On the morning of May 26, a stationary front had set up along the Ohio River just north of the state. During the course of the day, this front slowly lifted northward as a warm front, as a low pressure system began to develop and take shape just west of the state.
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 May 26, a stationary front had set up along the Ohio River just north of the state. During the course of the day, this front slowly lifted northward as a warm front, as a low pressure system began to develop and take shape just west of the state. This added forcing, combined with Kentucky's location in a warm/moist airmass, was enough to spark widespread showers and thunderstorms. WPC noted an outflow boundary on several surface analysis, the presence of which contributed to more shower and thunderstorm development. Most of the storms took place during the afternoon hours on the 26th, however, some storms and damage occurred as early as 3am EDT and as late as 2 and 3am EDT the following night. Amongst the many reports of thunderstorm wind damage, there was also a quick and small rotation that developed in the community of Corbin, which led to a EF-1 tornado, affecting a car dealership and several other businesses/homes.
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 26, 1:34 AM EST, 59 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Jackson KY 234 AM EDT Sun May 26 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is a potential for severe thunderstorms on Sunday and Sunday night, with damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes all possible. - Showers and thunderstorms are expected from time to time through the middle of next week, especially during the afternoon and early evening hours. - A bit of a cool down is expected after Monday, behind the passage of the cold front. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1130 PM EDT SAT MAY 25 2024 Just a quick update to the near term forecast to allow for a slight chance of a shower or storm in the northeast with lesser chances elsewhere. Did also include the latest obs and trends for the T/Td/Sky grids. These small 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 SAT MAY 25 2024 23Z sfc analysis shows weak high pressure over eastern Kentucky southeast of a slowly approaching cold front from the northwest. This has kept most of the area rain-free today along with light winds and partly cloudy skies. A couple cells of convection are noted to the northwest of the JKL CWA but growth has been meager so far. Currently, temperatures are generally in the 70s while dewpoints remain elevated in the mid 60s to even some lower 70s. Did a quick update to the grids through the night, mainly to lower PoPs on the front end per radar and satellite trends. Did also add in the latest obs and tendencies for the T/Td/Sky grids. Finally, touched up the fog threat later tonight, mainly for the valleys. These minor adjustments have been sent to the NDFD and web servers. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday night) Issued at 514 PM EDT SAT MAY 25 2024 A few showers have begun developing in central KY again after heating occurred this afternoon. They are moving east and should develop a bit more into early evening, making their way into the JKL forecast area. However, there is not much discernible upper level support and air aloft is dry, so as weak ridging aloft moves over us from the west it should help to shut off any remaining convection late tonight. That will leave quiet conditions lasting into Sunday morning. Things get active again during the day Sunday, with a significant threat of severe wx. Thunderstorm currently erupting over the plains will raise eastward through Sunday as strong surface low pressure crosses the Midwest. With mesoscale influences playing a role, models are still showing variation in the evolution of the convection, but a blended model solution would suggest convection developing here in the afternoon. Forecast parameters are supportive of severe storms in terms of 2-3K J/KG ML CAPE and favorable speed and directional shear. This yields Bulk Richardson numbers on Sunday afternoon and evening favorable for supercells. The most favorable late day shear and instability is shown in our western counties, and SPC has placed an enhanced risk area extending eastward into that area (with slight risk further to the east). Models are suggesting this initial round of convection in the afternoon and evening, followed by more convection ahead of the system's cold front later on Sunday night into Monday morning. Flow is more unidirectional with the later convection and instability not as strong, but flow aloft is still brisk, and a primarily wind threat is still a possibility with the late night convection. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 552 PM EDT SAT MAY 25 2024 We will start off the period on Monday on the heals of an impactful weather system Sunday and Sunday night. By Monday morning, the cold front associated with this strong surface and upper level system will quickly traverse KY, exiting the east side of the state by ~18Z. A line of showers and thunderstorms will likely be present along the frontal boundary, one of several lines that will impact the CWA through Monday morning. Precip should taper off behind the front by Monday evening, giving way to drier wrap around air from the surface and upper level low. This influx of drier air will help to clear out clouds, and will also advect in a cooler airmass from our north, despite surface winds remaining from the W to SW. Overnight lows will settle in the 50s, around 5 to 10 degrees less than the previous night. The strong and broad-reaching upper level trough axis will persist across the state through midweek before finally starting to shift eastward Thursday, where it will stall again through the remainder of the period. During this time, several other upper level lows will rotate through the trough, bringing unsettled weather to the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes at times. The first of these will be on Tuesday. All the models have a different solution on how this will play out, with the ECMWF and NAM keeping eastern KY mostly dry. However, the GFS brings the shortwave farther south and precip moves across much of the state late in the day. The NBM has trended down on pops related to this system, only bringing in some slight chances in the far east and northeast of the CWA Tuesday afternoon with peak heating. Didn't see any reason to increase it at this point, and models are still evolving on Day 4. A similar situation arises on Wednesday afternoon as a shortwave moves through the trough as the axis begins to shift eastward. Models show the potential for precip to graze eastern KY during this time, mainly during afternoon peak heating. The NBM followed suit by another day of isolated pops for a few hours in the afternoon in the NE CWA. During the time that the trough is impacting the Ohio Valley, strong N to NW flow will be in place aloft. This will keep temperatures at or just below seasonal normals for this time of year during the day. During the overnight, good radiational cooling with light winds will help to quickly drop temperatures. It will also lead to some decent ridge/valley differences in temperatures as well. Expect temperatures to generally be in the upper 40s and low 50s, some 5 to 10 degrees below normal. A gradual warm up will be on tap again as we close out the week and head into the weekend. The trough will continue to shift east, introducing a strong but short-lived ridge across the region, and surface high pressure. Rising heights and the imposing high pressure system should keep conditions dry both Thursday and Friday. From this point forward there is quite a bit of disagreement. A storm system generally over the Plains seems to stay in place through the end of the forecast period, keeping high pressure across JKL through the end of the period. The NBM, however, shows a quicker progression of this system eastward, introducing pops into the CWA by Friday night and continuing into Saturday. The fact that they are only isolated, however, is hopefully a trend towards the drier solutions. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon) ISSUED AT 241 PM EDT SAT MAY 25 2024 Largely VFR conditions are forecast during the period, with a couple of localized exception. A few showers/thunderstorms with sub-VFR conditions are possible late this afternoon and evening. Valley fog is also expected to develop late tonight and last into Sunday morning before dissipating. MOS guidance is hitting the fog fairly hard at TAF sites. However, if precip does not occur, it would seem to be more questionable. A TEMPO group for IFR conditions has been used in the TAFS for several hours around sunrise. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night) ISSUED AT 2 AM EDT SUN MAY 26 2024 After some pockets of valley fog burn off this morning, the main focus of the day will be thunderstorm development heading into the afternoon hours, with perhaps another period of storms early this evening. Have used HRRR guidance in general, but there is quite a bit of uncertainty on coverage as well as how quickly the evening round will last as it moves quickly southeast through our terminals. Will continue to monitor changes with further updates... will need to adjust visibility down in a tempo condition once confidence improves. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...GREIF SHORT TERM...HAL LONG TERM...JMW AVIATION...HOGUE
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson KY 524 PM EDT Sat May 25 2024 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-261100- 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- 524 PM EDT Sat May 25 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a portion of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. There is a possibility of thunderstorms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Thunderstorms are possible at times, with the greatest probability being Sunday afternoon into Monday. There is a potential for severe thunderstorms on Sunday and Sunday night, with damaging wind gusts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes all possible. There will also be a risk of flash flooding in locations which have multiple persistent thunderstorms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance will likely be needed on Sunday or Sunday night. HAL/JMW
The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:32 UTC.
114 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were reported blown down in the Ashcamp community of Pike County.
A tree and power lines were downed at a residence on Farris Branch Road near the community of Goddard.
A shed was displaced and a roof was damaged on a mobile home by thunderstorm winds southwest of Somerset near KY-1642.
Reports of trees and power lines down throughout the county, including a few trees blocking roadways.
Trees down in the roadway on KY-1013 (Muses Mill Road) near the saw mill, northeast of the Plummers Mill community.
Trees and powerlines were downed north of Whitley City. Additional tree damage was reported countywide.
Numerous reports and photos via social media of trees down and property damage in and around Somerset. A few minutes later, at 1:20PM EDT, a mPING report came in of large limbs blown down in Somerset as well.
Scattered reports of trees down and power outages throughout the county.
Numerous trees were downed across Cumberland Falls State Park.
Multiple trees were uprooted along Forest Service Road 195, and along neighboring forest service roads. Several roads were blocked due to downed trees.
A tree was reported down on Rose Ridge Road near the community of Fox.
Multiple trees were blown down on KY-192, leaving the highway impassable in the Mt. Victory to Bee Rock areas.
Dispatch reported numerous trees down throughout Harlan County.
A tree was downed and blocking KY-2005 near the Pathfork community.
A tree was downed onto a power line at a residence on Pea Ridge Road.
Trees and power lines were downed near the community of Hargett.
A handful of trees were snapped on a property off of Frankfort School Road in the Youngs Creek community. In addition to the snapped trees, two large trees (one softwood, one hardwood) were uprooted and blown onto a mobile home, destroying the home.
A tree was down on a power line north of Irvine.
Trees and power lines were downed across the train tracks along US-41 near the community of Grays Knob.
A power line was reported downed at a residence on Armour Street in downtown Irvine.
A tree was reported down on a power line in the community of Spout Springs.
Public reported large limbs having been blown down near the community of Rye.
Widespread wind damage occurred in the Woodbine community, with many trees uprooted and snapped - specifically along Perkins Street. One mobile home suffered significant damage when a large tree fell onto it.
Trees were reported downed in Mount Sterling and throughout Montgomery County.
Social media reported trees down blocking KY-213 at the brick plant just north of Stanton.
Social media report showed half a dozen or more trees down along Old Doe Creek Road and Barnes Mountain Road.
Trees were downed in multiple locations along Industrial Blvd, just SSE of US-25E near the Corbin Bypass.
A tree was downed on Old Convict Road, northwest of Flemingsburg.
The National Weather Service surveyed damage in the Siler |community, on the eastern edge of Corbin. They confirmed, with the|help of video, that a quick spin-up tornado occurred, starting in|the NW corner of the Legacy Chevrolet dealership's parking lot, |affecting a gas station and car wash, then moving ENE across |US-25E, into a manufactured shed retail lot. It then crossed into |a tree line and adjacent field, possibly lifting momentarily, |before resuming damage near Poplar Grove Road. It then traveled |between Lynn Camp High School and Lynn Camp Elementary School, |before dissipating. Notable damage included damage to to vehicles |in the Legacy Chevrolet parking lot. Multiple cars and trucks |were pushed forward or to the side. The line of trucks near the |front of the lot were pushed up over the curb and halfway into the |grass. Debris was located along the seal of the driver-side |window of multiple trucks, and quite a few vehicles lost their|back windshields either partially or completely. The gas cap |covers were pulled off of the trucks, with some found at the end of the|tornado path about 0.75 miles away. The neighboring car wash lost|the majority of its windows and incurred damage to all sides of |the building, causing it to be structurally unsound. Across the |street, sheds and barns were moved around and flipped, including a|metal carport being thrown into the tree line to the ENE. No damage|was noted along the neighboring field, however minor roof damage |and a fallen tree occurred just to the ENE, at which point the |path of damage picked back up with multiple trees down along |Poplar Grove Road. At the end of the tornado track, a south-facing|house addition had its roof and ceiling lifted off, landing in |it's entirety to the north near the Lynn Camp Elementary School, |while additional debris was thrown into the east facing lawn of |the school.
The track of this storm started at Cumberland Falls State Park, |moving east-northeast, resulting in a path of straight-line wind |damage across northern Whitley County with numerous trees felled.|NWS Jackson, KY radar showed a tightening of circulation occurring|across the Corbin area, near where the tornado occurred. Further |wind damage was noted farther ENE of the tornado path in a wooded |area along Middlefork Richland Road and surrounding areas. These |were all indicative of straight-line winds as well.
A large tree was blown down onto a trampoline and fence enclosure near Levi Jackson State Park.
A 2-foot diameter tree was blown onto power lines, and shingles were blown off of a residence in the community of Fonde.
The Laurel County EM reported damage to at least one building at the Flea Land flea market in London. Photos shared showed the roof missing off one building.
The KLOZ ASOS located at the London-Corbin Airport reported a measured gust of 60 mph at 1:51pm EDT.
Multiple trees were felled along Middlefork-Richland Creek Road near US-25, just east of Corbin. Estimated wind speeds were 70 mph through this area.
Video showed lightning striking a business in downtown London and starting a fire. The structure was reported a total loss.
Trees were uprooted and power lines were downed in the Fonde community.
Multiple trees blown down, including over power lines, in the vicinity of Bridge Hollow, Slate Branch Spur, and Slate Branch Roads.
A tree was downed on the roadway near the Colfax community.
The RAWS station SOMK2 at the Somerset Airport reported a wind gusts of 59 mph.
Reports of trees and power lines down throughout the county.
Power lines were downed onto an unoccupied vehicle in the Maribu community.
Trees were reported downed countywide across Clay County.
Both a tree and electric lines fell down onto a house on Lucy Lane, off KY-80 near Manchester. This caused the house to catch fire.
A large tree was snapped on Oak Street in Pineville via a report from social media.
Numerous reports of trees down across roads throughout Lee County. A few phone lines were also down throughout the county.
Trees were reported down on Beech Creek Apartments in Manchester. The building had to be evacuated a result.
A tree fell down onto a picnic shelter at Rawlings Stinson Park in Manchester. One person sustained non-life threatening injuries in the event, and was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
A photo was posted on social media of a tree leaning on a house, near the Noetown community on the west side of Middlesboro.
A tree was down near the Middlesboro Fire Station #2, causing a power pole to lean on the building.
A social media report was made of trees and power lines down on Upper Gibson Lane, on the west side of Middlesboro.
A social media report showed a large tree snapped at base on New Wilson Lane.
A social media report showed a tree snapped and uprooted on Blakely Lane in Middlesboro.
A social media report showed a large tree down at West End Trailer Park in Middlesboro. Original storm report says East End Trailer Park near Gibson Lane, however, there is only a West End Trailer Park.
Two large trees were downed on Stone Creek Drive via a social media report.
One small tree and half of another tree was blown down in the vicinity of Memory Lane, east of London.
Tree was reported down onto power lines on Edgewood Road in Middlesboro via a social media report.
A tree was blown down at the intersection of KY-2011 and Cow Fork in the community of Beverly.
Two trees were blown down onto Mud Lick Road near the community of Beverly.
A social media report with drone photos showed large trees down on the east side of Middlesboro.
A social media report showed a tree down and blocking KY-66 at MM6.
A tree was snapped at it's base at a residence in the Kettle Island community. Power lines also appeared to be down via the photo submitted on social media.
Many trees were blown down around the city of Middlesboro.
A social media report showed trees down on power lines in the Page community of US-119. Power lines were also downed near the train trestle.
A tree was blown down onto KY-1534 about 1/4 mile off US-119 near the community of Calvin.
Trees were blown down onto KY-7 near the Wrigley community.
A tree was blown down near 3000 Liberty Road, northwest of West Liberty.
Social media report of trees down in the community of Buckhorn. One downed tree demolished a swing set and trampoline.
WYMT news reported from Leslie County about numerous trees and power lines that were downed along Owls Nest Road. one of these trees fell on a mobile home, destroying it. Thankfully no one was injured.
A tree was blown down onto KY-191 between the communities of Adele and Helechewa.
Trees and power lines were downed at a residence on James Court, off KY-215, between the Redbud and Kenvir communities.
Numerous reports of trees and power lines down throughout Perry County, including within the city limits of Hazard.
Trees were reported to have been blown down in the Viper Community of Perry County.
Trees were reported to have been blown down at the Wendell H. Ford Airport north of Hazard.
Numerous reports of trees down in the Avawam community, including onto a mobile home, power lines, and roads.
A tree was reported to have been blown down at the Morgan/Magoffin County line, along US-460.
Report of multiple trees down on KY-160 near the community of Gordon, not far from Kingdom Come State Park.
Trees were reported down near 2700 Pigeon Roost Road near the community of Pilgrim.
Trees were downed onto KY-550 near the Perry County line.
Trees were reported down on KY-550 near Montgomery Creek and Montgomery Creek Road, in the community of Emmalena.
A tree was reported blown down in the city of Salyersville.
Trees were blown down along Old Lick Creek Road, near the community of Lickburg.
Numerous reports of trees and power lines down throughout the county.
Trees were reported to have been blown down along Mine Fork Road near the community of Leatha.
A tree was blown down somewhere along Route-7/Southeast Licking River Road, south of Salyersville.
Trees were reported to have been downed on KY-550 near Jones Fork and the community of Mousie.
Trees were reported to have been blown down in the Hueysville community.
Trees were reported down near the KY-404 and KY-1210 intersection.
Trees were reported to have been blown down in the community of Virgie.
Trees were reported to be blown down across the community of Martin.
A tree was blown down onto KY-1426 along Prater Creek, between the Banner and Dana communities.
Trees were reported to have been blown down on KY-1426 (Toler Creek Road), in the Toler Creek Community.
Trees and utility lines were blown down on Oklahoma Branch Road just south of Allen City.
Multiple trees were reported to have been blown down on Collins Street, including one onto a utility line. Trees were also downed onto nearby Collins Highway (KY-122).
Trees were reported down near the intersection of Island Creek Road (KY-1426) and Hoopwood Branch Road, west of Pikeville.
Trees were reported blown down in the community of Banner.
A tree was reported to have been blown down onto Town Mountain Road, east of Pikeville.
A tree was blown down in the Boons Camp community, east of Paintsville.
Social media reported trees and powerlines down on Ashcamp Road/KY-195 near Ashcamp.
Trees were reported downed in the community of Ashcamp.
A tree was blown down onto US-460/KY-80 (Millard Hwy) near the Old Millard School.
A tree was downed onto KY-80 between the Solid Waste Department and Ferrells Creek Road (US-460).
A tree was blow down and blocking Upper Pond Creek Road at Ballfork Mountain.
Trees were reported to have been downed across the Belfry community.
Trees were downed on Beauty Road (KY-40) somewhere near Warfield and Beauty.
A tree was down on Mudlick Road, south of Hardy. This resulted in downed powerlines as well.
A tree was downed near 1000 Tomahawk Road in the community of Tomahawk.
Two large trees were downed on Stone Creek Drive in the Noetown area on the west side of Middlesboro.
A large tree was blown down in front of 266 Waterworks Road in London.
A tree was downed somewhere on Level Green Road near the community of Keavy.
A tree fell onto a residence on Camelot Place in the city of London.
A tree was reported to have been blown down near the Quillen Chapel Exit (Exit 42) of the Mountain Parkway.
A tree was reported to have been blown down on KY-11 about 4 miles north of Barbourville.
A tree was reported blown down around 2 miles SE of Chenowee, likely along Puncheon Creek and Belcher Fork Road.
Numerous 911 calls reporting a roof collapse at the Conley Bottom Resort main pier on Lake Cumberland, leaving people trapped on their boats.
Trees were reported to have been blown down at 77 River Drive between Irvine and Ravenna.
A tree was reported to have been blown down via Social Media.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kentucky, 2024Warnings 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: 1181281, 1181287, 1181326, 1181327, 1181334, 1181342, 1181348, 1181355, 1181356, 1181359, 1181363, 1181369, 1181370, 1181372, 1181377, 1181381, 1181394, 1181404, 1181406, 1181413, 1181419, 1181432, 1181436, 1181439, 1181444, 1181446, 1181452, 1181454, 1181279, 1181455, 1181459, 1181463, 1181464, 1181467, 1182206, 1182207, 1182208, 1182212, 1182215, 1182216, and more.