Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kentucky, March 2 to 3, 2012

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kentucky, March 2 to 3, 2012
Start: 2012-03-02T13:00
End: 2012-03-03T12:00
Location: Kentucky

March 2 to 3, 2012 · NWS JKL · 83 events in 20 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 17
Injuries: 187
Property damage: $122 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 83

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS JKL wrote it up.

During the afternoon and evening hours of March 2nd, 2012, an historic tornado outbreak occurred in eastern Kentucky. Tornadoes struck Menifee, Morgan, Bath, Wolfe, Laurel, Johnson and Martin Counties causing a combined 16 deaths in those counties. The hardest hit areas were West Liberty in Morgan county, Salyersville in Magoffin county, and East Bernstadt in Laurel county. One of the strongest tornadoes in this outbreak, rated at EF-3 with winds estimated at 140 mph, caused extensive damage in Menifee and Morgan counties. This tornado killed 2 people in Menifee county and took an additional 6 lives in Morgan county. The town of West Liberty was particularly hard hit, with every building in the downtown area suffering some degree of damage. Several homes were swept off their foundations.

A second EF-3 tornado touched down in extreme southeast Wolfe County and cut a path of damage across portions of Magoffin, Johnson, and Martin Counties. This twister was at its most intense strength in Magoffin and Johnson Counties, with winds estimated at 160 mph. This tornado caused catastrophic damage in parts of Salyersville. This second tornado killed 2 people in Johnson County.

A third strong tornado caused extensive damage in and near the community of East Bernstadt in Laurel County. This tornado was rated at EF-2 and caused 6 fatalities. Most of these deaths occurred when several trailer homes were picked up and destroyed by the tornado.

An EF-1 tornado was also confirmed in Bath County. This tornado caused extensive damage to trees, farm buildings and residences along its track. Fortunately, no deaths or injuries occurred as a result of this tornado.

The storms that occurred on March 2nd also produced very large hail. Reports were received of hailstones as big as baseballs. Extensive damage to trees and structures due to thunderstorm wind gusts also occurred. To top it all off, the heavy rain produced by the large and powerful thunderstorms lead to flash flooding in several counties where tornadoes also occurred.

What forecasters said that day

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 Mar 2, 12:34 PM EST, 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 2, 12:34 PM EST, 26 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
1234 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

.UPDATE...
ISSUED AT 1234 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

DRY SLOT IS NOT NOSING INTO OUR SOUTHWEST COUNTIES...ENDING
PRECIPITATION THERE TEMPORARILY. THE SHOWERS AND STORMS SHOULD
CONTINUE TO DEPART TO THE NORTH AND EAST EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON...LEAVING MOST OF EASTERN KENTUCKY DRY FROM MID TO LATE
AFTERNOON. THIS WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO WARM INTO THE MID 70S WITH
SOME BROKEN CIGS SPREADING ACROSS THE AREA. WITH DECENT MIXING
POTENTIAL...WE SHOULD SEE STRONG WINDS MIXING DOWN WITH SOME GUSTS UP
TO 40 MPH LIKELY. CANNOT RULE OUT AN ISOLATED STORM THIS
AFTERNOON...BUT THE MORE LIKELY SCENARIO IS ACTIVITY ARRIVING AHEAD
OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY LATER THIS EVENING.

MEANWHILE...SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE ALREADY DEVELOPING ALONG AND JUST
AHEAD OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS. BASED ON
LATEST HRRR...THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD PUSH INTO OUR BLUEGRASS COUNTIES
TOWARDS 5 OR 6 PM...THEN ACROSS THE REST OF EASTERN KENTUCKY THROUGH
10 PM. EARLY ON...STILL CONCERNED WITH DISCRETE SUPERCELLS...CAPABLE
OF DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND A TORNADO. AS THE FRONT PUSHES
INTO THE REGION...A SQUALL LINE WILL LIKELY EVOLVE...WITH THE MAIN
THREAT STRAIGHT LINE DAMAGING WINDS. HOWEVER...A SPIN UP TORNADO
ALONG THE LINE IS POSSIBLE STILL. WITH THE FAST MOVEMENT OF
STORMS...THE SEVERE THREAT MAY BE OVER FOR MOST OF THE AREA BY
MIDNIGHT...WITH JUST SOME LEFT OVER RAIN PUSHING ACROSS OUR EASTERN
COUNTIES. HAVE LOWERED TEMPERATURES BEHIND THE FRONT TONIGHT...WITH
DECENT CLEARING SPREADING INTO THE AREA.

UPDATE ISSUED AT 1129 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND STORMS CONTINUE TO PROGRESS NORTHWARD ACROSS
THE CWA THIS MORNING...BUT A DISTINCT BACK EDGE AND DRY SLOT...BEHIND
THE ADVANCING WARM FRONT IS NOTED BACK ACROSS CENTRAL TENNESSEE.
USING THE TIMING TOOL...IT LOOKS LIKE THE ONGOING ACTIVITY SHOULD
PUSH NORTH AND EAST OF THE AREA BY 19Z...PROVIDING A DECENT BREAK FOR
MOST AREAS THIS AFTERNOON. HRRR IS HANDLING THE SITUATION FAIRLY
WELL. IT SHOWS SOME DISTINCT SUPERCELLS DEVELOPING OUT IN THE
BLUEGRASS BETWEEN 21 AND 22Z. THESE MAY IMPACT OUR NORTHEAST BLUEGRASS
COUNTIES AROUND THIS TIME. THESE STORMS WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE
POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND TORNADOES. THESE
STORMS SHOULD DEVELOP OUT AHEAD OF THE ADVANCING COLD FRONT...WITH A
SQUALL LINE DEVELOPING ALONG THE ACTUAL FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THE MAIN
THREAT WITH THE SQUALL LINE WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...BUT A BRIEF SPIN
UP ALONG THIS LINE IS POSSIBLE...PRODUCING A TORNADO. THE FRONTAL
BOUNDARY SHOULD HOLD OFF TO OUR WEST UNTIL AT LEAST 00Z. SO THE MAIN
THREAT PRIOR TO THAT TIME WILL BE THE DISCRETE SUPERCELLS IN THE WARM
SECTOR. WARM AND MUGGY CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP HEADING INTO THIS
AFTERNOON WITH DEWPOINTS CLIMBING UP TO AROUND 60 WITH TEMPERATURES
AROUND 70. CERTAINLY JUICY AIR FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. LAKE WIND
ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE AS ADVERTISED. FLASH FLOOD THREAT ALSO APPEARS
A BIT ENHANCED WITH EARLY DAY RAINFALL ADDING TO THE ALREADY SOAKED
GROUND AND BANK FULL CREEKS.

UPDATE ISSUED AT 837 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE AREA
OVER THE PAST HOUR. THUS...HAVE BROUGHT IN SOME HIGHER CATEGORICAL
POPS THROUGH THIS MORNING. ANOTHER BAND OF SHOWERS AND STORMS IS
KNOCKING AT OUR DOORSTEP...JUST NOW PUSHING INTO AREAS AROUND
MONTICELLO. AFTER THE MORNING CONVECTION...STILL LOOKING LIKE A
POTENTIAL BREAK BY MID AFTERNOON...BEFORE THE MAIN LINE OF CONVECTION
ARRIVES WITH THE FRONT BETWEEN 6 AND 9 PM. HAD SOME REPORTS OF
SUB-SEVERE HAIL THIS MORNING (HAIL LESS THAN AN INCH IN
DIAMETER)...BUT NOTHING SEVERE AS OF YET. MADE SOME TWEAKS TO
TEMPERATURES AND DEWPOINTS AS TEMPERATURES START TO WARM FROM SOUTH
TO NORTH AS THE FRONT PROGRESSES NORTHWARD.

UPDATE ISSUED AT 705 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

THE FORECAST IN GENERAL REMAINS ON TARGET...THOUGH CONVECTION UP UNTIL
THIS POINT HAS NOT BEEN ALL THAT WIDESPREAD. HOWEVER...ADDITIONAL
STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE CONVECTION CONTINUES TO GET GOING TO OUR
SW IN NORTHERN MIDDLE TN AND SOME OF THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD LIFT NORTH
INTO THE REGION THROUGH MID TO LATE MORNING. ACTIVITY THIS MORNING
IS EXPECTED TO BE LARGELY ELEVATED AND EITHER WITH ONGOING CONVECTION
APPROACHING FROM CENTRAL KY AND THE CONVECTION APPROACHING FROM
MIDDLE TN WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HAIL...AND PERHAPS SOME
STRONGER WIND GUSTS.

ONCE THE WARM FRONT PASSES DURING THE MID AFTERNOON...THERE IS NOT A
LOT OF CONVECTIVE TRIGGERS...BUT ANY OUTFLOWS OR CONVECTION UPSTREAM
THAT MOVES IN OR ANY BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS COULD BE THE FOCUS FOR
INITIATION. OTHER THAN THE QUESTION OF A TRIGGER DURING MID AFTERNOON
AND SOME HINT OF MID LEVEL CAPPING IN THE FORECAST SOUNDINGS...IF
ANYTHING WERE TO GET GOING IT COULD BECOME SEVERE AS SHEAR WILL BE
AMPLE. IF THIS WERE TO BE IN SUPERCELL FORM...DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...AN EVEN A TORNADO WOULD BE POSSIBLE. IT STILL APPEARS THAT THE
MOST ORGANIZED SEVERE CONVECTION SHOULD OCCUR DURING THE LATE
AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING HOURS.

HOURLY GRIDS WERE FRESHENED UP BASED ON THE LATEST TRENDS...BUT THE
PREVIOUS ZFP WAS STILL HANDLING THE SITUATION AT THIS TIME.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY)
ISSUED AT 430 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

SFC LOW PRESSURE OVER NE OKLAHOMA CONTINUES TO DEVELOP THIS MORNING
WITH A SFC WARM FRONT EXTENDING EAST INTO THE TN VALLEY REGION. AT
PRESENT IT IS ABOUT 2 MB STRONGER THAN THE 6Z NAM RUNS AND SLIGHTLY
STRONGER THAN MOST OF THE 0Z MODEL RUNS. THIS SYSTEM IS PROGGED TO
FURTHER DEEPEN AS IT TRACKS INTO THE GREAT LAKES THIS EVENING...WITH
THE MOST RAPID DEEPENING OCCURRING BETWEEN 18Z AND 0Z TONIGHT. THIS
SYSTEM WILL SEND A STRONG COLD FRONT INTO THE COMMONWEALTH...WITH THE
COLD FRONT REACHING THE JKL CWA DURING THE EVENING. THE COLD FRONT
SHOULD EXIT INTO VA EARLY ON AT AM.

DESPITE RELATIVELY CLOUD FREE CONDITIONS AT PRESENT WITH SOME VALLEY
LOCATIONS AT PRESENT IN THE 30S...A RATHER DRAMATIC RISE IN TEMPS AND
DEWPOINTS IS ANTICIPATED TODAY AS THE WARM FRONT LIFTS INTO THE
REGION FROM THE SOUTH AND WEST...MOVING NORTH AND EAST OF THE JKL CWA
BY EARLY TO MID AFTERNOON. DEWPOINTS ACROSS THE CWA ARE CURRENTLY IN
THE UPPER 20S AND 30S...BUT JUST SOUTH OF THE AREA DEWPOINTS IN THE
MID 40S ARE PRESENT ACROSS NORTHERN MIDDLE TN...THE 50S TO THE SOUTH
OF THAT AREA MIDDLE AND EAST TN AND THEN FURTHER SOUTH IN MS AND
AL...DEWPOINTS ARE IN THE LOWER 60S.

MODELS ALL PROG A RAPID INCREASE IN MOISTURE THIS MORNING AS THE WARM
FRONT MOVES INTO AND ACROSS THE AREA...AS HAS BEEN OCCURRING TO OUR SOUTH
AND WEST OVERNIGHT. AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES
TO DEVELOP FROM WEST CENTRAL KY SE INTO THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU OF
MIDDLE TN. THIS CONVECTION SHOULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP EARLY THIS
MORNING AND BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD AS MOISTURE TRANSPORT INCREASES AS
THE LOW LEVEL JET INCREASES. A ROUND OF SHOWERS AND AT LEAST SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD OCCUR THIS MORNING. INSTABILITY IS PROGGED TO BE
RATHER LIMITED AND THIS CONVECTION ELEVATED...BUT THE STRONGEST
STORMS COULD PRODUCE SOME SMALL HAIL. WARM AND MOIST ADVECTION WILL
CONTINUE INTO THE AFTERNOON AS THE SFC LOW TRACKS BY TO OUR WEST. MID
LEVEL WARMING IN THE WARM SECTOR WILL LIKELY LEAD TO A LULL IN
PRECIPITATION CHANCES SPREADING FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST IN THE
AFTERNOON. WITH THE SYSTEM ALREADY A BIT STRONGER THAN CURRENTLY
FORECAST BY THE MODELS OPTED TO GO TOWARD THE WARMER END OF GUIDANCE
FOR MAX AND WINDS THIS AFTERNOON. SINCE CONVECTION WILL BE LARGELY
ISOLATED TO SCATTERED IN THE AFTERNOON AND STRONG WINDS FIELDS ARE
PROGGED ALOFT...GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH MAY OCCUR OUTSIDE OF SHOWER AND
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. WITH THIS IN MIND WENT WITH A LAKE WIND
ADVISORY FROM NOON UNTIL 7 PM TODAY. ANY CONVECTION BY MID TO LATE
AFTERNOON WOULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE IN THE FORM OF CLUSTERS OR
SUPERCELLS DUE TO STRONG WIND FIELDS ALOFT AND AMPLE SHEAR.
INSTABILITY IN THE AFTERNOON DOES APPEAR TO BE SOMEWHAT LIMITED
THOUGH AND SOME MID LEVEL CAPPING MAY BE PRESENT WITH NOT MUCH OF A
TRIGGER.

THE HIGHEST THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...A MODERATE RISK IN THE
DAY 1 SPC OUTLOOK APPEARS TO BE FROM LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING
AND CONTINUING INTO THE EVENING IN ADVANCE OF AND POSSIBLY ALONG THE
SFC COLD FRONT. HOWEVER...GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF THE DEVELOPING SYSTEM
AND WIND FIELDS ALOFT...ANY STRONGER STORM DURING THE DAY COULD ALSO
PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...WITH ANY SUPERCELLS THAT DEVELOP HAVING A
LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADO THREAT AS THE LOWER LEVELS EVENTUALLY
WILL BE MORE SATURATED. SUPERCELLS OR STORM CLUSTERS ONGOING LATE IN
THE AFTERNOON OVER CENTRAL AND PERHAPS INTO EASTERN KY SHOULD EVOLVE
INTO A QLCS TYPE SYSTEM DURING THE EVENING AS THE FRONT APPROACHES
AND RACE ACROSS THE CWA. THIS STORMS WOULD ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND ISOLATED
POSSIBLY STRONG TORNADOES. THE PERIOD OF THREAT FOR THE LARGEST HAIL
MAY BE FROM VERY LATE IN THE AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY IN THE EVENING
AS CONSIDERABLE MID LEVEL DRY AIR IS PROGGED...LEADING TO LOW WBZ
HEIGHTS NEAR 8KFT LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY IN THE EVENING. ANY
ROTATING CELLS WOULD HAVE MORE VIGOROUS UPDRAFTS HIS PERIOD AND WOULD
BRING A LARGE HAIL THREAT.

WITH THE FRONT AT LEAST BRIEFLY BECOMING PARALLEL TO THE UPPER LEVEL
FLOW...SOME TRAINING OF CONVECTION MAY OCCUR FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING ON TOP OF ALREADY WET GROUND FROM RECENT IN
MAY PLACES HEAVY PRECIPITATION. ANY TRAINING WOULD BRING A THREAT FOR
FLASH FLOODING. MODELS OVERALL HAVE TRENDED BACK ON THE QPF...BUT
LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE VERY POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER CELLS AND
IN ANY TRAINING. OPTED TO CHANGE THE START TIME OF THE FLASH FLOOD
WATCH TO 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON AS ANY CONVECTION THAT OCCURS FROM THAT
POINT ON WILL BE ON TOP OF RAINFALL FROM CONVECTION THIS AM THROUGH
EARLY THIS EVENING. WE ALSO OPTED TO MOVE THE EXPIRATION TIME TO 4 AM
ON SAT AM. MODELS HAVE TRENDED TOWARD A FASTER COLD FRONT...WITH ONLY
SOME ISOLATED TO SCATTERED LINGERING RAIN SHOWERS ON SAT MORNING.

SFC HIGH PRESSURE AND SUBSIDENCE BEHIND THE DEPARTING SYSTEM SHOULD
LEAD TO A MOSTLY DRY DAY ON SAT WITH COLD AND DRY AIR ADVECTION. MAX
T MAY NOT REACH 50 DEGREES ACROSS WESTERN SECTIONS AS A MUCH COLDER
AIRMASS WORKS INTO THE REGION.

.LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY)
ISSUED AT 425 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH AN AMPLIFIED LONG WAVE
PATTERN TO CONCLUDE THE WEEK...FOLLOWED BY A TEMPORARY TRANSITION TO
MORE ZONAL FLOW EARLY NEXT WEEK...AND THEN AMPLIFYING ONCE AGAIN
THEREAFTER.

A FULL LATITUDE TROUGH WILL BE MOVING THROUGH THE HEART OF THE
COUNTRY SATURDAY NIGHT...WITH WEAK HIGH PRESSURE HANGING ON AND
PROVIDING DRY WEATHER ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY. A COUPLE OF SHORT
WAVE TROUGHS WILL THEN CYCLE IN FROM THE NORTHWEST ON SUNDAY AND
THEN FROM SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING. THE LATTER WAVE IS MORE
INTENSE HAS MORE MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. HAVE STUCK WITH LIKELY
POPS FOR SUNDAY NIGHT...WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE WINDOW OF BEST
FORCING. TEMPERATURE PROFILES WILL YIELD MAINLY SNOW FOR SUNDAY
NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING. AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY...A SLUSHY INCH
OF SNOW COULD MAKE FOR SLOW COMMUTE TIMES MONDAY MORNING.

ONCE THIS WAVE MOVES OUT MONDAY AFTERNOON...MODEST RIDGING AND
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN AND EVENTUALLY OFF THE EASTERN
SEABOARD WILL BRING MILDER AND GENERALLY DRIER WEATHER FOR THE REST
OF THE PERIOD. BY THE END OF THE WORK WEEK...THERE IS DISAGREEMENT
WITH THE TIMING AND EVOLUTION OF THE NEXT SYSTEM...WITH THE ECMWF
MORE AMPLIFIED IN A SPLIT FLOW PATTERN COMPARED TO THE GFS. HAVE
STUCK WITH THE INITIAL BLENDED GUIDANCE...WHICH KEEPS THE DRY
WEATHER GOING INTO THURSDAY.

FOR TEMPERATURES...GENERALLY SIDED WITH MORE OF A DIURNAL RANGE THEN
THE BLENDED GUIDANCE...ESPECIALLY FOR THE LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE
MORE SHELTERED VALLEYS.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY AFTERNOON)
ISSUED AT 1234 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

A BREAK IN THE SHOWERS AND STORMS IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO
EARLY THIS EVENING. HOWEVER...GUSTY CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP WITH
GUSTS UP TO 30 KNOTS POSSIBLE. THE THREAT FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL
PUSH INTO EASTERN KENTUCKY AROUND 23Z...WITH THE GREATEST THREAT FOR
DOWNBURST WINDS BETWEEN 01 AND 03Z. GIVEN THE LIKELY STRONG
WINDS...HAVE PUT A TEMPO GROUP IN THE TAFS TO ACCOUNT FOR THESE
DOWNBURST WINDS. THE THREAT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL END BY MIDNIGHT
WITH SOME LEFTOVER SHOWERS. SKIES WILL BEGIN TO CLEAR OFF
TONIGHT...AND MAY NEED TO WATCH THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME FOG
DEVELOPMENT...BUT GIVEN THE COMPLEX WEATHER THIS EVENING...HAVE OPTED
TO WAIT ON INCLUDING ANY FOG FOR THE TIME BEING.

&&

.JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR KYZ044-
050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT FOR KYZ058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120.

&&

UPDATE...KAS
SHORT TERM...JP
LONG TERM....GEOGERIAN
AVIATION...KAS

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 2, 11:36 AM EST, 1 hour 24 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
1136 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

KYZ044-050>052-031945-
FLEMING-MONTGOMERY-BATH-ROWAN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FLEMINGSBURG...MOUNT STERLING...
OWINGSVILLE...MOREHEAD
1136 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND
TONIGHT...MAINLY FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING.
STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING.
DAMAGING WINDS APPEAR TO BE THE PRIMARY THREAT...AND SOME STORMS
COULD PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...AND EVEN TORNADOES.

OUTSIDE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...WINDS MAY GUST AS HIGH AS 35
TO 40 MPH AND LEAD TO ROUGH CHOP ON AREA LAKES AND DIFFICULT DRIVING
CONDITIONS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING. SOME
LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS MAY OCCUR.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT OCCURRENCES OF SEVERE WEATHER OR
HEAVY RAIN TODAY OR TONIGHT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN JACKSON KY.

KYZ058>060-068-069-079-080-083>087-104-106>117-031945-
ESTILL-POWELL-MENIFEE-ROCKCASTLE-JACKSON-PULASKI-LAUREL-WAYNE-
MCCREARY-WHITLEY-KNOX-BELL-ELLIOTT-MORGAN-JOHNSON-WOLFE-MAGOFFIN-
FLOYD-LEE-BREATHITT-KNOTT-OWSLEY-PERRY-CLAY-LESLIE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...IRVINE...STANTON...FRENCHBURG...
MOUNT VERNON...MCKEE...SOMERSET...LONDON...MONTICELLO...
WHITLEY CITY...CORBIN...WILLIAMSBURG...BARBOURVILLE...MIDDLESBORO...
PINEVILLE...SANDY HOOK...WEST LIBERTY...PAINTSVILLE...CAMPTON...
SALYERSVILLE...PRESTONSBURG...BEATTYVILLE...JACKSON...HINDMAN...
BOONEVILLE...HAZARD...MANCHESTER...HYDEN
1136 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
LATE TONIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT...
MAINLY FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING. STRONG TO
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING. DAMAGING
WINDS APPEAR TO BE THE PRIMARY THREAT...AND SOME STORMS COULD PRODUCE
LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...AND EVEN TORNADOES. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
FROM THUNDERSTORMS WILL LEAD TO A THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING...MAINLY
FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT.

OUTSIDE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...WINDS MAY GUST AS HIGH AS 35
TO 40 MPH AND LEAD TO ROUGH CHOP ON AREA LAKES AND DIFFICULT DRIVING
CONDITIONS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING. SOME
LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS MAY OCCUR.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT OCCURRENCES OF SEVERE WEATHER OR
HEAVY RAIN TODAY OR TONIGHT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN JACKSON KY.

KYZ088-118>120-031945-
HARLAN-LETCHER-MARTIN-PIKE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARLAN...WHITESBURG...INEZ...PIKEVILLE
1136 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
LATE TONIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND
TONIGHT...MAINLY FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING.
STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING.
DAMAGING WINDS APPEAR TO BE THE PRIMARY THREAT...AND SOME STORMS
COULD PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...AND EVEN TORNADOES. LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THUNDERSTORMS WILL LEAD TO A THREAT OF FLASH
FLOODING...MAINLY FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT.

OUTSIDE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...WINDS MAY GUST AS HIGH AS 35
TO 40 MPH AND LEAD TO ROUGH CHOP ON AREA LAKES AND DIFFICULT DRIVING
CONDITIONS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING. SOME
LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS MAY OCCUR.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT OCCURRENCES OF SEVERE WEATHER OR
HEAVY RAIN TODAY OR TONIGHT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN JACKSON KY.

JP/DUSTY

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 9:13 AM EST, 3 hours 47 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
913 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

KYZ084>086-021500-
MCCREARY-WHITLEY-KNOX-
913 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH
1000 AM EST FRIDAY MORNING...

   SOUTHWESTERN KNOX...
   SOUTHEASTERN MCCREARY AND
   WHITLEY.

AT 913 AM EST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES SOUTH OF
STRUNK...OR NEAR ONEIDA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...HOLLYHILL
AROUND 920 AM EST...AYERS AROUND 925 AM EST...MOUNTAIN ASH AROUND 930
AM EST...PLEASANT VIEW AROUND 935 AM EST...AND VERNE AROUND 940 AM
EST.

RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP
TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND HAIL TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES 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, Mar 2, 9:50 AM EST, 3 hours 10 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
950 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

KYZ044-050>052-060-104-106-107-109-110-119-120-021515-
MENIFEE-MONTGOMERY-ROWAN-BATH-ELLIOTT-FLEMING-JOHNSON-MARTIN-
MAGOFFIN-MORGAN-PIKE-FLOYD-
950 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
THROUGH 1015 AM EST FRIDAY MORNING...

   JOHNSON...
   NORTHERN MAGOFFIN...
   MARTIN...
   MENIFEE...
   NORTHERN MONTGOMERY...
   MORGAN...
   NORTHERN PIKE...
   ROWAN...
   BATH...
   ELLIOTT...
   FLEMING AND
   NORTHERN FLOYD.

AT 948 AM EST...SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM MOUNT STERLING TO SALYERSVILLE TO 11 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF GILBERT CREEK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...
FLEMINGSBURG...MOREHEAD...WEST LIBERTY...PAINTSVILLE...INEZ... AND
PHELPS.

RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN WHERE THUNDERSTORMS PASS...WITH
RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO AN INCH 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.

RAY

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 10:17 AM EST, 2 hours 43 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
1017 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

KYZ088-115-117-118-021600-
LESLIE-LETCHER-PERRY-HARLAN-
1017 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH
1100 AM EST FRIDAY MORNING...

   SOUTHEASTERN LESLIE...
   LETCHER...
   SOUTHEASTERN PERRY AND
   HARLAN.

AT 1017 AM EST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR COLTS...OR 11
MILES EAST OF HARLAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...BENHAM AROUND
1025 AM EST...LYNCH AROUND 1030 AM EST...DAY AROUND 1035 AM
EST...EOLIA AROUND 1040 AM EST...AND ERMINE AROUND 1045 AM EST.

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, Mar 2, 10:54 AM EST, 2 hours 6 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
1054 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-030045-
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
1053 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...MAJOR SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT NEAR
AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 75...AND A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REST OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. THE GREATEST RISK
FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
THIS EVENING. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH
STRONG...LONG TRACKED TORNADOES POSSIBLE...MAINLY LATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE TRACKING FROM THE PLAINS AND
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY REGION TOWARD THE GREAT LAKES THROUGH
TONIGHT...WILL SEND A WARM FRONT ACROSS THE REGION THIS
MORNING...FOLLOWED BY A COLD FRONT THIS EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE WARM FRONT THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HAIL AND POSSIBLY STRONG
WINDS GUSTS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL THEN BE POSSIBLE THROUGH LATE THIS
EVENING. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE ANTICIPATED
DURING THE MID AFTERNOON HOURS...WITH A THREAT FOR MORE WIDESPREAD
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE EVENING ALONG AND IN ADVANCE OF THE
COLD FRONT. DAMAGING WINDS APPEAR TO BE THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE
STORMS...AND SOME STORMS COULD PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...AND
TORNADOES. ANY TORNADOES THAT DEVELOP COULD BE STRONG. LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL FROM THUNDERSTORMS WILL LEAD TO A THREAT OF FLASH
FLOODING...MAINLY FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT.

JP/SBH

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 12:11 PM EST, 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
1211 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

KYZ085>087-021800-
WHITLEY-KNOX-BELL-
1211 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 100
PM EST FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

   SOUTHEASTERN KNOX...
   SOUTHEASTERN WHITLEY AND
   BELL.

AT 1204 PM EST...A STRONG AND WELL ORGANIZED THUNDERSTORM WAS
LOCATED 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FAIRVIEW...OR 15 MILES SOUTH OF ONEIDA
IN TENNESSEE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS THAT COULD BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED
TO...FONDE AND WILKERSON BETWEEN 1230 AND 1245 PM...MIDDLESBORO
AROUND 1245 PM...AND PINEVILLE TOWARD 1 PM.

RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE
INCH PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND
HAIL TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES 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.

IN ADDITION...CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR TORNADIC DEVELOPMENT TODAY.

GREIF

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 12:34 PM EST, 26 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
1234 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-030045-
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
1234 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...OUTBREAK OF STRONG TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS LIKELY...

THE PROBABILITY OF A MAJOR SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK HAS INCREASED FOR
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NEARLY ALL OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. THERE IS A
MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHEAST
KENTUCKY FROM HARLAN TO PIKEVILLE.

THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH STRONG...LONG
TRACKED TORNADOES POSSIBLE...MAINLY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND FLASH FLOODING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE.

NOW IS THE TIME DETERMINE WHERE YOU WILL TAKE SHELTER IF A TORNADO
WARNING IS ISSUED.

IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT A TORNADO WATCH WILL BE ISSUED
LATER TODAY...AND IT IS LIKELY THAT TORNADO WARNINGS WILL FOLLOW.

NOW IS THE TIME TO DETERMINE WHERE YOU WILL TAKE SHELTER IF A
TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED. THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO
IS IN AN UNDERGROUND SHELTER OR BASEMENT. IF AN UNDERGOUND SHELTER OR
BASEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE TAKE SHELTER IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM OR
HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.

MOBILE HOMES...EVEN IF TIED DOWN...OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION FROM
TORNADOES. YOU SHOULD LEAVE A MOBILE HOME AND GO TO THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF A STURDY NEARBY BUILDING OR STORM SHELTER. IF YOU LIVE IN A MOBILE
HOME YOU SHOULD MOVE TO A SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING AND BE PREPARED TO
TAKE SHELTER WELL BEFORE ANY WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

JP/SBH

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 64 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

46 hail, 20 thunderstorm wind, 9 tornado, 5 flash flood, 2 flood, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Bell

When: March 2, 1:00 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Bell County, 0.54 mi SW of Page to 0.36 mi SSW of Page
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.715, -83.608

Two feet of flowing water of highway 1344.

Flash Flood, Bell

When: March 2, 1:00 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Bell County, 1.18 mi N of Binghamton to 1.18 mi NW of Binghamton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.647, -83.704

Highway 25E under 6 inches of water coming into Middlesboro.

Hail, Powell

When: March 2, 5:20 PM EST
Where: Powell County, 2 mi N of Clay City
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.899, -83.920

Hail, Powell

When: March 2, 5:20 PM EST
Where: Powell County, Clay City
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.870, -83.920

Hail, ranging from dime to half dollar size, covered the ground approximately 2.5 miles north on Route 11 heading towards Mount Sterling.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fleming

When: March 2, 5:20 PM EST
Where: Fleming County, Mt Carmel
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.480, -83.630

A mobile home was blown off its foundation in Mount Carmel.

Hail, Montgomery

When: March 2, 5:21 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, 1 mi S of Levee
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.956, -83.930

Baseball size hail was reported along Highway 11 between Levee and the Powell county line.

Hail, Montgomery

When: March 2, 5:25 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, Jeffersonville
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.980, -83.850

Baseball size hail was reported in Jeffersonville.

Hail, Montgomery

When: March 2, 5:28 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, 2 mi SE of Mt Sterling
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.029, -83.924

Thunderstorm Wind, Rowan

When: March 2, 5:30 PM EST
Where: Rowan County, 1 mi W of Morehead
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.180, -83.448

Extensive damage occurred to trees and residential structures 1 mile west of Morehead due to thunderstorm wind gusts.

Hail, Menifee

When: March 2, 5:32 PM EST
Where: Menifee County, Means
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.950, -83.770

Hail, Montgomery

When: March 2, 5:35 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, 2 mi E of Jeffersonville
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.980, -83.813

Tornado, Menifee

When: March 2, 5:39 PM EST to 5:45 PM EST
Where: Menifee County, 2.15 mi WSW of Mariba to 1.32 mi S of Korea
Rating: EF3
Path length: 7.44 mi
Path width: 500 yd
Continued into: Morgan, Ky (JKL)
Deaths: 2 direct, 1 indirect
Injuries: 30 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.905, -83.615

A storm damage survey team from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson, Kentucky confirmed that an EF-3 tornado occurred in Menifee County on March 2, 2012. The tornado touched down on Tarr Ridge about 2 miles southwest of Mariba at 539 pm EST. The tornado then tracked east-northeast crossing highway 77 and causing extensive damage to several homes. The most extensive damage in Menifee County occurred on Opossum Hollow Road, where several structures were destroyed including a brick house which was totally destroyed except for the basement. The tornado crossed highway 460 just southeast of Wellington and continued into Morgan County. Two fatalities occurred in Menifee County as a direct result of the tornado. One other fatality occurred due to a fall down stairs in the clean-up effort following the tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rowan

When: March 2, 5:40 PM EST
Where: Rowan County, Triplett
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.300, -83.400

A barn was destroyed by thunderstorm wind gusts in Triplett.

Hail, Menifee

When: March 2, 5:40 PM EST
Where: Menifee County, Frenchburg
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.950, -83.630

Hail, Bath

When: March 2, 5:40 PM EST
Where: Bath County, Sharpsburg
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.200, -83.930

Golf ball size hail was reported near Olympia, Bethel, and Sharpsburg.

Hail, Menifee

When: March 2, 5:41 PM EST
Where: Menifee County, Frenchburg
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.950, -83.630

Golf ball size hail covered the ground in Frenchburg.

Thunderstorm Wind, McCreary

When: March 2, 5:43 PM EST
Where: McCreary County, Marshes Siding
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.730, -84.470

A 65 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured by a trained spotter in Marshes Siding.

Thunderstorm Wind, McCreary

When: March 2, 5:43 PM EST
Where: McCreary County, Stearns
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.700, -84.470

Trees and power lines were blown down in Stearns.

Tornado, Morgan

When: March 2, 5:46 PM EST to 6:10 PM EST
Where: Morgan County, 1.4 mi SSW of Artville to 1.87 mi NNW of Relief
Rating: EF3
Path length: 25.56 mi
Path width: 1,580 yd
Continued into: Lawrence, Ky (RLX)
Deaths: 6 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 80 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $75 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.911, -83.478

A storm damage survey team from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson, Kentucky confirmed that an EF-3 tornado tracked from Menifee County into Morgan County on March 2, 2012. The tornado entered Morgan County at around 546 pm EST, just to the northwest of Ezel, and tracked east-northeast making a direct hit on downtown West Liberty at around 558 pm EST. The tornado caused extensive damage to nearly every structure in town, including the 105 year old courthouse, the depression-era WPA building that houses the community center and the 100 year old West Liberty United Methodist and Christian churches. The tornado continued northeast from West Liberty through the remainder of Morgan County, causing extensive damage to numerous structures and downing thousands of trees with a consistent path width of 3/4 to 1 mile throughout the county. Estimated peak winds in Morgan County were 140 mph. The tornado crossed into Lawrence county at 610 pm EST between Moon and Terryville. Six fatalities occurred in Morgan county as a direct result of the tornado.

Hail, Menifee

When: March 2, 5:48 PM EST
Where: Menifee County, Wellington
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.920, -83.520

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: March 2, 5:55 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, Judy
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.130, -83.970

Thunderstorm wind gusts caused significant damage in the Judy area.

Hail, Montgomery

When: March 2, 5:59 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, 5 mi N of Mt Sterling
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 38.122, -83.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: March 2, 5:59 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, 5 mi N of Mt Sterling
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 38.122, -83.950

A thunderstorm wind gust estimated at 70 mph occurred 5 miles north of Mount Sterling.

Hail, Morgan

When: March 2, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Morgan County, 3 mi WNW of West Liberty
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.937, -83.321

Tennis ball size hail left indentation in the ground 3 miles west of West Liberty.

Tornado, Bath

When: March 2, 6:08 PM EST to 6:13 PM EST
Where: Bath County, 1.02 mi SSW of Owingsville to 1.33 mi NNE of Polksville
Rating: EF1
Path length: 7.4 mi
Path width: 250 yd
Property damage: $775,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.137, -83.778

A storm damage survey team from the National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Kentucky confirmed that an EF-1 tornado occurred in Bath County on March 2, 2012. The tornado touched down near the Bath County High School west southwest of Owingsville at 608 pm EST. The tornado had an intermittent path to the east northeast of approximately 7.5 miles in length. The tornado crossed Hwy 36 a mile or two south of Owingsville and then I-64 and Hwy 60 east of Owingsville causing damage to numerous trees, barn roofs, and residential structures along the way. The tornado lifted for the final time approximately 2.5 miles northwest of Salt Lick, Kentucky.

Hail, Morgan

When: March 2, 6:10 PM EST
Where: Morgan County, West Liberty
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.920, -83.270

Hail, Pulaski

When: March 2, 6:10 PM EST
Where: Pulaski County, 2 mi S of Cains Store
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.101, -84.820

Hail, Estill

When: March 2, 6:10 PM EST
Where: Estill County, 2.85 mi NW of Noland
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.656, -84.110

Thunderstorm Wind, Fleming

When: March 2, 6:10 PM EST
Where: Fleming County, Tilton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.350, -83.750

One structure in Tilton suffered roof damage due to thunderstorm wind gusts.

Tornado, Johnson

When: March 2, 6:13 PM EST to 6:18 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, 0.41 mi NNW of Keaton to 1.62 mi NNE of Barnrock
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.9 mi
Path width: 1,312 yd
Continued into: Lawrence, Ky (RLX)
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.986, -82.972

A storm damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Kentucky indicated a tornado continued from Lawrence County into the extreme northwest tip of Johnson County on March 2, 2012. This damage represents a continuation of the track of a tornado which devastated the town of West Liberty, KY. The tornado entered the extreme northwest tip of Johnson county just west of the Keaton area around 613 pm EST. The tornado continued to track northeast straddling the Johnson/Lawrence County line until passing entirely back into Lawrence County between the Keaton and Martha communities at around 618 pm EST. Damage in extreme northwest Johnson county was consistent with an EF-1 tornado and included roof damage to several structures and numerous downed trees. This tornado continued through Lawrence County, Kentucky and into Wayne and Lincoln Counties in West Virginia.

Hail, Bell

When: March 2, 6:15 PM EST
Where: Bell County, Frakes
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.630, -83.920

Thunderstorm Wind, Rowan

When: March 2, 6:21 PM EST
Where: Rowan County, 4 mi W of Morehead
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.180, -83.504

A thunderstorm wind gust estimated at 60 mph occurred 4 miles west of Morehead.

Hail, Elliott

When: March 2, 6:26 PM EST
Where: Elliott County, 4 mi N of Sandy Hook
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.138, -83.120

Thunderstorm Wind, Bell

When: March 2, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Bell County, Middlesboro
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 36.600, -83.720

Trees were blown down in Middlesboro.

Hail, Bell

When: March 2, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Bell County, Middlesboro
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 36.600, -83.720

Thunderstorm Wind, Elliott

When: March 2, 6:34 PM EST
Where: Elliott County, 1.48 mi ESE of Dewdrop
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.144, -83.124

A few trees blown down on Brown Ridge.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bell

When: March 2, 6:35 PM EST
Where: Bell County, Pineville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 36.770, -83.680

Trees were blown down in Pineville.

Hail, Wolfe

When: March 2, 6:35 PM EST to 6:42 PM EST
Where: Wolfe County, 0.94 mi W of Campton to 0.75 mi NNW of Lee City
Measured: 3 in hail
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.730, -83.567

Baseball to apple size hail fell along a swath from Campton eastward to near Gilmore. Extensive damage was done to structures in downtown Campton, including roof damage to the high school.

Hail, Pulaski

When: March 2, 6:40 PM EST
Where: Pulaski County, Science Hill
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 37.180, -84.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Bell

When: March 2, 6:40 PM EST
Where: Bell County, 4 mi NNE of Miracle
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 36.803, -83.552

Trees were blown down in Hulen or 4 miles north northeast of Miracle.

Hail, Bell

When: March 2, 6:42 PM EST
Where: Bell County, 0.89 mi NW of Hulen
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.790, -83.530

Hail, Bell

When: March 2, 6:45 PM EST
Where: Bell County, 0.69 mi S of Black Snake
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.760, -83.500

Hail, Pulaski

When: March 2, 6:45 PM EST
Where: Pulaski County, Pulaski
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 37.220, -84.630

Hail, Morgan

When: March 2, 6:45 PM EST
Where: Morgan County, 2 mi S of Cannel City
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.751, -83.280

Hail, Harlan

When: March 2, 6:50 PM EST
Where: Harlan County, Wallins Creek
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.830, -83.420

Tornado, Wolfe

When: March 2, 6:50 PM EST to 6:51 PM EST
Where: Wolfe County, 0.26 mi WNW of Burkhart to 0.9 mi NE of Burkhart
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.06 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Continued into: Magoffin, Ky (JKL)
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.701, -83.275

A storm damage survey team from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson, Kentucky confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in Wolfe County a half a mile south of Burkhart at around 650 pm EST. The tornado crossed into western Magoffin county at around 651 pm EST. Only tree damage was observed in Wolfe County and no structures were affected.

Hail, Magoffin

When: March 2, 6:51 PM EST
Where: Magoffin County, Netty
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.750, -83.230

Tornado, Magoffin

When: March 2, 6:51 PM EST to 7:08 PM EST
Where: Magoffin County, 0.9 mi SSW of Cutuno to 2 mi ENE of Conley
Rating: EF3
Path length: 17.92 mi
Path width: 1,320 yd
Continued into: Johnson, Ky (JKL)
Injuries: 30 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $25 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.708, -83.257

A storm damage survey team from the National Weather Service in Jackson, Kentucky confirmed a tornado moved across Magoffin County during the evening hours of March 2, 2012. The tornado crossed from Wolfe County into Magoffin County at approximately 651 pm EST and rapidly intensified. The tornado crossed the Mountain Parkway several times before impacting Salyersville at 703 pm EST at EF-3 strength with wind speeds estimated at around 160 mph and a maximum path width of up to 3/4 of a mile. The hardest hit area of Salyersville included the intersection of the Mountain Parkway and Highway 460 where many businesses and structures were totally destroyed. The town of Conley also suffered widespread and extreme damage as a direct result of this tornado. The tornado tracked from Magoffin County into Johnson County between the communities of Conley and Asa at approximately 708 pm EST.

Hail, Harlan

When: March 2, 6:56 PM EST
Where: Harlan County, Wallins Creek
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.830, -83.420

Hail, Rockcastle

When: March 2, 6:57 PM EST
Where: Rockcastle County, Pongo
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 37.220, -84.330

Hail, Harlan

When: March 2, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Harlan County, Harlan
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.850, -83.320

Hail, Harlan

When: March 2, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Harlan County, 3 mi SSE of Harlan
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.810, -83.299

Hail, Harlan

When: March 2, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Harlan County, Grays Knob
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.800, -83.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: March 2, 7:03 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, 2 mi N of Monticello
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.859, -84.830

A thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph occurred 2 miles north of Monticello.

Funnel Cloud, Pulaski

When: March 2, 7:03 PM EST
Where: Pulaski County, Ferguson
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 37.070, -84.600

A funnel cloud was spotted in Ferguson.

Hail, Johnson

When: March 2, 7:03 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, Oil Spgs
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.820, -82.930

Hail, Johnson

When: March 2, 7:04 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, Oil Spgs
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.820, -82.930

Tornado, Laurel

When: March 2, 7:04 PM EST to 7:12 PM EST
Where: Laurel County, 2.47 mi SSW of Hazel Patch to 0.6 mi NE of Oakley
Rating: EF2
Path length: 7.15 mi
Path width: 310 yd
Deaths: 6 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 40 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $5.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.195, -84.211

A storm damage survey team from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson, Kentucky confirmed that an EF-2 tornado moved across portions of Laurel County on March 2, 2012. The tornado touched down southwest of Wood Creek Lake at 704 pm EST, and tracked northeast crossing I-75 and Highway 490 before lifting just south of the Victory community. Winds were estimated to have reached 125 mph. This tornado damaged or destroyed several residences. Five fatalities occurred on March 2nd with another person dieing on March 23rd from injuries they received as their mobile home was impacted by the tornado on March 2nd. All fatalities occurred in mobile homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Laurel

When: March 2, 7:05 PM EST
Where: Laurel County, Pittsburg
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.170, -84.120

Power poles were blown down at the interchange of Hwy 80 and I-75 in Pittsburg.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harlan

When: March 2, 7:05 PM EST
Where: Harlan County, Putney
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.900, -83.230

Trees were blown down along Hwy 522 in Putney.

Tornado, Johnson

When: March 2, 7:08 PM EST to 7:25 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, 2.07 mi WSW of Asa to 2.37 mi SSE of Boons Camp
Rating: EF3
Path length: 14.43 mi
Path width: 1,312 yd
Continued into: Martin, Ky (JKL)
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 7 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $10 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.761, -82.936

A damage survey team from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson, Kentucky determined that an EF-3 tornado tracked across central Johnson County on March 2, 2012. The tornado had a path width of about 3/4 of a mile and estimated maximum wind speeds of 160 mph. The tornado crossed into Johnson County just west of the Asa community at 708 pm EST and continued east-northeast exiting the county between the Boons Camp and Davisport communities around 725 pm EST. The towns of Hagerhill and West Van Leer were particularly hard hit with several structures totally destroyed. Two fatalities occurred in Johnson county as a result of this tornado.

Ten to twenty houses and a former church had their roofs blown off on a 3 mile stretch of Rt. 302 in West Van Leer. A house was blown onto Hwy 825 in Hagerhill, blocking the roadway. Two different apartment buildings collapsed in Hagerhill as well, one onto Hwy 321 and another on Hwy 1428.

Thunderstorm Wind, Laurel

When: March 2, 7:10 PM EST
Where: Laurel County, Mc Whorter
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 37.230, -84.000

A tree was blown down and onto a vehicle in McWhorter.

Thunderstorm Wind, Laurel

When: March 2, 7:10 PM EST
Where: Laurel County, 1 mi N of East Bernstadt
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.194, -84.120

Multiple mobile homes were damaged on Little County Road.

Hail, Johnson

When: March 2, 7:15 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, Paintsville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.820, -82.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnson

When: March 2, 7:15 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, Paintsville
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.820, -82.800

The roof of Paintsville High School was damaged by thunderstorm wind gusts.

Hail, Bell

When: March 2, 7:15 PM EST
Where: Bell County, Noetown
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.620, -83.730

Hail, Johnson

When: March 2, 7:17 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, Thelma
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.820, -82.770

Golf ball to hen egg size hail fell in Thelma. The hail covered the ground up to 2 inches deep in places.

Hail, Harlan

When: March 2, 7:17 PM EST
Where: Harlan County, 0.69 mi S of Chevrolet
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 36.810, -83.270

Hail, Johnson

When: March 2, 7:17 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, 1 mi W of Paintsville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.820, -82.818

Hail, Harlan

When: March 2, 7:23 PM EST
Where: Harlan County, Grays Knob
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.800, -83.300

Tornado, Martin

When: March 2, 7:25 PM EST to 7:38 PM EST
Where: Martin County, 3.7 mi WSW of Davisport to 0.28 mi NW of Lovely
Rating: EF2
Path length: 14.43 mi
Path width: 500 yd
Continued into: Mingo, Wv (RLX)
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.801, -82.677

The storm damage survey team from the Jackson Weather Office determined that a tornado exited Johnson County and entered Martin County at about 725 pm EST, 4 miles west of Davisport. The tornado had weakened to EF-2 strength by the time it entered Martin County. The tornado tracked east-northeast across Martin County and exited the county and state of Kentucky just east of Warfield at around 738 pm EST. A two story brick building and several huge trees were blown down in the town of Davella as the tornado passed by just to the north. The tornado then caused damage to the second story of a home in Debord at 732 pm EST. The tornado also caused significant damage in eastern Martin county near the communities of Beauty and Lovely around 738 pm EST.

The tornado was on the ground for a total of 48 miles in the state of Kentucky and 49 miles total.

Hail, Johnson

When: March 2, 7:26 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, Paintsville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.820, -82.800

Hail, Martin

When: March 2, 7:38 PM EST
Where: Martin County, Inez
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.870, -82.530

Hail, Martin

When: March 2, 7:39 PM EST
Where: Martin County, Inez
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.870, -82.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Bell

When: March 2, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Bell County, Arjay
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 36.800, -83.630

Trees were blown down in Arjay.

Hail, Bell

When: March 2, 8:10 PM EST
Where: Bell County, Fonde
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.600, -83.870

Hail, Bell

When: March 2, 8:25 PM EST
Where: Bell County, Middlesboro
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.600, -83.720

Flash Flood, Morgan

When: March 2, 8:30 PM EST to 10:15 PM EST
Where: Morgan County, 1.18 mi WNW of Stacy Fork to 0.57 mi W of Stacy Fork
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.839, -83.269

Highway 844 near Stacy Fork was flooded and impassable. The water rose over the road in less than an hour.

Hail, Bell

When: March 2, 8:40 PM EST
Where: Bell County, Middlesboro
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.600, -83.720

Flash Flood, Johnson

When: March 2, 8:55 PM EST to March 3, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Johnson County, 0.46 mi SSW of Wittensville to 0.59 mi S of Wittensville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.864, -82.803

Several people were trapped by flood waters at Brown Branch.

Flash Flood, Martin

When: March 2, 9:30 PM EST to March 3, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Martin County, 0.36 mi W of Tomahawk to 0.54 mi S of Tomahawk
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.870, -82.607

A mobile home was reported to have been surrounded by flood waters from an area creek, with other homes in the area threatened by flood waters along Hwy 40.

Flood, Morgan

When: March 2, 10:00 PM EST to March 3, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Morgan County, 0.2 mi SSE of Grassy Creek to 0.49 mi SSE of Grassy Creek
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 37.867, -83.348

Highway 460 was closed due to high water.

Flood, Martin

When: March 3, 1:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Martin County, 0.11 mi ENE of Tomahawk to 0.34 mi NW of Davisport
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 37.870, -82.598

High water closed highway 40 from Tomahawk to the Johnson County line.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tornado, Menifee	2012-03-04	79	Male	Permanent Structure	Indirect
Tornado, Menifee	2012-03-02	54	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Menifee	2012-03-02	47	Female	Permanent Structure	Direct
Tornado, Morgan	2012-03-02	51	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Morgan	2012-03-02	72	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Morgan	2012-03-02	90	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Morgan	2012-03-02	86	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Morgan	2012-03-02	50	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Morgan	2012-03-02	86	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Laurel	2012-03-23	37	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Laurel	2012-03-02	64	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Laurel	2012-03-02	72	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Laurel	2012-03-02	48	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Laurel	2012-03-02	81	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Laurel	2012-03-02	49	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Johnson	2012-03-02	16	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Johnson	2012-03-02	20	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kentucky in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Kentucky, 2012 Warnings in Kentucky, March 2012

Sources

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: 370288, 370289, 365740, 365741, 365742, 365743, 365744, 365745, 365746, 365747, 365748, 368695, 365749, 365750, 365751, 365752, 365753, 365754, 368706, 365755, 365757, 365758, 365759, 365760, 368666, 365761, 365762, 365763, 365764, 370312, 365765, 365766, 365767, 365768, 365769, 371114, 365770, 365771, 365772, 365773, and more.