Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across eastern to central Kentucky this afternoon, morphing into a large complex during the evening. These formed along a stationary frontal boundary and in the vicinity of the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Gordon.
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.
Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across eastern to central Kentucky this afternoon, morphing into a large complex during the evening. These formed along a stationary frontal boundary and in the vicinity of the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Gordon. The slow movement of these led to flash flooding in Bath County, while the strength of one storm briefly increased enough to result in a few trees down west of West Liberty. In addition, a cluster of thunderstorms developed along the Kentucky and Tennessee state line. This moved northwest and intensified such that a couple of large storage buildings were demolished.
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 Sep 6, 3:25 PM EST, 3 hours 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Jackson KY 425 PM EDT Thu Sep 6 2018 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday night) Issued at 300 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018 The remnants of the tropical system reside over Arkansas this afternoon. Per water vapor imagery. An area of deformation extends along the spine of the Appalachians. This has led to very little shear and very slow shower and storm movement today. The lack of shear has really limited stronger activity today and thus, we haven't had a big issue with heavy rain today. Will maintain a small chance of shower and a few storms into the evening, but once we lose instability, we should see everything die down much like the past several evenings. This will lead to some more river valley fog tonight. Could see locally dense fog down in the southwest areas where the rain has fallen today. By tomorrow, a cold front will stall just north of the Ohio river. This should focus the best shower and storm chances to our north. However, enough moisture and instability remains that we should see another round of isolated shower and storm activity. This activity should die off once more as we lose instability tomorrow evening with another night of valley fog for Friday night. As it stands right now, showers and storms should erode enough in time for Friday night festivities. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 425 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018 No significant changes to the extended. Models continue to exhibit good agreement in solutions with respect to the overall pattern and sequence of events. Remnants of Gordan and the potential for heavy rain continue to be the focus of the forecast. In general models have trended slightly slower with solutions and sequence of events through the extended. Gordon will phase with an approaching shortwave trough moving eastward from the Plains Friday night through Saturday. Gordon should complete the process of transitioning into a subtropical system by Saturday night and then make a more aggressive move northeast through the Midwest and Great Lakes Region by the start of the new week. Additional shortwave energy moving in from the west will tend to reinforce some of the troughiness across the Ohio and Tenn Valley and may slow progress of a surface frontal boundary through eastern Kentucky until early to mid-week, or the Tue-Wed time frame. The ECMWF, Canadian, GFS, and Parallel GFS (FV3) are showing signs of narrowing on solutions with respect to Florence, which now bring the system towards the Mid-Atlantic region by Thursday. Three of the four solutions bring Florence at least briefly on shore somewhere between North Carolina and Long Island by the end of the period or just beyond the extended window. Only the FV3 keeps Florence off shore (just). Sensible weather features an unsettled weather pattern with the potential of heavy rain across at least a portion of our forecast area. Areas most likely at threat will be roughly along and north of a line from Mount Vernon to Sandy Hook, where between 2 and 3.5 inches of rainfall will be possible. PWATs will climb to between 1.7 and 2 inches with a surface frontal zone across the region providing a focus for convection. This could set the stage for repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms for our more northwestern zones. With respect to timing, Saturday night through Monday appears to be the main window of concern, where the bulk of rainfall could take place. Some uncertainty still exists in the exact track, timing, and evolution of this system through the region. In addition, with the main event still 5th period or further out, decided to reissue and fine tune the ESF for now. However, would not be surprised if a watch were issued within the next forecast cycle or two. Again, at this time areas most likely to be affected are our northeastern zones. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon) ISSUED AT 145 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018 Expect some widely isolated showers and storms this afternoon, with it all dying off by sunset. Fog development is expected again later tonight. This will be hindered by any cloud cover across the area. Winds are expected to remain light and variable across the area outside of thunderstorms. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SHORT TERM...KAS LONG TERM...RAY AVIATION...KAS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson KY 253 PM EDT Thu Sep 6 2018 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-072200- 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 253 PM EDT Thu Sep 6 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A stray thunderstorm may be possible through early this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Thunderstorms are possible at times Friday through Wednesday, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. Some storms on Friday through the weekend could bring locally heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. KAS/RAY
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
602 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
KYZ087-062215-
Bell-
602 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL BELL COUNTY...
At 602 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Middlesboro.
The storm is nearly stationary.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Middlesboro, Noetown, Binghamtown and Cumberland Gap.
LAT...LON 3666 8381 3666 8367 3661 8366 3658 8369
3658 8381
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 060DEG 0KT 3660 8374
HALSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
619 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
KYZ085-062245-
Whitley-
619 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL WHITLEY COUNTY...
At 618 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Mountain Ash,
or near Williamsburg, moving northwest at 10 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Bon, Ayers, Emlyn, Packard, Zion Hill, Red Ash, Lot, Pleasant View,
Saxton, Polly Camp, Mountain Ash, Jellico and Indian Mountain State
Park.
LAT...LON 3659 8422 3661 8424 3673 8421 3667 8404
3659 8407
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 113DEG 7KT 3664 8414
HALSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
627 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
KYZ044-051-062245-
Fleming-Bath-
627 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTH CENTRAL BATH AND SOUTH
CENTRAL FLEMING COUNTIES...
At 627 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Sherburne, or 8
miles southwest of Flemingsburg. The storm is nearly stationary.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Pecks Ridge, Wyoming, Hillsboro, Sherburne, Pebble, Oakley and
Odessa.
LAT...LON 3837 8381 3829 8365 3819 8369 3828 8387
3832 8384 3832 8385 3834 8384 3834 8386
3836 8386
TIME...MOT...LOC 2227Z 354DEG 4KT 3832 8382
HALSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
658 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
KYZ050-058-059-062315-
Montgomery-Estill-Powell-
658 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT POWELL...SOUTH CENTRAL
MONTGOMERY AND NORTHEASTERN ESTILL COUNTIES...
At 656 PM EDT, a cluster of strong thunderstorms was located over
the region. The storms were nearly stationary.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch diameter hail are possible
with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Stanton, Jeffersonville, Camargo, Clay City, Pilot, Levee, Bowen,
Kimbrell, Slade, Bean, Waltersville, Virden, Vaughns Mill, Hardwick,
Rosslyn, Knowlton, Haystack, Rogers Chapel, Westbend and Fitchburg.
LAT...LON 3782 8363 3772 8371 3771 8376 3774 8399
3784 8402 3784 8400 3787 8403 3787 8402
3790 8399 3792 8399 3793 8397 3797 8399
3800 8391
TIME...MOT...LOC 2256Z 246DEG 0KT 3783 8384
HALSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
711 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
KYZ060-062345-
Menifee-
711 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT MENIFEE COUNTY...
At 710 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Tabor, or near
Frenchburg. The storm is nearly stationary.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Frenchburg, Wellington, Campsites in the Indian Creek area of the
Daniel Boone National Forrest, Means, Stoll, Cornwell, Rothwell,
Cedar Groves, Denniston, Dan, Fagan, Tabor, Ratlitt, Sudith,
Scranton, Artville, Mariba, Pomeroyton, Big Woods and Korea.
LAT...LON 3801 8344 3794 8344 3783 8353 3782 8359
3783 8362 3782 8363 3783 8364 3792 8377
3799 8377 3801 8374 3800 8372 3803 8366
3802 8363 3801 8361 3801 8358 3803 8357
TIME...MOT...LOC 2310Z 006DEG 0KT 3793 8367
HALSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
724 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
KYZ084-085-062345-
Whitley-McCreary-
724 PM EDT THU SEP 6 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN MCCREARY AND WEST
CENTRAL WHITLEY COUNTIES...
At 723 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Beulah Heights,
or near Whitley City, moving northwest at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations which may be impacted include...
Beulah Heights, Bounty, Honeybee, Cumberland Falls S.P. and Duckrun.
LAT...LON 3673 8426 3667 8435 3671 8440 3677 8452
3688 8435 3679 8430
TIME...MOT...LOC 2323Z 143DEG 16KT 3677 8437
HALThe Knoxville radar (KMRX), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:49 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Dispatch reported a couple of very large storage buildings, composed of metal siding and wood framing, were destroyed as severe thunderstorm winds moved through south of Whitley City.
Department of Highways officials reported a few trees blown down on Kentucky Highway 705 west of West Liberty.
Dispatch reported water flowing across Elk Lick Road and Kentucky Highway 36 south of Olympia, resulting in the road being closed.
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, September 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: 773259, 773258, 773261.