After a day of record heat, a cluster of strong storms developed over south central Indiana. Although these storms were initially unorganized, they collectively produced a broad gust front that produced wind damage across portions of southeastern Indiana and north central Kentucky, including the Bluegrass Region.
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.
After a day of record heat, a cluster of strong storms developed over south central Indiana. Although these storms were initially unorganized, they collectively produced a broad gust front that produced wind damage across portions of southeastern Indiana and north central Kentucky, including the Bluegrass Region. Other isolated storms over central Kentucky produced sporadic 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 Jul 1, 2:10 PM EST, 3 hours 33 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
310 PM EDT SUN JUL 01 2012
.Short Term (Tonight through Monday night)...
Issued at 310 PM EDT Sun July 1 2012
Several issues to deal with in the short term forecast. Currently,
things are quiet across the CWA, however potential appears to be
growing for scattered thunderstorm activity later this evening. A
look at the latest water vapor imagery shows a weak shortwave
rounding the top of the ridge over southern Illinois, with an
associated weak surface low underneath. This is creating moisture
convergence near the Wabash/Ohio River confluence and a few storms
have already fired near this location. Expect this wave, along with
other waves embedded in the northwest flow over IL/IN to slowly move
toward the region later this evening and should provide enough lift
to kick off scattered storms. One limiting factor will be strength
of the cap with strong mid level high to the south. With the amount
of instability, (CAPE values ~ 2000-4000 J/KG) and dry air at the
low and mid levels expect that storms that do fire will have the
potential to go severe with damaging winds and hail being the main
threats. Secondary threats would be heavy rainfall and cloud to
ground lightning. Deep layer shear is marginal for organization and
expect storm mode to mainly be pulse in nature. Best coverage of
storms should be across southern Indiana and north central Kentucky.
Across south central Kentucky, expect cap to be strong enough to
keep things dry overnight.
As far as the heat goes, current temperatures are ranging in the
upper 90s to low 100s across the region. Record high temperatures
have already been tied or set at BWG, SDF, and LEX with an hour or
two of heating still to go. Will keep heat headlines in place
through late this evening, however will downgrade to an advisory
mainly along and west of I-65 for tomorrow. Will go with no headline
east of this line. Thanks to surrounding offices for collaboration.
Overall high temperatures are expected to be a degree or two cooler
than today, however higher dew points will yield heat indices near
the same values as today. Either way, we should be below Excessive
Heat Warning criteria and with prolonged nature of the heat, felt
advisory was still sufficient. One other factor that could wreck the
temperature forecast will be a better chance of convection. Will
give the following shifts time to re-evaluate.
Overall, expect a weakening of the upper level ridge through this
forecast period which should lead to an increase in isolated to
scattered convective chances tomorrow afternoon and evening. Also,
mid level pattern looks to have several weak waves embedded within
which could enhance areas of convection. Low confidence portion of
the forecast carries slight chances overnight, mainly across the
northern CWA. Monday could bring isolated to scattered coverage
across the entire CWA and will rely on diurnal trends and low
confidence to go with a dry forecast for Monday night.
Expect mild overnight lows once again in the 70s. Tomorrow will see
highs ranging from the upper 90s to around 100 degrees in most
spots. Overnight lows will once again be in the 70s.
.Long Term (Tuesday through Sunday)...
Issued at 250 PM EDT Sun Jul 1 2012
Above normal temp regime continues, but the devil is in the details
here as the upper ridge retrogrades into the Plains. Ohio Valley
will be in the NW flow on the periphery of the ridge for the middle
portion of the week. Forecast confidence is low due to impulses
aloft that will be at best difficult to time. With a hot and fairly
humid air mass in place, it will not take much of a disturbance to
initiate convection on any day. That said, we remain in a drought so
would rather not get carried away with inserting 20-30 POPs across
the board. Best shot appears to be Tuesday, with POPs trending down
and being more limited to the Bluegrass and the higher terrain after
that as the timing becomes more difficult. The breakdown of the
ridge overhead will keep things just unsettled enough to limit max
temps to the mid/upper 90s, with heat indices just over 100 each
afternoon.
GFS/ECMWF both show the ridge strengthening over the Plains and then
building east Friday into Saturday, which could bring 100 degree
heat back to the area in time for the weekend. Sunday carries
another divergence in the models, as the GFS tries to develop an
East Coast trough, and bring a cold front SE across the Ohio Valley.
Will include a 20-30 POP out of respect for the modest height falls
aloft, but still splitting the difference between the 100 degree
temps in the previous forecast and the lower 90s advertised by the
latest GFS extended MOS.
&&
.Aviation (18Z TAF Issuance)...
Issued at 1257 PM EDT Sun July 1 2012
VFR conditions are expected to prevail through the forecast period,
however may have to deal with some periods of shower and
thunderstorm activity at SDF/LEX later this afternoon and evening.
Expecting scattered thunderstorm development in response to
destabilizing atmosphere and a series of weak disturbances in the
mid and upper level flow. Will keep prevailing VFR at SDF/BWG for
now, although will mention a small window of VCTS this evening until
confidence is higher. Conditions will deteriorate to MVFR or worse
in any thunderstorm.
Otherwise, expect generally southwest winds between 5 and 10 mph to
take hold this afternoon, going variable this evening.
&&
.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING
FOR INZ076>079-083-084-089>092.
KY...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING
FOR KYZ023>034-038-045-053-061>063-070>074.
HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING FOR
KYZ035>037-039>043-046>049-054>057-064>067-075>078-081-082.
Short Term.......BJS
Long Term........RAS
Aviation.........BJSHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 353 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012 KYZ035>037-039>043-046>049-054>057-064>067-075>078-081-082-022300- FRANKLIN KY-SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-FAYETTE KY- BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-WASHINGTON KY-MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY- MARION KY-BOYLE KY-GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-GREEN KY-TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY- LINCOLN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY-CUMBERLAND KY- CLINTON KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FRANKFORT...GEORGETOWN...CYNTHIANA... LAWRENCEBURG...VERSAILLES...LEXINGTON...PARIS...CARLISLE... SPRINGFIELD...HARRODSBURG...NICHOLASVILLE...WINCHESTER...LEBANON... DANVILLE...LANCASTER...RICHMOND...GREENSBURG...CAMPBELLSVILLE... LIBERTY...STANFORD...TOMPKINSVILLE...EDMONTON...COLUMBIA... JAMESTOWN...BURKESVILLE...ALBANY 353 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012 /253 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012/ ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE BLUEGRASS AND LAKE CUMBERLAND REGIONS. .DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT. LATE AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE AROUND 100 DEGREES WITH SIMILAR HEAT INDEX READINGS. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE MAINLY THIS EVENING AS A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE THROUGH THE REGION. ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL BE ABLE TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE (ALL LOWER CASE). INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>032-053-061>063-070>074-022300- 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-LARUE KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY-LOGAN KY- WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY-ALLEN KY-BARREN KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PAOLI...SALEM...SCOTTSBURG...MADISON... JASPER...MARENGO...TELL CITY...CORYDON...NEW ALBANY... JEFFERSONVILLE...HAWESVILLE...HARDINSBURG...BRANDENBURG... BEAVER DAM...LEITCHFIELD...ELIZABETHTOWN...FORT KNOX... MOUNT WASHINGTON...SHEPHERDSVILLE...LOUISVILLE...LA GRANGE... BEDFORD...HODGENVILLE...MORGANTOWN...BROWNSVILLE...MUNFORDVILLE... RUSSELLVILLE...BOWLING GREEN...FRANKLIN...SCOTTSVILLE...GLASGOW 353 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012 /253 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012/ ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING... ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM EDT /8 AM CDT/ TO 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ MONDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT. LATE AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM 100 TO 105 DEGREES WITH SIMILAR OR SLIGHTLY HIGHER HEAT INDEX READINGS. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE THROUGH THE REGION. ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. WITH HIGH PRESSURE BREAKING DOWN AND MOVING OUT OF THE OHIO VALLEY EARLY ON IN THE UPCOMING WEEK...A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS EACH AFTERNOON FROM MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ANY STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP WILL CONTAIN THE THREAT FOR DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE (ALL LOWER CASE). KYZ033-034-038-045-022300- HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-SPENCER KY-NELSON KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEW CASTLE...SHELBYVILLE...TAYLORSVILLE... BARDSTOWN 353 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT. LATE AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE AROUND 100 DEGREES WITH SIMILAR OR SLIGHTLY HIGHER HEAT INDEX READINGS. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE THROUGH THE REGION. ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. WITH HIGH PRESSURE BREAKING DOWN AND MOVING OUT OF THE OHIO VALLEY EARLY ON IN THE UPCOMING WEEK...A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS EACH AFTERNOON FROM MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ANY STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP WILL CONTAIN THE THREAT FOR DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE (ALL LOWER CASE). BJS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
556 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012
INC077-012225-
JEFFERSON IN-
556 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...HALF
INCH HAIL...AND 50 MPH WINDS...
AT 555 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF VERNON TO 9 MILES NORTH OF SCOTTSBURG...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15
MPH.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN WITH RAINFALL RATES
OF AROUND ONE INCH PER HOUR REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN ONE
MILE...HALF INCH HAIL...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 45 TO 50
MPH...ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
* THESE STORMS WILL ALSO IMPACT...
MIDDLEFORK AND FIVE POINTS...
BRYANTSBURG AND LANCASTER...
BARBERSVILLE AND WAKEFIELD...
WIRT AND CANAAN...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS...AND AVOID USING THE
TELEPHONE UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.
&&
LAT...LON 3891 8520 3883 8520 3871 8547 3878 8568
3882 8569 3883 8562 3885 8562 3886 8558
3888 8558 3889 8554 3892 8554 3892 8521
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 294DEG 14KT 3892 8542 3881 8572
SCHOETTMERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 600 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012 INC037-012230- DUBOIS IN- 600 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND 50 MPH WINDS... AT 555 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JASPER...AND MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN WITH RAINFALL RATES OF AROUND ONE INCH PER HOUR REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN ONE MILE...NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 45 TO 50 MPH...ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * THIS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT... JASPER... HUNTINGBURG AND HUNTINGBURG AIRPORT... MALTERSVILLE AND BRETZVILLE... PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS...AND AVOID USING THE TELEPHONE UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. && LAT...LON 3836 8708 3843 8690 3824 8683 3824 8705 TIME...MOT...LOC 2200Z 260DEG 12KT 3831 8701 SCHOETTMER
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
630 PM EDT SUN JUL 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0620 PM HAIL JASPER 38.39N 86.94W
07/01/2012 E0.70 INCH DUBOIS IN EMERGENCY MNGR
&&
EVENT NUMBER LMK1200661
RLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
637 PM EDT SUN JUL 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0635 PM TSTM WND GST DUFF 38.30N 87.05W
07/01/2012 E60 MPH DUBOIS IN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER LMK1200662
RLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
641 PM EDT SUN JUL 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0638 PM TSTM WND DMG BELLEVIEW 38.85N 85.37W
07/01/2012 JEFFERSON IN EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN ACROSS NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LMK1200663
RLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
642 PM EDT SUN JUL 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0636 PM HAIL DUFF 38.30N 87.05W
07/01/2012 E1.00 INCH DUBOIS IN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER LMK1200664
RLThe Louisville radar (KLVX), 96 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:42 UTC.
22 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A couple of trees were downed near Milton, blocking Highway 421.
A spotter in Cloversport reported a tree down across a power line.
The Louisville media reported several trees and power poles downed along 7th Street. At nearly the same time, the ASOS weather instrument at Standiford Airport measured a 56 mph wind gust.
A trained spotter reported several trees down along the Eastern Parkway at Preston.
Local law enforcement reported trees and power lines down across Taylorsville.
The county emergency management reported downed power lines blocking Highway 60 at Clay Village.
The Washington County road crew reported trees downed near State Highways 142 and 43.
A tree fell next adjacent to Farmer's Bank, located just off of U.S. Highway 60 in Frankfort.
Local emergency management reported several trees down near the intersection of Mt. Eden and Bridge Hill Roads.
The Kentucky Mesonet located 7 miles south of Frankfort measured a 51 mph wind gust. Local emergency management reported several downed trees across the southern portion of Franklin County.
Several trees fell within Lawrenceburg.
The Scott County road crew noted a localized area of downed trees near the intersection of Cane Run and Ironworks roads.
Local media reported trees down and power outages across much of Lexington. The ASOS weather instrument at the Bluegrass Regional Airport just west of town measured a 60 mph wind gust.
A spotter 5 miles west of Georgetown measured a 62 mph wind gust.
Several trees were downed by thunderstorm winds in Versailles.
A robust gust front crossed the county. Numerous trees were downed in and around Nicholasville.
A spotter reported several trees down 5 miles west of Summersville near the intersection of Lower Brush Cane Road and State Highway 323.
Local emergency management reported several trees down across northern Hart County. Specifically, one fell across State Highway 566 just west of Eve. Another tree fell in Eve.
The county emergency management reported several trees downed just east of Pollard.
A spotter reported several trees down along Columbia Highway near the Green - Adair county line.
A tree fell, blocking a road in Bradfordsville.
Thunderstorm winds brought down at least three trees across the county. One fell across power lines on County Highway 910 near Russell Springs. Two others fell on Blair School Road west of Jamestown and near Lakeway Drive in Russell Springs.
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, July 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: 381415, 381416, 381399, 381400, 381406, 381407, 381408, 381397, 381409, 381396, 381410, 381402, 381395, 381401, 381411, 381403, 381417, 381412, 381404, 381413, 381414, 381405.