A weak cold front sparked isolated to scattered thunderstorms during the afternoon on May 29 across central Kentucky. The strongest storm produced damaging winds near Lewisport in Hancock.
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 weak cold front sparked isolated to scattered thunderstorms during the afternoon on May 29 across central Kentucky. The strongest storm produced damaging winds near Lewisport in Hancock.
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 May 29, 12:59 PM CST, 2 hours 59 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Louisville KY 259 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2016 .SHORT TERM (Now through Monday Night)... Issued at 245 PM EDT Sun May 29 2016 It's warm and humid out there this afternoon with temperatures in the mid 80s and dewpoints in the mid 60s. The concern for the remainder of the afternoon will be thunderstorms. Storms have begun to develop along a weak front moving across southeast IL and central IN. The region has become relatively unstable with 1000-2000 J/kg of surface based CAPE. However, wind shear remains weak. Precipitable water values have decreased during the day, but are still 1.2-1.3 inches. All in all, organized severe weather is not expected. However, a few storms could become strong. Gusty winds and very heavy downpours would be the main concern. Storms are expected to remain scattered in nature. The best coverage will be this afternoon along and north of the Ohio River. Think that coverage should decrease as the front heads east into the evening hours. The rain should exit east central KY by late evening with the rest of the overnight hours remaining dry. Memorial day looks to be warm and dry. Though temperatures will be similar to today, dewpoints are expected to decrease a few degrees in the wake of the front. Highs will top out in the mid 80s. Dry weather will continue Monday night with lows in the lower to mid 60s. .LONG TERM (Tuesday through Sunday)... Issued at 257 PM EDT Sun May 29 2016 Upper level ridging and surface high pressure will bring dry weather for the beginning of the long term period. Tuesday through most of Wednesday will see mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies. The main question will be how hot it will get. Some of the guidance suggests a high of 90 at SDF on Wednesday. However, increasing clouds and very green vegetation may work against temps getting that high. For now will go with highs in the mid to upper 80s across the region for Tuesday and Wednesday. Lows will be in the lower to mid 60s. Rain chances will be on the increase late Wednesday afternoon into the nighttime hours as a front approaches and moves into the area. This front will continue to slowly sink south and east Thursday into Thursday night. The best shot at showers and storms looks to be during the day Thursday. The front looks to stall just south of the KY/TN border on Friday/Friday night with lingering storm chances across south central KY. This precipitation should move out by Saturday morning with a dry start to the weekend. Temperatures Friday and Saturday will be a bit cooler in the wake of the front. Highs will be in the mid to upper 70s with lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s. && .AVIATION (18Z TAF Update)... Issued at 125 PM EDT Sun May 29 2016 Cumulus clouds around 4 kft have developed over central KY north thru IN, with a modest SW surface wind of 4-8 kt. As a weak cold front from the Great Lakes through central IL moves southeast this afternoon and evening, isolated to scattered convective cells should develop from OH to southern IN and north-central and northern KY. With weak forcing but unstable air, coverage should be limited but any storm could cause brief, isolated wind gusts around 30 kts. SDF appears to have the best chance given the timing of the front and best instability, although even here, coverage should be limited and no more than VCTS. At LEX, any cells may wait til a bit later as cells begin to weaken, so will carry VCSH for now. Looks like any activity should remain north and east of BWG. Nevertheless, conditions will remain VFR except briefly lower in any storm. For tonight, winds become light NW at SDF and eventually LEX and light and variable at BWG. By early Tuesday morning, there will still be residual surface-based moisture as dewpoints remain up. Thus, at least tempo MVFR fog is possible at BWG and LEX. Conditions become VFR quickly thereafter on Tuesday with a NNW breeze 5-10 kts. && .LMK Watches/Warnings/Advisories... KY...NONE. IN...NONE. && Short Term........EER Long Term.........EER Aviation..........TWF
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 321 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2016 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067- 070>078-081-082-301930- ORANGE-WASHINGTON-SCOTT-JEFFERSON-DUBOIS-CRAWFORD-PERRY-HARRISON- FLOYD-CLARK-HANCOCK-BRECKINRIDGE-MEADE-OHIO-GRAYSON-HARDIN-BULLITT- OLDHAM-TRIMBLE-HENRY-SHELBY-FRANKLIN-SPENCER-ANDERSON-WOODFORD- FAYETTE-BOURBON-NICHOLAS-NELSON-MERCER-JESSAMINE-LARUE-MARION-BOYLE- GARRARD-MADISON-BUTLER-EDMONSON-HART-GREEN-TAYLOR-CASEY-LINCOLN- LOGAN-WARREN-SIMPSON-ALLEN-BARREN-MONROE-METCALFE-ADAIR-RUSSELL- CUMBERLAND-CLINTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PAOLI...SALEM...SCOTTSBURG...MADISON... JASPER...ENGLISH...TELL CITY...CORYDON...NEW ALBANY... JEFFERSONVILLE...LEWISPORT...HAWESVILLE...HARDINSBURG... BRANDENBURG...HARTFORD...LEITCHFIELD...ELIZABETHTOWN... SHEPHERDSVILLE...LOUISVILLE...LA GRANGE...BEDFORD...MILTON... NEW CASTLE...SHELBYVILLE...FRANKFORT...GEORGETOWN...CYNTHIANA... TAYLORSVILLE...LAWRENCEBURG...VERSAILLES...LEXINGTON...PARIS... CARLISLE...BARDSTOWN...SPRINGFIELD...HARRODSBURG...NICHOLASVILLE... WINCHESTER...HODGENVILLE...LEBANON...DANVILLE...LANCASTER... RICHMOND...MORGANTOWN...BROWNSVILLE...HORSE CAVE...GREENSBURG... CAMPBELLSVILLE...LIBERTY...STANFORD...RUSSELLVILLE...BOWLING GREEN... FRANKLIN...PROVIDENCE...SCOTTSVILLE...GLASGOW...TOMPKINSVILLE... EDMONTON...COLUMBIA...JAMESTOWN...BURKESVILLE...ALBANY 321 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2016 /221 PM CDT SUN MAY 29 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...BUT GUSTY WINDS AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE WITH ANY STORM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY. ANY STORM COULD PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE. EER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
419 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2016
INZ083-292100-
DUBOIS-
419 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN DUBOIS COUNTY...
AT 419 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF
JASPER...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
JASPER...DUBOIS...KYANA...SAINT ANTHONY...CELESTINE...IRELAND...
SCHNELLVILLE...SAINT MARKS...HAYSVILLE AND CRYSTAL.
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY CAN RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN LOUISVILLE.
LAT...LON 3851 8707 3850 8706 3851 8705 3851 8700
3850 8698 3850 8696 3849 8696 3849 8695
3851 8693 3850 8691 3850 8688 3853 8683
3852 8673 3829 8675 3835 8707
TIME...MOT...LOC 2019Z 274DEG 18KT 3845 8706
RJSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
454 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2016
INZ083-089-292130-
DUBOIS-PERRY-
454 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2016
...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN PERRY
AND DUBOIS COUNTIES...
AT 454 PM EDT/354 PM CDT/...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES NORTH OF DALE TO 8 MILES EAST OF
JASPER...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
JASPER...HUNTINGBURG...FERDINAND...HOLLAND...BIRDSEYE...DUBOIS...
MILLERSPORT...KYANA...SAINT ANTHONY AND BRETZVILLE.
THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY CAN RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN LOUISVILLE.
LAT...LON 3837 8707 3847 8682 3831 8668 3826 8668
3826 8664 3823 8661 3816 8680 3818 8680
3818 8679 3821 8679 3820 8707
TIME...MOT...LOC 2054Z 322DEG 18KT 3830 8705 3841 8678
RJSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
528 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2016
INZ083-084-089-292215-
CRAWFORD-DUBOIS-PERRY-
528 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN PERRY...WEST
CENTRAL CRAWFORD AND SOUTHEASTERN DUBOIS COUNTIES...
AT 528 PM EDT/428 PM CDT/...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS 8 MILES
NORTHEAST OF DALE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FERDINAND...KYANA...CELINA...SASSAFRAS...SAINT ANTHONY...BRETZVILLE...
DOOLITTLE MILLS...ADYEVILLE...BANDON AND BRANCHVILLE.
LAT...LON 3837 8688 3822 8649 3800 8668 3807 8678
3810 8677 3812 8681 3812 8680 3815 8681
3816 8680 3818 8680 3818 8679 3821 8679
3820 8696 3821 8697
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 302DEG 20KT 3825 8687
RJSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
445 PM CDT SUN MAY 29 2016
KYZ023-292215-
HANCOCK-
445 PM CDT SUN MAY 29 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN HANCOCK COUNTY...
AT 445 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR GRANDVIEW...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TELL CITY...HAWESVILLE...LEWISPORT...CANNELTON...ADAIR...CHAMBERS...WAITMAN
AND PETRI.
LAT...LON 3793 8697 3794 8692 3799 8686 3800 8682
3798 8679 3796 8678 3789 8673 3780 8682
3784 8685 3783 8690 3784 8691 3787 8691
3788 8689 3789 8691 3790 8692 3791 8694
3789 8699 3790 8699
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 302DEG 19KT 3794 8693
ZTThe Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:56 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Hancock emergency manager reported 4 to 5 trees down over roadways in the Lewisport area.
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: 626732.