Showers and thunderstorms developed in eastern Kentucky on the afternoon of July 13th in the midst of weak disturbances passing through the area. Abundant moisture was in place during this time with surface dew points above 70 degrees, which allowed storms to thrive during the daylight hours.
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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 RLX wrote it up.
Showers and thunderstorms developed in eastern Kentucky on the afternoon of July 13th in the midst of weak disturbances passing through the area. Abundant moisture was in place during this time with surface dew points above 70 degrees, which allowed storms to thrive during the daylight hours. Strong wind gusts accompanying storms resulted in downed trees around Greenup, one of which fell onto a local home. Storms tapered down with the loss of daytime heating after sunset.
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 Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 13, 1:51 PM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 251 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2023 .SYNOPSIS... Strong thunderstorms later today in advance of a stalled cold front. Typical summer weather with chances of showers and thunderstorms each afternoon continues into next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 250 PM Thursday... ***Severe Storms and Localized Flash Flooding Possible Today*** Key Points: * Strong to severe storms possible this afternoon/evening. * Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the main hazards. * Localized flash flooding is also possible. * Severe/flooding threat gradually decreases late this evening into tonight. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon through late evening as upper level waves round a ridge approaching from the west. Mid level southwesterly flow has pumped in abundant moisture across the region with surface dew points above 70 degrees. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued at 2 PM in coordination with the Storm Prediction Center with the product time running through 9 PM this evening. The main threats from storms are wind and hail; however, a tornado cannot be ruled out. Also, localized flooding will be possible as PWAT values range between 1.5" - 2.5". Storms should taper down from the west several hours after sunset with loss of day time heating. A weak surface ridge builds from the west bringing a stable air mass across the lowlands. Patchy fog and low clouds along this stable air mass will keep the atmosphere warm and muggy overnight. Along the mountains, deep level moisture will be enough to support scattered showers as weak waves move through the flow aloft. Friday will be another warm muggy day with clouds and fog during the early morning. Temperatures climb into the mid 80s during the afternoon with a few breaks in the clouds during the afternoon across the lowlands. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 205 PM Thursday... Upper level low pressure centered over the Canadian Prairies will slowly drift east yielding broad cyclonic flow over our area through the short and long term period. Saturday looks to be the best chance of widespread precipitation courtesy of forcing from a pre-frontal trough Saturday morning and surface cold front Saturday evening. Mid-level lapse rates will be rather weak with the elevated mixed layer plume sourced from the high desert being steered into Texas by the aforementioned broad cyclonic flow. Still, surface dew points should support 1000- 1500J/kg of MLCAPE during afternoon heating as highs across the lowlands rise into the mid to upper 80s amid deep layer shear around 30KTs. This could yield some gusty winds, especially with the pre- frontal activity where mid-levels remain relatively dry. Moisture pooling ahead of the cold front Saturday night will yield precipitable water values nudging up against 2 inches with some deep warm cloud depths and limited instability. This should make for some efficient rainfall production out of any convective cores with at least some risk for isolated high water issues. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 205 PM Thursday... As mentioned in the short term discussion, broad cyclonic flow will linger over the area through much of next week courtesy of an upper level low slowly drifting east across the Canadian Prairies. Mid- level lapse rates remain poor through the period owing to northwesterly flow over the central plains continuing to steer the EML to the southeast. Low level low turning more southwesterly in advance of any embedded disturbances, especially ahead of a cold front Monday night into Tuesday, will allow moisture sourced from the Gulf Of Mexico to infiltrate the region yielding at least some conditional instability to work with. While activity will primarily be diurnally driven, any disturbances transiting the region in the early morning will have potential for some elevated convection atop belts of stronger H850 flow, and disturbances transiting in the evening will allow diurnal activity to linger into the overnights. Deep layer shear is forecast to be fairly weak through the period, so organized severe weather chances appear low at this time. The main potential issue will be slow moving, efficient rainfall producing storms, some of which could hit areas that have seen heavy rain in the preceding days. This yields at least an isolated risk of some high water issues. Daytime highs are forecast to be near to slightly above normal values for this time of the year. && .AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 110 PM Thursday... Shower and thunderstorm activity will increase over the next several hours during peak heating. Convection will initiate along a boundary sagging from the northwest and short waves moving across from the southwest. MVFR ceilings will prevail through tonight with IFR conditions Cigs/Vis developing by Friday morning for much of the region. Improvement to VFR was brought in by Friday afternoon for all except BKW; however, there is still some uncertainty on timing. Winds will generally be out of the west through early tonight with an occasional gust. Winds go light after sunset with a ridge building from the west. Rain activity is expected to diminish from the west overnight, although showers remain a challenge across the mountains. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Brief IFR/MVFR VSBY restrictions are possible with heavier showers or any thunderstorms through tonight. Restrictions with fog and/or low stratus tonight could vary from the forecast. EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION: H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS. L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. UTC 1HRLY 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 EDT 1HRLY 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H L HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H M M EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H L L H PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H M H L AFTER 18Z FRIDAY... Brief IFR possible in thunderstorms Friday through Monday. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...KH/JP NEAR TERM...KH SHORT TERM...JP LONG TERM...JP AVIATION...KH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 202 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2023 KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ005>011-013>020-024>034- 039-040-515>526-141815- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington- Jackson OH-Vinton-Meigs-Gallia-Lawrence OH-Wayne-Cabell-Mason- Jackson WV-Wood-Pleasants-Tyler-Lincoln-Putnam-Kanawha-Roane-Wirt- Calhoun-Ritchie-Doddridge-Mingo-Logan-Boone-Clay-Braxton-Gilmer- Lewis-Harrison-Taylor-McDowell-Wyoming-Upshur-Barbour- Northwest Raleigh-Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette- Southeast Fayette-Northwest Nicholas-Southeast Nicholas- Northwest Webster-Southeast Webster-Northwest Pocahontas- Southeast Pocahontas-Northwest Randolph-Southeast Randolph- 202 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2023 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 482 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio and much of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening could produce damaging winds and large hail. If thunderstorms Saturday through Monday move over the same location multiple times, then flash flooding is possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions by calling the toll-free spotter hotline, or by other methods detailed at www.weather.gov/rlx/reports. VAZ003-004-141815- Dickenson-Buchanan- 202 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Thunderstorms this afternoon and evening could produce damaging winds and large hail. In addition, a tornado can not be ruled out. If thunderstorms move over the same location multiple times, then localized flash flooding is possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening could produce damaging winds and large hail. If thunderstorms Saturday through Monday move over the same location multiple times, then flash flooding is possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions by calling the toll-free spotter hotline, or by other methods detailed at www.weather.gov/rlx/reports.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
323 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0243 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Birch River 38.50N 80.76W
07/13/2023 Nicholas WV 911 Call Center
Corrects previous non-tstm wnd dmg report
from Birch River. Fallen tree and downed
lines reported in Birch River. Time
estimated from radar.
&&
JLBPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
343 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0320 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 10 NE Lake Vesuvius 38.70N 82.47W
07/13/2023 Lawrence OH 911 Call Center
Downed tree blocking both lanes of State
Route 141 near Ford Street.
&&
JLBPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
400 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0340 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 10 ENE Lake Vesuvius 38.65N 82.46W
07/13/2023 Lawrence OH 911 Call Center
Tree down blocking one lane of State Route
141 approximately a quarter mile south of
Zalmon Lane.
&&
JLBPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
426 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0410 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 SSW Buffalo 38.57N 81.99W
07/13/2023 Putnam WV 911 Call Center
Tree down on power lines near Hunt Lane.
0415 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 S Eleanor 38.53N 81.93W
07/13/2023 Putnam WV 911 Call Center
Tree down on Winfield Road at Tuckers Branch
Road.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
429 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2023
OHZ085-WVZ008-132100-
Meigs OH-Jackson WV-
429 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Meigs
and northern Jackson Counties through 500 PM EDT...
At 429 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Ravenswood, or near Racine, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Ripley, Racine, Ravenswood, Sandyville, Cottageville, Portland, Mount
Alto, Evans and Leroy.
This includes Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 137
and 156.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
southeastern Ohio...and western and northwestern West Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3901 8154 3898 8153 3897 8155 3896 8155
3894 8153 3878 8154 3882 8187 3888 8192
3891 8192 3893 8190 3895 8191 3901 8191
3904 8162
TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 271DEG 15KT 3893 8183
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
12Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
434 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 7 W Buffalo 38.61N 82.11W
07/13/2023 Mason WV 911 Call Center
Tree down on Ashton Upland Road.
&&
JLBThe Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 94 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:34 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree fell onto a house and nearby power lines along State Route 207 near Baker Cemetery Road in Greenup. Several other trees fell around the Greenup area as well.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, July 2023
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: 1107069.