During the afternoon and evening hours on September 3rd, a combination of ample moisture and sufficient instability provided the necessary ingredients for widespread convection, resulting in locally heavy rainfall and isolated wind damage reports. On the synoptic scale, a weak mid-level disturbance was located across the mid-Mississippi Valley, with a surface low located across western Kentucky.
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.
During the afternoon and evening hours on September 3rd, a combination of ample moisture and sufficient instability provided the necessary ingredients for widespread convection, resulting in locally heavy rainfall and isolated wind damage reports. On the synoptic scale, a weak mid-level disturbance was located across the mid-Mississippi Valley, with a surface low located across western Kentucky. Ahead of this disturbance, a moist air mass was located across central Kentucky, with Precipitable Water values approaching, and in some locations, exceeding 2 inches during the afternoon hours on the 3rd. SBCAPE in excess of 2000 J/kg was sufficient for widespread convection, and while lapse rates and DCAPE were not particularly suggestive of widespread damaging winds, isolated wind damage was observed with the strongest storms, located across Simpson and Warren County. While severe weather was not prevalent across north central Kentucky, multiple waves of heavy rainfall from relatively slow-moving showers and thunderstorms resulted in flash flooding, particularly across Trimble, Shelby, and Franklin County. Multiple reports of road closures and damage to homes along rivers and streams were reported in the aforementioned areas.
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 Sep 3, 12:50 PM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Louisville KY 250 PM EDT Sat Sep 3 2022 .Short Term...(This evening through Sunday) Issued at 236 PM EDT Sat Sep 3 2022 Scattered storms have begun to blossom from northwest Alabama to western and southern Indiana as we destabilize this afternoon ahead of an upper trough to our west. While a few storms may produce locally gusty winds over the next few hours, locally heavy rains will be the main threat. While the storms are moving to the NNE, they are also tending to backbuild as they align with the deep low- mid level flow. With deep warm cloud depths and precipitable water values just shy of two inches, and training of cells (as has already been witnessed in Washington County, Indiana), local flooding issues may arise late this afternoon into the early evening hours. The convection is developing ahead of a long and slowly deepening upper trough reaching from the upper Great Lakes to the western Gulf coast. This trough will stay put during the short term with deep moisture continuing to stream into the region. As a result, widespread shower and scattered thunderstorm chances will continue through tonight and into Sunday. Shear and instability may be weaker tomorrow than today, keeping severe chances low, but once again locally heavy rain will be the main threat. Locations that receive torrential downpours this afternoon may be particularly vulnerable with any heavier storms Sunday. With the clouds and high humidity, diurnal temperature ranges will be small. Lows tonight will be in the upper 60s with highs tomorrow around 80. && .Long Term...(Sunday night through Saturday) Issued at 245 PM EDT Sat Sep 3 2022 Sunday Night - Wednesday... The upper disturbance will continue to sit nearly stationary over the mid Mississippi River Valley through mid week. This feature will be situated between strong upper ridging over the western half of the CONUS, and another area of upper ridging off the Atlantic Coast. Our region will remain situated in the deep southerly flow between the trough axis just to our west and the ridge to our east, and given the strength of the two bookending upper ridges don't see much change to the pattern through mid week. The end result will be periods of slow moving showers and storms in a moist and meagerly unstable atmosphere. In fact, very little instability looks to survive past Sunday so will mainly be carrying shower chances with an outside shot at a few rumbles of thunder. The moist column will be a bigger concern by this time with PWAT values in the 1.7" - 2.0" range. Rainfall totals may also be adding up by this time, so the longer this pattern persists, the better chance for a few flooding concerns. Confidence is highest in the southern and eastern portions of the CWA seeing the most rainfall (between 1" - 3", locally higher) between Saturday and Wednesday. Will keep high pops in the likely to categorical range on Monday, peaking with max diurnal heating. Thereafter, will call for scattered to numerous showers each day through mid week. Temperatures look to run in the upper 70s and low 80s through mid week, a little more on the higher side of that range by then. These values will be a little below normal for this time of year, which is to be expected given the increased cloud cover and precipitation chances. Wednesday Night - Saturday... Confidence is lower going into the late week portion of the forecast. By this time, the upper disturbance will start to be displaced southward along the lower Mississippi River Valley, however deep southerly flow may remain over our region between the elongated trough axis and upper ridging to our east. This will continue to draw a deeper moisture component over our area from the Gulf, but the lack of notable triggering features may leave only diurnal heating as the main driver. Therefore, do have lower overall pops during this time. Will also have to watch a northern stream shortwave moving through the flow. If it makes it far enough south, it could enhance the moisture plume over our area and squeeze out more of a shower and storm threat late week. Something to watch. Highs by this time should continue to be in the lower 80s for most locations. && .Aviation...(18Z TAF Issuance) Issued at 122 PM EDT Sat Sep 3 2022 With a stagnant pattern in place, the weather will be similar through the TAF period. The airports will be situated just east of a slowly deepening upper trough with deep, moist SSW flow resulting in widespread clouds (mostly VFR). Showers and thunderstorms should become more widespread this afternoon as we destabilize, with showers continuing tonight into tomorrow. There is some indication that MVFR ceilings over southern Indiana tomorrow morning may drift into HNB's airspace. The most detrimental flying conditions in this TAF period will be in torrential downpours and locally gusty winds associated with scattered storms this afternoon and evening. && .LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...None. KY...None. && Short Term...13 Long Term...BJS Aviation...13
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Louisville KY 334 PM EDT Sat Sep 3 2022 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067- 070>078-081-082-041945- 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 334 PM EDT Sat Sep 3 2022 /234 PM CDT Sat Sep 3 2022/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Indiana and Central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms will continue this evening. Heavy rainfall could lead to minor flooding in some areas. A few stronger storms capable of gusty winds and frequent lightning are also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Thunderstorms will be possible each day, especially in the afternoon and evening hours. Heavy rainfall may lead to localized flooding, especially in areas that are repeatedly affected by thunderstorms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are invited to report any instances of flooding and gusty winds. GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY: Storms will move to the north-northeast at 15 to 20 mph. Any users of this storm motion must be aware that thunderstorm activity can be erratic and constantly evolving. Please use this with caution and be prepared for changing conditions. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found, at weather.gov/louisville. 13/BJS
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
224 PM CDT Sat Sep 3 2022
KYZ070-032000-
Logan KY-
224 PM CDT Sat Sep 3 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Logan
County through 300 PM CDT...
At 223 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Russellville, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds between 30 to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Russellville around 235 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
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 3674 8706 3676 8705 3679 8706 3688 8706
3693 8694 3684 8680 3665 8681 3664 8706
TIME...MOT...LOC 1923Z 248DEG 20KT 3677 8696
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
BJSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
249 PM CDT Sat Sep 3 2022
KYZ070-072-032015-
Logan KY-Simpson KY-
249 PM CDT Sat Sep 3 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Logan and
western Simpson Counties through 315 PM CDT...
At 248 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Russellville, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of central Logan and
western Simpson Counties, including the following locations...
Gasper, Adairville, Danby, Neosheo, Dennis, Schochoh, Middleton,
Schweizer, Oakville and Auburn.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
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 3686 8698 3697 8669 3665 8658 3665 8687
TIME...MOT...LOC 1948Z 251DEG 19KT 3675 8684
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
BJSThe Nashville radar (KOHX), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:12 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were reported down on Gold City Road near Franklin.
Trees were blown down along Browning Road near its intersection with Rockfield Browning Road, also resulting in downed power lines.
Trees were blown over in the Weather Stone subdivision, which also brought down power lines.
Trees were blown down along Windsor Circle, which also brought down power lines.
Trees were blown down along Blue Level Providence Road.
Trees were blown down along Galloways Mill Road.
Flooding occurred on North Main Street in Franklin, resulting in the temporary closure of the road.
Connector Road was closed due to water rises along Hardy Creek and the Little Kentucky River. Five other roads experienced minor flooding across Trimble County.
A home was swept off of its foundation at 7701 Hatton Road along the Dutch Fork, resulting in the rescue of two individuals in that home. Seven other homes received damage along the Dutch Fork, including along Quisenberry Lane.
A portion of Stockton Road washed away immediately south of the bridge over North Benson Creek. The roadway surface was washed away and the road was temporarily closed while repairs were made. A pickup truck was also washed into a tree, with the driver escaping the truck without injury.
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, September 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: 1058140, 1058150, 1058141, 1058142, 1058143, 1058144, 1058146, 1058147, 1058148, 1058149.