Scattered showers and storms developed in the afternoon over central Kentucky. This weather was triggered by an upper level shortwave pushing in from the southwest and a weak surface boundary over south central Kentucky that was drifting northward.
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.
Scattered showers and storms developed in the afternoon over central Kentucky. This weather was triggered by an upper level shortwave pushing in from the southwest and a weak surface boundary over south central Kentucky that was drifting northward. While organized severe weather did not develop, very heavy rainfall caused the death of a 15 year old boy. He was playing near a drainage ditch in his back yard with his brother when flowing water pushed him through a culvert. He died in the hospital a week later.
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 Aug 31, 1:36 PM CST, 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Louisville KY 336 PM EDT Fri Aug 31 2018 .Short Term...(This evening through Saturday) Issued at 300 PM EDT Fri Aug 31 2018 High res models continue to struggle with placement of ongoing activity, but suspect they will start to catch up as they ingest the location of where storms initiated this afternoon. Cells generally have been moving northward, but some backbuilding is occurring over southern IN in the 2-3 PM hour. So far no super high rainfall reports. Expect continued development through the afternoon hours as cells over south central KY move northward and as outflow interactions closer to the Ohio River start up new cells. Main issues will be localized flooding, frequent cloud to ground lightning, brief gusty winds, and perhaps some small hail. For tonight, expect activity to decline with loss of heating, but a weak trough aloft may keep up a very isolated storm chance. That trough will start to fill in Saturday, but not before another late morning/afternoon round of scattered storms develops. Motion should be a little faster from the southwest, so perhaps less of an issue with flooding, unless storms go over grounds saturated from today. Look for similar highs as well. && .Long Term...(Saturday night through Friday) Issued at 335 PM EDT Fri Aug 31 2018 ...Hot and Humid for Labor Day... There remains good agreement amongst the medium-range guidance in the synoptic pattern for Labor Day and much of next week. Most notable feature is the strengthening upper ridge over the Mid- Atlantic, which gradually builds westward with time. Isolated convection is likely to flare up once again on Sunday. A warm, buoyant airmass will remain largely uncapped. Highs will likely end up in the upper 80s to around 90. Forecast trends are still for slightly hotter and drier conditions on Labor Day and especially for Tuesday and Wednesday next week. An isolated pop-up storm can't be ruled out on Labor Day, but handled this with a silet 10-14 PoP for now. Tuesday and Wednesday look mainly dry and hot, with highs in the lower 90s. Peak heat indices between noon and 8 pm each day should reach the 95-100 degree range, based on surface dewpoints in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Even though the calendar will have flipped to September, it's important to keep heat safety in mind! The interiors of vehicles can reach deadly temperatures for children in minutes. Drink plenty of water and limit time spent outdoors during the warmest part of the day if possible. By Thursday and Friday, at least scattered shower and thunderstorm chances are likely to return. Weak height falls look to occur as a wave of low pressure moving southeast through the Great Lakes flattens the upper ridge. It will remain warm and humid. && .Aviation...(18Z TAF Issuance) Issued at 120 PM EDT Fri Aug 31 2018 Starting to see some storms initiate between HNB/SDF and southeast of BWG. Peak period will be mid afternoon to early evening before coverage dies down. Winds outside of storms will be from south and relatively light before becoming a little more southwesterly by Saturday. Atmosphere will be unstable again, so have prob30's for storms in the late morning/afternoon tomorrow. && .LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...None. KY...None. && Short Term...RJS Long Term...EBW Aviation...RJS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Louisville KY 338 PM EDT Fri Aug 31 2018 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067- 070>078-081-082-011945- 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 338 PM EDT Fri Aug 31 2018 /238 PM CDT Fri Aug 31 2018/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Indiana and Central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Late this Afternoon and Tonight. Isolated to scattered showers and storms are expected into the evening hours. A few strong storms could contain gusty winds, heavy rain that could lead to localized flooding issues, and cloud to ground lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are forecast Saturday and Sunday. Brief heavy rain and lightning will be the main threats. Labor Day through most of the next work week will be above normal for temperatures and humid, with heat indices possibly nearing 100 each afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are welcome to report any heavier rainfall amounts as well as stronger wind gusts. RJS/EBW
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
151 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
INZ077-311815-
Washington-
151 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON
COUNTY...
At 150 PM EDT, a cluster of strong thunderstorms was located 7 miles
northwest of Salem, moving north at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Salem, Campbellsburg, Saltillo, Kossuth, Mckinley, Smedley, Rush
Creek Valley, Hitchcock, Plattsburg and Prowsville.
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 3878 8606 3876 8603 3877 8602 3876 8601
3861 8608 3863 8631 3873 8631 3874 8629
3877 8628 3877 8626 3876 8625 3878 8623
3877 8622 3878 8621 3878 8618 3876 8614
3877 8610 3878 8610
TIME...MOT...LOC 1750Z 188DEG 14KT 3870 8619
EBWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
210 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
INZ077-311830-
Washington-
210 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON
COUNTY...
At 209 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 11 miles northwest
of Salem, moving north at 10 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Saltillo, Plattsburg, Kossuth, Mckinley and Rush Creek Valley.
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 3876 8603 3876 8602 3868 8604 3870 8613
3867 8630 3873 8631 3874 8629 3876 8628
3877 8626 3876 8625 3878 8623 3877 8622
3878 8621 3877 8621 3878 8618 3876 8613
3877 8610 3878 8609
TIME...MOT...LOC 1809Z 190DEG 9KT 3873 8626
EBWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
218 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
INZ077-311845-
Washington-
218 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON
COUNTY...
At 218 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 8 miles west of
Salem, moving northeast at 15 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Campbellsburg, Saltillo, Smedley, Rush Creek Valley, Claysville,
Hitchcock and Prowsville.
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 3857 8623 3859 8630 3868 8629 3871 8613
3870 8610
TIME...MOT...LOC 1818Z 208DEG 12KT 3863 8625
EBWSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Louisville KY 230 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018 INZ079-092-KYZ031-032-311900- Jefferson-Clark-Oldham-Trimble- 230 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER THE OHIO RIVER ABOUT MIDWAY BETWEEN LOUISVILLE AND MADISON... At 229 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 7 miles west of Bedford. The storm is nearly stationary. Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Bethlehem, Westport, Oldham, Otto, Paynesville, Chelsea, Hibernia, Wises Landing, and New Washington. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 3846 8544 3853 8563 3867 8552 3854 8532 TIME...MOT...LOC 1829Z 209DEG 4KT 3855 8545 13
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
248 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
INZ076-077-311915-
Orange-Washington-
248 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHERN ORANGE COUNTY AND MUCH OF
WASHINGTON COUNTY...
At 246 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms from near Paoli
to near Salem to near New Providence Town. The storms are nearly
stationary.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Salem, Paoli, Orleans, New Pekin, Stampers Creek, Orangeville,
Campbellsburg, Livonia, Saltillo, and Smedley.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3876 8603 3877 8599 3849 8596 3849 8599
3842 8600 3849 8622 3849 8650 3869 8667
3869 8631 3873 8631 3874 8629 3877 8628
3878 8618 3876 8613 3878 8609
TIME...MOT...LOC 1846Z 141DEG 3KT 3862 8641 3863 8620 3851 8604
13Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
209 PM CDT FRI AUG 31 2018
KYZ026-311945-
Ohio-
209 PM CDT FRI AUG 31 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL OHIO COUNTY...
At 208 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Hartford,
moving northeast at 20 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Hartford, Beaver Dam, Fordsville, Taffy, Ralph, Magan, Jingo,
Pleasant Ridge, Heflin and Ellmitch.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 3760 8699 3763 8695 3762 8692 3764 8689
3765 8687 3767 8684 3767 8682 3771 8687
3773 8684 3766 8664 3765 8664 3736 8684
3745 8704
TIME...MOT...LOC 1908Z 207DEG 19KT 3751 8687
RJSThe Louisville radar (KLVX), 58 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:01 UTC.
1 lightning, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A house along Calvert Church Road was struck by lightning and caught fire.
A 15-year old and his brother were playing near an open drainage ditch running through their back yard near the 9800 block of Melissa Drive when he slipped and fell into the rapidly running water. He was swept 100 yards through a culvert to the 9400 block of Tamarisk Drive. While he survived being submersed in the culvert, he never regained consciousness and passed away on September 7th. Approximately 1.5 of rain fell in the area, about an inch of it between 5:15 and 6:15 pm EDT. The boy slipped into the ditch around 7 pm.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Rain, Jefferson | 2018-08-31 | 15 | Male | In Water | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, August 2018
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: 782861, 782878.