High Wind in Kentucky, September 27, 2024

Two observing stations in Harlan County, one Kentucky Mesonet station atop Big Black Mountains and one AWOS station at the Harlan County Airport, reported peak wind gusts of 45 and 38 mph, respectively. Even so, localized wind damage suggests that there were isolated instances of high gusts. Law enforcement reported multiple instances of trees and power lines blown down in the Cawood, Evarts, and Cumberland areas during the morning hours. In Cawood, one of those trees, a large pine tree, fell onto a mobile home in Cawood, injuring one occupant.

Two weather observing stations, a personal weather station 1 mile northeast of Payne Gap and a Kentucky Mesonet station 2 miles northwest of Whitesburg, reported wind gusts of 41 mph at 1112 AM EST and 29 mph at 845 AM EST, respectively. Even so, Letcher County dispatch reported that there were multiple trees blown down in the Jenkins, Whitesburg, and Fleming-Neon areas.

One observing station at the Middlesboro Airport reported a peak gust of 43 mph at 935 AM EST. Even so, there were, according to Bell County dispatch, many reports of trees blown down in the county, primarily after 200 PM EST in the Pineville, Frakes, Middlesboro and Brownies Creek areas. A trained spotter also reported a tree blown down off of KY-2011 near the intersection with Cow Fork Road around 1245 PM EST.

The ASOS weather station at the London-Corbin Airport reported a peak wind gust of 49 mph during the morning hours. However most of the reports of downed trees, up to around 20 according to Laurel County dispatch, occurred between 1100 AM EST and 300 PM EST and were most numerous in the City of London as well as Swiss Colony and Bald Rock.

Three weather stations, a Kentucky Mesonet station 4 miles northwest of Monticello, an AWOS at the Monticello Airport, and a personal weather station a the Conley Bottom Resort reported peak wind gusts of 35 to 41 mph between 235 PM EST and 345 PM EST. Isolated higher gusts likely occurred. Wayne County dispatch reported that a tree was blown down onto KY-92 near intersection with Dug Road and the intersection with Burnett Hollow Road. Multiple trees were reportedly blown down onto KY-3284 about 2 miles from the Monticello city limits.

One personal weather observing station 2 miles northeast Poplar Plains reported a peak gust of 48 mph at 1114 AM EST. The Fleming-Mason Airport just north of the county reported a peak gusts of 54 mph at 1135 AM EST. Localized damage suggests instances of higher wind gusts. The local COOP observer WRIM2 reported roofing blown off of a nearby residence as well as a blown over carport.

Five observing stations in Breathitt County reported wind gusts, though peak speeds differed dramatically due to exposure. The strongest recorded wind gust of 56 mph occurred around 318 PM EST at the NWS Jackson ASOS. Meanwhile, the adjacent Jackson RAWs recorded a peak gusts of 41 mph at 956 AM EST. Other reported peak wind gusts ranged from 20 mph in a sheltered hollow 2 miles ENE of Noble at 1035 AM EST to 41 mph 2 miles SSE Noble at 215 PM EST. Wind damage was reported around the county by law enforcement, NWS employees and the public. These reports include: 1045 AM EST - trees blown down in the Frozen community; 1050 AM EST - trees blown down near WFO Jackson and on KY-30 within a couple miles of the offices, shingles were also blown off the NWS office building; 1100 AM EST - trees blown down on KY-541 near the Martha Layne Collins Bridge; 200 PM EST - power line blown down KY-15 immediately southeast of the Wolfe/Breathitt county line; 315 PM EST - tree blown down in Jackson, and 318 PM EST - tree blown down on KY-30 West about 1 mile from old KY-15, tree blown down onto vehicle along KY-315 approximately 3 miles from KY-30. Pictures on social media also show a large hardwood tree down at the Kentucky Mountain Bible College, impacting one of the college buildings.

The only observing station in the county, the Peabody RAWS reported a peak wind gusts of 28 mph at 601 PM EST. However the station is likely sited very poorly. The county dispatch reported that trees and utility lines had been blown down in Manchester with numerous trees knocked over in other parts of the county. There were reportedly additional occurrences of downed utility lines as well.

One Kentucky Mesonet station 5 miles south of McKee reported a peak wind gusts of 47 mph at 930 AM EST. Even so, Jackson County dispatch received multiple reports of trees blown down in portions of the county, suggesting higher wind gusts.

Estill County dispatch reported multiple trees and power lines blown down across the county at 930 AM EST.

The Lee County dispatch reported that multiple trees and powerlines had been blown down throughout the county.

A personal weather station reported a peak gust of 37 mph at Wabo around 1109 AM EST. However, the Rockcastle County dispatch relayed there were multiple tree blown down throughout the county, suggesting that there were locally higher wind gusts.

The Kentucky Mesonet station 3 miles east of Barbourville reported a peak wind gust of 35 mph at 240 PM EST. The Knox County dispatch received multiple reports of trees and powerlines blown down around the county, suggesting that isolated higher gusts likely occurred.

The Kentucky Mesonet station 3 miles north of Whitley City reported a peak wind gust of 30 mph at 225 PM EST. However, the Whitley County dispatch reported that multiple trees and a utility line were blown down at both near Whitley City and Pine Knot, suggesting that locally higher wind gusts occurred.

The AWOS station at the Williamsburg-Whitley County Airport reported a peak wind gusts of 33 mph at 235 PM EST. Locally higher gusts likely occurred along KY-92 along the northwest slope of Pine Mountain were multiple trees were blown down according to the Whitley County dispatch. Dispatch also reported that multiple trees were blown down on Corn Creek Church Road near the Knox-Whitley county line and that utility lines had been blown down in Williamsburg.

The Kentucky Mesonet station 6 miles south southwest of Frenchburg reported a peak wind gust of 42 mph at 1010 AM EST. However, damage observed by an NWS Employee suggests that higher wind gusts occurred. A large tree had snapped at ground level and fallen towards a home at the intersection of US-460 and Industrial Park Road, damaging the home's porch. Two trees were also blown down along Tuffy Stull Road. Another tree fell and blocked US-460 near the intersection of Dog Trot Road. Power outages due to fallen trees persisted for multiple days after the storm system's passage.

National Weather Service employees reported multiple trees blown down in the county. One of those reports was of a tree uprooted at a residence 1 mile east northeast of Clay City at 1005 AM EST. Another employee reported a tree blown down on a powerline and blocking KY-213 between the General Shale brick plant and Pine View Heights. A tree was also blown down and blocking KY-615 in the vicinity of Courtney Lane. Broadcast media reported that a roof was blown off of a mobile home.

The RAWS atop Koomer Ridge recorded a peak wind gust of 64 mph at 1118 AM EST. A National Weather Service employee also reported an approximately 1-foot diameter pine tree uprooted and blown down onto a portion of KY-15.

The Kentucky Mesonet station 4 miles west of Paintsville reported a peak wind gust of 39 mph at 1130 AM EST. Locally higher wind gusts likely occurred given substantial siding damage inflicted on the 6th floor of the high-rise Bristlebuck Manor in the city of Paintsville.

The Kentucky Mesonet station 2 miles southwest of West Liberty recorded a peak wind gusts of 60 mph at 1130 AM EST. An NWS employee also reported a tree blown down on KY-946 about a mile and half from Maytown.

Three weather stations, the RAWS on Triangle Mountain, the AWOS at the Morehead Regional Airport and the Kentucky Mesonet 4 miles northeast of Morehead, reported peak wind gusts of 35 to 41 mph between 915 AM EST and 102 PM EST. Even though these reports are not particularly notable, a trained spotter near Farmers reported that 5 large poplar trees were uprooted. An mPING report also indicated that trees had been uprooted and a roof blown off about 1 miles southeast of Morehead.

Two weather stations, a personal weather station 1 miles northwest of Ewington and the AWOS at the Mount Sterling Airport, reported peak wind gusts of 52 mph at 1204 PM EST and 48 mph at 1215PM EST, respectively. In spite of these gusts not attaining warning criteria, widespread wind damage was reported by NWS employees around the county. At 1030 AM EST, an NWS employee reported a tree blown down onto and blocking High Street one block east of the courthouse. At least 2 trees were blown down along US-460 near Camargo and multiple trees were blown down onto KY-646 at the intersection with KY-213, blocking the highway and involving the power lines. Another large hardwood, approximately 18-inch diameter, was snapped off at its base at the intersection of KY-213 and Shelby Lane. Additionally, a large yard tree fell through the main section of a home in Mount Sterling near the Maysville Community and Technical College. Approximately half a dozen consecutive power poles were snapped along US-460 immediately southeast of the intersection with KY-686. Finally, a large yard tree was uprooted and fallen on a livestock fence on the southwest side of US-460 adjacent to Hartzler Door and Gate.

Floyd County dispatch and members of the public reported that trees were blown down in the Prestonsburg, Blue River, David, McDowell, Martin, Grethel, Betsy Layne and Harold areas, primarily during the morning hours.

The Kentucky Mesonet station located 5 miles north of Hindman reported a peak gust of 44 mph at 940 AM EST. Law enforcement reported instances of multiple trees blown down in the Vest and Pippa Passes communities suggesting that locally higher gusts probably occurred.

The AWOS at Wendell H. Ford Airport recorded a peak wind gust of 38 mph at 235 PM EST. However, wind damage reported by the the highway department in Perry County suggests that higher wind gusts occurred. Reports included a large tree blown down onto KY-699 and blocking the highway near the old Leatherwood school. Multiple trees were reportedly blown down along KY-15 North in the vicinity of the Wendell H. Ford Airport and also on Left Fork of Maces Creek about 2.5 miles from KY-7. Single downed trees were reported onto KY-476 near the intersection with Balls Fork Road and along KY-15 at the Breathitt-Perry county line.

The Leslie County dispatch reported that trees had been blown down in the Essie area along KY-406, in the vicinity of Hyden, and on KY-2058 near Beech Fork. A single tree was reportedly blown down on Big Valley Road north of the Hal Rogers Parkway. Utility lines were brought down in the Essie area.

Three weather stations reported peak wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph between 815 and 1001 AM EST. However, damage reports from Pulaski County dispatch suggests that locally higher gusts occurred. Reports of downed trees started around 745 AM EST in the Science Hill and Eubank areas. A tree was also reportedly blown down onto a utility line in the city of Somerset around 930 AM EST.

The AWOS station at the Big Sandy Airport reported a peak wind gust of only 36 mph at 1135 AM EST. However, Martin County dispatch reported that there were instances of trees and powerlines blown down across all of the county.

Two weather stations, the Pike County Airport and the Kentucky Mesonet station 3 miles south of Pikeville, recorded peak wind gusts of 52 mph at 955 AM EST and 57 mph at 200 PM EST, respectively. Wind damage around the county suggests that locally higher wind gusts occurred. The Pike County emergency manager reported that a tree fell on a residence on the Right Fork of Sycamore Road near Ashcamp around 927 AM EST. Another tree was blown down onto a residence along Taylor Road in Zebulon around 955 AM EST. A member of the public reported that a tree fell on a mobile home and vehicle along Allegheny Road in Hellier. Reports were also received of individual trees blown down near the intersections of KY-610 and Elwood Road, Town Mountain Road and Lothlorien Lane, and also onto KY-1526 in the Zebulon community between Double Kwik and Velocity Market. An NWS employee reported that there were multiple trees blown down in Ridge Line Road between River Hurricane Branch and KY-194.

Two observing stations in Bath County, a Kentucky Mesonet station 3 miles south of Owingsville and the other a personal weather station 2 miles northwest of Owingsville, recorded peak wind gusts of 45 and 47 mph, respectively. Even so, multiple reports from the Bath County dispatch of trees and power lines blown down around the county suggest instances of stronger wind gusts. One of those reports at 1120 AM EST indicated that a tree fell onto a structure.