A cold front brought heavy rains to the area, causing river flooding over much of south central Indiana and central Kentucky. Additional heavy rains later in April kept the Ohio River at Tell City above flood stage through the end of the month.
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 LMK wrote it up.
A cold front brought heavy rains to the area, causing river flooding over much of south central Indiana and central Kentucky. Additional heavy rains later in April kept the Ohio River at Tell City above flood stage through the end of the month.
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 Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 12, 5:58 AM EST, 2 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 658 AM EDT TUE APR 12 2011 ...UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION... .SHORT TERM (TODAY AND TONIGHT)... NEARLY VERTICALLY STACKED LOWS ACRS SERN KY AT 07Z WITH SURFACE LOW CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN. AS A RESULT...MOISTURE FROM THE GULF CONTINUES TO WRAP AROUND SYS WITH SATELLITE COOLING TOPS/EMBEDDED TSTMS IN VERY SLOW MOVING WIDESPREAD RAINS ACROSS OUR FORECAST AREA. WHILE RAINS HAVE NOT BEEN EXCESSIVE...RATES OF ONE HALF TO 1 INCH AN HOUR ARE COMMON. STREAMS...ESPECIALLY THE SMALLER ONES IN MUCH OF OUR CWA WILL LIKELY GO INTO FLOOD TODAY WITH 2 TO 4 INCHES OR MORE OF TOTAL RAIN BEFORE THE BULK OF THE SYSTEM DEPARTS THIS MORNING. HAVE ALREADY ISSUED A RIVER FLOOD WARNING FOR DEPUTY ON THE MUSCATATUCK RIVER IN SOUTHERN INDIANA AND ADDITIONAL RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED LATER THIS MORNING. AFTER SYSTEM DEPARTURE THIS MORNING...SKIES WILL CLEAR FROM WEST TO EAST AS A RIDGE OF HIGH PRES BUILDS IN. RIDGE WILL BE OVERHEAD TONIGHT AND WITH CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS...FROST WILL BE A CONCERN. WILL MENTION IN HWO. .LONG TERM (WEDNESDAY - MONDAY)... WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT... MID-LEVEL RIDGING AND SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE ESTABLISHED ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA BY WEDNESDAY...WHICH WILL KEEP THE REGION RELATIVELY DRY WEDNESDAY THROUGH THE DAY THURSDAY. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THIS PERIOD WILL SEE DAILY HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE LOW TO MID 40S FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT. BY LATE THURSDAY...A FAIRLY STRONG AND LARGE UPPER TROUGH MOVES INTO THE UPPER PLAINS. THE LATEST GFS...ECMWF...AND NAEFS CONTINUE TO ILLUSTRATE THE CLOSING OFF OF THE APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH ACROSS THE PLAINS FRIDAY...WITH A SLOW MIGRATION TOWARD THE GREAT LAKES BY SATURDAY. AS THIS SYSTEM STRENGTHENS...STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION AND SPREAD MOISTURE BACK INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. MODELS CONTINUE TO HAVE TIMING ISSUES...WHICH AFFECTS THE QUALITY AND DEPTH OF MOISTURE ADVECTION. HOWEVER...IT STILL APPEARS DEWPOINTS WILL INCREASE INTO THE UPPER 50S/LOWER 60S BY FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. WITH A 120 KNOT CYCLONICALLY CURVED JET SWINGING INTO THE REGION...THERE WILL BE ENOUGH UPPER-LEVEL SUPPORT TO RESULT IN WIDESPREAD LIFT FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. MODEL CONSENSUS INDICATES THE BEST CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM VERY LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. THE SURFACE COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH THE REGION FRIDAY...WITH STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE. WITH THE DEPTH OF MOISTURE AND QUESTIONABLE INSTABILITY...THE OVERALL THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS IS STILL IN QUESTION. HOWEVER...GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF THE FORECAST UPPER-LEVEL DYNAMICS...STRONG FORCING WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO OVERCOME MARGINAL MOISTURE/STABILITY. LOWS THURSDAY NIGHT WILL BE RATHER MILD WITH LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW TO MID 50S EXPECTED. HIGHS FRIDAY SHOULD WARM BACK INTO THE LOW TO MID 70S BEFORE THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE FRIDAY NIGHT. LOWS FRIDAY NIGHT LOOK SHOULD DROP INTO THE LOWER 40S IN THE WEST AND MID 40S ACROSS THE EAST. THE REMAINING DISCUSSION IS FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST...ISSUED AT 319 PM MONDAY...AND REMAINS VALID. SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY... IN THE LONG TERM PERIOD...BOTH THE 11/12Z GFS AND EURO SOLUTIONS CONTINUE TO SHOW A DEEP 500 HPA LOW SLOWLY TRANSLATING EASTWARD ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES STATES DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. BOTH MODELS SHOW THE SYSTEM BECOMING VERTICALLY STACKED BY SATURDAY NIGHT WITH THE SYSTEM PULLING OUT A BIT FASTER THAN PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS SHOWED. SATURDAY STILL LOOKS TO BE A RATHER COOL AND CLOUDY DAY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS THE REGION. GIVEN THE NORTHWEST FLOW...SHOWERS WILL LIKELY BE CONTAINED TO OUR BLUEGRASS/NORTHEASTERN REGIONS. FAIRLY TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL BE IN PLACE AS WELL...SO BREEZY CONDITIONS STILL LOOK LIKELY. BY SATURDAY NIGHT...THE SYSTEM WILL START TO MOVE AWAY WITH DRIER AIR WORKING IN FROM THE WEST. SOME RAIN SHOWERS WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE SATURDAY EVENING ACROSS THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST SECTIONS...AND MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOW THAT SOME LIGHT SNOW MAY MIX IN. HOWEVER...OVERALL BOUNDARY LAYER TEMPERATURE IS A BIT WARMER IN BOTH THE DETERMINISTIC AND ENSEMBLE RUNS...SO AM ONLY GOING TO SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE GRIDS FOR SATURDAY NIGHT. SUNDAY SHOULD SEE THE AREA BETWEEN WEATHER SYSTEMS AS A FAST MOVING WAVE WITHIN THE NEARLY ZONAL FLOW ALOFT WILL MOVE THROUGH LATE SUNDAY AND INTO MONDAY. QUITE A BIT OF SPREAD IN THIS TIME FRAME IN THE ENSEMBLES THUS PLAN ON LEAVING MONDAY DRY AT THIS POINT. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THIS TIME PERIOD WILL BE BELOW NORMAL WITH HIGHS ON SATURDAY WARMING INTO THE UPPER 40S AND LOWER 50S WITH LOWS SATURDAY NIGHT COOLING INTO THE MID-UPPER 30S. WE SHOULD SEE MODERATING TEMPERATURES FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH HIGHS WARMING INTO THE MID-UPPER 50S ON SUNDAY AND INTO THE LOWER 60S BY MONDAY WHILE OVERNIGHT TEMPS COOL INTO THE UPPER 30S AND LOWER 40S. && .AVIATION (12Z TAF ISSUANCE)... STRENGTHENING LOW PRESSURE OVER EASTERN KENTUCKY WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SLOWLY EASTWARD INTO VIRGINIA BY THIS AFTERNOON. AS THIS SYSTEM DEPARTS...GUSTY NORTH-NORTHWEST WINDS WILL WEAKEN AND IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS AT KLEX AND KBWG WILL IMPROVE THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. KLEX WILL TAKE THE LONGEST TO CLEAR AS THE WRAP-AROUND MOISTURE HANGS ACROSS THE BLUEGRASS REGION. VFR CONDITIONS CURRENTLY PRESENT ACROSS THE LOUISVILLE METRO AREA WILL CONTINUE...WITH SKIES CLEARING BY LATE THIS MORNING. KBWG WILL CLEAR OUT BY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH KLEX CLEARING BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. && .LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...NONE. IN...NONE. && SHORT TERM........DK/11 LONG TERM.........MJP AVIATION..........MJP
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 450 AM EDT TUE APR 12 2011 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067- 070>078-081-082-130800- ORANGE IN-WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN-JEFFERSON IN-DUBOIS IN- CRAWFORD IN-PERRY IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN-HANCOCK KY- BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY-OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY- JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY- SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY- FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY- MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY-BOYLE KY- GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY-GREEN KY- TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY-LINCOLN KY-LOGAN KY-WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY- ALLEN KY-BARREN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY- CUMBERLAND KY-CLINTON KY- 450 AM EDT TUE APR 12 2011 /350 AM CDT TUE APR 12 2011/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. RAIN AND EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS WILL END EARLY THIS MORNING FOR THOSE AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 65. EAST OF I-65...RAIN WILL END BY MID MORNING INTO MIDDAY. RIVER FLOOD AND FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS HAVE BEEN POSTED OVER PARTS OF THE REGION. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION...PLEASE REFER TO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE. PATCHY FROST MAY DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTHERN INDIANA AND THE BLUEGRASS REGION OF KENTUCKY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. ANOTHER POTENT WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BRING THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY NIGHT. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL LIKELY OCCUR FRIDAY AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY FLOODING ALONG WITH RAINFALL TOTALS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE. DK/MJP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 140 AM EDT TUE APR 12 2011 INZ084-089>091-KYZ023>030-053-061>063-070>074-120745- CRAWFORD IN-PERRY IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-HANCOCK KY- BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY-OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY- JEFFERSON KY-LARUE KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY-LOGAN KY- WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY-ALLEN KY-BARREN KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MARENGO...TELL CITY...CORYDON... NEW ALBANY...HAWESVILLE...HARDINSBURG...BRANDENBURG... BEAVER DAM...LEITCHFIELD...ELIZABETHTOWN...FORT KNOX... MOUNT WASHINGTON...SHEPHERDSVILLE...LOUISVILLE...HODGENVILLE... MORGANTOWN...BROWNSVILLE...MUNFORDVILLE...RUSSELLVILLE... BOWLING GREEN...FRANKLIN...SCOTTSVILLE...GLASGOW 140 AM EDT TUE APR 12 2011 /1240 AM CDT TUE APR 12 2011/ ...MODERATE RAIN AND GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS CONTINUE... AN AREA OF MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS CONTINUES TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM STRENGTHENS OVER THE REGION. THESE SAME AREAS WILL EXPERIENCE OCCASIONAL NORTHWEST WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ONGOING RAIN SHOWERS AS WELL AS THE STRENGTHENING LOW. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL UP TO ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH CAN BE EXPECTED. WIND GUSTS OF THESE SPEEDS WILL BLOW AROUND LOOSE OBJECTS AND AFFECT HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 251 AM EDT TUE APR 12 2011 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>035-038-039-045-046-053-054- 061>065-070>076-121000- ORANGE IN-WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN-JEFFERSON IN-DUBOIS IN- CRAWFORD IN-PERRY IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN-HANCOCK KY- BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY-OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY- JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY- SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY- BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY-GREEN KY-TAYLOR KY-LOGAN KY- WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY-ALLEN KY-BARREN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PAOLI...SALEM...SCOTTSBURG...MADISON... JASPER...MARENGO...TELL CITY...CORYDON...NEW ALBANY... JEFFERSONVILLE...HAWESVILLE...HARDINSBURG...BRANDENBURG... BEAVER DAM...LEITCHFIELD...ELIZABETHTOWN...FORT KNOX... MOUNT WASHINGTON...SHEPHERDSVILLE...LOUISVILLE...LA GRANGE... BEDFORD...NEW CASTLE...SHELBYVILLE...FRANKFORT...TAYLORSVILLE... LAWRENCEBURG...BARDSTOWN...SPRINGFIELD...HODGENVILLE...LEBANON... MORGANTOWN...BROWNSVILLE...MUNFORDVILLE...GREENSBURG... CAMPBELLSVILLE...RUSSELLVILLE...BOWLING GREEN...FRANKLIN... SCOTTSVILLE...GLASGOW...TOMPKINSVILLE...EDMONTON 251 AM EDT TUE APR 12 2011 /151 AM CDT TUE APR 12 2011/ ...WIDESPREAD RAINS WILL CAUSE HEAVY PONDING OF WATER AND FURTHER RISES ON AREA STREAMS... WIDESPREAD MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AS STRENGTHENING LOW PRESSURE CONTINUES TO MOVE SLOWLY ACROSS OUR REGION. EXPECT RAIN TO ACCUMULATE FROM ONE HALF INCH TO AN INCH AN HOUR THROUGH 5 AM EDT. THE GROUND IS SATURATED AND THIS ADDITIONAL RAIN WILL CAUSE FURTHER RISES ON STREAMS AND HEAVY PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS. IN ADDITION TO THE RAIN...WINDS WILL GUST TO AROUND 40 MPH INTO THE PREDAWN HOURS. BE CAREFUL DRIVING. SLOW DOWN...WATCH FOR HYDROPLANING... AND USE CAUTION ON ROADS ALONG SWOLLEN STREAMS. NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS A FLOODED ROAD. DK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 648 AM EDT TUE APR 12 2011 INZ091-092-KYZ028>035-038-039-045-046-053-054-063>065-074>077-081- 121215- FLOYD IN-CLARK IN-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY-JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY- TRIMBLE KY-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY- NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY-HART KY-GREEN KY- TAYLOR KY-BARREN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-CUMBERLAND KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEW ALBANY...JEFFERSONVILLE... ELIZABETHTOWN...FORT KNOX...MOUNT WASHINGTON...SHEPHERDSVILLE... LOUISVILLE...LA GRANGE...BEDFORD...NEW CASTLE...SHELBYVILLE... FRANKFORT...TAYLORSVILLE...LAWRENCEBURG...BARDSTOWN... SPRINGFIELD...HODGENVILLE...LEBANON...MUNFORDVILLE...GREENSBURG... CAMPBELLSVILLE...GLASGOW...TOMPKINSVILLE...EDMONTON...COLUMBIA... BURKESVILLE 648 AM EDT TUE APR 12 2011 /548 AM CDT TUE APR 12 2011/ STEADY MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS WILL CONTINUE OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY THROUGH 8 AM EDT...WITH AN ADDITIONAL INCH LIKELY. HEAVIEST RAINS WILL FALL OVER PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY INCLUDING HART...BARREN AND METCALFE COUNTIES. RAIN WILL END OVER THOSE PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY NEAR THE OHIO RIVER...INCLUDING TRIMBLE...OLDHAM...JEFFERSON...MEADE AND NORTHERN HARDIN COUNTIES BY 8 AM. STANDING WATER OVER SOME ROADS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS JEFFERSON COUNTY...WHERE A FEW ROADS ARE CLOSED...SHOULD RECEDE SLOWLY AFTER SUNRISE. BE CAREFUL DRIVING. SLOW DOWN...WATCH FOR HYDROPLANING... AND USE CAUTION ON ROADS ALONG SWOLLEN STREAMS. NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS A FLOODED ROAD. DK
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Stoner Creek at Paris crested around 24.4 feet at 905 PM EST on April 12. Flood stage at Paris is 18 feet. Moderate flooding occurs at this level with water entering some homes below the water plant.
The Rough River at Dundee crested around 27.5 feet at 10 AM CST on April 13. Flood stage at Dundee is 25 feet. Minor flooding occurs at this level, with water covering bottom land on the right bank.
The Green River at Woodbury crested at 39.8 feet around 6 AM CST on April 15. Flood stage at Woodbury is 33 feet. Minor flooding occurs at this level, with some low spots flooded on both North and South Church Streets.
The Green River at Brownsville crested around 24.8 feet at 1015 AM CST on April 14. Flood stage at Brownsville is 18 feet. Minor flooding occurs at this level.
The Rolling Fork River near Boston crested around 44.2 feet at 2 PM EST on April 14. Flood stage at Boston is 35 feet. Moderate flooding occurs at this level, with a few homes and trailers flooded outside of Boston.
The South Fork Licking River at Cynthiana crested at 21.98 feet around 1030 AM EST on April 13. Flood stage at Cynthiana is 20 feet. At 20 feet, large sections of the city park are flooded, and the river is at bankfull on the south side of Cynthiana. The crest was just below the moderate flood level of 22 feet, where some homes on the west side of town are evacuated.
The Green River at Munfordville crested around 34.6 feet at 5 PM CST on April 13. Flood stage at Munfordville is 28 feet. Minor flooding occurs at this level with the city park covered by water.
Drakes Creek at Alvaton crested around 27.2 feet at 945 PM EST on April 12. Flood stage at Alvaton is 22 feet. Trails in Phil Moore Park are flooded at this level.
The Green River at Rochester was estimated to crest at 21.4 feet. The estimated crest time was around 5 AM CST on April 15. Minor flooding occurs at this level.
The Licking River at Blue Licks Spring crested around 35.6 feet at 1130 PM EST on April 13. Flood stage at Blue Licks Spring is 25 feet. Minor flooding occurs at this level, with flooding of some cultivated crop land.
The Ohio River above Louisville's McAlpine Lock and Dam crested around 23.6 feet at 545 AM EST on April 15. Flood stage at this site is 23 feet. Minor flooding occurs at this level with sections of River Road closed near Cox's Park.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, April 2011
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: 295527, 295542, 295637, 295631, 295532, 295529, 295546, 295537, 295645, 295531, 295652.