With yet another strong occluded low located across the north-central Conus, and a cold front stretching southward through the Mississippi Valley, Kentucky found itself in a warm and unstable airmass. Despite the overnight hours and cooling temps, storms persisted in parts of the Jackson, KY county warning area.
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.
With yet another strong occluded low located across the north-central Conus, and a cold front stretching southward through the Mississippi Valley, Kentucky found itself in a warm and unstable airmass. Despite the overnight hours and cooling temps, storms persisted in parts of the Jackson, KY county warning area. One of these storms moved through Laurel County, resulting in a downed tree and isolated flash flooding after midnight.
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 May 24, 10:45 PM EST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED National Weather Service Jackson KY 1145 PM EDT Fri May 24 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Showers and thunderstorms are expected from time to time through the middle of next week, especially during the afternoon and early evening hours. - There is a potential for severe thunderstorms on Sunday and Sunday night, with damaging winds and large hail being the primary threats. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1145 PM EDT FRI MAY 24 2024 A cluster of storms are firing up in the Cumberland Valley with some growth potential per the still cooling cloud tops on IR satellite. Accordingly, have updated the forecast to beef up the PoPs for these considering the sat/radar and CAMs trends. Did also include the latest obs and tendencies for the T/Td/Sky grids. These adjustments have been sent to the NDFD and web servers along with a freshening of the zones and SAFs. UPDATE Issued at 745 PM EDT FRI MAY 24 2024 23Z sfc analysis shows weak high pressure over eastern Kentucky this evening amid plenty of mid level clouds and a few instances of convection scattered around the area. Most places have stayed dry today and that should be the case for much of the night, but a low chance of showers or storms will remain in the forecast through Saturday morning. Currently, temperatures are generally in the low to mid 70s while dewpoints remain elevated in the mid and upper 60s - amid light and variable winds. Have updated the forecast mainly to fine tune the PoPs through the night per the latest ideas from the CAMs and radar trends. Did also tweak the valley fog anticipated tonight as well as adding in the current obs and trends for the T/Td/Sky grids. These minor adjustments have been sent to the NDFD and web servers. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 414 PM EDT FRI MAY 24 2024 A very quiet day continues as of late afternoon, with very dry air and light winds aloft as weak mid-upper level ridging passes over from west to east. A weak trough aloft is approaching behind the ridge, and a few showers and thunderstorms have popped up to our west and southwest. Can't rule out something developing here tonight as the ridging departs and the dying trough moves through, but the timing is not favorable. On Saturday and Saturday evening, a weakening cold front will approach from the northwest and could help a few showers/thunderstorms develop. However, there will once again not be much in the way of upper level support, and the POP looks limited. .LONG TERM...(Sunday through Friday) Issued at 519 PM EDT FRI MAY 24 2024 The extended period will start off on Sunday at the start of the most active section of the forecast. As of 12Z on Sunday, a deepening shortwave will be taking shape across the Central Plains, along with a very strong surface low pressure system. This system is expected to track northeast throughout the day and overnight, as it continues to strengthen, reaching the Upper Great Lakes by 6Z Monday. A warm front associated with this system will be parked just north of the CWA Sunday, shifting northward. This will then be followed by the associated cold front with this system, which is expected to move into Western KY by 0Z Monday. It will then sweep the state, passing through eastern KY Monday morning and early afternoon. There are several things to note with this system. The first is that this track through the state is actually quite a bit slower than previous model runs, which had the bulk of the impacts for eastern KY on Sunday afternoon and evening, instead of Sunday evening and Monday morning. Also by Monday, the system will be well to our north and continuing to move away from the region, so the best lift and instability will also be shifting north away from eastern KY. For instance, CAPE looks great on Sunday, but storms are expected to begin here until Sunday night, at which point surface temps lower and best instability is cut off. Then as we head into Monday, GFS is showing CAPE values around 2000 J/Kg (not bad), but very little llvl wind shear. In other words, expect any storms that do occur to be pulsy without much organization to them. SPC also backed off on the Slight Risk across eastern KY, pushing it back westward with the morning issuance, so that only the far SW portion of the CWA is now included in this risk. This is also still Day 3, so the CAMs and hi-res data doesn't even go out this far yet, so still quite a bit of room for change at this point. Once this system finally moves out late Monday, and precip chances diminish, we can expect a much cooler airmass to move into place. This will be aided by a large upper level trough overhead of much of the eastern U.S. which is pumping in colder Canadian air. As skies clear out Monday night, temperatures should fall into the mid and upper 50s, some 10 degrees or so cooler than the previous night. Daytime temperatures will also top out in the 70s instead of the 80s over the next several days. Models do show another upper level low rotating through the troughing pattern and across the Ohio Valley on Tuesday. This will be accompanied by a surface low pressure system and cold front, which should result in additional precip to areas to our north. It's a bit more uncertain as to how far south this precip will drop and if JKL will be impacted during the day. The NBM went with isolated pops during the afternoon, and given the lower confidence, didn't see any reason to increase or decrease this. The associated cold front will likely pass southward through Kentucky Tuesday night, however, all models back off on convection during this time, especially as CAA keeps temperatures cooler (lows in the low to mid 50s). The front should exit by early afternoon on Wednesday, which mixed with daytime heating and mixing, could increase pops again across the far eastern CWA for the afternoon. Again, NBM went with low end chance pops for this time period, and given how far out we are in the period, didn't see enough evidence to change this. This system will continue to exit by Wednesday night, quickly giving way to high pressure. Meanwhile, nearly N to S flow will keep CAA advection in place through much of the rest of the extended. As clouds clear out overnight Monday night, can't rule out some of the deeper valleys actually dropping back into the upper 40s if this pattern plays out. The following night will be even cooler, with more widespread upper 40s to around 50 degrees. In good news, at last the high pressure should also remain in place through the end of the extended, with dry weather on tap. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Saturday evening) ISSUED AT 810 PM EDT FRI MAY 24 2024 Mainly VFR conditions are expected for the terminals through the period. The only exceptions would be localized IFR or worse visibilities in valley fog overnight and early Saturday - not expected to affect any TAF sites - and a small potential for localized sub-VFR conditions in a passing shower or storm. Winds will be light and variable through the period. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...GREIF SHORT TERM...HAL LONG TERM...JMW AVIATION...HAL/GREIF
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson KY 359 PM EDT Fri May 24 2024 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-251100- 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- 359 PM EDT Fri May 24 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a portion of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Thunderstorms are possible at times, with the greatest probability being Sunday through Monday. There is a potential for strong to severe storms on Sunday and Sunday night, with damaging wind gusts and hail being the main threats. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance may be needed on Sunday or Sunday night. HAL/JMW
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1117 PM EDT Fri May 24 2024
KYZ079-250400-
Pulaski KY-
1117 PM EDT Fri May 24 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL PULASKI COUNTY THROUGH
MIDNIGHT EDT...
At 1117 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Somerset, moving northeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Somerset, Science Hill, Burnside, Stab, Bobtown, Pointer, Bandy,
Bronston, Woodstock, Dabney, Valley Oak, Pulaski County Park,
Somerset Pulaski Airport, Hogue, Grade, Ruth, Elihu, Shopville,
Quinton, and Dykes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3731 8462 3736 8455 3735 8454 3710 8432
3693 8464 3715 8478
TIME...MOT...LOC 0317Z 241DEG 11KT 3712 8465
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
GREIFSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1141 PM EDT Fri May 24 2024
KYZ068-079-080-250430-
Rockcastle KY-Laurel KY-Pulaski KY-
1141 PM EDT Fri May 24 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL LAUREL...NORTHEASTERN
PULASKI AND ROCKCASTLE COUNTIES THROUGH 1230 AM EDT...
At 1140 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Billows, or 11 miles west of London, moving northeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
London, Mount Vernon, Sand Springs, Donaro, Bummer, Robinet,
Pittsburg, Bandy, Horse Lick, Spiro, Wabp, Hansford, Renfro Valley,
Willailla, Mershons, Hazel Patch, Pine Hill, Camp Wildcat, Cruise,
and East Bernstadt.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3736 8455 3733 8451 3738 8448 3744 8423
3736 8414 3734 8414 3734 8412 3732 8410
3730 8410 3728 8406 3719 8396 3704 8429
3734 8458
TIME...MOT...LOC 0340Z 231DEG 10KT 3716 8429
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
GREIFSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1227 AM EDT Sat May 25 2024
KYZ068-069-080-116-250515-
Jackson KY-Clay KY-Rockcastle KY-Laurel KY-
1227 AM EDT Sat May 25 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT LAUREL...SOUTHERN JACKSON...
SOUTHEASTERN ROCKCASTLE AND WESTERN CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 115 AM
EDT...
At 1227 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms over Bernstadt, or 7 miles west of London, moving east
at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
London, McKee, Carico, Grace, Fariston, Pittsburg, Zekes Point, Lake,
Shop Branch, Cane Creek, Fogertown, Tyner, Privett, Bradshaw, Horse
Lick, Bush, Hurley, Settle Store, Mershons, and Hightop.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
Hal Rogers Parkway between mile markers 1 and 18.
Interstate 75 in east central Kentucky between mile markers 32 and
56.
Kentucky Highway 80 in Laurel County between mile markers 1 and 11.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3708 8431 3709 8429 3711 8429 3712 8428
3712 8430 3716 8429 3719 8433 3729 8435
3747 8390 3703 8377 3703 8383 3704 8383
3705 8387 3703 8390 3704 8392 3702 8393
3700 8430
TIME...MOT...LOC 0427Z 263DEG 18KT 3713 8422
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
DJSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1241 AM EDT Sat May 25 2024
KYZ080-085-086-116-250530-
Whitley KY-Clay KY-Knox KY-Laurel KY-
1241 AM EDT Sat May 25 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN LAUREL...KNOX...
NORTHERN WHITLEY AND SOUTHWESTERN CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 130 AM EDT...
At 1240 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms over Rye, or 11 miles north of Williamsburg, moving
east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Barbourville, Artemus, Swan Lake, Moore Hill, Clate, Goldbug, North
Corbin, Jarvis, Cranes Nest, Krupp, Girdler, Youngs Creek, Bark Camp,
Avis, Cottongin, Gray, Holly Bay Rec. Area, Flat Lick, Permon, and
Wilton.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
Interstate 75 in east central Kentucky between mile markers 15 and
32.
U.S. Highway 25 East in Knox County between mile markers 1 and 26.
U.S. Highway 25 East in Laurel County between mile markers 0 and 2.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3678 8426 3700 8427 3707 8377 3681 8374
TIME...MOT...LOC 0440Z 263DEG 18KT 3691 8416
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
DJThe Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:50 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was reported down on W. 7th Street, near N. Long Road, in downtown London.
A car was reportedly swept away by flood waters at the 600 block of Rita Lane in Lily. The occupant had to be rescued from their vehicle. Time of event is based on time of report at 2:10 AM EDT.
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, May 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: 1181254, 1181255.