Isolated thunderstorms developed across portions of the Lake Cumberland region late this afternoon and early this evening in the midst of a hot and humid airmass. A couple of these storms became strong enough to result in downed trees across portions of Whitley and Pulaski Counties.
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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 JKL wrote it up.
Isolated thunderstorms developed across portions of the Lake Cumberland region late this afternoon and early this evening in the midst of a hot and humid airmass. A couple of these storms became strong enough to result in downed trees across portions of Whitley and Pulaski Counties.
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 Jul 8, 4:06 PM EST, 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Jackson KY 506 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2020 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday night) Issued at 505 PM EDT WED JUL 8 2020 Summer remains intact across eastern Kentucky. Hot and humid conditions have set the stage for afternoon convection across portions of the area. Convection first started along the higher terrain where lift was more prevalent, but has become isolated to scattered across much of the area. As the sun begins to set, and temperatures start to cool, this convection will quickly cease. For overnight, once we've cleared out, a nice llvl inversion will set up. With clearing skies and light winds expected, expect valleys to drop off a bit compared to the neighboring ridges. This will also be a good set up for at least patchy valley fog. The only exception will be any locations that end up getting a pretty good dowsing from the rains this afternoon, which may add enough additional moisture to the atmosphere to lead to further fog development. More of the same is on tap for tomorrow. However, with high pressure still sitting across the region, temperatures will continue to modify a bit warmer. High temps will be in the low 90s, but with humidity, heat indexes may climb to near 100 degrees in many locations. This is not quite to our heat advisory criteria, but did at least warrant an SPS through the day tomorrow. Isolated to scattered afternoon convection will also initiate. However, with a continued lack of winds and organization, these will continue to be very pulsy in nature, with lightning and locally heavy rainfall the biggest threats. Convection should diminish overnight, but there is some guidance that suggests precip could continue into the overnight. Convective potential will be lost by late evening as we cool off, more than likely, so went ahead and just went with rain showers during the late night period. Could also still see some valley fog setting out outside of any ongoing showers that may persist. .LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday) Issued at 437 PM EDT WED JUL 8 2020 Typical mid-summer conditions are expected through the middle of next week. Showers or storms will be possible on any day, but the most widespread activity will probably occur Friday into Friday night and again Sunday into Sunday night. Hot and humid conditions are forecast on Friday with high temperatures in the upper 80s to near 90, cooling slightly into the mid-to-upper 80s for Saturday through Monday. Temperatures warm back into the 90s for most locations by Wednesday. The model analysis, starting 12z Friday, shows upper level troughing over most of the eastern CONUS while ridging dominates over much of the west. Within the eastern trough, a filling cutoff upper level low is lifting northward along the Mid- Atlantic Coast while an a fairly robust vort max/shortwave trough are approaching from the western Great Lakes/Ohio Valley. This trough will be accompanied by a surface cold front as as it approaches eastern Kentucky Friday afternoon into early Saturday. The front stalls near the area on Saturday as weak shortwave ridging noses into the area. Another shortwave trough approaches the area Sunday and Sunday night and finally pushes the front south of the area. The western ridging shifts eastward with building heights from Monday onward as 500 mb heights rise to near an anomalous 600 dam by next Friday. Sensible weather should feature a rising threat for showers and thunderstorms on Friday along and ahead of the approaching cold front. This activity will diminish Saturday morning as heights rise slightly but redevelop Sunday into Sunday night as the second shortwave trough and the cold front finally push through. A warming trend then ensues for the new workweek along with the possibility for an isolated afternoon/evening shower or thunderstorm. However, a capping inversion should limit most of this activity to the higher terrain closer to the VA border. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon) ISSUED AT 222 PM EDT WED JUL 8 2020 Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are ongoing over portions of eastern Kentucky. Based on the current radar trends, it appears as though KLOZ and KSME have the best shot of seeing convection today, so went ahead and included VCTS in their TAFS through this evening. Otherwise, VFR conditions should remain in place throughout the day, along with light winds. Any diurnally driven CU will dissipate heading into the evening and overnight. Fog was generally confined to the valleys last night, so expect more of the same tonight. In which case, did not include any impacts from fog at the TAF sites, other than a possible scattered MVFR deck as the fog lifts and dissipates around 11 to 12Z. Tomorrow looks very similar to that of today, with VFR conditions and isolated afternoon convection. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...JMW LONG TERM...GEERTSON AVIATION...JMW
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson KY 441 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2020 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-092345- 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 441 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Isolated thunderstorms are possible this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Heat indexes are expected to top out in the upper 90s to near 100 degrees in most locations by Thursday afternoon. Please make sure to take precautions if outside during this time. Take frequent brings, drink plenty of water, and wear light and loose clothing. Thunderstorms are possible at times from Thursday through Tuesday, particularly during each afternoon and evening. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. JMW/GEERTSON
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Jackson KY 437 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2020 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-090900- 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 437 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2020 ...Hot and Humid Conditions Expected for Thursday... Temperatures are expected to top out in the low 90s by Thursday afternoon. With added humidity, heat indexes will rise to near 100 degrees in many locations. Heat of this magnitude, though not uncommon for July, can be hazardous. If outside, make sure to drink plenty of water, take breaks, and wear light and loose fitting clothing. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstance. JMW
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:08 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A local media outlet reported a large tree limb was blown onto a fence east of Wofford.
Dispatch relayed a report of a tree blown down near the intersection of Crawford and Holmes Avenues in Somerset.
Dispatch reported a tree blown down on Piney Grove Road northeast of Nancy, as well as one on Kentucky Highway 837 near Cains Store.
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: 893334, 893331, 893308.