A broken line of thunderstorms moved southeast across eastern Kentucky during the evening hours of April 30th. While most of the storms were not severe, there were isolated reports of wind damage in Montgomery and Magoffin Counties from these storms.
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.
A broken line of thunderstorms moved southeast across eastern Kentucky during the evening hours of April 30th. While most of the storms were not severe, there were isolated reports of wind damage in Montgomery and Magoffin Counties from these storms.
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 30, 9:36 PM EST, 39 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 1036 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1036 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 THE SEVERE THREAT IS RAPIDLY DIMINISHING. SPC WANTED TO HOLD ON TO THE WATCH...SO WE ARE KEEPING IT GOING FOR NOW...HOWEVER I WOULD BE REALLY SURPRISED IT IT RAN UNTIL 1 AM. UPDATED ALL THE FIELDS BASED ON CURRENT CONDITIONS AND MODEL TRENDS. THE REST OF THE FORECAST IS ON TRACK. UPDATE ISSUED AT 720 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 UPDATED THE FORECAST TO ADD THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. THE AREA OF THE WATCH THAT HAS THE BEST CHANCE TO SEE ANY ACTIVITY IS NORTH OF THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY. THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE WATCH IS LESS LIKELY TO SEE ANY SEVERE ACTIVITY BECAUSE OF WEAKER FORCING...HOWEVER SINCE THE AIR IS SO UNSTABLE...DECIDED TO GO ALONG WITH THE SPC PROPOSED WATCH FOR THAT PORTION OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. THE REST OF THE FORECAST IS ON TRACK. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 340 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 18Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS A WARM FRONT WELL TO THE NORTH OF THE OHIO RIVER...WITH REMNANTS OF THE QUASI STATIONARY BOUNDARY STILL DRAPED FROM THE MID MS VALLEY WEST INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. HIGH PRESSURE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A FLAT RIDGE OVER THE DEEP SOUTH HAS INSTIGATED A RETURN FLOW OF WARM...MOIST GOMEX AIR INTO THE OHIO VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON AND UNDER PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES...TEMPS HAVE RISEN INTO THE UPPER 70S AND LOWER 80S THROUGHOUT THE AREA...WITH DEW POINTS RISING THROUGH THE UPPER 50S AND INTO THE LOWER 60S...RESULTING IN SOME CONSIDERABLE INSTABILITY DEVELOPING OVER ERN KY THIS AFTERNOON. AN AREA OF WEAK LOW PRESSURE ALONG THE FRONT/BOUNDARY CONTINUES TO AMBLE THROUGH THE LOWER GREAT LAKES WHILE A MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE EVIDENT IN WV IMAGERY CONTINUES TO LIFT NE OUT OF THE MO VALLEY...ACROSS THE MID MS VALLEY AND INTO THE LOWER OH VALLEY. THIS WAVE WILL PROVIDE THE FOCUS FOR CONVECTION LATER THIS EVENING AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. CURRENT BAND OF CONVECTION JUST MOVING INTO WESTERN KY AHEAD OF THE SHORT WAVE LOOKS TO BE ON PACE TO REACH THE I 75 CORRIDOR AROUND 9 PM THIS EVENING...GIVE OR TAKE...AS A LOW LEVEL JETS CONTINUES TO RAMP UP INTO THE AREA AS WELL...SENDING INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE INTO THE REGION. THE WAVE IS PROGGED TO SKIRT THE OHIO RIVER...SO THE BEST FORCING LOOKS TO BE OVER THE NRN HALF OF THE CWA BUT ALL OF ERN KY WILL BE IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE PRECIP TONIGHT. NAM AND GFS BUFR SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO DEPICT SOME RATHER HEFTY CONVECTIVE PARAMETERS REMAINING IN PLACE OVERNIGHT WITH THE CAP STEADILY DIMINISHING BY ABOUT 8 PM...LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN FOR SOME STRONG TSTMS OVERNIGHT. SPC CONTINUES TO HIGHLIGHT AREAS RIGHT ALONG THE OHIO RIVER IN A SLIGHT RISK THROUGH TONIGHT...INCLUDING OUR BLUEGRASS COUNTIES...AND THIS SEEMS JUSTIFIED GIVEN THE UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE EXPECTED TO BE IN PLACE. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WOULD APPEAR TO BE THE PRIMARY THREATS...BUT PWATS APPROACHING 2 SD ABOVE NORMAL HINT AT A POTENTIAL FOR SOME ISOLATED SHORT TERM HYDRO ISSUES AS WELL. MODELS INDICATE THIS WAVE EXITS THE REGION BY EARLY TUESDAY MORNING CARRYING THE BULK OF ANY LINGERING SHOWERS WITH IT. HOWEVER...BOTH THE 12Z NAM AND GFS POINT TOWARDS ANOTHER POTENT SHORT WAVE FOLLOWING IN ITS PREDECESSORS FOOTSTEPS...ALMOST. THE GFS KEEPS THE BRUNT OF THE ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SECOND WAVE TO THE NORTH AGAIN WHILE THE NAM DEPICTS IT COMING IN A LITTLE FURTHER SOUTH...WHICH WOULD KICK OFF TSTMS OVER ALL OF ERN KY TOMORROW AFTERNOON. FCST SOUNDINGS ARE NOT QUITE AS UNSTABLE AS TONIGHT/S BUT ARE STILL IMPRESSIVE AND CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT SOME STRONG STORMS DEVELOPING AGAIN TOMORROW AFTERNOON. FCST PWATS ARE AGAIN RUNNING QUITE HIGH FOR THE BEGINNING OF MAY AND WITH AREA CREEKS AND STREAMS LIKELY PRIMED FROM THE EXPECTED PRECIP TONIGHT...THE THREAT FOR LOCALIZED HYDRO PROBLEMS WOULD APPEAR TO BE EVEN MORE PRESENT. MODELS ADVERTISE YET ANOTHER SHORT WAVE TRAVERSING THE OHIO VALLEY ON TUESDAY NIGHT. THIS WAVE IS DEPICTED AS BEING SOMEWHAT WEAKER STILL THAN EITHER OF THE PREVIOUS WAVES AND WITH TIMING...TRACK... AND AVAILABLE MOISTURE ALL IN QUESTION AT THIS POINT...WILL HOLD ONTO CHANCE POPS THROUGH THE TAIL END OF THE PERIOD. TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD LOOK TO CONTINUE RUNNING ABOUT 10 TO 15 DEG ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE BEGINNING OF MAY...WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS TONIGHT AND TOMORROW NIGHT IN THE LOWER TO MID 60S...AND HIGHS ON TUESDAY AIMING FOR THE LOWER 80S ONCE AGAIN. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 412 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 EARLY WEDNESDAY THE AREA WILL STILL BE UNDER A WARM AIR ADVECTION REGIME WITH ISENTROPIC LIFT AND A RESPECTABLE AMOUNT OF DEEP LAYER MOISTURE...AND UNDER THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE WESTERLIES. THIS WILL STILL PUT US AT RISK FOR DEEP CONVECTION. HOWEVER...AN UPPER RIDGE OVER THE SOUTHEAST CONUS WILL BE BUILDING NORTHWARD OVER THE AREA AND PUSHING THE WESTERLIES NORTHWARD BY WEDNESDAY EVENING. MID LEVEL DRYING AND WARMING IS EXPECTED UNDER THE RIDGE...WHICH WITH A LACK OF A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS/TRIGGER MECHANISM SHOULD QUELL CONVECTION BY LATE WEDNESDAY. THIS QUIET SCENARIO WITH RESULTING SUMMER-LIKE TEMPERATURES SHOULD THEN LAST UNTIL LATE IN THE WEEK. WILL NOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT SOME SHOWERS/STORMS...BUT THE PROBABILITY WILL BE TOO LOW FOR INCLUSION OF PRECIP IN THE FORECAST. AN UPPER WAVE RIDING THROUGH THE WESTERLIES IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN FLATTENING THE RIDGE BY FRIDAY. AT THE SAME TIME...TROUGHING IS EXPECTED TO DEEPEN OVER SOUTHEAST CANADA. AS THIS HAPPENS...THE UPPER RIDGE WILL BUILD NORTHWARD AGAIN...THIS TIME OVER THE CENTRAL CONUS. THE BUCKLING WOULD BRING NORTHWEST FLOW LOCALLY AND A LOWERING OF GEOPOTENTIAL HEIGHTS. THIS WILL RETURN A LOCAL POTENTIAL FOR DEEP CONVECTION. THE PATTERN SHOULD ALSO ALLOW A COLD FRONT TO DROP SOUTH. HOWEVER...MODELS ARE STILL HAVING TROUBLE HANDLING THE DETAILS OF THE PATTERN...PARTICULARLY HOW QUICKLY THE SOUTHEAST CANADIAN TROUGH DEEPENS. THIS AFFECTS THE TIMING OF THE COLD FRONT...WHICH GREATLY AFFECTS POPS AND TEMPS LOCALLY. WITH CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY...WILL USE A MODEST DAY TO DAY LOWERING OF TEMPS SUNDAY AND MONDAY...WITH POPS ELEVATED TO LOW CHANCE CATEGORY FROM SATURDAY ON. IF THE TIME WINDOW FOR COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE NARROWS...LATER FORECASTS WILL LIKELY END UP WITH A NARROWER PERIOD OF HIGHER POPS AND A MORE ABRUPT CHANGE TO COOLER TEMPS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 24Z TUESDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 720 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREDOMINATE THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD. THERE WILL BE PERIODS OF IFR AND MVFR CONDITIONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF THESE STORMS THROUGH AROUND 5Z HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE AND ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR IN THE VICINITY OF THESE STORMS IS VERY HIGH...SO EXTREME CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NEAR THE STORMS THIS EVENING. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...JJ SHORT TERM...MB LONG TERM....HAL AVIATION...JJ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 410 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-012315- 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- 410 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED FROM LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH TONIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL COULD LEAD TO ISOLATED OCCURRENCES OF NUISANCE FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY NIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH WOULD RESULT IN ADDITIONAL NUISANCE FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE...LOW LYING...AND OTHER FLOOD PRONE AREAS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY MORNING...AND AGAIN FROM FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER TONIGHT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON. MB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 934 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 KYZ050-051-058>060-108-010200- MENIFEE-MONTGOMERY-POWELL-BATH-ESTILL-WOLFE- 934 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 1000 PM EDT MONDAY EVENING... MENIFEE... SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY... POWELL... NORTHWESTERN WOLFE... SOUTH CENTRAL BATH AND NORTHERN ESTILL. AT 934 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR KIMBRELL...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF IRVINE...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...STANTON AROUND 940 PM EDT...CAT CREEK AROUND 945 PM EDT...HAYSTACK AROUND 950 PM EDT...TABOR AROUND 955 PM EDT...MARIBA AROUND 1000 PM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO 1 INCH PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT TUESDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY. GEOGERIAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 955 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 KYZ050>052-059-060-104-106-010230- MENIFEE-MONTGOMERY-POWELL-ROWAN-BATH-ELLIOTT-MORGAN- 955 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 1030 PM EDT MONDAY EVENING... MENIFEE... EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY... NORTHWESTERN MORGAN... NORTHEASTERN POWELL... SOUTHERN ROWAN... SOUTHEASTERN BATH AND SOUTHWESTERN ELLIOTT. AT 955 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR CORNWELL...OR NEAR FRENCHBURG...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...RATLITT AROUND 1000 PM EDT...SCRANTON AROUND 1005 PM EDT...PARAGON AROUND 1010 PM EDT...LEISURE AROUND 1015 PM EDT...BLAIRS MILLS AROUND 1020 PM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO **** INCHES 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 100 AM EDT TUESDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY. GEOGERIAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 1033 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 KYZ106-107-109-010300- JOHNSON-MAGOFFIN-MORGAN- 1033 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 1100 PM EDT MONDAY EVENING... JOHNSON... NORTHERN MAGOFFIN AND EXTREME EAST CENTRAL MORGAN. AT 1033 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR GIFFORD...OR NEAR SALYERSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...BROWNLOW AROUND 1040 PM EDT...OIL SPRINGS AROUND 1045 PM EDT...BARNETTS CREEK AROUND 1050 PM EDT...STAFFORDSVILLE AROUND 1055 PM EDT...WITTENSVILLE AROUND 1100 PM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO 1 INCH PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. GEOGERIAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 1109 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 KYZ050-051-058>060-106-108-010345- MENIFEE-MONTGOMERY-POWELL-BATH-ESTILL-MORGAN-WOLFE- 1109 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 1145 PM EDT MONDAY EVENING... MENIFEE... SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY... EXTREME WEST CENTRAL MORGAN... POWELL... EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL WOLFE... SOUTHEASTERN BATH AND NORTH CENTRAL ESTILL. AT 1109 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR VAUGHNS MILL...OR NEAR STANTON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...CAT CREEK AROUND 1115 PM EDT...HAYSTACK AROUND 1120 PM EDT...TABOR AROUND 1125 PM EDT...MARIBA AROUND 1130 PM EDT...DENNISTON AROUND 1135 PM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO AN INCH AND A HALF PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. THE HEAVY RAIN WILL LIKELY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE CAREFULLY. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT TUESDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY. GEOGERIAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 1110 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 KYZ068-079-080-010345- PULASKI-ROCKCASTLE-LAUREL- 1110 PM EDT MON APR 30 2012 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 1145 PM EDT MONDAY EVENING... NORTHERN PULASKI... SOUTHERN ROCKCASTLE AND WEST CENTRAL LAUREL. AT 1110 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR HOGUE...OR 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF SOMERSET...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...BOBTOWN AROUND 1120 PM EDT...VALLEY OAK AROUND 1125 PM EDT...HANSFORD AROUND 1130 PM EDT...HANSFORD AROUND 1135 PM EDT...PINE HILL AROUND 1140 PM EDT... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO 1 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 100 AM EDT TUESDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY. GEOGERIAN
The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 62 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:15 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous large branches down in Jeffersonville. Two large trees were downed along highway 599 near Pine Hill Avenue.
Large blown down onto a driveway off Caudill Branch Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, April 2012
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: 370562, 370567.