A multiple lines and clusters of intense showers and strong to severe thunderstorms brought a variety of severe weather to eastern Kentucky on May 2nd and 3rd. During the late morning and late afternoon hours of May 2nd, multiple thunderstorms formed ahead of an approaching frontal boundary.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
A multiple lines and clusters of intense showers and strong to severe thunderstorms brought a variety of severe weather to eastern Kentucky on May 2nd and 3rd. During the late morning and late afternoon hours of May 2nd, multiple thunderstorms formed ahead of an approaching frontal boundary. These storms eventually merged into a line that stretched across the entire forecast area late in the day on the 2nd. During the overnight hours a large area of intense showers and thunderstorms dumped anywhere from 2 to over 7 inches of rainfall. Flooding was the primary issue during the overnight and early morning hours of May 3rd. Some areas felt the affects of the flooding as late in the week as May 7th.
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 2, 6:30 AM EST, 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 730 AM EDT SUN MAY 2 2010 .SHORT TERM.../THIS MORNING/ TORNADO WATCH #132 IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF OUR AREA. BROKEN LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY HAS NEEDED A FEW WARNINGS THIS MORNING. LAPS SOUNDINGS INDICATE A STRONGLY SHEARED ENVIRONMENT OVER OUR WESTERN COUNTIES BUT ONE WITH LITTLE CAPE AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER... ELEVATED INSTABILITY IS INCREASING AS STRONG LOW LEVEL JET BRINGS WARM ADVECTION ABOVE THE STABLE BOUNDARY LAYER. THIS STABLE BOUNDARY LAYER IS ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF GETTING DISLODGED WITH SME AND EKQ OBS RECENTLY INDICATING RISING TEMPS AND INCREASING WINDS. THEREFORE... THE THREAT FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES IS INCREASING ACROSS OUR WESTERN COUNTIES THIS MORNING. THE OTHER THREAT WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE EXCESSIVE RAINFALL RATES LEADING TO FLASH FLOODING. UPSTREAM RAINFALL RATES FROM MESONET GAGES IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY INDICATE 1-HR AND 3-HR RAINFALL THAT ARE AT OR OVER OUR FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE VALUES. OUR SOUTHWEST COUNTIES WHICH WHERE DOUSED ON SATURDAY LOOK TO MISS OUT ON THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL INITIALLY HOWEVER... SO THAT IS SOME GOOD NEWS FOR NOW. THE PREVIOUS SHORT TERM FORECAST DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... /TODAY THROUGH MONDAY/ FORECAST CONCERNS CONTINUE TO REVOLVE AROUND THE THREAT FOR HEAVY RAINFALL AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALL SIGNS CONTINUE TO POINT TO A WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL EVENT LATER TODAY AND THIS EVENING WITH A MODERATE TO HIGH RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL ACROSS ALL OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. DEEP AND MOIST SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL BE IN PLACE OVER THE TENNESSEE AND OHIO VALLEYS TODAY AND TONIGHT AS THE TROUGH OVER THE PLAINS STATES SLOWLY SHIFTS EASTWARD. THE TROUGH WILL BECOME MORE POSITIVELY TILTED BY MONDAY. THIS WILL PROVIDE AN EASTWARD PUSH TO A SURFACE FRONT WHICH WILL BE CROSSING THE STATE TODAY AND TONIGHT... AND EXITING TO OUR EAST ON MONDAY. CONVECTION HAS BEEN REPOSITIONED TO OUR WEST OVERNIGHT AS SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL JET RAMPS UP. THE SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL PROVIDE A BIT OF A DOWNSLOPE FLOW TO THE AREA THIS MORNING... KEEPING THE BULK OF THE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY JUST TO OUR WEST. THIS TRAIN OF SHOWERS/TSTORMS WILL PUSH EAST INTO EASTERN KENTUCKY MIDDAY INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS THOUGH. SOME BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS THIS MORNING ARE LIKELY AND THIS WILL ONLY DESTABILIZE THE ATMOSPHERE AND INCREASE OUR RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. SPC CONTINUES TO OUTLINE THE AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND BASED ON FORECAST SOUNDINGS TODAY... WIND DAMAGE WOULD BE THE PRIMARY THREAT... ALTHOUGH ISOLATED TORNADOES WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE GIVEN THE STRONG SPEED SHEAR AND SOME DIRECTIONAL SHEAR ALOFT. THE FLOOD THREAT REMAINS RATHER HIGH OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS WITH PWATS INCREASING TO AROUND 2 INCHES OR OVER 200 PERCENT OF NORMAL. THERE IS A BIT OF GOOD NEWS HERE HOWEVER AS RECENT MODEL TRENDS ARE FOR A FASTER FRONTAL PASSAGE LATE TONIGHT. THIS SHOULD BRING A QUICKER EXIT TO THE HEAVY RAINFALL. AS SUCH... QPF HAS BEEN KNOCKED BACK A BIT IN LINE WITH THE 02/06Z HPC QPF GUIDANCE. WE NOW ANTICIPATE RAINFALL ON AVERAGE TODAY AND TONIGHT TO RANGE FROM AROUND 3 INCHES FOR OUR FAR WESTERN COUNTIES DOWN TO AN INCH AND A HALF FOR OUR FAR EAST. TRAINING OF CELLS WILL OF COURSE LIKELY BRING LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS TO THESE. THE GROUND IS SATURATED FOR MOST AREAS AFTER WHAT FELL ON SATURDAY... SO THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT IS REAL AND NO CHANGES ARE PLANNED TO OUR ONGOING FLASH FLOOD WATCH. OR COURSE OUR RIVERS WILL BE IMPACTED AS WELL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD OFF ON ANY WARNINGS JUST YET AS EXPECTED RISES STILL LARGELY DEPEND ON QPF. LESS OVERALL QPF IN THE EAST MAY HELP LIMIT RISES ON THE BIG SANDY AND CUMBERLAND... BUT THE KENTUCKY... ESPECIALLY SOUTH FORK AND POINTS ON THE MAIN STEM DOWNSTREAM OF BEATTYVILLE STILL STAND THE HIGHEST RISK FOR RIVER FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT QPF FORECASTS. THE QUICKER FRONTAL PASSAGE IN THE PROGS HAS NECESSITATED A LOWERING OF RAIN CHANCES AND SKY COVER ON MONDAY. THIS SHOULD ALSO HELP TEMPS WARM BACK INTO THE 80S. .LONG TERM.../MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/ WILL GO WITH A DRY FORECAST UNTIL A FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA LATE IN THE WEEK. A WEAK DISSIPATING FRONTAL BOUNDARY LOOKS TO BE ACROSS OHIO ON TUESDAY. WILL LEAN TOWARDS THE 12Z GFS AND KEEP RAIN CHANCES OUT OF OUR FORECAST FOR TUESDAY. WILL ALSO FOLLOW THE HPC GUIDANCE WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE 12Z GFS FOR THE SYSTEM OVER THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES ON WEDNESDAY. THIS MEANS A RAIN FREE FORECAST FOR THIS DAY AS WELL. FAIRLY GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT WITH FRONT MOVING ACROSS AREA FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY...AND WILL HAVE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES FROM FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. && .AVIATION.../12Z TO 12Z/...UPDATED BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL SLOWLY SAG SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS OUR AREA AND TAF SITES LATE THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS. ONCE OVERHEAD... MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL WILL OCCUR WITH IFR OR LOWER CONDITIONS FOR SEVERAL HOURS. GUSTY WINDS WILL ALSO BE AN AVIATION HAZARD TODAY WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH POSSIBLE AT TIMES... POSSIBLY HIGHER IN AND NEAR THUNDERSTORMS. THE COLD FRONT RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THIS ACTIVITY WILL EASE BY US OVERNIGHT TONIGHT WITH IMPROVING CONDITIONS EXPECTED TOWARDS THE END OF THE TAF PERIOD. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TORNADO WATCH UNTIL NOON EDT TODAY FOR KYZ044-050>052-058>060- 068-069-079-080-083-084. FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH MONDAY MORNING FOR KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120. && SHORT TERM...ABE LONG TERM....SBH AVIATION...ABE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 415 AM EDT SUN MAY 2 2010 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-031100- 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 415 AM EDT SUN MAY 2 2010 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH MONDAY MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED...PARTICULARLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA TODAY AND TONIGHT...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS LIKELY WHERE THUNDERSTORMS PASS REPEATEDLY OVER THE SAME AREAS. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN ON TOP OF WHAT FELL ON SATURDAY WILL RESULT IN A THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING...AND EVENTUALLY MINOR TO MODERATE FLOODING OF SOME LARGER CREEKS AND RIVERS. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM ANY THUNDERSTORM...ALTHOUGH AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY HEAVY RAINFALL...FLOODING... OR WIND DAMAGE TODAY AND TONIGHT. ABE
The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 51 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:59 UTC.
45 flash flood, 23 flood, 9 heavy rain, 3 debris flow, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A volunteer weather observer reported that 5.35 inches of rain had fallen near Frenchburg since 8 am.
The Estill county EM reported that 4.75 inches of rain had fallen in Irvine since 8 am.
A volunteer weather observer reported that 3.58 inches of rain had fallen in Clay City since 8 am.
A volunteer weather observer reported 2.78 inches of rainfall in Cressy since 8 am.
Main Street in Clay City was closed at the Dairy Queen due to flooding.
The Mountain Parkway was blocked at mile marker 16 in Clay City due to flash flooding. The water rose rapidly and was running across both the east and westbound lanes. The entrance to the Mountain Parkway in Winchester was also closed to keep hapless motorists from driving into the flooded road near in Clay City. The parkway was also closed at mile marker 18. Adams Ridge Road and Skinner Holler were also closed due to high water.
Main Street in Clay City was impassable at Diary Queen due to flooding. The Mountain Parkway was also closed at Exit 22 on the west side of Stanton.
Motorists had to be rescued from a vehicle along Adams Ridge Road in Clay City. Winchester Road at the Powell and Clark county line was closed due to flooding.
Three to four feet of water was flowing over Hardwicks Creek Road in Vaughns Mill.
Flood waters picked up several cars along Mill Creek 7 miles southeast of Owingsville and carried them downstream. One woman had to be rescued from her car.
Streams had left their banks and were entering buildings in downtown Mt Sterling.
The junction of Highways 1249 and 1152 along Sand Springs Road were under water.
The Rockcastle county sheriff reported that most of the roads north of Roundstone were under water.
Highway 328 off of 618 was impassable due to flooding near Mt. Vernon.
County dispatch reported that some roads in or near Campton were closed due to high water. Some evacuations also took place before midnight on the 2nd.
The Mountain Parkway was still closed in both directions.
Streams were over roads and bridges in Morehead.
Noland Creek Road was completely impassable due to water flowing over the road 8 miles north northwest of Irvine.
A coop observer measured 4.87 inches of rain between 1 and 11 pm.
The Beattyville Police Dept reported that Silver Creek Road was flooded by water from Silver Creek and was impassable.
Several roads were impassable around Rowan county. Eight inches of water was running across Tripplett Street in Morehead. Nip Hollow Road was experiencing rising water at Haldeman. The intersection of Logan Hollow Road and Copperas Hollow Road were impassable north of Morehead. There was also a mudslide at the 4000 block of Cristy Creek Road south of Morehead.
Several roads across the county were closed due to flooding. The list included Eades Drive, Walton Road, Sub Station Road, Dry Branch Road, and Blackburn Road.
Highway 460 west near Means was closed as well as several other roads throughout Menifee county. Two shelters were set up for an undeterminable number of residents threatened by the flooding. One shelter was at Means and the other at Big Woods.
One lane of Kentucky 324, Kentucky 174, and Kentucky 3303 were all closed due to flooding in Flemingsburg.
State Highway 235 in Trimble was closed due to flooding.
Oak Hill Road 1 mile north northwest of the Somerset-Pulaski County airport was closed due to flooding.
Sections of KY Hwy 1912 and KY Hwy 1004 near in and around Orlando were closed due to flooding.
Old Wayesburg Road was closed due to flooding 1 mile east of Eubank.
Heavy rain washed out a culvert on Route 1620 north of Stark.
Streams had left their banks and flood roads and bridges in Science Hill.
A volunteer weather observer reported that 1.39 inches of rain fell in Cressy between 4 and 6 pm.
Both lanes of US Route 460 were closed in the community of Grassy Creek due to flooding.
An EF2 tornado touched down 1 mile south of Betsey in the Meadow Creek area. The tornado had a path length of 1/4 of a mile and a path width of 100 yards. The estimated wind speeds associated with the tornado were 110 to 120 mph. The tornado downed numerous trees. The twister also blew part of the roof off of a brick home, causing the corner of an outside wall to collapse.
The office of emergency management reported that the following roads had been closed due to flooding in Irvine: Sunrise Valley Road, Clear Creek Road, Red Lick Road, Red Lick Road, and Maupin Hill Road.
A swift water rescue was performed on Frames Branch Road near Clay City. A motorist drove their car into flood waters and got stuck.
Kentucky Highway 1571 was closed between mile markers 0 and 6 due to flooding. Kentucky 52 was closed between mile markers 14 and 15 due to flooding.
Kentucky Route 1209 and county road Searcy Branch were under water as of 348 am with a few homes on Rt 1209 surrounded by water in the community of Alumbaugh.
Wildie Rd was closed due to flooding.
Highway 25 near the Madison county line was closed due to a rock slide. Highway at Doug Hill Road was also closed due to flooding.
A volunteer weather observer measured 1.39 inches of rainfall in Cressy between 6 and 8 pm.
A trained spotter reported that 5.05 inches of rain had fallen since 6 pm on May 2nd four miles northwest of Hyden and that Osborne Fork was 2/3 bankful.
White Oak Road at John Rollins was flooded.
Heavy rain caused a mudslide in the Hargett area on Route 89.
Water was flowing into the Estill County library.
The Beech Fork Reservoir between Clay City and Stanton was in danger of breach. Water was overflowing the dam according to the Beech Fork Water Commission.
A 100 foot stretch of Main St in Clay City was covered by flood water from the Red River and was closed. Stretches of Pompeii Road, KY Hwy 11, 11th St, and Hardwood St in Clay City were also closed due to flooding.
A report was received of a hillside collapsing into the back of a house on Skinner Branch Road in Clay City.
Brown Ridge Road and Highway 89 north of Estill County High School were closed due to mud slides.
A swift water rescue was performed for a couple of motorists on Hardwicks Creek Road near Clay City.
One lane of west bound I-64 was closed at mile marker 138 due to high water in Morehead.
All lanes of KY 32 at Bratton Branch were blocked by high water. Water had also entered businesses there. KY 32 in downtown Morehead was also impassable along with parts of US 60 both east and west of town.
A trained spotter reported that 2.2 inches of rain fell between 7 and 9 pm near Bee Lick. The storm total rainfall was 7.45 inches since Saturday.
Kentucky Highway 486 and Kentucky Highway 409 in the vicinity of Stephens were closed due to flooding around midnight.
Highway 794 on the Clark and Estill county line was closed due to flooding.
The following roads throughout Estill County were closed due to flood waters: Driftwood Drive, Little Doe Creek Road, Hargett Road, Millers Creek Road, and the intersection of Stump and Coalwash Roads.
A Lee county official reported that Kentucky Highway 52 from Whynot to the Estill county line was impassable due to water from a stream flooding the roadway.
Quail Run Road and Walling Road were impassable and closed due to flooding.
Meatscaffold Branch had flooded Highway 2466 with water up to a foot deep. The water had receeded and uncovered the road as of 1250 am.
Portions of Master Street and Bacon Creek Road near the Corbin nursing home were under water.
Some street flooding was reported in Corbin, especially in poor drainage areas. The roads were impassable at the underpass at Roy Kidd and Depot, a section of Bacon Creek Road and a section of KY 312 on the east of the city. High water was also reported at Master St and Vaughn.
A large amount of flooding occurred along Boone Street in Stanton. Yards were flooded almost up to porches in some cases with up to a foot of water in lower lying areas. Many small tree limbs had been blown down. Six inches of storm total rainfall was measured.
Kentucky Route 7 was closed near the confluence of the north fork of the Licking River and Road Fork in Wrigley.
The Beattyville Police Dept reported that Blaines Branch Road was impassable due to flash flooding.
Two county roads near West Liberty were flooded and closed due to high water from flash flooding.
The Wolfe county dispatch reported that Elkins Road and South Washington Road were closed due to flooding near Campton.
Flood water along KY Highway 30 west from a creek was starting to get around some mobile homes 2 miles south southeast of Elkatawa.
Highway 1427 was under a foot of flowing water from Abbott Creek 1 mile southwest of Bonanza.
Both the Lee and Breathitt county dispatch offices reported that KY Highway 52 was flooded with about 16 inches of flood water from a nearby creek 2 miles west of Oakdale.
Kentucky Highway 1612 was reported to be flooded and is closed at this time just inside the Carter county line.
A volunteer spotter reported that 2.2 inches of rain fell 5 miles west of Bee Lick Saturday night. An additional 4 inches of rain fell on Sunday, May 2nd in the same area. This resulted in some flash flooding in the Bee Lick Area.
Streams were over creeks and bridges in Stanville.
Kentucky Route 550 near the Knott county line was reported by the Kentucky State Police to have been submerged beneath flood water south of Garrett.
KY Hwy 1612 was reported to be flooded and was closed just inside the Carter county line 4 miles east southeast of Bruin.
Streams and rivers were over roads and bridges in Salyersville.
Streams were over roads or bridges in Hindman.
Streams were over roads and bridges in Dorton.
Highway 160 near Kingdom Come Settlement School was flooded.
Flood water from Abbott Creek was reported by and ambulance service to be up to the back door of a home in the Creekside subdivision.
Kentucky Highway 476 in the Bulan area had a 500 section covered by 2 feet of flood water from a nearby creek.
The Kentucky State Police reported that flood water from a creek was over both lanes of US Hwy 421 near the Cawood area.
High water from flooding of low lying areas along the middle fork of the Kentucky River in the Confluence area had reached a roadway. Local law enforcement also reported that a vehicle had driven into the water and stalled.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kentucky, 2010Warnings in Kentucky, May 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: 224684, 224685, 223613, 223410, 223420, 223409, 223609, 223612, 223330, 223657, 236484, 224687, 224688, 224689, 224699, 223651, 223328, 223327, 224691, 236495, 223415, 223331, 223402, 223655, 223659, 223661, 236952, 223660, 223636, 223298, 223662, 228162, 230416, 223658, 223671, 224692, 228178, 228190, 223667, 223672, and more.