A stationary boundary draped across central Kentucky combined with a warm and unstable air mass fueled afternoon thunderstorms. The strongest storm produced hail up to golf ball size in diameter.
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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 LMK wrote it up.
A stationary boundary draped across central Kentucky combined with a warm and unstable air mass fueled afternoon thunderstorms. The strongest storm produced hail up to golf ball size in diameter.
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 11, 2:36 PM EST, 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Louisville KY 336 PM EDT Thu May 11 2017 .Short Term...(This evening through Friday night) Issued at 315 PM EDT Thu May 11 2017 ...Severe Storms Possible Late This Afternoon and Evening... Numerous showers and storms have erupted along a slow moving frontal boundary this afternoon. These storms have been slow to grow upscale. However, they have produced torrential rainfall and gusty winds. As we get into the late afternoon/evening hours, this convection will continue to move southeast. Given convective trends so far this afternoon, still feel damaging winds will be a threat in some of the stronger cells through this evening. Also of note will be the torrential rainfall as convection has had a tendency to train especially near the I-64 corridor late this afternoon. Will need to watch convective trends throughout the evening especially along and north of the I-64 corridor as flash flood guidance is lower in these areas (as low as 1-1.5 inches per hr). Isld instances of hail up to 1 inch may also be possible as a secondary threat. After this complex of storms and the frontal boundary move southeast through the area this evening, we may see a brief lull or less activity by late evening or during the early morning hours. Then the boundary should lift back north as a low pressure moves northeast along the boundary late tonight into Fri morning resulting in another round of showers and perhaps some isld-sct t-storms mainly over south central KY. These storms should be non-severe but may contain heavy rain which could cause some isld minor flooding issues in areas that received t-storms this afternoon/evening. Rain showers will diminish from NW to SE Fri during the day as the parent low pressure system pulls away from the region. Skies will begin to clear Fri night. Temperatures will be cooler post-frontal with highs dropping back into the 60s Fri. Lows will be in the upper 50s/lower 60s tonight and then upper 40s/lower 50s Fri night. && .Long Term...(Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 335 PM EDT Thu May 11 2017 A dry pattern looks in store for the coming weekend and the first part of next week as an upper level ridge slowly moves into the region. As a result we'll see a gradual warm-up into the low 80s by Sun and then into the upper 80s by next Tue/Wed. By Thu, a southerly return flow with a few disturbances will setup bringing rain/t-storm chances back into the region and at least slightly cooler air. && .Aviation...(18Z TAF Issuance) Issued at 158 PM EDT Thu May 11 2017 Currently convection is redeveloping along the Ohio River and working it's way southeast. This line will bring periods of showers and scattered storms to all three TAF sites between 18-24z. Expect MVFR visibility during periods of showers. As convection moves out this evening, ceilings will lower to IFR at LEX and BWG, and SDF will likely see MVFR during the morning hours. BWG may see another round of showers and storms beginning 06-12z. && .LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...None. KY...None. && Short Term...AMS Long Term...AMS Aviation...KDW
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Louisville KY 1128 AM EDT Thu May 11 2017 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067- 070>078-081-082-121530- 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, and Albany 1128 AM EDT Thu May 11 2017 /1028 AM CDT Thu May 11 2017/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Indiana and Central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Scattered to numerous storms are expected this afternoon and evening. Some of the storms could become severe with damaging winds and large hail the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Showers and thunderstorms on Friday could produce heavy rainfall and localized flooding, especially over south-central Kentucky. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found, at weather.gov/louisville. AMS
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
235 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017
KYZ028-029-045-111900-
Bullitt-Nelson-Hardin-
235 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN NELSON...
NORTHEASTERN HARDIN AND SOUTHERN BULLITT COUNTIES...
At 235 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 8 miles southwest of
Shepherdsville, moving east at 30 mph.
Winds around 30 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Shepherdsville, Lebanon Junction, Muldraugh, Ridgetop, Highgrove,
Solitude, Bardstown Junction, Hobbs, Scuffletown and Deatsville.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 3797 8596 3799 8549 3798 8548 3775 8552
3787 8598 3789 8598 3792 8599
TIME...MOT...LOC 1835Z 274DEG 30KT 3790 8581
SCHOETTMERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
253 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017
KYZ028-029-045-111930-
Bullitt-Nelson-Hardin-
253 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL NELSON...EAST
CENTRAL HARDIN AND SOUTH CENTRAL BULLITT COUNTIES...
At 252 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 10 miles southwest
of Shepherdsville, moving southeast at 30 mph.
Winds between 40 and 50 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Bardstown, Lebanon Junction, Nelsonville, Samuels Field Airport,
Bellwood, Cravens, Colesburg and Younger Creek.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 3779 8541 3772 8566 3773 8568 3771 8569
3770 8574 3783 8583 3790 8574
TIME...MOT...LOC 1852Z 307DEG 26KT 3786 8582
SCHOETTMERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
318 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017
KYZ034>036-038>042-112015-
Shelby-Bourbon-Scott-Woodford-Fayette-Franklin-Spencer-Anderson-
318 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL SPENCER...SOUTHERN
SHELBY...NORTHERN WOODFORD...SOUTHERN SCOTT...NORTHERN ANDERSON...
SOUTHWESTERN BOURBON...NORTHERN FAYETTE AND SOUTHERN FRANKLIN
COUNTIES...
At 316 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 7 miles south of
Shelbyville, moving east at 30 mph. These storms are produce very
heavy rainfall.
Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Lexington, Georgetown, Frankfort, Lawrenceburg, Versailles, Paris,
Taylorsville, Meadowthorpe, Thoroughbred Acres and Cardinal Hill.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3807 8429 3804 8429 3800 8546 3814 8542
3821 8425 3808 8424
TIME...MOT...LOC 1916Z 270DEG 50KT 3810 8519
jdgSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
221 PM CDT THU MAY 11 2017
KYZ026-061-112000-
Butler-Ohio-
221 PM CDT THU MAY 11 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL BUTLER AND SOUTH CENTRAL
OHIO COUNTIES...
At 220 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 8 miles east of
Central City, moving east at 40 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Morgantown, Lee, Rockport, Rochester, Woodbury, Monford, Mining City,
Aberdeen, Eden and Brooklyn.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3733 8648 3716 8641 3717 8647 3719 8650
3718 8654 3719 8657 3718 8658 3718 8663
3720 8691 3722 8690 3723 8692 3724 8691
3724 8694 3726 8696 3726 8697 3727 8698
3732 8699 3733 8700
TIME...MOT...LOC 1920Z 269DEG 38KT 3727 8698
JDGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
335 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0319 PM HAIL 1 SSE BARDSTOWN 37.80N 85.46W
05/11/2017 M0.25 INCH NELSON KY PUBLIC
&&
SZAPPANOSSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Louisville KY 337 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017 KYZ038>040-045>048-056-112015- Mercer-Woodford-Jessamine-Spencer-Washington-Nelson-Garrard-Anderson- 337 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN SPENCER... NORTHEASTERN NELSON...CENTRAL MERCER...SOUTHERN WOODFORD... NORTHWESTERN GARRARD...SOUTHERN ANDERSON...WESTERN JESSAMINE AND NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES... At 337 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 9 miles east of Taylorsville, moving east southeast at 40 mph. Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Nicholasville, Harrodsburg, Ballard, Wilmore, Bloomfield, Oregon, Bondville, Dugansville, Talmage and Johnsonville. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 3775 8468 3789 8531 3801 8526 3797 8456 TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 273DEG 37KT 3798 8519 jdg
The Louisville radar (KLVX), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:43 UTC.
2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Local broadcast media received multiple reports of golf ball sized hail.
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: 686690, 686691.