Storms developed across southern KY in a moderately unstable environment ahead of an MCV in northwestern TN that was moving northeast. Most of the storms produced 40 mph winds and dime size hail, but one became strong enough to produce isolated 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 LMK wrote it up.
Storms developed across southern KY in a moderately unstable environment ahead of an MCV in northwestern TN that was moving northeast. Most of the storms produced 40 mph winds and dime size hail, but one became strong enough to produce isolated 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 Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 12, 2:58 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORR TO TYPO IN MESO DISC NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 458 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2011 ...MESOSCALE UPDATE... STORMS HAVE DEVELOPED IN A MODERATELY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE AHEAD OF A MCV OVER NORTHWEST TENNESSEE THAT WAS EJECTED TO THE NORTHEAST BY EARLY MORNING CONVECTION ACROSS TEXAS. THE STRONGEST FEW CELLS HAVE MANAGED DIME SIZED HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH...ALONG WITH LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS. THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO UNTIL WE START TO LOSE DAYTIME HEATING AND THE ATMOSPHERE BEGINS TO STABILIZE. IN THE MEANTIME...WILL UPDATE GRIDS TO CATEGORICAL POPS AHEAD OF THE LINE OF STORMS WEST OF BOWLING GREEN FOR THE NEXT HOUR...TAPERING THEM OFF SPATIALLY TO THE NORTH AND TEMPORALLY INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS BEFORE COMING TO REST AT A LOW CHANCE POP FROM MID EVENING THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT. WILL MENTION LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT AND FRIDAY)... A WEAK WAVE MOVING UP THE OHIO VALLEY ALONG WITH A NORTHEASTWARD-MOVING MCV OVER WESTERN TENNESSEE THAT ORIGINATED WITH MORNING CONVECTION IN TEXAS MAY SPARK A FEW THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING...AND INDEED A FEW CELLS HAVE POPPED UP AHEAD OF THE MCV IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AS OF 19Z. WILL KEEP PRECIPITATION CHANCES LOW THIS EVENING DUE TO THE EXPECTED SCATTERED NATURE OF THE CONVECTION. ANY ACTIVITY THAT DOES GET GOING SHOULD BEGIN TO STRUGGLE AND WEAKEN BY MID EVENING...WITH PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES OVERNIGHT. LOWS WILL BE IN THE MID 60S. ON FRIDAY AN UPPER LOW WILL MOVE FROM KANSAS TO MISSOURI WHILE ITS SURFACE TROF ADVANCES TO THE GREAT LAKES AND OHIO VALLEY. THOUGH WE COULD SEE SOME SCATTERED STORMS IN THE MORNING...CHANCES WILL INCREASE IN THE AFTERNOON WITH BETTER INSTABILITY AND THE APPROACH OF THE TROF FROM THE WEST. WITH ADDED CLOUDS AND SHOWERS PLUS THE UPPER TROF HIGH TEMPS SHOULD BE COOLER...AROUND 80 DEGREES. .LONG TERM (FRIDAY NIGHT - THURSDAY)... AN UNUSUALLY EXTENDED COOL PERIOD FOR MID MAY IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SUNDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. FOR MID MAY OUR AVERAGE HIGHS FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR AVERAGED AROUND 75. HOWEVER...TEMPERATURES FOR EACH OF THESE FOUR DAYS MENTIONED ABOVE WILL LIKELY REMAIN IN THE 60S...POSSIBLY THE LOWER 60S FOR A COUPLE OF THESE DAYS IF LOW CLOUDINESS OR AFTERNOON SHOWERS HOLD SWAY. THE CULPRIT WILL BE AN UNSEASONABLY DEEP TROUGH THAT IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SUNDAY AND MONDAY FROM THE GREAT LAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE GULF COAST. A NEARLY CLOSED 500MB LOW NOW OVER KANSAS WILL SLOWLY MOVE EAST AND IS FORECAST TO LIE RIGHT OVER THE COMMONWEALTH SATURDAY AFTERNOON. AHEAD OF THIS CIRCULATION...WEAKLY DIVERGENT UPPER AIR FLOW AND 500MB HEIGHT FALLS WILL BRING AN INCREASING LIKELIHOOD OF SCATTERED CONVECTION FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. FINDING A SPECIFIC IMPULSE OR TRIGGER FOR ANY CONVECTION WILL BE A CHALLENGE...AND FOR NOW...WILL INCREASE POPS TO LIKELY FOR THE WHOLE PERIOD OF FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. THESE STORMS WILL NOT BE STRONG...AND MAY BE EPISODIC IN NATURE...WITH PRECIPITATION AVERAGING PERHAPS AROUND ONE HALF INCH TO LOCALLY OVER ONE INCH DURING THE TIME PERIOD. BY LATE SATURDAY...LOW PRESSURE WILL LIE ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY. WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWESTERLY. VERY COOL AIR ASSOCIATED WITH CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST WILL THEN BEGIN TO FILTER SOUTHWARD BEHIND THIS LOW INTO WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS BY LATE IN THE DAY. FOR THE PERIOD OF SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...ADDITIONAL ENERGY DIVING SOUTH ACROSS THE MIDWEST WILL HELP DEVELOP A VERY DEEP TROUGH OVER OUR REGION BY TUESDAY. IN FACT...FORECAST 500MB HEIGHTS OVER THE GULF STATES ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 4 TO 5 STANDARD DEVIATIONS BELOW THE SEASONAL MEAN! EXPECT MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES SUNDAY AND MONDAY...ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON. ANY CLEARING THAT MAY DEVELOP TOWARDS MORNING WILL PROBABLY CLOUD OVER PRETTY QUICKLY DURING THE AFTERNOON DUE TO COOL MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES. BOTH THE NAM AND THE GFS ADVERTISE A CHANCE OF SHOWERS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS BOTH SUNDAY AND MONDAY. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL TEND TO RANGE FROM THE UPPER 40S TO AROUND 50 FOR MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNINGS. THE PREFERRED ECMWF SHOWS THIS DEEP EASTERN TROUGH CUTTING OFF AND BECOMING NEARLY STATIONARY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. DRIER AIR FROM THE UPPER MIDWEST WILL TEND TO OVERSPREAD THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY. THIS WILL LIKELY BRING DRY WEATHER WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH VARIABLE CLOUDINESS. HIGHS SHOULD STILL REMAIN IN THE 60S. && .AVIATION (18Z TAF ISSUANCE)... A WEAK UPPER WAVE ENTERING THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WILL HELP TO SPARK A FEW THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY...BUT THEY WILL REMAIN WIDELY SCATTERED. THE CHANCES OF A CELL HITTING AN AIRPORT ARE RATHER SMALL AT THIS POINT...WILL STICK WITH SIMPLE CB CLOUD TYPE IN THE TAFS. TONIGHT ANY AFTERNOON/EVENING STORMS WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF LEAVING PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. SOME LIGHT HZ WILL BE POSSIBLE TOWARDS DAWN...ESPECIALLY AT URBAN SDF. TOMORROW AN UPPER LOW WILL HAVE MOVED FROM KANSAS TO MISSOURI AND WILL INCREASE OUR CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON AT SDF. && .LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...NONE. IN...NONE. && MESOSCALE......13 SHORT TERM.....13 LONG TERM......JSD AVIATION.......13
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 317 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2011 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067- 070>078-081-082-131930- 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- 317 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2011 /217 PM CDT THU MAY 12 2011/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED...ESPECIALLY DURING THE EVENING HOURS. LIGHTNING AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS WITH THESE STORMS. ONE OR TWO OF THE STRONGEST STORMS COULD PRODUCE SOME BRIEF SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. THESE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE...ALTHOUGH BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...AND LIGHTNING WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. 13/JSD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 358 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2011 INZ076-083-084-089-KYZ023>027-061-062-070>072-122100- ORANGE IN-DUBOIS IN-CRAWFORD IN-PERRY IN-HANCOCK KY- BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY-OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY- LOGAN KY-WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PAOLI...JASPER...MARENGO...TELL CITY... HAWESVILLE...HARDINSBURG...BRANDENBURG...BEAVER DAM... LEITCHFIELD...MORGANTOWN...BROWNSVILLE...RUSSELLVILLE... BOWLING GREEN...FRANKLIN 358 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2011 /258 PM CDT THU MAY 12 2011/ SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AS STORMS THAT DEVELOPED OVER WESTERN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE EARLIER MOVE NORTHEAST. MOST OF THE STORMS WILL ONLY CONTAIN A BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOUR. HOWEVER THE STRONGER STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF GUSTY WINDS. KEEP AN EYE ON THE SOUTHWEST SKY AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF YOU NOTICE A STORM APPROACHING. 13
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 503 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2011 KYZ061-070-071-122145- BUTLER-LOGAN-WARREN- 403 PM CDT THU MAY 12 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS... AT 401 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES NORTH OF RUSSELLVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING IN THE AREA AS WELL. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN WITH RAINFALL RATES OF AROUND ONE INCH PER HOUR REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN ONE MILE...PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 40 TO 50 MPH...ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * THIS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT... RUSSELLVILLE... MORGANTOWN... HARRELDSVILLE AND CHANDLERS CHAPEL... ANDERSON AND QUALITY... TURNERTOWN AND BOSTON... DIMPLE AND LEETOWN... THIS STORM WILL AFFECT THE NATCHER PARKWAY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 27 AND 28. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO... WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. && LAT...LON 3728 8673 3708 8644 3681 8693 3700 8702 TIME...MOT...LOC 2103Z 233DEG 25KT 3699 8691 RS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 448 PM CDT THU MAY 12 2011 KYZ061-070-071-122230- BUTLER-LOGAN-WARREN- 448 PM CDT THU MAY 12 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS... AT 442 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF MEMPHIS JUNCTION...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING...TORRENTIAL RAIN WITH RAINFALL RATES OF ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN ONE HALF MILE...SMALL PEA OR DIME SIZE HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 35 TO 45 MPH...ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * THIS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT... HADLEY AND BLUE LEVEL... ROCKLAND AND GUY... BARREN RIVER... GREENCASTLE AND BENLEO... PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS OCCURRING. EXPECT PONDING OF WATER ON LOCAL ROADWAYS. DRIVERS SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND TURN ON THEIR HEADLIGHTS IF ENCOUNTERING HEAVY RAINS. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO... WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. && LAT...LON 3731 8662 3708 8631 3691 8667 3701 8674 TIME...MOT...LOC 2147Z 240DEG 18KT 3702 8662 RS
The Louisville radar (KLVX), 59 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:19 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down in the Leitchfield and Clarkson areas of Grayson county.
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, May 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: 316181.