Isolated thunderstorms developed across southeast Kentucky late this afternoon into this evening, with one becoming severe across portions of northern Bell County.
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 JKL wrote it up.
Isolated thunderstorms developed across southeast Kentucky late this afternoon into this evening, with one becoming severe across portions of northern Bell County.
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 Jun 24, 3:40 PM EST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Jackson KY 440 PM EDT Sun Jun 24 2018 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Monday night) Issued at 440 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018 20z sfc analysis shows a stalled frontal boundary across eastern Kentucky while the pressure pattern is quite weak. In this environment shower and storms were plentiful early in the day but a lull ensued with mainly just some very light showers around through the bulk of the day. This is starting to change now though with the development of a line of storms - strong to severe - to the southwest that should propagate east into our southern tier through the remainder of the afternoon - per the latest runs of the HRRR. Meanwhile, the earlier clouds broke up enough and became cellular allowing the heating to reach the sfc with temperatures reaching the mid to upper 80s while dewpoints remain quite high in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Aside from the showers and storms winds have generally been light and variable, though they have picked up with deeper mixing this afternoon and are now running west to northwest at 10 to 15 mph. The models are only in fair agreement aloft through the short term portion of the forecast. Right off the bat they deal differently with the MCV moving east along the Ohio River this evening with the Canadian weaker than the NAM and GFS. This feature then progresses east and weakens tonight - riding along the northern fringe of the southern 5h ridge. The remains of this wave departs to the east later Monday afternoon as the ridge rebuilds into the state ahead of a larger closed low trough coming out of the Central Plains. This latter feature is poorly handled, as well, with the NAM furthest north compared to the ECMWF and GFS. Ridging should hold for eastern Kentucky into Tuesday morning as the low approaches. Given the mesoscale nature of the key elements aloft affecting the forecast - did start with a blended solution for the grids, but leaned heavily on the last several runs of the HRRR for details tonight into Monday morning. Sensible weather will feature some activity in the far south through the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening - a few of the storms that develop could become strong or even severe with gusty and damaging winds the main threat. Later in the evening, the remnants of an MCS to the west should be fading out as it moves into the area, though there is a chance it holds together with a threat for showers and thunderstorms to continue through the evening and past midnight. More likely, and in line with the HRRR, the next iteration of MCS will develop to the west of JKL's CWA and press into the area late tonight with more sustained showers and thunderstorms. This will bring heavy rains with the strongest storms and training will be a concern for localized flooding - especially as PWS approach 2.0 inches - late tonight into the day Monday. Perhaps a subsequent MCS will develop and continue to affect eastern Kentucky into the day Monday before that energy aloft moves on to the east and convection should settle down. Will highlight the storm chances and heavy rain threat in the HWO as well as messaging in the weather story. Later shifts may have confidence to go with a flood watch for this MCS activity but for now will forego headlines. Quieter weather commences Monday night with the expectation of patchy fog, mainly in the valleys, late. Temperatures both nights will be very mild with muggy dewpoints in place and only a small difference between ridges and valleys. Used the CONSShort and ShortBlend as the starting point for all the grids with minimal adjustments to temperatures through the short term portion of the forecast owing to the high dewpoints. As for PoPs, adjusted them in favor of the HRRR depiction for the specifics tonight into Monday. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) Issued at 320 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018 A shortwave trough will slowly push east through the middle portion of the week, keeping the weather unsettled from Tuesday through Wednesday night. Still some questions on how long precipitation chances linger into the end of the week, but will maintain a dry forecast for now with the lack of better forcing in play. Summer like temperatures will make a big return late in the week into next weekend with heat index readings exceeding 100 each afternoon from Friday onward. Will maintain a mention in the HWO for the heat. Heat advisories could be needed at some point next weekend. While an afternoon shower may be possible Saturday or Sunday in the high terrain, the cap will likely be too strong to see much activity. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday afternoon) ISSUED AT 200 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018 Just some scattered showers passing through the area this afternoon with cigs now improved everywhere to VFR. Later this evening into tonight a potential MCS will bringing another round of showers and thunderstorms with attendant low cigs and vis possible for the TAF sites with the same or a subsequent storm cluster lasting into the mid morning hours of Monday. However, this convective development is highly dependent on the upstream evolution of storm clusters that have not even formed yet. Accordingly, owing to the overall uncertainty, will continue to monitor this situations into the evening with an eye toward inclusion in the TAF above and beyond prevailing VCTS and CB mentions. Through the period, winds are expected to be relatively light and variable outside of thunderstorms. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...GREIF LONG TERM...KAS AVIATION...GREIF
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Jackson KY 420 PM EDT Sun Jun 24 2018 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-252330- 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 420 PM EDT Sun Jun 24 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon and evening - mainly south of the Hal Rogers Parkway. A better chance for more widespread storms will occur later tonight. Any strong storm will contain heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Locations that see multiple strong storms into Monday morning could experience excessive rains and possible flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Thunderstorms will be possible at times from Monday through Thursday evening. Some locales may experience heat indices in excess of 100 degrees Friday through Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed later tonight and into Monday for heavy rain or flooding. GREIF/KAS
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
334 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
KYZ083-242000-
Wayne-
334 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN WAYNE COUNTY...
At 334 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Sunnybrook, or
10 miles northeast of Byrdstown, moving east at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Parmleysville, Oil Valley, Coopersville, Burfield, Barrier, Hidalgo,
Rockeybranch, Slickford, Griffin, Mount Pisgah, Powersburg,
Sunnybrook and Cooper.
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 3661 8496 3663 8500 3668 8500 3669 8502
3672 8502 3676 8500 3679 8468 3672 8469
3660 8478
TIME...MOT...LOC 1934Z 273DEG 15KT 3666 8498
JPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
400 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
KYZ083-084-242030-
McCreary-Wayne-
400 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN WAYNE AND SOUTHWESTERN
MCCREARY COUNTIES...
At 400 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Sunnybrook, or
11 miles northeast of Byrdstown, moving east at 25 mph.
Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Parmleysville, Great Meadows Campsites, Oil Valley, Slavens,
Coopersville, Susie, Burfield, Barrier, Kidds Crossing, Hidalgo,
Rockeybranch, Slickford, Ritner, Denney, Griffin, Zula, Mount Pisgah,
Powersburg, Sunnybrook and Cooper.
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 3660 8486 3662 8499 3663 8500 3668 8500
3669 8502 3672 8502 3675 8501 3677 8501
3677 8500 3683 8463 3660 8461
TIME...MOT...LOC 2000Z 265DEG 22KT 3668 8497
JPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
429 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
KYZ083>085-242115-
Whitley-McCreary-Wayne-
429 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN WAYNE...MCCREARY
AND WHITLEY COUNTIES...
At 429 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Blue Heron, or
near Whitley City, moving east at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Williamsburg, Whitley City, Cumberland Falls S.P., Co-
Operative, Zion Hill, Red Ash, Goldbug, Ritner, Krupp, Hollyhill,
Youngs Creek, Bark Camp, Bon, Blue Heron, Honeybee, Coopersville,
Greenwood, Beulah Heights, Kidds Crossing and Lot.
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 3660 8457 3660 8469 3686 8478 3688 8459
3687 8458 3688 8455 3693 8411 3659 8407
TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 276DEG 17KT 3671 8455
JPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
515 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
KYZ080-084>088-242200-
Whitley-McCreary-Knox-Bell-Harlan-Laurel-
515 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN HARLAN...
SOUTHERN LAUREL...BELL...KNOX...EASTERN MCCREARY AND WHITLEY
COUNTIES...
At 515 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Huxley to Gausdale to near
Harrogate. Movement was east at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.
Locations impacted include...
Williamsburg, Barbourville, Pineville, Middlesboro, Julip, Varilla,
Swan Lake, Cumberland Falls S.P., Zion Hill, Ponza, Black Snake,
Gausdale, Cranes Nest, Blanche, Krupp, Cubage, Rella, Bark Camp,
Dixie and Wasioto.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, 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 3659 8433 3692 8447 3706 8393 3671 8331
3667 8343 3667 8353 3662 8364 3658 8369
TIME...MOT...LOC 2115Z 270DEG 18KT 3691 8435 3674 8397 3654 8371
JPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
602 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
KYZ086>088-117-242230-
Knox-Bell-Harlan-Leslie-
602 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL HARLAN...
NORTHEASTERN BELL...SOUTHEASTERN KNOX AND SOUTHWESTERN LESLIE
COUNTIES...
At 602 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Baughman, or
near Barbourville, moving east at 35 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and dime size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Barbourville, Pineville, Wallins Creek, Sandy Fork, Artemus,
Coldiron, Barnyard, Beverly, Black Snake, Saylor, Erose, Blanche,
Rella, Wasioto, Avis, Blackmont, Dewitt, Warbranch, Flat Lick and
Himyar.
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 3675 8387 3689 8389 3696 8364 3696 8362
3695 8361 3696 8359 3694 8351 3700 8352
3702 8345 3674 8339
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 261DEG 32KT 3686 8380
JMWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
621 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
KYZ079-083-084-242245-
McCreary-Wayne-Pulaski-
621 PM EDT SUN JUN 24 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN WAYNE...SOUTH
CENTRAL PULASKI AND CENTRAL MCCREARY COUNTIES...
At 621 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Kidder, or 9
miles northeast of Monticello, moving east at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Whitley City, Burnside, Honeybee, Marshes Siding, Greenwood, Sloans
Valley, Parkers Lake, Beulah Heights, Alpine, Gregory, Stearns,
Quinton, Ritner, Delta, Frazer, Tateville, Denney, Kidder, Wiborg and
Pine Knot.
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 3665 8441 3684 8478 3698 8469 3695 8437
3694 8436 3694 8430 3690 8432 3688 8432
3687 8433 3686 8432 3684 8434 3683 8432
3681 8436 3677 8434
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 290DEG 19KT 3690 8469
JMWThe Knoxville radar (KMRX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:30 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A citizen reported a large tree blown down along Kentucky Highway 221 near Stoney Fork.
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, June 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: 752086.