During the afternoon and evening of April 25th, a MCS and a couple single cells moved north east across the eastern mountainous counties. The event prompted the issuance of 6 severe thunderstorm warnings as most of the storm reports were related to wind damage.
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.
During the afternoon and evening of April 25th, a MCS and a couple single cells moved north east across the eastern mountainous counties. The event prompted the issuance of 6 severe thunderstorm warnings as most of the storm reports were related to wind damage.
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 Apr 25, 6:35 PM EST, 0 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 735 PM EDT MON APR 25 2011 .SHORT TERM.../TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/ ACTIVE PATTERN TO CONTINUE DURING THE PERIOD...BUT WINDING DOWN ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MODELS ARE STILL SHOWING SOME TIMING/TRACKING DISCREPANCIES...AND HAVE USED A COMPROMISE FOR THE FORECAST. FIRST CONCERN IS FOR THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. CONVECTION HAS STARTED TO POP...BUT MOSTLY OUTSIDE THE FORECAST AREA AS OF MID AFTERNOON. AT THIS POINT...STILL THINKING THAT COVERAGE WILL BE LIMITED WITH A LACK OF A FOCUSING MECHANISM...AND HAVE USED A 20 PERCENT POP FOR THE START OF FIRST PERIOD. IF TRENDS SHOW MORE COVERAGE...AN UPDATE WOULD BE NEEDED. HAVE ALSO INCLUDED SLIGHT CHANCE TOWARD THE END OF THE PERIOD IN OUR FAR SW...WITH BOTH THE NAM AND GFS SHOWING CONVECTION INITIATING ALONG A COLD FRONT OVER MO AND AR THIS EVENING AND MOVING EAST OVERNIGHT...BUT THE NAM BEING SLOWER THAN THE GFS. ON TUESDAY THE CONVECTION REMNANTS MOVE THROUGH OUR AREA. FORECAST WIND FIELDS SHOW MORE SHEER DEVELOPING FOR TUE...AND SEVERE THREAT WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED...ESPECIALLY IF SOME DESTABILIZATION CAN TAKE PLACE FIRST. DOWNSLOPE LOW LEVEL FLOW MAY LOWER THE PRECIP AND SVR THREAT OVER THE FAR EASTERN PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA ON TUE. TUE NIGHT A STRONG AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND HEAD TOWARD AR. MODELS SHOW CONVECTION DEVELOPING TO OUR W AND SW CLOSER TO THE LOW AND IN THE AREA OF GOOD INFLOW OFF THE GULF. THIS CONVECTION MAY AFFECT OUR AREA DURING THE NIGHT. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WX IS LIKELY TO BE WEDNESDAY. THE AFOREMENTIONED LOW WILL CONTINUE DEEPENING AND TRACKING NE UP THE OHIO VALLEY. THE WINDS FIELDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE VERY STRONG. THE MOST QUESTIONABLE PARAMETER MAY BE INSTABILITY...ESPECIALLY IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES... WHERE DOWNSLOPE LOW LEVEL FLOW IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY FOR LIMITING PRECIP AND SEVERE POTENTIAL. EVEN SO...BOTH FLOODING AND ALL TYPES OF SEVERE WX ARE A CONCERN...ESPECIALLY IN OUR WESTERN COUNTIES. EVEN IN THE EAST...IF CONVECTION MANAGES TO OCCUR DESPITE DOWNSLOPING... DAMAGING WINDS COULD STILL THREATEN. THE THREATS WIND DOWN ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. .LONG TERM.../THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/ FINALLY APPEARS A BREAK FROM THE ACTIVE WEATHER WILL ARRIVE ON THURSDAY AS MUCH DRIER AND COOLER AIR RETURNS TO EAST KENTUCKY. THIS SHOULD GIVE THE AREA A CHANCE TO DRY OUT AND RECOVER FROM THE MID WEEK ACTIVE WEATHER. TEMPERATURES WILL ONCE AGAIN BEGIN TO REBOUND HEADING INTO NEXT WEEKEND...WITH A COLD FRONT TO BRING ANOTHER CHANCE OF RAIN LATE IN THE WEEKEND. MODELS ARE IN VERY GOOD AGREEMENT FROM THURSDAY INTO THE START OF THIS NEXT WEEKEND. WILL GO AHEAD AND ELIMINATE POPS STARTING AT 12Z THURSDAY THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY. MODEL SOUNDINGS ARE JUST TOO DRY AND STABLE TO PRODUCE MUCH IN THE WAY OF MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION. THERE IS STILL UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING THE TIMING OF THE FRONT LATE IN THE WEEKEND. OPTING TO KEEP THE FORECAST FAIRLY IN TACT WITH SMALL CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FROM SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER...GUT FEELING IS THE FRONT WILL LIKELY END UP BEING SLOWER AND MAY HOLD OFF UNTIL SUNDAY NIGHT OR MONDAY. THIS IS GENERALLY WHAT THE ECMWF AGREES ON AT THE MOMENT. HOWEVER...WITHOUT MODEL AGREEMENT...OPTING TO HOLD ONTO A CHANCE FOR SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. AFTER A "COOL" THURSDAY...TEMPERATURES WILL WARM HEADING INTO THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. GUIDANCE SEEMS TO BE COVERING THE TEMPERATURES FAIRLY WELL...SO NO REASON TO DEVIATE VERY MUCH. && .AVIATION.../00Z TO 24Z/...UPDATED EXPECTING VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH AROUND 16 OR 17Z TOMORROW. OTHER THAN A FEW MIDDLE LEVEL CLOUDS AND CIRRUS LEFT OVER FROM DISTANT THUNDERSTORMS...SKIES SHOULD BE MOSTLY CLEAR OVERNIGHT. CLOUDS WILL BEGIN TO LOWER AND THICKEN BY LATE TOMORROW MORNING...AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST. A FEW STORMS COULD BE SEVERE TUESDAY AFTERNOON WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY THREATS. ENVIRONMENTAL WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST LATE TOMORROW MORNING...WITH GUSTS OF 15 TO 20KTS POSSIBLE. IFR CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS...PARTICULARLY THE STRONGER STORMS THAT PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SHORT TERM...HAL LONG TERM....KAS AVIATION...AR
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 438 AM EDT MON APR 25 2011 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-261145- 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- 438 AM EDT MON APR 25 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY AND AGAIN OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...AND AGAIN FROM SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. SOME OF THE STORMS FROM TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT MAY BECOME SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL THE MAIN THREATS. IN ADDITION...HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT HAIL...ANY WIND DAMAGE...OR EXCESSIVE RAINFALL TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON. MB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 345 PM EDT MON APR 25 2011 KYZ120-252015- PIKE- 345 PM EDT MON APR 25 2011 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTY THROUGH 415 PM EDT MONDAY AFTERNOON... EAST CENTRAL PIKE. AT 344 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PAW PAW...OR 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GILBERT CREEK...MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...WOODMAN AROUND 350 PM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE IN THESE AREAS. DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER THEN LIGHTNING IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE A HAZARD. PELTON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 541 PM EDT MON APR 25 2011 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-261000- 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 541 PM EDT MON APR 25 2011 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT... A PASSING AREA OF STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL BRING A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY. AHEAD OF THE FRONT ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THESE STORMS INITIALLY WILL BE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND HEAVY RAINS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY...THERE WILL BE A RENEWED THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WHICH MAY AGAIN LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. BY LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT...TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 1 TO 3 INCH RANGE. IF THESE AMOUNTS MATERIALIZE...FLOODING WILL BECOME PROBABLE ALONG THE RED RIVER...AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF THE CUMBERLAND AND KENTUCKY RIVERS. ANY CHANGES IN THE TRACK AND INTENSITY OF THIS SYSTEM WILL AFFECT THE TIMING OF THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT AS WELL AS TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS. RESIDENTS SHOULD STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER UPDATES TO THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION. AR
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 718 PM EDT MON APR 25 2011 KYZ087-260000- BELL- 718 PM EDT MON APR 25 2011 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTY THROUGH 800 PM EDT MONDAY EVENING... SOUTHERN BELL. AT 717 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 10 MILES SOUTH OF NOETOWN...OR 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MIDDLESBORO...MOVING NORTH AT 50 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...NOETOWN AROUND 725 PM EDT...MIDDLESBORO AND BINGHAMTOWN AROUND 730 PM EDT...FERNDALE AROUND 735 PM EDT...WASIOTO AROUND 740 PM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS AROUND 50 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND NICKEL SIZED HAIL IN THESE AREAS. PELTON
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 57 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:33 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
There were trees blown down on the right fork of Polly Hollow Rd outside of Middlesboro.
Trees were blown down and onto power lines at the Bella Gardens Apt complex on Old Pineville Pike in Middlesboro.
A power line was blown down and onto a truck on Blossom Lane in Thousandsticks.
There were trees and power lines blown down on Thousandsticks road in Thousandsticks.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in the Hyden area. There were sporadic power outages also occurring in northern Leslie county.
There were trees blown down along KY highway 987 one mile off US 119 on Brownies Creek Road three miles southwest of Miracle.
There were trees reported down along KY highway 7 near Cornettsville. The report was relayed by TV media.
There were trees reported down along KY 522 in Harlan county.
The Johnson county dispatch office reported that trees had been blown down at numerous locations around the county. Power outages were also occurring all around the county. These events occurred between 935 PM and 10 PM.
There were trees blown down and blocking portions of KY route 993 and KY route 581 in Tutor Key. The report was received by WR Castle VFD.
A trained spotter reported estimated thunderstorm wind gusts of 55-60 mph.
There were trees blown down on KY route 2040.
There were trees blown down on KY route 581 in River.
There were trees blown down on Meade House road in Pilgrim.
There were trees blown down on route 292 Hode road in Warfield.
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: 291934, 301781, 301792, 291940, 291948, 291935, 291950, 291937, 291951, 291953, 301798, 291958, 291959, 291960, 291962.