An area of low pressure moving across the Tennessee Valley brought an area of persistent light to moderate rain into southeastern Kentucky, beginning this morning and lasting into the overnight hours. This round of rain fell on top of what had fallen the previous several days, thus leading to numerous instances of flooding.
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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.
An area of low pressure moving across the Tennessee Valley brought an area of persistent light to moderate rain into southeastern Kentucky, beginning this morning and lasting into the overnight hours. This round of rain fell on top of what had fallen the previous several days, thus leading to numerous instances of flooding.
Rivers and streams began to rise through the day as widespread four day rainfall amounts of 4-5 inches fell near the Virginia and Tennessee state lines, with three day amounts of 3-4 inches common. Several roads were closed due to high water, while multiple points along the Cumberland River experienced minor flooding for the next couple of days. Minor flooding was also reported on the Kentucky River at Ravenna, while several points along the Kentucky and Big Sandy Rivers breached action stage.
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 Apr 23, 6:20 AM EST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED National Weather Service Jackson KY 720 AM EDT Sun Apr 23 2017 .UPDATE... Issued at 700 AM EDT SUN APR 23 2017 Updated the PoP and Wx grids to reflect the latest radar trends ands also to add in a touch of thunder across the FFW area for this morning. Also, tweaked the near term T and Td grids per the latest obs and trends. These updated grids have been sent to NDFD and the web servers. The HWO was updated and a fresh set of zones issued. && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Monday) Issued at 320 AM EDT SUN APR 23 2017 06z sfc analysis shows a deep southern low passing by just to the south of Kentucky. This low is responsible for the series of waves - consisting of showers now - pushing across southern Kentucky this weekend. Currently there is a lull between these waves, even so sprinkles and drizzle are found across much of the CWA this night. Low clouds blanket the southern half of the area while in the far north they have actually cleared out. Winds are from the north to northeast at 5 to 10 mph locking in the colder air. Temperatures this night are running from near 45 degrees - dewpoints in the upper 30s - north to the lower 50s in the far south - dewpoints around 50. The models remain in good agreement aloft through the short term portion of the forecast. They all depict a developing and closing off low moving into the Tennessee Valley and then continuing south - rolling through the deep south. The models are quite similar with the magnitude, placement, and timing of this low lending a good deal of confidence to their consensus forecast. Accordingly, have favored the CONSShort model blend for most GFE weather elements with special attention to the high resolution components in the short term. Sensible weather will feature a renewed surge of moisture and showers pushing north into the CWA towards dawn and continuing through the bulk of the day. The heaviest showers and higher QPF are anticipated through the areas that remain under a Flash Flood Watch. This may be able to be cleared earlier in the afternoon in the west, but will likely be needed through 4 pm in the eastern part and possibly longer. For now, will hold to the current timing for this headline and pass on to later shifts to watch for a need to extend it later in the east. Otherwise, cloudy, rainy, and cool weather will be the rule today and into the evening for a good portion of the area. The exception may be locations north of Interstate 64 where some sunshine may be seen early this morning and then later filtered through the clouds - but still seasonably cool. On Monday, the sfc low should be far enough east that drier starts to make its way into the area and dry us out from northwest to southeast - allowing temperatures to recover to a bit closer to normal for this time of year. Again started the grids from the CONSShort and ShortBlend guidance set through this part of the forecast. Did not make much adjustment to temperatures or dewpoints given the limited diurnal range over the next 36 hours. However, did again beef up PoPs and QPF, from the blend, across the south given the certainty for measurable rain from yet a couple more surges of shower activity during this time. .LONG TERM...(Monday night through Saturday) Issued at 338 AM EDT SUN APR 23 2017 An upper level low will continue to meander up the east coast through Tuesday while slowly shifting offshore into the Atlantic. Mid level heights will slowly recover through the period with a warming trend anticipated the the first half of the week. Dry weather now looks like it will hold on through Wednesday evening. The next chance of rain will come late Wednesday night and Thursday as a shortwave trough drives another cold front across the Ohio river valley. The front may be shearing out as it crosses the area, so opted to stay with the lower blended pops as it may not be a widespread rain event for the area. Regardless, a few thunderstorms would be possible. Whats left of the washed out front will lift back to the north as a warm front by weeks end providing another shower and storm chance Friday into Saturday. With the passage of the warm front temperatures will warm dramatically next weekend with highs into the mid to upper 80s. As it stands right now, there does not appear to be any threat of severe weather or flooding with the rain chance on Thursday or late this week. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Monday morning) ISSUED AT 720 AM EDT SUN APR 23 2017 The latest surge of showers is pushing through the forecast area from south to north. With this, cigs will bounce between low end MVRF and IFR with times of visibility down to MVFR. SYM may have a shot at becoming VFR for a time later this afternoon and evening as the main influence of the weather system passing by to the south wanes for locations north of a JKL to SJS line. Winds will remain north to northeast through tonight with speeds averaging around 5 kts but up to 10 kts at times. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for KYZ079-080- 083>088-110-113-115>118-120. && UPDATE...GREIF SHORT TERM...GREIF LONG TERM...KAS AVIATION...GREIF
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Jackson KY 650 AM EDT Sun Apr 23 2017 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-104-106>109-111-112-114-119-241400- Fleming-Montgomery-Bath-Rowan-Estill-Powell-Menifee-Rockcastle- Jackson-Elliott-Morgan-Johnson-Wolfe-Magoffin-Lee-Breathitt- Owsley-Martin- Including the cities of Flemingsburg, Camargo, Jeffersonville, Mount Sterling, Owingsville, Morehead, Irvine, Ravenna, Clay City, Stanton, Frenchburg, Brodhead, Mount Vernon, McKee, Annville, Sandy Hook, West Liberty, Paintsville, Campton, Salyersville, Beattyville, Jackson, Booneville, and Inez 650 AM EDT Sun Apr 23 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Rainfall over the headwaters of the Cumberland and Kentucky Rivers through tonight will lead to significant rises on these tributaries and may result in minor flooding along rivers into early next week. Thunderstorms will be possible late Wednesday night through early Thursday evening. Thunderstorms are possible at times again from Friday through Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. KYZ079-080-083>088-110-113-115>118-120-241400- Pulaski-Laurel-Wayne-McCreary-Whitley-Knox-Bell-Harlan-Floyd- Knott-Perry-Clay-Leslie-Letcher-Pike- Including the cities of Burnside, Somerset, London, Monticello, Stearns, Whitley City, Corbin, Williamsburg, Barbourville, Middlesboro, Pineville, Cumberland, Harlan, Prestonsburg, Wheelwright, Hindman, Pippa Passes, Hazard, Manchester, Hyden, Jenkins, Whitesburg, Coal Run, Elkhorn City, Pikeville, and South Williamson 650 AM EDT Sun Apr 23 2017 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible this morning. Showers will likely bring some heavy to excessive rainfall to locations generally south and east of the Hal Rogers Parkway and Highway 80 corridor today. As a result, flash flooding will be possible - particularly in and near the higher terrain along the Virginia border. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Rainfall over the headwaters of the Cumberland and Kentucky Rivers through tonight will lead to significant rises on these tributaries and may result in flooding along rivers into the start of next week. Thunderstorms will be possible late Wednesday night through early Thursday evening. Thunderstorms are possible at times again from Friday through Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to report heavy rainfall, above 1 inch, and any signs of flooding to the National Weather Service. GREIF/KAS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Local media relayed a report of a man rescued unharmed from the Cumberland River near Williamsburg as high waters carried him downstream 30 yards.
A Skywarn spotter observed water about three inches deep flowing over Tackett Creek Road south of Williamsburg.
A citizen reported water across Kentucky Highway 190 west of Pruden.
Emergency management reported water from Cranks Creek spilling over onto U.S. Highway 421 in Cranks, along with water from Martins Fork flowing over Kentucky Highway 987 in Smith.
A citizen observed numerous portions of Kentucky Highway 7 throughout Letcher County with water over the roadway.
A trained spotter reported water flowing over Kentucky Highway 2011 in Beverly.
Law enforcement observed shallow water flowing over Kentucky Highway 221 near the intersection with Kentucky Highway 1780 near Tacky Town.
A local media outlet relayed a report of water completely covering a portion of Kentucky Highway 15 near Dry Fork.
A broadcast media affiliate sent along a report of high water causing the closure of Kentucky Highway 699 in Cutshin.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, April 2017
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: 681937, 681938, 681940, 681941, 681943, 681944, 681946, 681951, 681952.