Repeated rounds of heavy rainfall led to flooding across eastern Kentucky on December 6th and 7th. In general, between two and half and three and a half inches of rain fell for the event and a number of roads around the area were underwater from time to time.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Repeated rounds of heavy rainfall led to flooding across eastern Kentucky on December 6th and 7th. In general, between two and half and three and a half inches of rain fell for the event and a number of roads around the area were underwater from time to time. There were also a few instances of automobiles becoming surrounded by water. The rain transitioned to a wintry mix late on the 6th before ending and this led to a few automobile accidents in Fleming county.
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 Dec 5, 5:07 PM EST, 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 507 PM EST THU DEC 5 2013 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 417 PM EST THU DEC 5 2013 A STRONG COLD FRONT WAS PROGRESSING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA AT MID AFTERNOON...WITH TEMPS RANGING FROM THE MID 40S IN OUR FAR NW COUNTIES TO 70 IN THE FAR SE. AN AREA OF SHOWERS WAS ACCOMPANYING THE FRONT. THERE WAS SOME LIGHTNING IN THE PRECIP EARLIER...BUT NO CLOUD TO GROUND STRIKES HAVE BEEN DETECTED NEAR OUR AREA SINCE ABOUT MID DAY. THE FRONT WILL EXIT SE OUT OF THE JKL FORECAST AREA EARLY THIS EVENING AND THEN STALL OVER THE APPALACHIANS. WARM/MOIST AIR WILL CONTINUE TO RIDE OVER THE BOUNDARY UNTIL LATE IN THIS PERIOD. AN IMPULSE TRAVELING ALONG THE FRONT WILL BRING AN UPTICK IN THE PRECIP ON FRIDAY. HAVE GENERALLY USED A GFS/NAM BLEND...EXCEPT FOR TEMPS ON FRIDAY. GAVE MORE WEIGHT TO THE GFS WHICH WAS NOTABLY COOLER IN OUR SE COUNTIES. THE NAM PULLED THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY FURTHER NW...BUT DESPITE NOT BRINGING IT FIRMLY NW ACROSS THE STATE LINE STILL SHOWED HIGHS NEAR 70 IN OUR FAR SE...WHICH SEEMED TOO HIGH. WITH COLDER AIR ARRIVING FROM THE NW ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT... RAIN WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE TO WINTRY PRECIP FROM NW TO SE LATE FRIDAY...WITH THE TRANSITION SHIFTING SE ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY EVENING AS PRECIP WINDS DOWN. THE TREND IS FOR A SLOWER CHANGEOVER. ONCE DEEP MOISTURE TO THE -10C LEVEL IS LOST...WILL EXPECT AREAS OF DRIZZLE AND FREEZING DRIZZLE OVERNIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE LINGERING SHALLOW MOISTURE. MOST OF THE CONCERN FOR WINTER WX IS IN THIRD PERIOD. THE GFS AND NAM DO NOT AGREE ON THE DEGREE OF WARM AIR ALOFT...WHICH PUTS THE TYPE OF WINTER PRECIP STILL IN QUESTION. AN ADVISORY MAY STILL BE NEEDED...BUT HAVE HELD OFF ON ISSUANCE AT THIS TIME. FORECAST SOUNDINGS STILL SHOW ELEVATED INSTABILITY TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...AND IN LIGHT OF EARLIER LIGHTNING...HAVE USED A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDER. 1/3 TO 2/3 OF AN INCH OF RAIN HAS BEEN COMMON SO FAR WHERE RAIN HAS MOVED THROUGH TODAY. RAIN IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE PARTICULARLY HEAVY TONIGHT...BUT AS IT PICKS UP ON FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT...MODELS SHOW POTENTIAL FOR MORE THAN ANOTHER INCH. WITH A FLOOD WATCH ALREADY IN PLACE...WILL LEAVE IT AS IS. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 445 PM EST THU DEC 5 2013 THERE ARE TWO MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS DURING THE LONG TERM PERIOD. THE FIRST IS THE TAIL END OF THE EVENT FROM THE NEAR TERM PERIOD. THIS WILL BE AS THE DEEPER MOISTURE DEPARTS...BUT SOME LOW LEVEL MOISTURE LINGERS AS COLD AIR MOVES IN IN THE LOWER LEVELS AND THERE WILL LIKELY BE NO ICE IN THE CLOUDS. LOW LEVEL WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE NORTH TO NORTHEASTERLY EARLY IN THE PERIOD...SO ANY LINGERING DRIZZLE/FREEZING DRIZZLE OR LIGHT FREEZING RAIN THAT FALLS SHOULD NOT LINGER VERY LONG INTO THE PERIOD AS THE BOUNDARY IS PUSHED SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA...TEMPORARILY. SFC HIGH PRESSURE NOSING INTO THE OHIO VALLEY FROM THE PLAINS/MS VALLEY REGION SHOULD LEAD TO A DRY SAT AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN BETWEEN ROUNDS OF PRECIPITATION. BLACK ICE AND SOME ICY SPOTS WILL BE A CONCERN EARLY ON SATURDAY AS TEMPERATURES BEGIN THE DAY IN THE LOWER 20S NORTHWEST TO AROUND 30 OR THE LOWER 30S VALLEYS NEAR THE VA AND WV BORDERS IN THE SOUTHEAST. TEMPS ON SAT SHOULD CLIMB ABOVE FREEZING...AT LEAST BRIEFLY FROM NEAR THE INTERSTATE 64 CORRIDOR ON TO THE SOUTH. THE SECOND CONCERN IN THE LONG TERM PERIOD IS AS SOUTHERN STREAM MID LEVEL WAVE MOVING FROM MEXICO TOWARD THE LOWER MS VALLEY AND DEVELOPMENT OF A SFC LOW IN THE GULF AND AN INVERTED TROUGH NORTH INTO THE TN AND OH VALLEY REGION SAT NIGHT AND INTO SUNDAY. AS THE LOW LEVEL JET BRINGS WARMER AIR AND MOISTURE NORTH ALOFT FIRST...ON SAT NIGHT AND INTO SUNDAY...ISENTROPIC LIFT WILL LEAD TO TOP DOWN SATURATION. AS THE ATMOSPHERE SATURATES THERE COULD BE A LITTLE SNOW THAT FALLS...ESPECIALLY FROM NEAR THE MTN PARKWAY AND ON TO THE NORTH...BUT WARMER AIR SURGING IN FURTHER TO THE SOUTHEAST SHOULD TRANSITION PRECIPITATION OVER TO LIQUID FORM BY LATE SAT NIGHT OR EARLY SUN NEAR THE TN/VA/KY TRI STATE AREA. THIS TRANSITION THROUGH FREEZING RAIN TO RAIN SHOULD OCCUR LATEST IN THE NORTHWEST. OVERALL...THIS MAY HAVE ITS MOST WIDESPREAD AFFECT ON MOST OF THE AREA NEAR OR SHORTLY AFTER DAWN ON SUNDAY. HOWEVER...IT APPEARS THE FAR NORTHWEST WILL NOT CHANGEOVER TO ALL RAIN ACROSS THE BOARD UNTIL EARLY TO MID AFTERNOON ON SUNDAY. THERE WILL LIKELY BE A LARGE TEMPERATURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE AREA ON SUNDAY FOR MAX T WITH MID 30S NORTHWEST AND MID 40S NEAR THE VA BORDER. TEMPERATURES SHOULD THEN REMAIN SUFFICIENTLY WARM FOR ANY PRECIPITATION ON SUN NIGHT TO REMAIN AS RAIN AS ADDITIONAL WAVES OR WAVES MOVE NORTHEAST ALONG THE BOUNDARY WHILE MID LEVEL WAVES MOVE BY IN THE SW FLOW ALOFT. A SHORTWAVE MID LEVEL TROUGH EXTENDING FROM THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES DOWN INTO THE PLAINS WILL MOVE NORTHEAST AND CROSS THE OHIO VALLEY ON MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...AND BRING AN END TO PRECIPITATION CHANCES BY EARLY TUE. A BRIEF ROUND OF FEW FLURRIES OR LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS COULD OCCUR AT THAT POINT. HOWEVER...SFC AND UPPER LEVEL RIDGING SHOULD BUILD IN FOR MIDWEEK AND GENERALLY REMAIN IN CONTROL THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 717 AM EST THU DEC 5 2013 CONDITIONS WILL GRADUALLY DETERIORATE THROUGH THE PERIOD AS A COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND THEN STALLS JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA. THIS WILL BRING A PROLONGED PERIOD OF RAIN WITH IFR CEILINGS/VISIBILITIES AT TIMES. AN AMPLE LOW LEVEL JET WILL PROVIDE THE THREAT OF LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR EAST OF I-75 THROUGH 15Z. SOUTH WINDS AT AROUND 10 KTS WILL GRADUALLY VEER TO THE SOUTHWEST DURING THE DAY...AND THEN SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT LATER THIS AFTERNOON. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR KYZ044-050>052-058>060- 068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120. && SHORT TERM...HAL LONG TERM...JP AVIATION...GEOGERIAN
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 448 PM EST THU DEC 5 2013 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-061200- 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 448 PM EST THU DEC 5 2013 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. ISOLATED HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OCCUR TONIGHT...LEADING TO LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ON FRIDAY. RAIN MAY FALL HEAVY AT TIMES ON FRIDAY...BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO A WINTRY MIX LATE FRIDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING BEFORE THE PRECIPITATION TAPERS OFF. THE RAINFALL MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING AND COULD ALSO BRING SIGNIFICANT RISES ON AREA RIVERS. A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION IS ALSO EXPECTED IN MANY AREAS SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AT THE ONSET OF THE NEXT ROUND OF PRECIPITATION...BEFORE IT CHANGES TO ALL RAIN ON SUNDAY. THE RAIN MAY FALL AT HEAVY AT TIMES FROM SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...WHICH MAY CREATE LARGER FLOODING ISSUES DUE TO THE ALREADY SATURATED SOIL...WITH SOME AREA RIVERS POSSIBLY RISING INTO FLOOD STAGE INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THERE IS ALSO A CHANCE OF SNOW MONDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TO REPORT FLOODING AND WINTER WEATHER TONIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND. HAL/JP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 120 PM EST THU DEC 5 2013 KYZ051-052-058>060-068-069-079-080-104-106-108-111-112-114-116- 051900- MENIFEE-POWELL-ROWAN-BATH-ELLIOTT-ESTILL-PULASKI-ROCKCASTLE-LAUREL- JACKSON-MORGAN-OWSLEY-WOLFE-LEE-BREATHITT-CLAY- 120 PM EST THU DEC 5 2013 ...A LINE OF GUSTY SHOWERS AND SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM EST THURSDAY AFTERNOON... JACKSON... MENIFEE... MORGAN... NORTHWESTERN OWSLEY... EASTERN POWELL... NORTHEASTERN PULASKI... SOUTHEASTERN ROCKCASTLE... SOUTHEASTERN ROWAN... WOLFE... LEE... SOUTHEASTERN BATH... NORTHWESTERN BREATHITT... NORTH CENTRAL CLAY... ELLIOTT... SOUTHEASTERN ESTILL AND NORTH CENTRAL LAUREL. AT 117 PM EST...A LINE OF GUSTY SHOWERS WITH A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING CARTER CAVES STATE PARK TO 7 MILES WEST OF CAMPTON TO 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF LONDON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. RESIDENTS AND TRAVELERS SHOULD EXPECT BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...SOME WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH...AND OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING IN THESE AREAS. THE HEAVY RAIN WILL LIKELY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE CAREFULLY. PELTON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 210 PM EST THU DEC 5 2013 KYZ069-080-084>086-112-114>117-051945- MCCREARY-WHITLEY-LAUREL-KNOX-JACKSON-LESLIE-OWSLEY-PERRY-BREATHITT- CLAY- 210 PM EST THU DEC 5 2013 ...A LINE OF GUSTY SHOWERS AND SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM EST THURSDAY AFTERNOON... WESTERN KNOX... SOUTHERN JACKSON... EXTREME WEST CENTRAL LESLIE... EASTERN MCCREARY... OWSLEY... WEST CENTRAL PERRY... WHITLEY... SOUTHWESTERN BREATHITT... CLAY AND LAUREL. AT 209 PM EST...A LINE OF GUSTY SHOWERS WITH A FEW POSSIBLE EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BOONEVILLE TO LONDON TO 14 MILES NORTH OF WILLIAMSBURG TO 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF WHITLEY CITY TO ONEIDA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. RESIDENTS AND TRAVELERS SHOULD EXPECT BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...SOME WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH...AND OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING IN THESE AREAS. THE HEAVY RAIN WILL LIKELY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE CAREFULLY. PELTON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 253 PM EST THU DEC 5 2013 KYZ080-084>088-107>120-052100- JOHNSON-MARTIN-MCCREARY-WHITLEY-LAUREL-KNOTT-KNOX-LESLIE-LETCHER- MAGOFFIN-OWSLEY-PERRY-PIKE-WOLFE-LEE-BELL-BREATHITT-CLAY-FLOYD- HARLAN- 253 PM EST THU DEC 5 2013 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM EST THURSDAY AFTERNOON... EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN JOHNSON... KNOTT... KNOX... LESLIE... WESTERN LETCHER... SOUTHEASTERN MCCREARY... SOUTHERN MAGOFFIN... SOUTHWESTERN MARTIN... EASTERN OWSLEY... PERRY... NORTHWESTERN PIKE... WHITLEY... SOUTHEASTERN WOLFE... EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN LEE... BELL... BREATHITT... CLAY... FLOYD... HARLAN AND EAST CENTRAL LAUREL. AT 253 PM EST...SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM EVANSTON TO MORRIS FORK TO EMMANUEL TO 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF STRUNK...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 14 MILES NORTH OF HINDMAN TO 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BOONEVILLE TO BARBOURVILLE TO ONEIDA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 45 MPH. LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...BOLYN AROUND 300 PM EST...MOUSIE AROUND 305 PM EST...RAVEN AROUND 310 PM EST... TOPMOST AROUND 315 PM EST...HALO AROUND 320 PM EST... RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE INCH PER HOUR...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL IN THESE AREAS. JACOBSON
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
29 flood, 3 heavy rain, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
The USGS rain guage at Williamsburg recorded a 24 hour rainfall amount of 3 inches. Most creeks and streams in the area were at bankful.
A 24 hour rainfall of 2.7 inches was recorded in Pineville. Small streams and ditches in the area were fairly full with some water from ditches running over roadways.
The low water bridge at Round Bottom Road just off Hwy 30 was flooded.
The Upper Wolf Creek low water bridge was flooded.
Kay Wood Road was closed at the low water bridge at Fish Trap.
Highway 30 was blocked near Round Bottom due to a mud slide.
A social media report was received of water flooding a yard and reaching a house in Bernstadt at 345 pm this afternoon. The report stated that conditions had worsened and that water was flowing over area roads.
Hurricane Rd/KY 1384 was blocked by water at two locations, the Hidden Valley subdivision, and at the Hurricane Creek Fire Station 1.
A yard was under water on Williams Street near the Mount Vernon Elementary School. The water had no quite reached the house, but was up to the edge of the road.
Water was over the road at mile marker 10.8 on Hwy 30. Water was also over the road on KY 867 at mile marker 4.5 near the Lakeville area.
Some minor flooding of area roadways was reported.
An inch or two of water was running across Old Brodhead Road near the bank.
Ice accumulated on decks, trees, and roads in Hillsboro. A couple of car wrecks were reported due to the icing.
Chloe Road was shut down due to flooding.
Water was over the road across sections Hwy 550 East between Mousie and Garrett. The road was impassable in places with anywhere between 2 and 12 inches of water flowing across it. The spotter witnessed a truck becoming submerged in the water and getting stuck.
The road between Inez and Kermit was closed due to high water.
South Fork Creek was over the road at mile marker 2 on KY 1098.
Stone Coal Road was blocked by water. A vehicle was stranded in the water. The fire dept. was called to assist the stranded driver.
Portions of town were under water.
The public reported that Route 201 was under water.
About 3 feet of water was over the road in the back alley of Belfry. This was the result of a low lying area along Pond Creek, where the creek had come out of its banks.
Flooding washed out a bridge on Typo Road south of Bonnyman.
A culvert was blocked, resulting in flooding along Ridge Line Road between mile markers 3 and 4 near Kimper.
Town Branch Road was flooded in several areas. This included a small slide and a blocked culvert.
Flooding caused a culvert on KY 931 to become blocked. Debris on the roadway made the road impassable.
Kentucky 3408 had water over it in numerous places.
Water was over the road on KY 550 at WKCB radio station.
KY 460 near Mouthcard was closed due to flooding.
KY 1427 and Abbot Creek were covered by flood waters in several places.
KY 550 at Langley was closed due to flooding.
Offut Road, KY 2040, was closed due to flooding. The water was still rising at the time of the report.
Routes 321 and 3 at the entrance of Dewey Lake were closed due to a land slide.
Numerous reports of flooding were received from the Woodbine area. A portion of Radio Tower Road was under water. Water was also across Hwy 6 and on both sides of Old Welton Cemetary Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, December 2013
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: 484323, 484325, 484299, 484300, 484302, 484307, 484308, 484389, 484309, 484311, 484392, 484326, 484391, 484370, 484373, 484393, 484394, 484395, 484396, 484397, 484398, 484399, 484403, 484405, 484406, 484408, 484413, 484415, 484417, 484419, 484422, 484424, 484426.