A cold front moving through during the morning hours led to strong wind gusts of generally up to 30 to 40 mph through the day as drier air poured into eastern Kentucky. A few reports of downed trees were received, including one that landed on and destroyed a trailer in Hazel Green.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 cold front moving through during the morning hours led to strong wind gusts of generally up to 30 to 40 mph through the day as drier air poured into eastern Kentucky. A few reports of downed trees were received, including one that landed on and destroyed a trailer in Hazel Green.
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 1, 1:00 PM EST, 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED National Weather Service Jackson KY 200 PM EDT Mon May 1 2017 .UPDATE... Issued at 145 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017 Will issue a final afternoon update to clear out the thunder and most of the showers. At the same time, will fine tune the T and Td grids per the latest obs and trends. These will be sent to the NDFD and web servers shortly with a ZFP and HWO update to follow. UPDATE Issued at 1020 AM EDT MON MAY 1 2017 13z sfc analysis shows a cold front pushing east through eastern Kentucky this morning. This is linked back to a deep low over the Upper Midwest and responsible for a large area of showers and embedded thunderstorms moving through our CWA attm. Gradient winds through the region are enough to get us near 40 mph gusts and ones coincident with the stronger showers could gust as high as 50 mph. SPC's latest update has placed extreme eastern Kentucky in a slight risk with the enhanced just to the east - also where a clear patch has developed and sent temperatures soaring. Accordingly, have beefed up the thunder in the grids as well as the HWO with a mention of strong winds and hail as a threat for the far east. Also redid the PoP grids to reflect the latest timing based on radar trends and the current run of the HRRR. Temperatures vary from west to east with the front as mid 50s are just entering the CWA in the northwest while sunshine has spiked the east into the mid and upper 70s. Dewpoints likewise vary from the mid 50s west to the low 60s east. Have touched up the forecast highs to account for this and also to impart a non diurnal curve post frontal. These updated grids have been sent to the NDFD and web servers along with a freshened set of zones and HWO. UPDATE Issued at 650 AM EDT MON MAY 1 2017 Widespread showers continue to work east across the area this morning as expected. Rainfall so far has been on track with the lowered amounts from earlier. No significant changes made to the forecast, but did speed up the exit of precipitation this morning a bit as activity seems to be moving on through a bit faster than previously expected. We've had some wind gusts up to 40 mph on the ridgetops in southeast Kentucky. Also seeing some wind gusts up to 35 and 40 mph out west just behind the approaching front. Thus, wind advisory looking in good shape. Going to be a windy day with the dry slot promoting impressive mixing up to around 7kft. This should bring that higher momentum air down to the surface. Forecast looks in good shape. && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Tuesday) Issued at 316 AM EDT MON MAY 1 2017 A cut off low resides over the western great lakes this morning with an occluded front pushing east towards central Kentucky. A band of showers continues to advance east associated with this frontal boundary. Eastern Kentucky continues to sit under the influence of a strengthening low level jet out of the south. Low level flow continues to be south to southeast which is helping to keep the lower level dry air in place. Instability is virtually non-existent over the area given these unfavorable conditions. In fact, lightning activity has diminished overnight. Given the dry air in place, lack of thunderstorm activity, and the fact that ceilings have been slow to come down, have cut down QPF totals virtually in half or more. This will give the area anywhere from a third of an inch in the west to just under a tenth in the east. This activity will move on through this morning with a dry slot moving in overhead by midday. This will provide a period of clearing and help to promote good mixing that should help to bring down some very strong winds today. Wind gusts around 40 mph are anticipated. Wind advisory will remain in place through the day. Wrap around moisture around the deep low pressure in the great lakes may try to invade tonight, but there is still some uncertainty, how far southeast this moisture will make it. Thus, overall confidence on forecast for tonight is low regarding temperatures and potential fog development. If we stay clear, we may see some fog formation, but if clouds move in that would keep us milder with no fog. Skies should clear out on Tuesday, setting the stage for a very nice spring day with highs around 70 under mostly sunny skies. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Sunday) Issued at 358 AM EDT MON MAY 1 2017 Surface high pressure building across the Ohio Valley Tuesday night, producing a noticeable ridge/valley temperature split Wednesday morning, will retreat north Wednesday as an area of low pressure emerges from the southern Plains into the lower Mississippi Valley. This will draw a warm front northward into the Tennessee Valley and toward eastern Kentucky by late Wednesday into Wednesday night, depending on the evolution and exact track of the low. This will highly depend on the parent upper low being carved out across the mid Mississippi into the Tennessee Valleys by a broad shot of Canadian cool air advection through the Great Plains, with stout thermal ridging taking root from Baja north through the Canadian Prairies. Shower chances will increase as top-down saturation occurs later Wednesday, with thunder looking unlikely given strong capping owing to warm air advection. As rain chances drastically increase with approach of the stacking low Thursday, a period of isolated thunderstorms will be possible given ample heating and low level instability can materialize in the warm sector Thursday afternoon. The threat for thunderstorms will quickly come to an end Thursday night as a cold front wraps through the Commonwealth for the end of the week, setting the stage for what will feel like a chilly late week and weekend. Highs on Friday will be well below normal with readings forecast to be in the 50s, followed by a cool Saturday morning looking to potentially bring some temperatures in the 30s. A few snowflakes will also be possible on the higher ridges of far southeast Kentucky, depending on the position of the deformation zone. Not currently expecting enough moisture or cold enough air to see any accumulation. Temperatures currently look to warm back into the 60s through the weekend, which is still below normal. However, persistent north/northwest flow may end up keeping cooler conditions locked in place into next week as the upper low and subsequent cyclonic flow dominate the northeast U.S. and southeast Canada. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) ISSUED AT 200 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017 The cold front is just pushing through far eastern Kentucky early this afternoon taking the storms and showers east along with it. Look for skies to clear behind the front by mid afternoon. VFR conditions will then be seen through the remainder of the TAF forecast period. The main aviation concern will be the development of strong southwest winds behind the exiting cold front. Winds could gust up to 35 knots at times and stay gusty all the way through the evening hours. Later tonight the winds will settle with partly cloudy skies and any cigs found at the lower end of VFR - lasting into Tuesday. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for KYZ044-050>052- 058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120. && UPDATE...GREIF SHORT TERM...KAS LONG TERM...GUSEMAN AVIATION...GREIF
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Jackson KY 935 AM EDT Mon May 1 2017 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-021645- 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, Brodhead, Mount Vernon, McKee, Annville, Burnside, Somerset, London, Monticello, Stearns, Whitley City, Corbin, Williamsburg, Barbourville, Middlesboro, Pineville, Cumberland, Harlan, Sandy Hook, West Liberty, Paintsville, Campton, Salyersville, Prestonsburg, Wheelwright, Beattyville, Jackson, Hindman, Pippa Passes, Booneville, Hazard, Manchester, Hyden, Jenkins, Whitesburg, Inez, Coal Run, Elkhorn City, Pikeville, and South Williamson 935 AM EDT Mon May 1 2017 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Thunderstorms are possible today. Some of these could be strong in far eastern Kentucky with gusty winds and hail the main threat. Strong southwest winds are expected today with winds between 15 and 25 mph and gusts to 40 mph across the area and up to 45 mph on the ridges near Virginia. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon and evening. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. KAS/GREIF
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1030 AM EDT MON MAY 1 2017
KYZ086-106-108-109-111-112-114>117-011530-
Clay-Lee-Breathitt-Knox-Perry-Owsley-Magoffin-Morgan-Wolfe-Leslie-
1030 AM EDT MON MAY 1 2017
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN MORGAN...
EASTERN KNOX...LESLIE...EASTERN OWSLEY...PERRY...BREATHITT...
NORTHWESTERN MAGOFFIN...EASTERN LEE...SOUTHEASTERN WOLFE AND EASTERN
CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 1130 AM EDT...
At 1029 AM EDT, radar indicated strong showers and thunderstorms
were located along a line extending from Primrose to Trixie to
Baughman. Movement was northeast at 40 mph.
These showers and thunderstorms are producing wind gusts up to 50
mph.
Locations impacted include...
Hazard, Jackson, Salyersville, Hyden, Simpson, Lewis, Buckhorn, Big
Fork, Florress, Brightshade, Southfork, Cowcreek, Goose Rock, Noctor,
Avis, Perlie, Flat Lick, Valjean, Lane and Haddix.
LAT...LON 3728 8369 3767 8362 3798 8301 3760 8308
3748 8311 3746 8313 3742 8312 3707 8321
3693 8351 3695 8359 3694 8357 3691 8358
3677 8386
TIME...MOT...LOC 1429Z 234DEG 34KT 3761 8360 3734 8366 3686 8379
RAYSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1044 AM EDT MON MAY 1 2017
KYZ052-104-106-108-011530-
Rowan-Elliott-Morgan-Wolfe-
1044 AM EDT MON MAY 1 2017
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MORGAN...SOUTHEASTERN
ROWAN...NORTHEASTERN WOLFE AND ELLIOTT COUNTIES THROUGH 1130 AM
EDT...
At 1042 AM EDT, radar indicated a line of strong showers and
thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Gates to
Ezel to just east of Campton. Movement was northeast at 45 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
West Liberty, Sandy Hook, Henry, Lewis, Zag, Fannin Valley, Moon,
Florress, Rexville, Elliottville, Lick Branch, Index, Pekin, Omer,
Sellars, Panama, White Oak, Wrigley, Relief and Woodsbend.
LAT...LON 3821 8330 3819 8326 3820 8323 3824 8322
3827 8317 3823 8309 3818 8305 3820 8304
3821 8301 3817 8298 3818 8292 3811 8289
3800 8302 3798 8302 3795 8299 3772 8347
3828 8333
TIME...MOT...LOC 1442Z 231DEG 39KT 3831 8330 3799 8337 3774 8344
RAYSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1136 AM EDT MON MAY 1 2017
KYZ106-107-109-112-113-115-117-011615-
Breathitt-Perry-Knott-Johnson-Magoffin-Morgan-Leslie-
1136 AM EDT MON MAY 1 2017
...A LINE OF SHOWERS WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL MORGAN...NORTHWESTERN
LESLIE...WESTERN JOHNSON...NORTHERN PERRY...NORTHWESTERN KNOTT...
BREATHITT AND MAGOFFIN COUNTIES THROUGH 1215 PM EDT...
At 1135 AM EDT, radar indicated showers were located along a line
extending from near Canoe to Buckhorn Lake to Thousandsticks.
Movement was northeast at 65 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with these showers.
Locations impacted include...
Hazard, Jackson, Salyersville, Hyden, Mason, Buckhorn, Buck, Vail,
Falcon, Wonnie, Burning Fork, Noctor, Kernie, West Royalton Station,
Gillem Branch, Redbush, Relief, Ever, Stinnett and Avawam.
LAT...LON 3701 8351 3704 8354 3718 8348 3747 8349
3768 8329 3768 8326 3770 8325 3771 8326
3797 8301 3796 8299 3800 8295 3776 8290
3771 8291 3771 8294 3766 8293 3746 8298
3698 8352
TIME...MOT...LOC 1535Z 216DEG 58KT 3744 8341 3726 8342 3707 8349
RAYSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1218 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017
KYZ107-109-110-113-118>120-011700-
Martin-Floyd-Pike-Knott-Johnson-Magoffin-Letcher-
1218 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MARTIN...CENTRAL
LETCHER...JOHNSON...KNOTT...FLOYD...NORTHWESTERN PIKE AND
SOUTHEASTERN MAGOFFIN COUNTIES THROUGH 100 PM EDT...
At 1215 PM EDT, radar indicated strong showers and thunderstorms
producing very gusty winds were located along a line extending from
Blackey to Prestonsburg to Flatgap. Movement was northeast at 65 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Pikeville, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, Hindman, Inez, Letcher, Estill,
Bath, Coal Run Village, Wheelwright, Martin, Pippa Passes, Wayland,
Warfield, Allen, Blackey, Meta, Cody, Pilgrim and Oaklawn Estates.
LAT...LON 3746 8238 3697 8308 3708 8304 3717 8304
3720 8300 3721 8303 3750 8295 3800 8296
3797 8283 3788 8262 3789 8260 3795 8258
3796 8253 3790 8247 3791 8247 3788 8242
3781 8240 3776 8231 3775 8233 3771 8231
TIME...MOT...LOC 1615Z 221DEG 55KT 3801 8285 3766 8276 3716 8291
RAYSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1253 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017
KYZ118-120-011745-
Pike-Letcher-
1253 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN LETCHER AND
PIKE COUNTIES THROUGH 1245 PM EDT...
At 1250 PM EDT, radar indicated a line of strong showers and
thunderstorms producing very gusty winds that were located along a
line extending from near Varney to Pikeville to Whitesburg.
Movement was east at 25 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Pikeville, Whitesburg, Jenkins, Coal Run Village, Elkhorn City,
Fleming-Neon, Forest Hills, Meta, Jamboree, Colly, Garden Village,
Piso, Sergent, Jarad, Biggs, Adamson, Whitco, Southdown, Canada and
Majestic.
LAT...LON 3727 8235 3712 8272 3705 8272 3699 8286
3715 8285 3726 8277 3731 8267 3737 8266
3744 8259 3751 8260 3768 8248 3767 8240
3772 8241 3775 8234 3767 8230 3763 8219
3765 8218 3755 8213 3753 8205 3754 8197
TIME...MOT...LOC 1650Z 264DEG 23KT 3800 8237 3745 8248 3682 8290
RAYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
131 PM EDT MON MAY 01 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0130 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N HARLAN 36.88N 83.32W
05/01/2017 M54 MPH HARLAN KY CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
TBREWERThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency management relayed a report of a one and a half foot diameter tree snapped about ten feet off of the ground just southeast of Jackson.
A media outlet reported a tree fell onto a trailer in Hazel Green, completely destroying it.
A citizen reported via social media that a large tree was blown down northeast of Somerset.
Emergency management passed on a report of an eight inch diameter tree snapped about two feet off of the ground just southeast of Jackson.
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, May 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: 683157, 683159, 683160, 683158.