A complex of storms developed across far western Kentucky and lower Indiana during the evening ahead of an approaching cold front and upper level disturbance. As these storms moved east, they bowed out into a line as strong outflow winds developed on their backside.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS JKL wrote it up.
A complex of storms developed across far western Kentucky and lower Indiana during the evening ahead of an approaching cold front and upper level disturbance. As these storms moved east, they bowed out into a line as strong outflow winds developed on their backside. This line along with its associated damaging winds moved through portions of Jackson County just before midnight local time.
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 May 11, 3:55 AM EST, 28 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 455 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 344 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016 LATEST WV IMAGERY SHOWS MAIN SHORTWAVE TROUGH LIFTING NORTHEASTWARD INTO MICHIGAN AND THE GREAT LAKES WITH CONVECTIVE CLUSTER/COLDER CLOUD TOPS PUSHING EAST-SOUTHEAST INTO EAST TENNESSEE. THERE IS ALSO A SUBTLE UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE EVIDENT IN WATER VAPOR THAT HAS RE-ENHANCED SOME OF THE CONVECTION IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY. THIS SHORTWAVE IS BEGINNING TO LIFT OFF TO THE NORTHEAST SO WE SHOULD SEE A REDUCTION IN CONVECTION/SHOWER ACTIVITY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. AFTER THE EARLY MORNING CONVECTION PUSHES OUT OF THE AREA...THERE SHOULD BE A LULL IN PRECIPITATION AT LEAST THROUGH THIS MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON AS SOME WEAK RIDGING BUILDS INTO THE AREA. HOWEVER...THERE WILL STILL BE ENOUGH INSTABILITY IN PLACE THAT SOME SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THOUGH...THERE DOESN/T APPEAR TO BE MUCH FORCING SO EXPECT COVERAGE AND INTENSITY TO BE MUCH LESS THAN TUESDAY/S STORMS. ON THURSDAY...AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL DIG EAST SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES BRINGING A COLD FRONT INTO KENTUCKY. RAIN AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE DAY THURSDAY AS THE SYSTEM APPROACHES THE REGION. THE FRONT IS PROGGED TO MOVE THROUGH EASTERN KENTUCKY THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. TEMPERATURES BOTH DAYS WILL WARM INTO UPPER 70S AND LOW 80S BUT A COOL DOWN WILL BE ON THE WAY HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 455 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016 ACTIVE WEATHER REMAINS IN THE FORECAST THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH A PROGRESSIVE FLOW PATTERN BECOMING MORE AMPLIFIED ACROSS THE CONUS BY THE LATTER HALF OF THE PERIOD. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT...WITH WIDESPREAD RAINFALL EXPECTED. STRONGER STORMS WILL BE A POSSIBILITY IN THE EVENING...BEFORE THESE LIKELY WEAKEN WITH THE LOSS OF INSTABILITY. A FEW SHOWERS MAY LINGER ACROSS THE FAR SOUTHEAST INTO FRIDAY...BEFORE A BRIEF DRY SPELL ENSUES THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. DEEPER TROUGHING ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL LOW SPIRALING ACROSS EASTERN CANADA WILL BRING COOLER CONDITIONS TO THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS THIS WEEKEND...WITH HIGHS DROPPING BACK INTO THE 60S FOR MOST LOCATIONS. SOME SHOWER ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH A PASSING SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE BACK IN BY SATURDAY...WITH ANOTHER TRANSIENT HIGH PRESSURE KEEPING THINGS DRY FROM SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. ANOTHER BAROCLINIC ZONE WILL EVENTUALLY SET UP ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BY EARLY NEXT WEEK...WITH THE ECMWF AND GFS IN BETTER AGREEMENT WITH THE POSITION THIS GO AROUND. A FEW SHOWERS OR STORMS MAY AFFECT THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...HOWEVER THE BETTER RAIN CHANCES WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. HIGHS WILL RETURN TO NEAR SEASONAL NORMALS BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 153 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016 THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT HAS ENDED BUT HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO PUSH ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA EARLY THIS MORNING. THIS HAS IMPACTED ALL OF THE TAF SITES SO KEPT MENTION OF VCTS IN THE TAFS FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT FEW HOURS WITH GENERALLY MVFR CONDITIONS. IFR VISIBILITIES AND CEILINGS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY HEAVIER RAIN SHOWER OR STORM. ONCE THE RAIN PASSES...EXPECT CIGS TO DEGRADE WITH BR OR FG POSSIBLE AS LOW LEVELS REMAIN SATURATED. MAY SEE ADDITIONAL RAIN SHOWERS/STORMS BUILD IN AS WELL. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT AT OR UNDER 10 KNOTS THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...JVM LONG TERM...GEOGERIAN AVIATION...JVM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 408 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-121115- 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...CAMARGO... JEFFERSONVILLE...MOUNT STERLING...OWINGSVILLE...MOREHEAD... IRVINE...RAVENNA...CLAY CITY...STANTON...FRENCHBURG...BROADHEAD... MOUNT VERNON...MCKEE...ANNVILLE...BURNSIDE...SOMERSET...LONDON... MONTICELLO...STEARNS...WHITLEY CITY...CORBIN...WILLIAMSBURG... BARBOURVILLE...MIDDLESBORO...PINEVILLE...CUMBERLAND...HARLAN... SANDY HOOK...WEST LIBERTY...PAINSVILLE...CAMPTON...SALYERSVILLE... PRESTONSBURG...WHEELWRIGHT...BEATTYVILLE...JACKSON...HINDMAN... PIPPA PASSES...BOONEVILLE...HAZARD...MANCHESTER...HYDEN... JENKINS...WHITESBURG...INEZ...COAL RUN...ELKHORN CITY... PIKEVILLE...SOUTH WILLIAMSON 408 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AT TIMES TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AT TIMES THURSDAY. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE STRONG...ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY WIND DAMAGE...HAIL...OR FLOODING. JVM/GEOGERIAN
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
1140 PM EDT TUE MAY 10 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1139 PM HAIL 1 SW CORBIN 36.93N 84.12W
05/10/2016 M1.00 INCH WHITLEY KY 911 CALL CENTER
QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN THE GORDON HILL AREA.
&&
DSTAMPERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
1227 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016
KYZ068-079-080-110500-
ROCKCASTLE-LAUREL-PULASKI-
1227 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT ROCKCASTLE...LAUREL...PULASKI...
AT 1226 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER HOGUE...OR NEAR
SOMERSET...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND NICKEL SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SOMERSET...SCIENCE HILL...PULASKI COUNTY PARK...VOX...HAZEL PATCH...BUNCH...
BENT...BERNSTADT...VALLEY OAK...SOMERSET PULASKI AIRPORT...HANSFORD...
GRADE...ELIHU...LEVEL GREEN...ROCKCASTLE SPRINGS...SHOPVILLE...HOGUE...
RUTH...GAULEY AND HOLLY BAY REC. AREA.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
INTERSTATE 75 IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 47 AND
56.
KENTUCKY HIGHWAY 80 IN LAUREL COUNTY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 6.
KENTUCKY HIGHWAY 80 IN PULASKI COUNTY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 17 AND
40.
LOUIS B. NUNN PARKWAY
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...WHICH WILL
CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. LOCALIZED FLOODING IS ALSO
POSSIBLE. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY.
&&
LAT...LON 3724 8472 3733 8417 3696 8420 3704 8477
3720 8477
TIME...MOT...LOC 0426Z 270DEG 39KT 3714 8467
GEOGERIANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
142 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0653 PM HAIL BEATTYVILLE 37.58N 83.71W
05/10/2016 M1.00 INCH LEE KY TRAINED SPOTTER
WRIST SIZED LIMBS DOWNED. ESTIMATED 45 TO 50 MPH WINDS.
0700 PM TSTM WND DMG ST. HELENS 37.58N 83.65W
05/10/2016 LEE KY 911 CALL CENTER
POWER LINES AND TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 52.
0709 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 WSW IRVINE 37.67N 84.04W
05/10/2016 ESTILL KY 911 CALL CENTER
TREE DOWN ON DUG HILL ROAD
0724 PM TSTM WND DMG CAMPTON 37.74N 83.55W
05/10/2016 WOLFE KY 911 CALL CENTER
TREES DOWN IN CITY LIMITS.
0724 PM HAIL CAMPTON 37.74N 83.55W
05/10/2016 E0.88 INCH WOLFE KY 911 CALL CENTER
0724 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 NE CAMPTON 37.77N 83.51W
05/10/2016 WOLFE KY 911 CALL CENTER
TREES DOWN AT ROCKY BRANCH.
0725 PM TSTM WND GST 3 ESE STANTON 37.83N 83.81W
05/10/2016 E50.00 MPH POWELL KY TRAINED SPOTTER
0742 PM HAIL TOLIVER 37.81N 83.46W
05/10/2016 M1.00 INCH WOLFE KY NWS EMPLOYEE
0755 PM HAIL 1 WSW CLOVER BOTTOM 37.49N 84.17W
05/10/2016 E0.25 INCH JACKSON KY CO-OP OBSERVER
0810 PM HAIL SANDGAP 37.48N 84.09W
05/10/2016 E0.75 INCH JACKSON KY 911 CALL CENTER
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED DIME SIZED HAIL.
0812 PM TSTM WND GST MURPHYFORK 37.83N 83.42W
05/10/2016 E0.00 MPH MORGAN KY 911 CALL CENTER
ROOFS OFF HOMES ON MURPHY FORK ROAD.
0815 PM HAIL CLAYHOLE 37.47N 83.30W
05/10/2016 E0.25 INCH BREATHITT KY NWS EMPLOYEE
SPOUSE REPORTED HAIL.
0820 PM TSTM WND DMG CRESSMONT 37.53N 83.79W
05/10/2016 LEE KY 911 CALL CENTER
TREES DOWN ON CRESSMONT ROAD AND TODDS ROAD.
0837 PM HAIL DECOY 37.50N 83.09W
05/10/2016 E1.25 INCH KNOTT KY PUBLIC
REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
0842 PM HAIL CLAYHOLE 37.47N 83.30W
05/10/2016 E1.00 INCH BREATHITT KY PUBLIC
REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
0844 PM HAIL SALYERSVILLE 37.75N 83.06W
05/10/2016 E0.25 INCH MAGOFFIN KY FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0924 PM HAIL DWARF 37.34N 83.13W
05/10/2016 E0.25 INCH PERRY KY TRAINED SPOTTER
PEA SIZE HAIL ON HIGHWAY 80 AT KNOTT AND PERRY COUNTY
LINE.
0945 PM HAIL DRIFT 37.48N 82.75W
05/10/2016 E1.25 INCH FLOYD KY PUBLIC
REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
1131 PM HAIL HIGHTOP 37.03N 84.19W
05/10/2016 M1.00 INCH LAUREL KY TRAINED SPOTTER
1139 PM HAIL 1 SW CORBIN 36.93N 84.12W
05/10/2016 M1.00 INCH WHITLEY KY 911 CALL CENTER
QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN THE GORDON HILL AREA.
&&
JCGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
204 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016
KYZ080-085>087-116-110645-
LAUREL-KNOX-WHITLEY-BELL-CLAY-
204 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT LAUREL...KNOX...WHITLEY...
BELL...CLAY...
AT 203 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER MCHARGUE...OR 9 MILES
SOUTH OF LONDON...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BARBOURVILLE...DORTHAE...GREEN ROAD...DISHMAN SPRINGS...BLACKWATER...
GIRDLER...MOORE HILL...SPRULE...COTTONGIN...BERTHA STATION...CARY...
EMMANUEL...HAVEN...BRUSH CREEK...MCHARGUE...CANE CREEK...ARTEMUS...CANNON...
EROSE AND INDIAN CREEK.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
INTERSTATE 75 IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 25 AND
36.
U.S. HIGHWAY 25 EAST IN BELL COUNTY NEAR MILE MARKER 18.
U.S. HIGHWAY 25 EAST IN KNOX COUNTY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 26.
U.S. HIGHWAY 25 EAST IN LAUREL COUNTY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 0 AND 2.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...WHICH WILL
CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. LOCALIZED FLOODING IS ALSO
POSSIBLE. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3693 8417 3710 8409 3705 8354 3704 8355
3704 8353 3701 8352 3675 8363
TIME...MOT...LOC 0603Z 288DEG 43KT 3699 8404
GEOGERIANSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 238 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016 KYZ083>085-110745- WAYNE-WHITLEY-MCCREARY- 238 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WAYNE...WHITLEY...MCCREARY... AT 237 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER PARMLEYSVILLE...OR 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MONTICELLO...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HOLLYHILL...CO- OPERATIVE...PINE KNOT...GREAT MEADOWS CAMPSITES...AYERS...BLUE HERON... ZION HILL...SAXTON...BARRIER...MOUNT PISGAH...ROCKEYBRANCH... PARMLEYSVILLE...GRIFFIN...COOPERSVILLE...STRUNK...RED ASH...STEARNS AND JELLICO. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 75 IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 3. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...WHICH WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. LOCALIZED FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3661 8484 3677 8477 3663 8408 3659 8410 TIME...MOT...LOC 0637Z 281DEG 29KT 3668 8474 GEOGERIAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
239 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016
KYZ084>087-110745-
KNOX-WHITLEY-BELL-MCCREARY-
239 AM EDT WED MAY 11 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT KNOX...WHITLEY...BELL...
MCCREARY...
AT 238 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER CUMBERLAND FALLS S.P....
OR 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF WILLIAMSBURG...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WILLIAMSBURG...BARBOURVILLE...PINEVILLE...MIDDLESBORO...DIXIE...CALVIN...
NEVISDALE...FRAKES...CLATE...DISHMAN SPRINGS...SWANPOND...FABER...SUTTONS
MILL...KING...CARY...PONZA...WOFFORD...BRUSH CREEK...CLIO AND PACKARD.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
INTERSTATE 75 IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 8 AND
22.
U.S. HIGHWAY 25 EAST IN BELL COUNTY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 18.
U.S. HIGHWAY 25 EAST IN KNOX COUNTY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 4...
AND BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 9 AND 10.
&&
LAT...LON 3675 8442 3692 8437 3683 8356 3663 8361
3662 8364 3658 8369
TIME...MOT...LOC 0638Z 281DEG 29KT 3682 8431
GEOGERIANThe Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 114 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:21 UTC.
1 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A creek was out of its banks and surrounding a residence in Shopville.
Dispatch relayed reports of multiple trees down in Olin along Highway 290 and near Old Orchard on Highway 587.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, May 2016
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: 627332, 624495.