S. on this day.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
A deep upper level trough was in place across the central U.S. on this day. This translated down to the surface as well, with strong SW flow in place across much of Ohio Valley. Meanwhile, a cold front, extending from a occluded low pressure system in southeast Canada, was located just ahead of the trough, being pushed eastward with the upper level flow. During the first part of the day on the 17th, this front was located NW of the state, making its way eastward. By the afternoon and evening hours, it began to push into Kentucky, developing a secondary low pressure system. This low continued to gain strength, traversing eastern KY, along with the surface cold front, through the late evening and first part of the overnight.
At 21Z on the 17th, the radar showed rain increasing across eastern KY ahead of this powerful cold front. An intensifying 70 to 80kt 850mb jet was analyzed just ahead of the boundary, which combined with some downslope drying, to produce strong to damaging wind gusts across portions of eastern Kentucky. A wind advisory and high wind warning were in effect for all of eastern Kentucky through the evening and into the first part of the overnight given the conditions. Gradient winds were the culprit for multiple trees down across eastern Kentucky, specifically in Clay, Floyd, Harlan, and Perry counties.
Aside from the intense gradient winds, strong to severe storms also develop along and just ahead of the actual cold front as it moved through. These storms helped to translate the higher winds aloft down to the ground, resulting in multiple reports of wind damage across Powell and Estill Counties.
The event ended up being centered around wind damage, both gradient and convective, all ending just after the front passed through and exited eastern KY by 6Z on the 18th.
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 Feb 17, 6:32 PM EST, 28 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Jackson KY 632 PM EST Thu Feb 17 2022 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday night) Issued at 457 PM EST THU FEB 17 2022 At 21z, radar showed rain increasing across the forecast area ahead of a powerful cold front. An intensifying 70-80 knot 850 mb jet was analyzed just ahead of the boundary. As the jet has increased, some downslope drying has become evident near and downwind of Pine Mountain. The ECMWF ensembles and some of the CAMS have shown a persistent bullseye of 58+ mph gradient wind gusts (mainly between 6 and 9 PM) immediately downwind of Pine Mountain. Given the observed downslope drying, seemed prudent to further expand the High Wind Warning into these areas. The most likely impacted areas will be the higher ridges of Black and Pine Mountains as wells areas immediately downwind, generally to the south of the Hal Rogers and Highway 80 corridor. In the deeper valleys of the Warning area, anticipate wind gusts to generally remain in in the 40 to 50 mph range ahead of the line, but could gust higher with any stronger convection. McCreary County was added to the High Wind Warning given the observed upstream wind gust of 55 to 60 mph at the Scott County Airport but suspect that most impacts will be limited to the southeastern part of the county near the higher mountains. The remaining forecast area is under a Wind Advisory for peak gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Aside from the strong gradient winds, we are also watching the possibility for strong to severe showers and storms along the front. Shear remains extreme and the instability is very minimal, but if any deeper convection is able to maintain, damaging wind gusts are the primary threat. It actually appears that the strong mid-level flow is pushing the convection out of the best instability axis into more stable air ahead ahead of the front. If this continues, the threat for tornadoes, will be almost nil. The heaviest line of showers and storms is expected to reach our western counties by around 6-7 PM and will then push east and exit Pike County by 10-11 PM. Behind the front, expect a few lingering showers through the remainder of the night, gradually transitioning to snow showers and flurries as temperatures fall below freezing. A mostly cloudy and cold day is on tap for Friday--highs will remain in the 30s at most locations. Snow showers and flurries will likely hold on through the morning hours ahead of the upper level trough axis. A wedge of surface high pressure follows Friday evening with drier air, clearing skies, and seasonably cold temperatures for Friday night. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 525 PM EST THU FEB 17 2022 The models are in very good agreement concerning the long wave pattern for this weekend and into next week. A transition to more zonal flow takes place east of the Rockies through the conclusion of the week. Meanwhile, upper level ridging will be sharpening up across the eastern Pacific. A cutoff low will be opening up and ejecting east out the Baja California, while inbound short wave energy from southwest Canada will allow for deeper troughing to take shape from the northern Rockies/Great Basin down through the Desert Southwest into next week. This sets up warm and moist southwest flow across the Mississippi Valley. At the surface, a slow-moving baroclinic zone will shift southeast across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, with above normal temperatures and wet conditions returning to region. The probability of persistent rainfall is high through the period; however, there is still plenty of variability regarding the placement of heavier rainfall amounts and eventual hydro concerns. Have stayed pretty close to the blended guidance for the forecast, besides allowing for a slower onset to the precipitation, as models have trended more delayed compared to yesterday. A dry cold front will pass through eastern Kentucky on Saturday, with low relative humidity expected. Highs have trended a bit cooler compared to yesterday, generally in the low to mid 40s. The dry air will continue on Sunday, with highs trending a good 15 degrees warmer, generally upper 50s for most locations. Dry weather will hold on through early Monday morning, before rain chances ramp up especially from Monday night onward, with the approach of the slow-moving cold front from the northwest. Temperatures will average well above normal through Tuesday, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s and 50s. Temperatures will cool down behind the front by the middle of next week, with highs retreating to mainly the 50s, and lows in the 30s and 40s. Depending on where the front stalls to our southeast, there is fairly low confidence in these numbers holding up well this far out. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening) ISSUED AT 625 PM EST THU FEB 17 2022 Poor flying conditions to start the 00Z TAF period with MVFR and at times IFR ceilings. Rain showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue along and ahead of an approaching cold front that will cross the area late tonight, with reduced visibility expected in some of the heavier showers. S/SW winds ahead of the front will continue to be gusty, with 30-40 kt gusts expected this evening. Winds turn to the W/NW after the frontal passage and gradually subside overnight. Ceilings will remain IFR/MVFR overnight with improvement expected Friday morning. A return to VFR is expected at all locations by Friday afternoon. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Friday for KYZ044-050>052-058>060- 068-069-079-080-083-104-106>112-114-119. High Wind Warning until 1 AM EST Friday for KYZ084>088-113- 115>118-120. && SHORT TERM...GEERTSON LONG TERM...GEOGERIAN AVIATION...CMF
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson KY 405 PM EST Thu Feb 17 2022 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083-104-106>112-114-119- 190015- Fleming-Montgomery-Bath-Rowan-Estill-Powell-Menifee-Rockcastle- Jackson-Pulaski-Laurel-Wayne-Elliott-Morgan-Johnson-Wolfe- Magoffin-Floyd-Lee-Breathitt-Owsley-Martin- 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, Sandy Hook, West Liberty, Paintsville, Campton, Salyersville, Prestonsburg, Wheelwright, Beattyville, Jackson, Booneville, and Inez 405 PM EST Thu Feb 17 2022 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST FRIDAY... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Strong southerly to southwesterly winds are expected into tonight, with gusts of 40 to 50 mph likely. There is also a possibility of thunderstorms this evening. Any storms that develop could become severe, with damaging wind gusts being the primary threat. However, a tornado cannot be ruled out from one of the more organized storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report any wind damage into tonight. KYZ084>088-113-115>118-120-190015- McCreary-Whitley-Knox-Bell-Harlan-Knott-Perry-Clay-Leslie-Letcher- Pike- Including the cities of Stearns, Whitley City, Corbin, Williamsburg, Barbourville, Middlesboro, Pineville, Cumberland, Harlan, Hindman, Pippa Passes, Hazard, Manchester, Hyden, Jenkins, Whitesburg, Coal Run, Elkhorn City, Pikeville, and South Williamson 405 PM EST Thu Feb 17 2022 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST FRIDAY... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Strong southerly to southwesterly winds are expected into tonight, with gusts of 45 to 60 mph likely, particularly for the higher elevations south of the Hal Rogers Parkway. The strongest winds will generally occur along and just ahead of a line of strong showers and thunderstorms this evening. Any thunderstorms that develop could become severe, with damaging wind gusts being the primary threat. However, a tornado cannot be ruled out from one of the more organized storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report any wind damage into tonight. GEERTSON/GEOGERIAN
The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 58 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:22 UTC.
5 high wind, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Highway Department reported a tree down due to high winds on Red Lick Road, near the intersection with Station Camp Road.
A car port was reported having been blown over onto Richmond Road near the intersection with Pea Ridge Road.
Dispatch reported that a tree was down on Hardwicks Creek Road near the community of Vaughns Mill.
A tree was reported down on Natural Bridge Road near Natural Bridge State Park.
A tree was reported down on Cane Creek Road, near the community of Rosslyn.
A tree was reported down on Mountain Crest Circle near the intersection with Grindstone Road in North Irvine.
The Highway Department reported multiple trees down across the county between 10:45pm and 11pm EST. Roads impacted by downed trees included KY-421 near the Boho community, KY-638 near the Sidell community, KY-11 near the community of Tanksley, and KY-3477 near US-421 just SSE of the Fall Rock community.
The Highway Department reported two trees down across the county between 11:22pm and 11:30pm EST. Roads impacted by downed trees included Francis Branch Road near the community of Ned, and KY-28 between mile markers 13 and 14.
The Highway Department reported multiple trees down across the county between 11:43pm and 12:05am EST. Roads impacted by downed trees included KY-221 between the intersection with Evelyn Lane and Mill Branch Church Loop, KY-1780 between the intersections with Salt Trace Branch Road and Middle Fork Road, KY-990 near the intersection with Engle Road, and KY-987 just east of the intersection with Laurel Branch.
The Highway Department reported a tree down due to high winds along KY-76, near the intersection with KY-899.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, February 2022
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: 1008795, 1008799, 1008807, 1008809, 1008810, 1008797, 1008755, 1008761, 1008757, 1008759.