Several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms caused sporadic wind damage and dropped up to nickel size on portions of eastern KY throughout the day on May 24th.
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.
Several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms caused sporadic wind damage and dropped up to nickel size on portions of eastern KY throughout the day on May 24th.
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 24, 6:24 AM EST, 26 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 724 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011 .SHORT TERM.../THE REST OF TODAY/...UPDATED UPDATED FORECAST TO INCORPORATE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR AREAS MAINLY SOUTH OF I-64. INITIAL THREAT APPEARS TO BE HAIL...BUT WINDS COULD BECOME A BIGGER THREAT LATER THIS MORNING. FORECAST UPDATE IS ALREADY OUT. THE PREVIOUS SHORT TERM FORECAST DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... /TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY/ AFTER A BRIEF LULL IN ACTIVITY DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE OVERNIGHT AND PREDAWN HOURS...SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY JUST AFTER SUNRISE...AS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES OUT OF THE PLAINS AND ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY DURING THE DAY TODAY. SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN FORMING YET AGAIN AN HOUR OR TWO AFTER SUNRISE...WITH SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND STORMS EXPECTED FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THE BEST CHANCE FOR STORMS WILL OCCUR DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS...AS DAYTIME HEATING AND INSTABILITY WILL BE PEAKING ONCE AGAIN. PERSISTENT SOUTHWEST TO SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO BRING GULF OF MEXICO MOISTURE INTO THE AREA...PROVIDING THE FUEL NEEDED TO SUSTAIN CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY. SURFACE ANALYSIS FROM THE SPC WEBSITE REVEAL THE PRESENCE OF A CORRIDOR OF STRONG THETAE ADVECTION NOSING INTO THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF KENTUCKY THIS MORNING...ALONG WITH SEVERAL AREAS OF ENHANCED LOW LEVEL MOISTURE CONVERGENCE EXTENDING FROM SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI EASTWARD ALONG THE KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE STATE LINE. IN SPITE OF LESS THAN LESS THAN FAVORABLE MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVEL WIND PROFILES...THE AFOREMENTIONED COMPONENTS SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO OVERCOME THE LACK OF STRONG DYNAMICS. THE PRIMARY THREATS WITH THE STRONGER STORMS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. THE NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE FOR TODAY FORECAST WILL BE PINPOINTING EXACTLY WHERE AND WHEN NEW SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL BEGIN TO FIRE. WITH NUMEROUS OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES IN PLACE ACROSS THE NORTHERN TWO THIRDS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY...TRIGGERS FOR CONVECTION WILL BE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE. THAT BEING SAID...MODIFIED THE INHERITED FORECAST TO REFLECT A SEVERAL HOUR PERIOD OF LITTLE OR NO CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY LASTING THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. AFTER 15Z OR SO...EXPECT SHOWERS AND STORMS TO BEGIN POPPING UP AS THE AFOREMENTIONED SHORTWAVE APPROACHES. EVEN THOUGH THE VARIOUS MODELS ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT RESOLVING THE TIMING AND EXTENT OF CONVECTION TODAY AND TONIGHT...DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE TREND OF HIGH CHANCE TO LIKELY POPS IN THE FORECAST...AS AMPLE INSTABILITY...GOOD MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS...AND THE PASSAGE OF A FAIRLY WELL DEFINED SHORTWAVE...SHOULD PROVIDE ALL THE INGREDIENTS NECESSARY FOR SCATTERED LINES OR CLUSTERS OF THUNDERSTORMS TO FORM THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY. TWEAKED THE TEMPERATURE...WIND...AND SKY COVER FORECASTS HERE AND THERE...ACCOUNTING FOR REAL TIME TRENDS AND THE LATEST MODEL DATA. ALL IN ALL IT WAS DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY MAKING ANY MAJOR CHANGES TO THE FORECAST DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY INVOLVED. MOST OF THE MODELS DO SUPPORT INCREASING CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY...WITH THINGS PEAKING DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THE MODEL SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO DEPICT LARGE AMOUNTS OF CAPE...MINUS 5 TO MINUS 7 LIFTED INDICES...AND TOTAL TOTALS INDEX VALUES EXCEEDING 50...ALL OF WHICH FAVOR THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE QUESTION WILL REMAIN WHEN WILL THINGS BEGIN TO FIRE AND WHAT WILL THE TRIGGERS BE. ANY LEFT OVER OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES WOULD PROVIDE POTENTIAL INITIATIONS SITES FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS...PROVIDED ALL THE THE OTHER NECESSARY INGREDIENTS ARE IN PLACE. A SERIES OF SHORTWAVES WILL BRING NUMEROUS ROUNDS OF SHOWERS AND STORMS TO EASTERN KENTUCKY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THERE SHOULD BE A BRIEF LULL IN THE ACTIVITY ON THURSDAY...AS A COLD FRONT BEGINS TO FINALLY MOVE OUT OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND ACROSS THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS LATE THURSDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO RUN WELL ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. .LONG TERM.../THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/ VERY POTENT SHORTWAVE WILL PIVOT NORTHEAST ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY TO START THE PERIOD THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. THIS WILL LIKELY TRIGGER A ROUND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR ALL OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. CONTINUED TO NUDGE POPS UP AS THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING IS LOOKING VERY WET. MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT WITH REGARDS TO THE HIGHER PRECIPITATION CHANCES. BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON...A SECOND...BUT WEAKER SHORTWAVE WILL PUSH INTO THE REGION...PROVIDING ANOTHER CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY. THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET AS WE LOSE ANY DAYTIME INSTABILITY. FINALLY...A THIRD SHORTWAVE IS PEGGED TO IMPACT THE AREA ON SATURDAY...PROVIDING ONE LAST ROUND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. AFTER SATURDAY EVENING...THE FORECAST IS TRENDING MUCH DRIER. BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF BRING SUBSTANTIAL MID AND UPPER LEVEL RIDGING INTO THE TENNESSEE AND OHIO RIVER VALLEYS. MODELS INSIST THIS RIDGING WILL BE FAIRLY PERSISTENT INTO MUCH OF NEXT WEEK AND BECOME EVEN STRONGER. THIS SHOULD YIELD A DRIER PERIOD OF WEATHER FOR THE REGION. THE MILD WEATHER WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE EXTENDED WITH HIGHS WELL INTO THE 80S AND LOWS IN THE 60S. && .AVIATION.../06Z TO 06Z/ TAF FORECAST REMAINS CHALLENGING THIS MORNING. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN FIRING ALONG A LINE FROM EUBANK TO BOONEVILLE TO PRESTONSBURG. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. IN GENERAL...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THIS MORNING...EXCEPT FOR MVFR/IFR WHERE STORMS MOVE THROUGH AND PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL. THE THREAT FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL EXIST THROUGH AT LEAST 0Z TONIGHT...WITH RAIN CHANCES TAPERING OFF QUICKLY AFTER SUNSET. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR KYZ058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120. && SHORT TERM...AR/KAS LONG TERM....KAS AVIATION...AR
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 716 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011 KYZ044-050>052-251200- FLEMING-MONTGOMERY-BATH-ROWAN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FLEMINGSBURG...MOUNT STERLING... OWINGSVILLE...MOREHEAD 716 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED FROM LATE THIS MORNING INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER STORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FROM TIME TO TIME...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS ON WEDNESDAY COULD APPROACH SEVERE LIMITS...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE MAIN THREATS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY OCCURRENCES OF HAIL AS WELL AS STRONG OR DAMAGING WINDS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. KYZ058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-251200- 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...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 716 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 352 IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED FROM THIS MORNING INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER STORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FROM TIME TO TIME...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS ON WEDNESDAY COULD APPROACH SEVERE LIMITS...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE MAIN THREATS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY OCCURRENCES OF HAIL AS WELL AS STRONG OR DAMAGING WINDS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. KAS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 703 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011 KYZ068-069-079-080-114-116-241145- ROCKCASTLE-PULASKI-LAUREL-JACKSON-OWSLEY-CLAY- 703 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 745 AM EDT TUESDAY MORNING... JACKSON... EXTREME NORTHWESTERN OWSLEY... SOUTHERN ROCKCASTLE... EAST CENTRAL PULASKI... NORTHWESTERN CLAY AND NORTHERN LAUREL. AT 703 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR HANSFORD...OR 7 MILES SOUTH OF MOUNT VERNON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...DILLON AROUND 710 AM EDT...GAULEY AROUND 715 AM EDT...CRUISE AROUND 720 AM EDT... DEESE AROUND 725 AM EDT...DABOLT AROUND 730 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. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM EDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY. RICHEY
The Nashville radar (KOHX), 153 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:49 UTC.
22 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees, power lines, and limbs were blown down in Zula.
Trees and limbs were blown down in Monticello.
Trees and power lines were down and blocking Brammer Hill Rd in the Delta community.
Trees were blown down along Hwy 1277 in Bark Camp.
Trees were blown down in the north end of the county along and north of a line from Funston to Sawyer..
High winds moved a triaxle RV trailer approximately 2 to 3 feet. The winds also ripped an awning apart. Limbs approximately 2 inches in diameter were broken off trees and a tree was knocked over.
Limbs that were 2 to 3 inches in diameter were broken off trees along Hwy 26 near Corbin.
Trees were blown down and onto power lines in the Paw Paw community.
Trees were blown down along Hwy 699 near mile markers 10 and 11.
The Leslie county transportation director reported that 2 or 3 trees had been blown down on cars along KY 3427 near Wolfe Creek.
Thunderstorm wind gusts caused extensive damage on the property of a volunteer storm spotter. The damage included a tri-axle RV trailer being moved 2 to 3 feet with awning ripped apart, limbs roughly 2 inches in diameter being broken off of trees, and one tree blown down.
Trees were blown down across the area. One tree fell onto a car and a house. Two homes sustained damage.
Some trees were blown down in the north end of the county.
Two trees were blown across a road 4 miles east of Barbourville.
About two feet of water was seen flowing across Hwy 3401 west of Whitesburg.
A tree was blown down and across Hwy 1103 in Linefork.
Trees were blown down on Hwy 25W near mile marker 16 in Goldbug.
Six to 8 inches of water was flowing across the road in Woodbine.
Several trees were blown down along KY 628 and KY 2996 near Emlyn.
Trees were blown down over Rt 856 in the Williamsburg area.
Trees were blown down on Alum Ford Rd at Yahoo Falls.
The sheriff received numerous calls from around the McRoberts area of about 1 foot of water flowing across part of Hwy 3409.
Trees were blown down on Rock Creek Rd, Whirly Circle, and Lum Strunk Rd.
Trees were blown down and across KY 92.
A tree was blown down and onto Hwy 25E, blocking the roadway.
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: 313018, 313022, 313020, 313025, 313029, 313034, 313043, 313048, 313051, 313052, 306565, 313053, 306564, 306557, 306585, 306568, 306569, 306578, 306572, 306574, 306575, 306581, 306562, 306579, 306580, 306586.