Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms produced sporadic tree damage and flash flooding across portions of eastern KY during the morning of July 21st. The areas that saw the worst flooding were Floyd, Martin, Perry, and Whitley counties.
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.
Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms produced sporadic tree damage and flash flooding across portions of eastern KY during the morning of July 21st. The areas that saw the worst flooding were Floyd, Martin, Perry, and Whitley counties.
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 21, 2:48 AM EST, 2 hours 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 348 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 .SHORT TERM.../TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...UPDATED STORM-SCALE DRIVEN CONVECTION IS CURRENTLY WINDING DOWN ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY...ALTHOUGH A FEW CELLS ARE CONTINUING TO POP UP WITH THE OUTFLOW AS IT MAKES ITS WAY SOUTHWEST...CURRENTLY EXTENDED FROM A LINE FROM CAMPTON...TO HAZARD...TO DORTON. WILL LIKELY INCLUDE A PRE-FIRST PERIOD TO CONTEND WITH THIS REMAINING ACTIVITY. THERE IS GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT THAT A STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL DOMINATE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH FRIDAY...KEEPING CONVECTION MORE ISOLATED IN COVERAGE. BY SATURDAY...PASSING SHORT WAVE ENERGY TO THE NORTH WILL ALLOW FOR MORE ORGANIZED DEVELOPMENT. THE MAJORITY OF MODELS HAVE SHOWN AN INCREASE IN ACTIVITY BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON...SO HAVE BUMPED POPS UP TO 40 PERCENT. HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL BE PLENTIFUL THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH INDICES APPROACHING AROUND 105 DEGREES TODAY AND TOMORROW. SINCE GUIDANCE HAS BEEN A BIT UNDERDONE ON THE DEW POINTS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS...AND WITH THE ADDED MOISTURE FROM OVERNIGHT CONVECTION...WILL GO WITH AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. BY SATURDAY...ADDITIONAL CLOUDS AND CONVECTION WILL LIKELY LIMIT THE HEATING SOMEWHAT...SO MAX HEAT INDICES LOOK TO BE NEAR THE 100 DEGREE MARK. FOR TEMPERATURES...STAYED CLOSER TO THE WRF NUMBERS...WHICH WINDS UP BEING PRETTY CLOSE TO THE INHERITED FORECAST...GENERALLY HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 90S TODAY AND FRIDAY...AND NEAR 90 FOR SATURDAY. LOWS WILL ONLY COOL DOWN TO THE LOW TO MID 70S. .LONG TERM.../SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...UPDATED THE LATEST SUITE OF MODEL GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO SHOW A RETROGRESSION OF THE SUB TROPICAL RIDGE WESTWARD THROUGH THE START OF THE NEW WORK WEEK. AS THIS HAPPENS...DIURNAL CONVECTION WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CONCERN ALONG WITH A POTENTIAL FOR RIDGE RIDING NOCTURNAL MCS ACTIVITY. ACCORDINGLY...HAVE MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THE INHERITED GRIDS TO BEEF UP THE DIURNAL CONVECTIVE TRENDS...PARTICULARLY SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THIS CONVECTION AND ITS SUBSEQUENT CLOUDCOVER WILL COMBINE WITH THE LOWER MID LEVEL HEIGHTS TO YIELD SOMEWHAT COOLER SFC TEMPS IN THE EXTENDED...PARTICULARLY EARLY...WHEN COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE FORECAST. ONLY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS WHERE MADE TO THE REASONABLE LOOKING INHERITED TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT GRIDS THROUGHOUT THE EXTENDED. THE PREVIOUS LONG TERM DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... MODELS CONTINUE TO AGREE WELL WITH THE LONG WAVE PATTERN FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE EXTENDED FORECAST...BUT DIVERGE A BIT DURING THE LATTER HALF. IN SUMMARY...STRONG RIDGE WILL DOMINATE OUR WEATHER TO VARYING DEGREES...NEVER QUITE GIVING UP TOTAL CONTROL TO SHORT WAVE TROUGHS TRAVERSING THE US/CANADIAN BORDER. EARLY ON FLATTENED RIDGE WILL ANCHOR ITSELF OVER THE REGION UNTIL A SHORT WAVE DISTURBANCE TRIES TO DIG INTO THE EASTERN CONUS BY DY6/7...CAUSING THE RIDGE TO RETROGRADE SLIGHTLY WESTWARD. AT THE SFC...A COLD FRONT SLIDES SOUTHWARD INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. CONFIDENCE IS LOW AS TO HOW FAR SOUTH THIS FEATURE WILL PUSH...FAR ENOUGH TO MOVE THROUGH OR INTO OUR CWA. THE MOST RECENT 12Z ECMWF HAS TRENDED QUITE A BIT WEAKER WITH THE FRONT AND ASSOCIATED FORCING. WITH LACK OF CONFIDENCE DECIDED TO LEAN TOWARDS A CONSENSUS FORECAST THROUGH THE LATTER HALF OF THE EXTENDED. THE FIRST 48 HOURS OR SO OF THE PREVIOUS FORECAST MATCHED UP WELL WITH LATEST THOUGHTS...SO FEW CHANGES WERE MAY HERE. HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE OPPRESSIVE THROUGH SATURDAY... WITH HEAT INDICES PEAKING NEAR 100 DEGREES. CLOUD COVER AND PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL BE ON THE INCREASE THEREAFTER...HELPING TO KEEP HIGH TEMPERATURES AND THE HEAT INDICES A BIT COOLER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST. HAVE MAINTAINED THE BEST POPS CENTERED AROUND MONDAY AS THE COLD FRONT MAKES EITHER ITS CLOSEST APPROACH OR ACTUALLY MANAGES TO SLIDE INTO OUR AREA BY THEN. SLIGHTLY COOLER CONDITIONS CAN EXPECTED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. BUT EXPECT THE HEAT TO RETURN SOON THEREAFTER AS RIDGING BUILDS BACK INTO THE AREA. && .AVIATION.../06Z TO 06Z/ THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED ALONG A LINE FROM SANDY HOOK TO WEST LIBERTY WILL BE MOVING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. EXPECT THIS ACTIVITY TO STAY FAR ENOUGH AWAY OF JKL TO ONLY CARRY A VCTS THROUGH 08Z. MVFR/IFR FOG WILL BE SEEN IN THE VALLEYS...INCLUDING SME AND LOZ. LOZ WILL SEE THE BEST CHANCE OF A SMALL WINDOW OF IFR JUST BEFORE DAWN. ISOLATED CONVECTION WILL LIKELY RE-FIRE BY THE AFTERNOON HOURS...ALTHOUGH WILL CONTINUE TO ONLY MENTION VCTS IN THE TAFS FOR NOW. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 8 PM EDT FRIDAY FOR KYZ044-050>052- 058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120. && SHORT TERM...GEOGERIAN LONG TERM...GREIF/RAY AVIATION...GEOGERIAN
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 538 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-221100- 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 538 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL TOP OUT AT AROUND 105 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. ANY SLOW-MOVING THUNDERSTORMS...OR STORMS THAT PASS REPEATEDLY OVER THE SAME LOCATIONS MAY RESULT IN MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL TOP OUT AT AROUND 105 DEGREES FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. ANY SLOW-MOVING THUNDERSTORMS...OR STORMS THAT PASS REPEATEDLY OVER THE SAME LOCATIONS MAY RESULT IN MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. GEOGERIAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 1223 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 KYZ052-210515- ROWAN- 1223 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTY THROUGH 115 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING... ROWAN. AT 1224 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR TRIPLETT...OR 9 MILES NORTH OF MOREHEAD...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...CRANSTON AROUND 1235 AM EDT...HAYS CROSSING AROUND 1240 AM EDT...MUNSON AROUND 1245 AM EDT...GATES AROUND 1250 AM EDT...AND RODBURN AROUND 100 AM EDT. RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE INCH PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL 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. GREIF
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 117 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 KYZ104-106-210600- ELLIOTT-MORGAN- 117 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 200 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING... ELLIOTT AND MORGAN. AT 117 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR POMP...OR NEAR WEST LIBERTY...MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...LICKING RIVER AROUND 125 AM EDT...LIBERTY ROAD AROUND 130 AM EDT...INDEX AROUND 135 AM EDT...GREEAR AROUND 140 AM EDT AND WELL STATION AROUND 145 AM EDT. RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE INCH PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL 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. GREIF
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 148 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 KYZ104-106-107-109-210630- ELLIOTT-JOHNSON-MORGAN-MAGOFFIN- 148 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 ...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 230 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING... SOUTH CENTRAL ELLIOTT... EASTERN MORGAN... NORTHWESTERN JOHNSON AND NORTHERN MAGOFFIN. AT 147 AM EDT...AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED NEAR FLORRESS...OR 6 MILES EAST OF WEST LIBERTY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...LOGVILLE AROUND 155 AM EDT...ORIENT AROUND 200 AM EDT...PLUTARCH AROUND 205 AM EDT... TELLA AROUND 210 AM EDT...AND EMMA AROUND 215 AM EDT. RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE INCH PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER THEN LIGHTNING IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE A HAZARD. GREIF
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 517 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 KYZ110-119-120-211000- MARTIN-FLOYD-PIKE- 517 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 600 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING... SOUTHWESTERN MARTIN... NORTHEASTERN FLOYD AND NORTHWESTERN PIKE. AT 517 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PLEASANT...OR 10 MILES SOUTH OF INEZ...MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...DICKS CREEK AROUND 525 AM EDT...CORN FORK HOLLOW AROUND 530 AM EDT...ENDICOTT AROUND 535 AM EDT...MCCOMBS AROUND 540 AM EDT...AND ALVIN AROUND 545 AM EDT. RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE INCH PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL 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. GREIF
The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:01 UTC.
6 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The county judge executive reported that an estimated 4 inches of rain had fallen on portions of northern Floyd county between 6 and 8 am.
Quickly rising water surrounded a trailer in Davella.
Large limbs and one tree were blown down along or near KY Hwy 114.
A foot of flowing water was reported to be over South Clark Drive near Prestonsburg Elementary School. Low lying areas that also saw flooding included Station Branch, Big Branch of Abbott Creek, and Abbott Creek just west of Prestonsburg.
Jacks Branch Creek was out its banks for a time southwest of Hazard.
Both lanes of Hwy 15 were closed at Glomawr due water of an unknown depth flowing across the road.
Flooding occurred along Rockcastle Creek downstream of Davella between 9 am and 3 pm. Rockcastle experienced rises throughout the day due to runoff from heavy rainfall earlier that morning.
Trees and power lines were blown down in Williamsburg.
The public reported that flash flooding was occurring on Cripple Creek Road.
Eight to ten inches of water were flowing over Hwy 856 north of Williamsburg.
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, July 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: 326713, 326717, 326694, 326710, 326718, 326719, 326728, 326720, 326721, 326722.