A shortwave moved across the western Great Lakes within a northwesterly 500mb flow regime that also affected the Lower Ohio Valley June 5. During the afternoon hours, a broken line of storms developed across southern Illinois and moved southeast across western and west central Kentucky.
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.
A shortwave moved across the western Great Lakes within a northwesterly 500mb flow regime that also affected the Lower Ohio Valley June 5. During the afternoon hours, a broken line of storms developed across southern Illinois and moved southeast across western and west central Kentucky. This line had several breaks with brief supercell structures that exhibited rotation. Several of these storms produced weak tornadoes across western Kentucky, as well as some scattered wind damage and funnel cloud reports near the Bowling Green area. A second small area of thunderstorms brought isolated severe wind gusts and minor flooding across the western Bluegrass Region.
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 Jun 4, 4:54 PM EST, 1 minute earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 554 PM EDT Wed Jun 4 2014 ...Forecast Update... Issued at 554 PM EDT Wed Jun 4 2014 Surface boundary has slipped into the northern tier of LMK's southern Indiana counties. Will likely be dropping the Tornado Watch up there soon. In the meantime, have lowered PoPs north of the Ohio River to scattered since there is very little going on there and not much additional development is expected at this time. ...Mesoscale Forecast Update... Issued at 545 PM EDT Fri Jun 4 2014 TOR Watch #219 is still in effect through 9 PM EDT...8 PM CDT. Convection has been a little slow to develop and strengthen this evening likely due to capping which has held strong over the area even near the sfc boundary across near the Ohio River. High-res models still indicate upscale growth in convection further into the evening hours. But this may be hampered due to the strength of the cap. Will just have to wait and see. If convection does grow upscale as high-res models suggest, areas west of I-65 especially over west central KY are sitting in an area of enhanced CAPE and DCAPE which may make them more prone to a hail and damaging wind threat. If a forward propagating MCS can get going, it would likely be in this area. The isolated tornado threat still exists over the entire area but perhaps is best over southeast Indiana and portions of north central KY along and north of I-64. More discrete cells may persist in this area which has better low level shear and helicity values. Any boundaries including the synoptic boundary near the Ohio River or boundaries from convection may be areas of focus for any isolated tornadoes this evening. .SHORT TERM (Now through Thursday Night)... Issued at 245 PM EDT Wed Jun 4 2014 ...SEVERE WEATHER EPISODE LIKELY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS SOUTHERN INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY WITH DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES... With upper level clouds dissipating from the earlier MCS, we now have heated up into the low to mid 80s across most of the region, save for the northeast. Low pressure now is analyzed over west central Indiana, along a frontal boundary. Clouds are developing ahead of this front now that we are starting to destabilize. As we get into the mid 80s we should see development quicken. Airmass is moist enough that we may actually get some development ahead of the cells that should drop down from the north. Will have to monitor discrete development at first for rotating cells. High res models continue to show these cell merging into a long east-west line with embedded bowing segments, so will continue to advertise the damaging wind threat. With the rotating cell threat, have coordinated with SPC to have a tornado watch first over our eastern CWA. Convective inhibition is keeping stronger cells from forming farther east, but another watch box may be needed over the west in the next couple of hours. The GOES-R convective initiation tool is starting to show some higher percentages over the watch area. Decided not to post a flash flood watch for our Bluegrass counties, as they missed out on most of the morning rains that our neigboring forecast areas received. That area does have lower flash flood guidance, but one hour guidance is just under 2 inches and think cells will be progressive enough to stay under these values. The threat for severe storms should wane as we go through the evening hours. The front will push through the Ohio River Valley overnight and Thursday morning. A chance of storms will linger across south central Kentucky during the day Thursday, but most of the region should see a pleasant day with highs in the upper 70s to around 80 as well as dewpoints in the mid 50s over the north and low 60s over the Parkways in KY. Models are hinting at potentially another wave developing overnight in Missouri and pushing toward our western forecast area by daybreak. .LONG TERM (Friday through Wednesday)... Issued at 250 PM EDT Wed Jun 4 2014 The long term will start out with weak ridging aloft and at the surface. The cold front that passed through should be well to the south of the forecast area by this time. A weak wave will ride along this boundary bringing the chance for some showers and thunderstorms to far southern and western portions of the forecast area. The storms should diminish after sunset with dry conditions expected overnight. Storms will then begin to develop across the southwest portions of the forecast area again on Saturday as a low pressure system develops to the west. Rain and storms chances will increase overnight a warm front associated with the low pressure system moves north across the area. Model guidance begins to diverge Sunday and after as the ECMWF swings the cold front associated with this front through much quicker than the GFS. The former brings the front through during the day on Sunday, while the latter keeps the area in the warm sector through the daylight hours. Will keep pops around 50% though the day Sunday and decrease them a bit into the overnight hours. Through the first half of the next work week multiple upper level disturbance may track across the lower Ohio Valley. Hwever, the GFS is much more robust than the ECMWF with these disturbances and suggest higher precipitation coverage. However, given the uncertainty will keep precipitation chances in the slight category for now. && .AVIATION (18Z TAF Update)... Issued at 125 PM EDT Wed Jun 4 2014 Low pressure area analyzed over west central Indiana is along a frontal boundary stretching from KSTL to roughly KILN. Earlier storms have provided some inhibition from new development, but now that those clouds are dissipating, we expect new development both along this front and with other boundaries in the area, given the soupy airmass in place. These storms have the best chance to get into the KSDF area first, then KLEX and KBWG, with gusty winds, perhaps higher than what I have in tempo groups, but will narrow down the threat as storms evolve. The front will come through after midnight, swinging winds around first to northwesterly then northeasterly during the day Thursday. Model soundings indicate a period of MVFR cigs behind the front, so have included until we can warm up some mid morning Thursday. && .LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...NONE. IN...NONE. && Update.........13 Mesoscale......AMS Short Term.....RJS Long Term......EER Aviation.......RJS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 418 PM EDT WED JUN 4 2014 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067- 070>078-081-082-052030- 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-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-SCOTT KY- HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY- NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY-MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY- LARUE KY-MARION KY-BOYLE KY-GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-BUTLER KY- EDMONSON KY-HART KY-GREEN KY-TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY-LINCOLN KY-LOGAN KY- WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY-ALLEN KY-BARREN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY- ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY-CUMBERLAND KY-CLINTON 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...NEW CASTLE...SHELBYVILLE...FRANKFORT...GEORGETOWN... CYNTHIANA...TAYLORSVILLE...LAWRENCEBURG...VERSAILLES...LEXINGTON... PARIS...CARLISLE...BARDSTOWN...SPRINGFIELD...HARRODSBURG... NICHOLASVILLE...WINCHESTER...HODGENVILLE...LEBANON...DANVILLE... LANCASTER...RICHMOND...MORGANTOWN...BROWNSVILLE...MUNFORDVILLE... GREENSBURG...CAMPBELLSVILLE...LIBERTY...STANFORD...RUSSELLVILLE... BOWLING GREEN...FRANKLIN...SCOTTSVILLE...GLASGOW...TOMPKINSVILLE... EDMONTON...COLUMBIA...JAMESTOWN...BURKESVILLE...ALBANY 418 PM EDT WED JUN 4 2014 /318 PM CDT WED JUN 4 2014/ ...TORNADO WATCH 219 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT /8 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER HAZARDS...THOUGH ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN NOT BE RULED OUT. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING IN SOME AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN TO THE AREA SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AS ANOTHER WEATHER SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH. HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WINDS...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY STORM THAT DEVELOPS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER OR FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THIS EVENING. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE. 13
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
433 PM EDT WED JUN 4 2014
KYZ046-047-055-042055-
BOYLE KY-MERCER KY-WASHINGTON KY-
433 PM EDT WED JUN 4 2014
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HALF INCH HAIL...
AND 50 MPH WINDS...
AT 428 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES EAST OF SPRINGFIELD...AND MOVING EAST AT
35 MPH.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HALF INCH HAIL...AND STRONG
GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 45 TO 50 MPH...ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
* THIS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT...
HARRODSBURG...
DANVILLE...
STEWART...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS OCCURRING. DRIVERS SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND TURN
ON THEIR HEADLIGHTS IF ENCOUNTERING HEAVY RAINS.
&&
LAT...LON 3760 8470 3761 8503 3763 8504 3763 8515
3776 8514 3777 8470 3773 8470 3773 8471
3773 8470 3772 8474 3770 8474 3770 8470
TIME...MOT...LOC 2033Z 271DEG 31KT 3770 8506
JDGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
410 PM CDT WED JUN 4 2014
INZ089-KYZ023-042140-
HANCOCK KY-PERRY IN-
410 PM CDT WED JUN 4 2014
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...TORRENTIAL RAIN...
HALF INCH HAIL...AND 50 MPH WINDS...
AT 409 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF GRANDVIEW...AND MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...TORRENTIAL RAIN REDUCING
VISIBILITIES...HALF INCH HAIL...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 45
TO 50 MPH...ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
* THIS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT...
HAWESVILLE...
TELL CITY...
ADAIR AND TROY...
PETRI...
FENN HAVEN AND CANNELTON...
SKILLMAN AND TOBINSPORT...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO...
WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER
UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
&&
LAT...LON 3794 8697 3794 8691 3799 8686 3801 8679
3805 8678 3796 8652 3792 8656 3791 8660
3788 8660 3784 8663 3784 8667 3776 8670
3787 8691 3790 8692 3790 8695 3792 8698
TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 299DEG 31KT 3799 8689
EERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
516 PM EDT WED JUN 4 2014
KYZ034-042145-
SHELBY KY-
516 PM EDT WED JUN 4 2014
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...HALF
INCH HAIL...AND 30 TO 40 MPH WINDS...
AT 514 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SHELBYVILLE...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN REDUCING VISIBILITIES...HALF INCH
HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF UP TO 30 TO 40 MPH...ARE EXPECTED WITH
THIS STORM.
* THIS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT...
SHELBYVILLE...
VEACHLAND...
HOOPER...
CLAY VILLAGE AND HEMP RIDGE...
PEYTONA AND WADDY...
THIS STORM WILL AFFECT INTERSTATE 64 IN KENTUCKY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS
32 AND 43.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO...
WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER
UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
&&
LAT...LON 3822 8500 3820 8500 3811 8504 3811 8505
3809 8505 3821 8533 3827 8529
TIME...MOT...LOC 2115Z 287DEG 30KT 3822 8526
TWFSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
526 PM EDT WED JUN 4 2014
KYZ028-045-053-042155-
HARDIN KY-LARUE KY-NELSON KY-
526 PM EDT WED JUN 4 2014
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...AND 40
MPH WINDS...
AT 523 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF ELIZABETHTOWN...AND MOVING
EAST AT 35 MPH.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN REDUCING
VISIBILITIES...AND GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 35 TO 40 MPH...ARE EXPECTED
WITH THIS STORM.
* THIS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT...
ELIZABETHTOWN...
CREST AND INDIAN HILLS...
TUNNEL HILLS AND COLESBURG...
YOUNGER CREEK...
ROANOKE AND BOSTON...
THIS STORM WILL AFFECT INTERSTATE 65 IN KENTUCKY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS
91 AND 94.
THIS STORM WILL AFFECT THE WESTERN KENTUCKY (FORD) PARKWAY BETWEEN
MILE MARKERS 136 AND 137.
THIS STORM WILL AFFECT THE BLUEGRASS PARKWAY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 10
AND 1.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO...
WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER
UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
&&
LAT...LON 3782 8603 3782 8600 3786 8598 3783 8575
3781 8574 3781 8572 3782 8568 3781 8559
3757 8568 3776 8606
TIME...MOT...LOC 2126Z 289DEG 29KT 3777 8594
EERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
445 PM CDT WED JUN 4 2014
INZ089-KYZ023-024-042215-
BRECKINRIDGE KY-HANCOCK KY-PERRY IN-
445 PM CDT WED JUN 4 2014
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...TORRENTIAL RAIN...
AND 50 MPH WINDS...
AT 441 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR HAWESVILLE...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...TORRENTIAL RAIN REDUCING
VISIBILITIES...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 45 TO 50 MPH...ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
* THIS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT...
HAWESVILLE...
HARDINSBURG...
TELL CITY...
TOBINSPORT AND CLOVERPORT...
HOLT AND HARDINGROVE...
STEPHENSPORT AND SAMPLE...
MYSTIC...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO...
WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER
UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
&&
LAT...LON 3801 8683 3800 8681 3801 8680 3790 8628
3767 8646 3787 8690 3791 8693
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 289DEG 29KT 3787 8668
EERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 553 PM EDT WED JUN 4 2014 KYZ028-045-053-042225- HARDIN KY-LARUE KY-NELSON KY- 553 PM EDT WED JUN 4 2014 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...AND 50 MPH WINDS... AT 550 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ELIZABETHTOWN...AND MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN REDUCING VISIBILITIES...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 45 TO 50 MPH...ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * THIS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT... ELIZABETHTOWN... ROANOKE... NELSONVILLE... ATHERTONVILLE AND LYONS... NEW HAVEN AND BLUE GAP... THIS STORM WILL AFFECT INTERSTATE 65 IN KENTUCKY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 89 AND 94. THIS STORM WILL AFFECT THE WESTERN KENTUCKY (FORD) PARKWAY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 136 AND 137. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO... WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. && LAT...LON 3769 8546 3753 8557 3766 8588 3777 8581 TIME...MOT...LOC 2153Z 285DEG 27KT 3768 8578 EER
The Louisville radar (KLVX), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:55 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 2 funnel cloud, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Kentucky Mesonet site 7 miles south of Frankfort recorded a 60 mph wind gust.
A storm chaser reported a funnel cloud descending from a rotating wall cloud located 5 miles SSW of Woodbury. This supercell produced hail and damaging winds in Morgantown.
Law enforcement reported trees down in Morgantown. Two spotters also in Morgantown reported nickel sized hail at around the same time.
A spotter reported a wall cloud and a descending funnel associated with a supercell that later brought wind damage to the northern side of Bowling Green.
The Warren County emergency dispatch reported several trees and power lines down along Barren River Road just north of Bowling Green. The storm that brought this damage was the same supercell that produced a wall cloud and damage upstream in Butler County.
Heavy rain shut down a road briefly near the BP Gas Station on Catnip Hill.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, June 2014
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: 511621, 511616, 511618, 511623, 511620, 511614.