Kentucky sat under the front of an upper ridge as a surface low advanced toward the state. This low anchored a warm front to the east and cold front to the west and caused thunderstorms to breakout across central Kentucky as the system moved through the area.
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.
Kentucky sat under the front of an upper ridge as a surface low advanced toward the state. This low anchored a warm front to the east and cold front to the west and caused thunderstorms to breakout across central Kentucky as the system moved through the area. The storms produced wind and hail damage across the region.
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 Jul 11, 6:39 PM EST, 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Louisville KY 739 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020 ...Updated Aviation Discussion... .Forecast Update... Issued at 720 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020 Line of convection continues to progress SE out of central and west- central KY, driven by warm advection and moisture transport from the W and SW of the line over IL and SW IN. SPC mesoanalysis shows 0-6 km bulk shear vectors are from NW to SE at 30-40 kts over IN and IL which should help sustain and storms and cause a continued SE propagation across south-central IN and then across the OH River into north-central and east-central KY. A convective cold pool also will push the storms, and with steep low-level lapse rates and DCAPE values around 1000 J/kg from Louisville westward, strong to even a few severe wind gusts are possible. Overall, instability is weaker over our eastern forecast area, where cells may tend to weaken somewhat. Greater instability exists to the W and SW of the line which may cause new cell development on the southern to western flank of the line. Not out of the question that some cell training could develop over our northern/western forecast area later this evening as an outflow boundary slows and potentially lies SE to NW across the area. Will monitor convective trends over next few hours. Increased convective POPs this evening across the forecast area, especially north and west of area. && .Short Term...(This evening through Sunday) Issued at 255 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020 Clouds and precipitation chances increase this evening into tomorrow as a few disturbances moves through the upper level flow associated with the eastern US trough. Scattered cumulus clouds have developed this afternoon west of I-65 but high clouds associated with a MCS currently in northern IL/IN will help increase some high clouds as this complex drops SSE. If this MCS holds together or any associated boundary drops south into the region, this could produce showers and storms close to sunset. CAPE is around 1500 J/Kg with steep low level lapse rates and effective shear around 30-35kts. This could be one of a few waves of convection we see by tomorrow morning. SPC expanded their day one outlook to include most of our CWA into a marginal risk for severe storms with our far northwestern counties in Indiana/Kentucky (Dubois, Perry, Hancock) in a slight risk. Main threat with any activity tonight and tomorrow morning will be severe hail and damaging winds. More unsettled weather is likely tomorrow as surface front moves through the area in the afternoon/evening. Dew points rise back into the low 70s with CAPE between 2500-3500 J/kg along with moderate shear, more strong/severe storms are possible. Main threat will continue to be severe hail and damaging winds with the strongest storms. SPC has all of our CWA in a marginal risk for severe storms on Sunday. .Long Term...(Sunday night through Saturday) Issued at 234 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020 High pressure will build in behind the weak cold front and result in a rather pleasant feeling day Monday. Temperatures won't exactly be cool (mid to upper 80s), but dewpoints mixing down into the low 60s by the afternoon will make it feel comfortable out there. The surface high will slowly slide to the east after Monday as upper level ridging builds in from the west. This will result in a gradual warming in temperatures as well as an increase in dewpoints (mugginess) going into midweek. By the time we get to Wednesday, the upper level pattern turns more active as the outer periphery of an upper level southern Plains ridge sets up over the lower Ohio Valley. The timing of individual waves within the periphery of the ridge this far out remains too difficult to predict, but the overall pattern suggests an increased chance for precipitation Wednesday night into the start of next weekend. Confidence in hot temperatures during this timeframe is also low, as the timing of these waves could limit how warm temperatures climb during the afternoon hours. Should a particular day remain precip/cloud free for a majority of the daylight hours during the mid to late week period, expect heat indices to climb close to or above 100 degrees in the afternoon hours. && .Aviation...(00Z TAF Issuance) Issued at 735 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020 KLVX currently showing a line of thunderstorms moving SE towards the Louisville Metro at this hour. This line is expected to impact SDF around 00z, so have included a TEMPO group through 03z. Conditions should quiet down after 03z for a few hours at SDF before another wave of showers and storms arrive tomorrow morning. Hi-res models continue to suggest multiple waves of showers and thunderstorms across the region overnight and tomorrow AM. Confidence on timing of additional waves is low considering some disagreements between the models. However, decided to include VCTS at all terminals through the end of this TAF cycle. Winds increase to 15-20 kts late tomorrow morning as the front approaches. && .LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...None. KY...None. && Update...TWF Short Term...BTN Long Term....DM Aviation...CJP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Louisville KY 750 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067- 070>078-081-082-130000- 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 750 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020 /650 PM CDT Sat Jul 11 2020/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Indiana and Central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will affect the area tonight. Some of the storms could be strong to severe, especially over parts of south-central Indiana and north-central and west-central Kentucky. Main threat will be strong and potentially damaging winds, hail, torrential rainfall, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. A few strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible on Sunday. The main threat will be locally gusty winds and briefly torrential rainfall, along with frequent lightning. Thunderstorms will return to the forecast by midweek. The main threats with storms next week will be gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Heat indices could also climb to near 100 degrees for the latter end of the week in areas that do not see morning and early afternoon storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters should report any instances of flooding or wind damage to the National Weather Service. TWF/DM
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
650 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020
INZ079-092-KYZ032-112315-
Jefferson-Clark-Trimble-
650 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON...
NORTHEASTERN CLARK AND SOUTHWESTERN TRIMBLE COUNTIES...
At 649 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 9 miles southwest of
Madison, moving southeast at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 45 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Bedford, Hanover, Saluda, Bethlehem, Otto, Trout, Paynesville,
Chelsea, Wises Landing, and Swanville.
If outdoors, seek shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 3856 8526 3851 8535 3851 8537 3852 8538
3852 8544 3851 8546 3849 8548 3862 8557
3868 8557 3872 8550
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 322DEG 23KT 3864 8551
13Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
710 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020
KYZ031-112345-
Oldham-
710 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT OLDHAM COUNTY...
At 709 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms from 6 miles
northwest of La Grange to near Prospect. Movement was southeast at
25 mph.
Winds in excess of 45 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.
Locations impacted include...
La Grange, Prospect, Crestwood, Orchard Grass Hills, Pewee Valley,
Goshen, River Bluff, Oldham, Buckner, and Harmony Village.
If outdoors, seek shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 3852 8538 3849 8531 3846 8535 3840 8533
3836 8528 3831 8533 3829 8541 3830 8542
3829 8543 3830 8545 3829 8547 3834 8557
3834 8558 3835 8558 3838 8564 3845 8559
3846 8551 3852 8544
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 307DEG 22KT 3846 8548 3842 8556
13Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
741 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020
KYZ031-033-034-120015-
Oldham-Shelby-Henry-
741 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN OLDHAM...
NORTHWESTERN SHELBY AND SOUTHWESTERN HENRY COUNTIES...
At 741 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near La Grange,
moving southeast at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Shelbyville, La Grange, Eminence, Pleasureville, Smithfield,
Mulberry, Chestnut Grove, Montclair, Joyes and Elmburg.
LAT...LON 3831 8545 3840 8537 3841 8523 3832 8503
3818 8529
TIME...MOT...LOC 2341Z 308DEG 22KT 3837 8544
TWFSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Louisville KY 750 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020 INZ076-120015- Orange- 750 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN ORANGE COUNTY... At 749 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms from 14 miles northwest of Salem to 7 miles south of Bedford. Movement was east at 30 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail are possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Orleans, Bromer, Leipsic and Syria. Frequent lightning is occurring with these storms. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. LAT...LON 3869 8631 3858 8631 3858 8654 3869 8656 TIME...MOT...LOC 2349Z 290DEG 24KT 3875 8631 3875 8652 13
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
800 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020
INZ090>092-KYZ030-031-120030-
Floyd-Clark-Harrison-Jefferson-Oldham-
800 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2020
...LINE OF STORMS WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS HEADING FOR THE LOUISVILLE
METRO...
At 758 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms from 9 miles
southeast of Scottsburg to 10 miles north of New Albany to 11 miles
south of Salem. Movement was southeast at 45 mph.
These storms will be capable of frequent lightning, strong gusty
winds, and hail as they move through the Louisville Metro.
Locations impacted will include...
Louisville, Jeffersonville, New Albany, Jeffersontown, St. Matthews,
Shively, Lyndon, La Grange, Middletown, and Douglass Hills.
Frequent lightning is occurring with these storms. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 3853 8544 3836 8528 3830 8536 3831 8539
3831 8541 3829 8541 3830 8542 3829 8543
3830 8545 3812 8560 3803 8598 3826 8612
3835 8580
TIME...MOT...LOC 2358Z 328DEG 39KT 3860 8564 3844 8585 3843 8610
13PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
820 PM EDT SAT JUL 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0810 PM TSTM WND DMG JEFFERSONVILLE 38.30N 85.73W
07/11/2020 CLARK IN COCORAHS
REPORT OF LARGE BRANCHES DOWN. ESTIMATED 50
MPH WIND GUSTS.
&&
CJPThe Louisville radar (KLVX), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:20 UTC.
14 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was ripped out of the ground, and a large oak tree limb was broken.
There was a report of trees and power lines down along Taylorsville Road near Breckenridge Lane.
A large tree fell down near Hunsinger Lane and Hikes Lane.
A billboard was blown down in the middle of the road at the intersection of Grinstead Drive and Lexington Road.
Dispatch reported trees down near Harrington Mill Road.
Trees blew down near Shakertown along Lexington Road.
Dispatch reported trees down along Louisville Road.
Dispatch reported trees down 2 miles north of Lancaster.
A residence on Huntsville-Quality Road was struck by lightning and caught on fire.
Dispatch reported a tree down along Highway 412.
Dispatch reported trees down 1 mile north of 150.
Dispatch reported trees down on Thurman Road.
Dispatch reported trees down near Bear Track Road and Palestine Road.
Dispatch reported trees down along Old Greensburg Road.
Dispatch reported a tree down along Mitchellsburg Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, July 2020
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: 913556, 913557, 913558, 913559, 913562, 913563, 913564, 913566, 913767, 913569, 913572, 913573, 913575, 913577, 913580.