708, 242709, 242691, 242706, 242707, 242710, 242711, 242713, 242720, 242722, 242727, 242729, 242712.