On the morning of Thursday August the 1st, a warm front was draped across portions of the state. The airmass was warm across the state, and storms were already firing off across portions of the state, including eastern Kentucky by 7am.
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 JKL wrote it up.
On the morning of Thursday August the 1st, a warm front was draped across portions of the state. The airmass was warm across the state, and storms were already firing off across portions of the state, including eastern Kentucky by 7am. However, the real action would come later in the day. A cold front located across Illinois, still well away from Kentucky, produced a line of storms along it during the morning hours. This line of storms gained strength, becoming a squall line and quickly dropping southeast. It reached central Kentucky by the early evening hours, then eastern Kentucky a couple hours later. By the time it got to eastern Kentucky, the line began to lose it's form, but embedded cells still packed a punch, resulting in numerous warnings across the CWA and just as many reports of wind damage. It began to regain it's linear shape by the time it reached the far eastern portion of the state, finally exiting just between 10 and 11pm EDT.
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 Aug 1, 5:38 PM EST, 26 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Jackson KY 638 PM EDT Thu Aug 1 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Torrential rainfall in showers and thunderstorms may pose an elevated risk of flash flooding across eastern Kentucky, especially south of the Mountain Parkway, through Friday. - The threat for isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts persists, primarily during the afternoon/ evening hours, through Friday. - Heat and humidity will persist through Friday, with heat indices forecast to near 100F. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday night) Issued at 455 PM EDT THU AUG 1 2024 Late this afternoon, an expansive upper level ridge was centered in the vicinity of the Four Corners region and extended across most of the western Conus as well as across the Southeast Conus. Meanwhile, a shortwave trough/upper low was working across the upper MS Valley to Mid MS Valley regions with an additional couple of shortwaves working through the OH Valley region. At the surface, an area of low pressure was working across the upper MS Valley with a cold front trailing into the central to southern Plains regions and a warm front southeast toward the Lower OH Valley region. Meanwhile, sfc high pressure extended from the eastern Gulf of Mexico into the Southeast Conus. With the eastern KY region in the warm sector between these two systems, a moist airmass was in place across the region with PW generally on the order of 1.7 to 1.75 inches at this time. Surface dewpoints were in the low to mid 70s at present with temperatures in the mid 80s to low 90s. MLCAPE was analyzed in the 1500 to 2000 J/kg range while effective shear was generally 25KT or less. At present, the region was free of convection while an MCS was upstream of the region and extended from Southern IN into portions of central and western KY. This evening and tonight, the upper low and associated shortwave trough is expected to track southeast to the Great Lakes to Lower OH valley regions per the consensus of guidance with multiple disturbance working across the OH Valley region. Through tonight, the sfc low will gradually work to the southeast corner of Lake MI with the trailing cold front entering the Lower OH Valley. PW is forecast to remain in roughly the 1.75 to 2 inch range for much of the night, though it should decrease late. The upstream MCS should continue east and southeast per recent CAM runs and arrive into the area between 6 PM and 8 PM and then progress to the VA border through around midnight. Some instability should remain as it arrives, with MLCAPE on the order of 1500 to 2500 J/kg range at that point though instability will begin to diminish as the evening progresses. Effective shear is forecast to be marginal in the 25 to 30 KT range. DCAPE ahead of the MCS is forecast to be less than the past couple of days, but still decent at 1000 to 1100 J/kg. Wind gusts and heavy rain rates still appear to be the main threats as the system works across the area. Some areas across the southern portions of the forecast area have received 1 to 5 inches of rain over the past few days. There has been some time for the ground to recover since heavier rain fell on Wednesday and Wednesday evening, but in any locations that pick up multiple rounds showers and storms, excessive rain could result in instances of flash flooding. Behind the MCS, chances for showers and storms will diminish, but a few showers or storms cannot be ruled out overnight. Friday and Friday night, the upper level low/trough should move gradually to the eastern Great Lakes to TN Valley regions downstream of upper level ridging over the western Conus. The frontal zone associated with the upper level trough should continue east and southeast and gradually enter eastern KY late on Friday night. Ahead of the front and upper level trough, multiple weak disturbances will cross the area with PW forecast to return into the 1.7 to 1.9 inch range on Friday. Daytime heating combined with the approaching front and mid level disturbances should result in an increase in coverage of convection on Friday. Heating of the warm and moist airmass should result in MLCAPE on the order of 2000 J/kg with shear on the marginal side. Strong wind gusts cannot be ruled out on Friday afternoon and evening with any of the more robust cells. Additional rounds of convection may progress across areas that were affected by heavy rainfall in recent days and the Flood Watch for the southwest portion of the area was extended into Friday evening. Chances for convection will linger through Friday night, though coverage should decrease. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 247 PM EDT THU AUG 1 2024 Deterministic models and their ensembles continue to remain in very good agreement for the start of the period as they continue to hint at a shortwave existing across the Ohio Valley. At the surface, the low is forecast to remain over the Ohio Valley. This will keep PoP chances across the area through the day Saturday. As mean upper- level pull shifts northeast and increasing heights build in from the southwest, high pressure and drier air will begin to build into the region. This will push the Ohio Valley low out of the region bringing an end to the PoP chances for the end of the weekend into next week. Next week continues to look dry as upper-level ridging remains in place. However, the main jet will be to the north of the area and multiple weak perturbations are forecast to move through the mean flow. While, the best forcing looks to be across the Great Lakes and north of the Ohio River, can't rule out days of increased cloud cover or a stray shower or storm working into the Commonwealth. The Rain chances begin to increase Wednesday into Thursday as a cold front dives southeast into the region. Overall, the forecast period will start with showers and thunderstorms. High pressure will build in and bring drier weather. Temperatures will peak in the upper-80s to low-90s during the day and mid to upper-60s overnight. A passing system may approach the area for the end of the forecast period bringing renewed chances for showers and storms. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening) ISSUED AT 638 PM EDT THU AUG 1 2024 A strong line of showers and thunderstorms will be entering the western part of the forecast area by 00z, with activity moving quickly east through ~03-04z. Strong gusty winds will likely impact all TAF sites as the storms move through. Reductions down to MVFR ceilings and MVFR/IFR visibility cannot be ruled out as well between 06 and 13Z in some areas, with this most probable at KSYM and KJKL, in higher terrain near the VA border, and with fog in deeper valleys. VFR conditions are expected to return to all areas at the end the period. Otherwise, light and variable winds are expected outside of convection with west to west-southwest winds generally less than 10 kts developing toward the 15z-17z period Friday. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Friday evening for KYZ058-068-069-079-080- 083>088-111>118. && SHORT TERM...JP LONG TERM...VORST AVIATION...CMC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson KY 400 PM EDT Thu Aug 1 2024 KYZ044-050>052-059-060-104-106>110-119-120-022000- Fleming-Montgomery-Bath-Rowan-Powell-Menifee-Elliott-Morgan-Johnson- Wolfe-Magoffin-Floyd-Martin-Pike- 400 PM EDT Thu Aug 1 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a portion of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...This evening and tonight. There is a chance of thunderstorms, some of which may become severe and produce damaging winds and possibly hail this evening. An isolated spin-up tornado cannot be ruled out. Additionally, any location that receives multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms could experience instances of isolated flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Thunderstorms are possible at times through Sunday, and also from Tuesday to Wednesday. Strong to severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall leading to isolated flooding cannot be ruled out on Friday. The combination of high humidity and hot temperatures is expected to bring afternoon heat indices peaking near 100 for some locations on Friday and also from Monday to Wednesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to report any occurrences of flooding or thunderstorm wind damage through tonight. KYZ058-068-069-079-080-083>088-111>118-022000- Estill-Rockcastle-Jackson-Pulaski-Laurel-Wayne-McCreary-Whitley-Knox- Bell-Harlan-Lee-Breathitt-Knott-Owsley-Perry-Clay-Leslie-Letcher- 400 PM EDT Thu Aug 1 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a portion of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...This evening and tonight. There is a chance of thunderstorms, some of which may become severe and produce damaging winds and possibly hail this evening. An isolated spin-up tornado cannot be ruled out. Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms could lead to instances of flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Thunderstorms are possible at times through Sunday, and also from Tuesday to Wednesday. Strong to severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall leading to isolated flooding cannot be ruled out on Friday. The combination of high humidity and hot temperatures is expected to bring afternoon heat indices peaking near 100 for some locations on Friday and also from Monday to Wednesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to report any occurrences of flooding or thunderstorm wind damage through tonight. JP
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Jackson KY
407 PM EDT Thu Aug 1 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0623 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NNW Steubenville 36.91N 84.82W
07/31/2024 Wayne KY 911 Call Center
Multiple trees and also powerlines were
reported to have been blown down along
KY1275 North in the direction of Conley
Bottom. The event time and location are
radar estimated.
0614 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Cooksburg 37.39N 84.19W
07/31/2024 Rockcastle KY Public
A tree was reported to have been blown down
in the Crooked Creek community in the
vicinity of Cooksburg. The event time is
radar estimated.
0630 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 WSW Somerset Pulaski 37.05N 84.63W
07/31/2024 Pulaski KY 911 Call Center
A tree was reported to have been blown down
onto Southridge Drive. The event time is
radar estimated.
0815 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SSW Garden Village 37.40N 82.48W
07/31/2024 Pike KY 911 Call Center
Pike County 911 Center reported a tree down
at the corner of Gillespi Branch and Greasy
Creek Rd. Time estimated from radar.
0659 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Whitley City 36.73N 84.48W
07/31/2024 McCreary KY 911 Call Center
McCreary County 911 center relayed a report
of a tree down at the intersection where Old
Bailey Rd turns into Hollaway Cemetery Rd.
Time estimated from radar.
0732 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Vest 37.40N 83.01W
07/31/2024 Knott KY 911 Call Center
Hazard State Highway Patrol Post relayed a
report of a tree down on the 3800 block of
KY-1087 in Knott County. Time estimated from
radar.
0615 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SE Waneta 37.45N 84.02W
07/31/2024 Jackson KY 911 Call Center
A tree was reported to have been blown down
near 1800 US 421 North of McKee. The event
time is radar estimated.
0627 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 S Olin 37.34N 83.97W
07/31/2024 Jackson KY 911 Call Center
A tree was reported to have been blown down
near 400 Bailey Road. The event time is
radar estimated.
0713 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 WSW Clayhole 37.46N 83.32W
07/31/2024 Breathitt KY Law Enforcement
A tree was reported to have been blown down
along KY 15. The event time is radar
estimated.
0113 PM Flash Flood 1 SW Kettle Island 36.78N 83.62W
07/31/2024 Bell KY Public
Pictures on social media show several inches
of water flowing over Blanton Branch Road.
0115 PM Flash Flood Kettle Island 36.79N 83.61W
07/31/2024 Bell KY Public
Pictures on social media show several inches
of water flowing down Kettle Island Branch
Road a few hundred feet downstream from
Newtown Branch Road.
0130 PM Flash Flood 1 NNW Varilla 36.75N 83.61W
07/31/2024 Bell KY Public
Social media post showed flooding along
KY-987 a half mile from the US 119 and
KY-987 intersection.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
653 PM EDT Thu Aug 1 2024
KYZ079-083-084-012330-
McCreary KY-Wayne KY-Pulaski KY-
653 PM EDT Thu Aug 1 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN WAYNE...
SOUTHWESTERN PULASKI AND NORTH CENTRAL MCCREARY COUNTIES THROUGH 730
PM EDT...
At 653 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Steubenville, or over Monticello, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Monticello, Burnside, Oil Valley, Greenwood, Sloans Valley, Parkers
Lake, Barrier, Alpine, Gregory, Bronston, Quinton, Betsey, Ritner,
Delta, Frazer, Tateville, Denney, Kidder, Mill Springs, and General
Burnside S.P..
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight EDT for
south central Kentucky.
&&
LAT...LON 3675 8488 3693 8494 3705 8451 3681 8443
TIME...MOT...LOC 2253Z 256DEG 38KT 3686 8482
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
VORSTThe Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:04 UTC.
55 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Pulaski county dispatch reported multiple trees blown down in the vicinity of White Lily, along KY-192.
Pulaski county dispatch reported a tree blown down along Hwy-2993, in the vicinity of McLin Lane, just south of the Pointer community.
Estill county dispatch reported a tree blown down around the 1000 block of Red River Road, near the community of Palmer.
Multiple trees were reported down on road to Jonesville Boat Ramp, south of the community of Keno.
Whitley county dispatch reported a tree blown onto power lines near the intersection of KY-836 (Cripple Creek Road) and Cindy Lane, near Williamsburg Airport.
Estill county dispatch reported a tree blown down in the 7700 block of Winchester Road, north of Irvine. This impacted an electric line and caused a small fire.
Powell county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto Coopers Creek Road just north of the Westbend community. The exact location of damage along the road was not given.
Powell county dispatch reported a tree blown down on Wells Lane in the Westbend community.
Rockcastle dispatch reported a tree blown don in the 8200 block of North Wilderness Road (US-25) near the community of Conway.
Powell county dispatch reported a tree blown down near the intersection of Halls Branch Road and Campton Road, with a power line involved. Another tree was also blown down at the adjacent Martin Hollow and Campton Roads intersection.
Powell county dispatch reported a trees blown down near the intersection of Eddie Ridge Road and Happy Top Road.
Pulaski county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto KY-790 at the sharp curve in Bronston.
Rockcastle dispatch reported a tree blown down near the intersection of White Road Road and KY-150.
Rockcastle dispatch reported a tree blown down onto Old Sigmon Loop Road, near the community of Roundstone and north of Renfro Valley.
Estill county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto Coral Avenue in the community of Wisemantown.
McCreary county dispatch reported a tree blown down and blocking KY-90 (Cumberland Falls Road) in the 2300 block, not far from Parkers Lake.
Wayne county dispatch reported a tree blown down on Twyford Point Road near the lakeshore, west of Monticello.
Estill county dispatch reported electric lines down at the intersection of KY-52 and KY-213, east of Ravenna.
Estill county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto Tipton Ridge Road, on the Cobhill (Cobhill Road) side, east of Ravenna.
Bath county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto Oakley-Pebble Road. This is a long road, and a specific location of the damage report was not given.
Bath county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto Kendall Springs Road around the 4800 block, just west of the community of Preston.
Wayne county dispatch reported that a vehicle hit a tree blown down into the road near the intersection of KY-1568 and Bradley Road, in the community of Frazer.
Fleming county dispatch reported a tree blown down in the 600 block of Buchanan Road, just west of Elizaville.
Bath county dispatch reported multiple trees blown down across the town of Owingsville, but did not give specific locations.
Powell county dispatch reported a tree blown down on the Nada Tunnel Road in the 1000 to 2000 block, just east of the community of Nada.
Estill county dispatch reported that a tree had blown down in the 900 block of Leighton Road, near the community of Leighton.
Bath county dispatched reported multiple trees blown down in the Salt Lick community, though no specific locations were given.
Wolfe county dispatch reported a tree blown down about 2 miles up KY-715 North, north of Pine Ridge.
Jackson county dispatch reported 2 power lines blown down near the intersection of KY-1209 and KY-587 in the community of Arvel.
Wolfe county dispatch reported a tree blown down along Johnson Fork Road, south of Hazel Green.
Laurel county dispatch reported multiple trees blown down along KY-229 at different points between London and the Laurel/Knox county line.
Laurel county dispatch reported a tree down on electrical wires, causing an electrical fire at Matt Baker Road, in the community of Tuttle.
Whitley county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto Raymond Ridge Road, near the community of Bee Creek and Youngs Creek.
Lee county dispatch reported a tree blown down and blocking Grand Avenue (Old State Hwy-11) in Beattyville, between the Minter & Moore Veterinary Clinic and the Beattyville & Lee County Fire Department.
Laurel county dispatch reported a tree down along with electrical wires, causing a fire about midway along Sasser School Road, just southeast of London.
Laurel county dispatch reported a tree down and electrical wires, leading to a fire on Skyline View, located on the southeast side of London.
Menifee county dispatch reported a tree down in the 3200 block of KY-1569 (Pomeroyton Road), also in the community of Pomeroyton.
A NWS Employee reported that a tree had blown down across CR-3356 (Stamper Branch Road) near mile marker 1, just north of the community of Trent and west of Hazel Green.
Knox county dispatch reported trees blown down onto KY-225, near the intersection with Warren Camp Road, in the community of Warren.
Clay county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto KY-472, about 2.5 miles from US-421, near the community of Burning Springs.
Clay county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto Keith Lane, near the community of Burning Springs.
A person on social media reported multiple trees down along HWY-11 from Clay County to Knox County. Exact locations were not given.
Laurel county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto Collins Fork Road. The exact location along the road was not given.
Morgan county dispatch reported a tree blown down on KY-134, approximately 2 miles from the intersection with KY-191 at Adele.
Clay county dispatch reported a tree blown down on the road about 6 miles up KY-11 north, near the Wild Cat community.
Clay county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto US-421 S, approximately 11 miles out of Manchester.
Breathitt county dispatch reported a tree blown down in the 5900 block of Canoe Road, in the community of Canoe.
Morgan county dispatch reported a tree blown down onto US-460 at the Morgan/Magoffin county line.
The Leslie county dispatch reported two trees blown down around mile marker 3 along US-421, in the community of Helton.
Leslie county dispatch reported one tree blown down at the intersection of Osborne Fork and Upper Bull Creek roads.
Perry county dispatch reported a tree down on Walker Branch road, blocking the highway and trapping power lines.
Floyd county dispatch reported a tree blown down at the intersection of KY-7 and KY-2029 (Salt Lick Road), west of Hueysville.
State police reported a tree down in the 6700 block of Robinson Creek Road near the community of Robinson Creek, blocking both lanes.
State Police reported several trees blown down onto Collins Highway near the intersection with Buckfield Road just north of the Yeager community.
State Police reported a tree blocking US-460 near the intersection with Blair-Adkins Road, between the communities of Millard and Draffin.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, August 2024
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: 1210974, 1210973, 1210963, 1210949, 1210946, 1210959, 1210981, 1210982, 1210978, 1210983, 1210984, 1210975, 1210977, 1210979, 1210960, 1210948, 1210957, 1210962, 1210961, 1210969, 1210968, 1210956, 1210965, 1210967, 1210980, 1210964, 1210966, 1210927, 1210925, 1210928, 1210929, 1210932, 1210947, 1210958, 1210930, 1210931, 1210970, 1210916, 1210944, 1210940, and more.