A line of thunderstorms moved out of the Midwest and across the Ohio Valley into central and eastern Kentucky through the morning and afternoon hours. This line contained severe wind gusts and flooding rains as it pushed through south central Kentucky, before weakening across southeastern 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 JKL wrote it up.
A line of thunderstorms moved out of the Midwest and across the Ohio Valley into central and eastern Kentucky through the morning and afternoon hours. This line contained severe wind gusts and flooding rains as it pushed through south central Kentucky, before weakening across southeastern Kentucky.
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 26, 2:59 PM EST, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jackson KY 359 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday night) Issued at 359 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016 Strong troughing across the southwest conus and ridging for the southeast conus has led to SW to NE flow aloft across the mississippi and Ohio River Valley. Several short waves continue to eject ne along this flow and into the Ohio River Valley, including the one that spawned a strong line of showers and thunderstorms this morning over western KY and Illinois. This line has sustained itself throughout the day and is now traversing central KY. Decent instability present, along with good mid level drying, have led to several of these storms going severe. Most of the hi res models have had a fairly good handle on this system through the afternoon, with preference for the HRRR which has been initializing well since this morning. They also all have this line weakening as it moves into our western CWA, then quickly dissipating as it moves east late this afternoon/evening. Forecast soundings show good CAPE, LI's -6 to -8, and steep lapse rates. However our shear is lacking, and strong storms will likely not be able to sustain themselves. As such, agree with models to a certain degree. We could still see some isolated embedded cells that could pop up to severe limits, or produce small hail at the least. But do agree that there will be a diminishing trend as we head into the evening. By overnight, this line of showers and thunderstorms will move eastward out of the region. High pressure will take hold, generally to our southeast, leaving southerly flow across the region. The continued moisture influx, in addition to the lingering moisture and a night time inversion taking hold, could lead to fog development across the CWA, especially in the valley locations. High pressure will remain in control tomorrow. However southerly flow will continue, allowing temps to easily climb into the mid and even upper 80s by the afternoon. With that southerly flow will also come moisture, so diurnal CU development will be likely. Afternoon instability will also be in place, so scattered showers and thunderstorms may develop for the afternoon. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 330 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016 We begin the period more influenced by the upper level ridge extending west out of the Mid Atlantic Coast, while upper level closed low resides in the Central Plains states. Overall better PVA will remain east of the region, but enough influence to include some higher chance pops mainly toward the northern and western portion of the CWA on Saturday and Sunday. Now moving into the first part of the work week more uncertainty exists with regard to waves and any residual down stream storm complexes that hold together. Also another complication exists in the tropics with potential for a developing tropical system near the Carolina Coast line. Right now the GFS has been the most volatile with little continuity run to run, while the ECMWF seems to be more consistent. The influence from this overall should reside latter portion of the long term period, therefore for now will stick with model blend approach for now. This especially as shear will be nil through the long period leading to little if any organization of storms. Toward the very end of the period ridging breaks down more allowing for more height falls. This will lead to higher chance pops by Thursday given this looks to be the overall best synoptic feature we have seen. Given the ridging a more summer time feel will remain in place through the long term period. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon) ISSUED AT 207 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016 While a few lingering showers are ongoing across eastern KY a the time of TAF issuance, attention turns to a strong line of showers and thunderstorms currently moving across western and central KY. Convection is now also occurring ahead of the main line. Timing this out, expect the western most TAF sites (KSME/KLOZ) to be affected first, likely between 22 and 23z. The line is then expected to lose overall intensity as it continues eastward toward the other TAF sites through around 3z. At present time, it is hard to know exact impacts on each TAF site, so will likely need to update TAFs as we see storms are nearing the airports. Ongoing threats to our west include hail, torrential rains, frequent lightning, and gusts between 30 and 40kts. After the line moves through later tonight, high pressure and some possible clearing will take hold. This may lead to some fog development at the TAF sites, though confidence on exact VIS restrictions is lows, especially considering it will be very much correlated with when and how much rain occurs this evening. Any fog should clear out by morning, with (VFR) diurnal CU developing as we head into the early afternoon. && .JKL Watches/Warnings/Advisories... None. && SHORT TERM...JMW LONG TERM...DJ AVIATION...JMW
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 406 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-272315- 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 406 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. LINGERING MOISTURE COULD LEAD TO FOG DEVELOPMENT OVERNIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN THE VALLEYS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PERIOD...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. JMW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 1208 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016 KYZ083-084-261645- WAYNE-MCCREARY- 1208 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WAYNE...MCCREARY... AT 1207 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER COOPER...OR NEAR MONTICELLO...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... MONTICELLO...OIL VALLEY...GREGORY...KIDDS CROSSING...BARRIER... BETSEY...SLICKFORD...ROCKEYBRANCH...PARMLEYSVILLE...GRIFFIN... STEUBENVILLE...HIDALGO...COOPERSVILLE...SLAVENS...BURFIELD... COOPER AND SUSIE. 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. && LAT...LON 3667 8494 3685 8499 3694 8471 3668 8464 TIME...MOT...LOC 1607Z 263DEG 16KT 3678 8487 JMW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
1210 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016
KYZ068-079-080-261645-
ROCKCASTLE-LAUREL-PULASKI-
1210 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT ROCKCASTLE...LAUREL...PULASKI...
AT 1210 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER BEE LICK...OR 9 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF MOUNT VERNON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MOUNT VERNON...MARETBURG...OTTOWA...DONARO...WABP...HIATT...BURR...
RENFRO VALLEY...SINKS...WELLHOPE...ORLANDO...QUAIL...HANSFORD...
LAKE LINVILLE...MUELLERSVILLE...LEVEL GREEN...ROUNDSTONE...BUMMER...
BANDY AND DUDLEY STATION.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 75 IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY BETWEEN MILE
MARKERS 48 AND 66.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3733 8458 3736 8455 3733 8451 3734 8450
3741 8448 3746 8423 3719 8419 3720 8457
3733 8459
TIME...MOT...LOC 1610Z 242DEG 14KT 3731 8451
JMWSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
443 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016
KYZ068-069-079-080-083-084-262130-
JACKSON-WAYNE-ROCKCASTLE-LAUREL-MCCREARY-PULASKI-
443 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT JACKSON...WAYNE...
ROCKCASTLE...LAUREL...MCCREARY...PULASKI...
AT 441 PM EDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES NORTH OF LANCASTER TO 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF
JAMESTOWN TO NEAR TOMPKINSVILLE...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SOMERSET...MONTICELLO...MOUNT VERNON...BOONE...SCIENCE HILL...
BURNSIDE...HAZEL PATCH...DONARO...BENT...JEP HILL...JOHNETTA...
COLLINGSWORTH...POWERSBURG...KIDDER...DENNEY...PARMLEYSVILLE...
COOKSBURG...LAKE LINVILLE...STEUBENVILLE AND EGLON.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
INTERSTATE 75 IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 48 AND
72.
KENTUCKY HIGHWAY 80 IN LAUREL COUNTY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 3.
KENTUCKY HIGHWAY 80 IN PULASKI COUNTY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 17 AND
40.
LOUIS B. NUNN PARKWAY
&&
LAT...LON 3692 8496 3696 8494 3695 8490 3700 8484
3705 8491 3712 8490 3736 8456 3733 8451
3748 8445 3747 8438 3754 8435 3751 8426
3757 8409 3753 8401 3675 8448 3660 8475
3662 8499 3669 8502 3676 8501 3686 8506
TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 305DEG 30KT 3772 8462 3706 8501 3664 8576
DJPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
503 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0457 PM HAIL MONTICELLO 36.84N 84.85W
05/26/2016 E0.75 INCH WAYNE KY LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
GEOGERIANThe Knoxville radar (KMRX), 149 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:10 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Dispatch relayed reports of several trees blown down on Missouri Hollow Road and Morris Hill Road as a line of thunderstorms moved south of Monticello.
Dispatch relayed reports of flash flooding throughout Monticello, including high water closing North Main Street.
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: 627127, 627128.