During the evening hours of December 18th, a strong cold front moved across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, with a line of showers and thunderstorms oriented along the front. Ahead of the cold front, there was strong southerly flow which attempted to bring moisture into south central Kentucky from the Gulf, with temperatures warming into the low 60s and dewpoint temperatures rising into the mid…
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 LMK wrote it up.
During the evening hours of December 18th, a strong cold front moved across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, with a line of showers and thunderstorms oriented along the front. Ahead of the cold front, there was strong southerly flow which attempted to bring moisture into south central Kentucky from the Gulf, with temperatures warming into the low 60s and dewpoint temperatures rising into the mid 50s. Still, the atmosphere ahead of the front was only marginally unstable, with around 100-300 J/kg of surface-based CAPE depicted in mesoanalysis data ahead of the line of storms. However, with the strong wind field aloft, even this meager amount of instability was sufficient for severe storm impacts across south central Kentucky, with scattered tree damage and wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph occurring with the line of storms. One QLCS tornado also occurred in LaRue County, as a short-lived EF0 touched down northeast of Buffalo.
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 Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 18, 5:42 PM CST, 43 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Louisville KY 642 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025 ...Updated Aviation Discussion... .KEY MESSAGES... * Gradient wind gusts of 30-40 mph are expected this evening ahead of a strong cold front. Isolated wind gusts of 40-45 mph will be possible in stronger showers along the front. * Behind the front, temperatures quickly fall tonight with a few snow flurries and snow showers possible. Cooler weather will last through Friday. Temperatures will then warm over the weekend and into next week. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/... Issued at 415 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025 An upper low is working east through the Midwest headed towards the Great Lakes region. The system's surface low slightly northeast of the upper low is dragging a cold front that stretches south near Chicago and back towards the Lower Mississippi Valley. Ahead of the front, over the Lower Ohio Valley, moderate isentropic left is occurring. The low level jet is currently between 55-65 knots. This has and will continue to produce rounds of showers over the region. Along the front, west of the CWA, a thin line of heavier rain is moving east towards southern Indiana and central Kentucky. Ahead of the front, winds are out of the south. This has lifted temperatures into the mid to upper 50s with dew points in the low 50s, but with the passage of the front, winds will quickly veer towards the west- northwest, beginning cold air advection. The front looks to arrive in Dubois County, Indiana around 23z this evening and should exit our Bluegrass counties by around 04z. The convection along the front will bring our best chances for seeing stronger wind gusts. It was looking like a wind advisory was going to be needed with early wind reports from the St. Louis area, but since then, the CAM model guidance has been running well above observed winds. Some of the data has begun to back off on gusts later this evening. Still, gusts are expected to inch closer to the lower limits for a wind advisory (40 mph). For now, the Special Weather Statement remains in place. Tonight, behind the front, cooler temperatures are expected to transition rain into light snow around 05-06z near Jasper, Indiana to around 10z on the eastern side of the CWA. A few flakes could be seen for a short period of time farther south, but most of the flurries and/or light snow will remain over southern Indiana and north-central Kentucky. This is because farther south the DGZ dries, but deeper moisture saturates at least some of the DGZ over the northern half of the CWA. Not expecting much in the way of accumulations, but with temperatures falling into the mid to upper 20s, any remaining water from earlier precipitation is likely to freeze. Elevated winds and a delay in temperatures falling to below freezing should help dry surfaces. Tomorrow, the upper trough will become negatively tilted, lifting the trough northeast away from the CWA. This will begin clearing skies over the CWA from the southwest to northeast early in the day, and by the early afternoon, clear skies are expected over the whole CWA. Gusts around 30 mph in the morning will continue to weaken throughout the day, but continued CAA will limit highs to the the mid 30s to low 40s. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... Issued at 415 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025 Friday night, a surface high passes east of the region, returning WAA to the region. After a cool night Friday night with lows in the 20s, temperatures rebound into the 50s under mostly sunny skies on Saturday. Saturday night, as a low pressure system passes east, north of the Great Lakes, its trailing cold front pushes southeast through the Lower Ohio Valley. This front will separate two surface high pressure centers. It will likely only bring some passing cloud cover the the region and more CAA. Sunday's highs get limited to the 40s to near 50. Zonal flow will push the surface high over the Midwest east across Indiana, bringing WAA back to the CAA. Highs return to the 50s on Tuesday and the 50s and 60s Wednesday and Thursday. Some additional chances of light precipitation are possible during this time. It looks like the first chance will arrive Monday night or Tuesday. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 642 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025 The cold front has just entered the western portion of the region and a line of strong showers is out ahead of the front. As this feature sweeps east over the region, winds up to 45mph will continue. As the front passes over the terminals, winds will quickly shift from the south to the west and precip will steadily dissipate. In the early morning hours, another thin line of showers is expected to develop bring some RASN transitioning to mostly light snow for a few hours. CIGs will steadily recover by late morning to VFR. && .LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...None. IN...None. && SHORT TERM...KDW LONG TERM...KDW AVIATION...SRW
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Louisville KY 434 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067- 070>078-081-082-192145- Orange-Washington IN-Scott IN-Jefferson IN-Dubois-Crawford-Perry- Harrison IN-Floyd-Clark IN-Hancock-Breckinridge-Meade-Ohio-Grayson- Hardin-Bullitt-Jefferson-Oldham-Trimble-Henry-Shelby-Franklin- Scott KY-Harrison KY-Spencer-Anderson-Woodford-Fayette-Bourbon- Nicholas-Nelson-Washington KY-Mercer-Jessamine-Clark KY-Larue-Marion- Boyle-Garrard-Madison-Butler-Edmonson-Hart-Green-Taylor-Casey- Lincoln-Logan-Warren-Simpson-Allen-Barren-Monroe-Metcalfe-Adair- Russell-Cumberland-Clinton- 434 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025 /334 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Indiana and central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A strong cold front will continue to bring rain showers to the region. Ahead of the cold front, strong gusty south to southwest winds are expected. Wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph will be possible. Behind the front, winds remain gusty out of the west-northwest and falling temperatures will change remaining precipitation to flurries and light snow. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found, at weather.gov/louisville. KDW
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
521 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025
INZ076-083-084-089-182315-
Crawford IN-Orange IN-Perry IN-Dubois IN-
521 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025
...GUSTY SHOWERS WILL IMPACT DUBOIS...NORTHWESTERN CRAWFORD...
NORTHWESTERN PERRY AND WESTERN ORANGE COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM EST/515
PM CST/...
At 521 PM EST/421 PM CST/, Doppler radar was tracking gusty showers
along a line extending from Washington to near Lynnville. Movement
was east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Jasper, Paoli, Huntingburg, Ferdinand, Orleans, French Lick,
Orangeville, Holland, West Baden Springs, and Birdseye.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3851 8707 3850 8706 3851 8705 3851 8700
3849 8695 3851 8693 3850 8688 3853 8683
3853 8668 3869 8668 3869 8639 3820 8663
3820 8707
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 269DEG 35KT 3867 8716 3823 8739
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
NeudorffSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
600 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025
INZ076>078-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>025-190000-
Crawford IN-Orange IN-Washington IN-Floyd IN-Clark IN-Perry IN-
Dubois IN-Scott IN-Harrison IN-Hancock KY-Meade KY-Breckinridge KY-
600 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025
...GUSTY SHOWERS WILL IMPACT WESTERN HARRISON...EASTERN DUBOIS...WEST
CENTRAL CLARK...CRAWFORD...PERRY...NORTHWESTERN FLOYD...ORANGE...
WESTERN SCOTT...WASHINGTON...NORTHWESTERN MEADE...HANCOCK AND
NORTHERN BRECKINRIDGE COUNTIES THROUGH 700 PM EST/600 PM CST/...
At 600 PM EST/500 PM CST/, Doppler radar was tracking gusty showers
along a line extending from 10 miles east of Shoals to near Eureka.
Movement was east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Tell City, Scottsburg, Salem, Paoli, Corydon, Brandenburg,
Hawesville, English, Carefree Town, and Mount Pleasant.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Louisville.
&&
LAT...LON 3793 8697 3794 8692 3802 8680 3800 8677
3812 8681 3821 8679 3820 8697 3853 8676
3853 8668 3869 8665 3869 8631 3876 8629
3877 8598 3873 8587 3878 8582 3878 8572
3781 8632 3783 8690 3790 8692 3789 8699
TIME...MOT...LOC 2300Z 267DEG 37KT 3869 8660 3786 8716
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
NeudorffSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
519 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025
KYZ023-024-026-027-061-190000-
Grayson KY-Butler KY-Hancock KY-Ohio KY-Breckinridge KY-
519 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025
...GUSTY SHOWERS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN HANCOCK...NORTHWESTERN
BUTLER...NORTHWESTERN GRAYSON...SOUTHWESTERN BRECKINRIDGE AND OHIO
COUNTIES THROUGH 600 PM CST...
At 519 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking gusty showers along a line
extending from near Rockport to near Madisonville to 9 miles south of
Cadiz. Movement was east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Hartford, Hardinsburg, Beaver Dam, Cloverport, Fordsville,
Centertown, Mchenry, Rockport, Rochester, and Mcquady.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3738 8709 3747 8712 3763 8695 3767 8682
3771 8687 3775 8682 3783 8685 3782 8631
3707 8693 3712 8690 3714 8693 3718 8692
3719 8689 3724 8691 3727 8698 3732 8699
3736 8703 3737 8708 3733 8711 3734 8714
TIME...MOT...LOC 2319Z 271DEG 39KT 3782 8701 3732 8743 3673 8778
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
WebbSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
635 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025
INZ076>079-084-089>092-KYZ023>025-028>032-190030-
Orange IN-Jefferson IN-Scott IN-Crawford IN-Washington IN-Floyd IN-
Clark IN-Perry IN-Harrison IN-Jefferson KY-Oldham KY-Hardin KY-
Bullitt KY-Hancock KY-Meade KY-Breckinridge KY-Trimble KY-
635 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025
...GUSTY SHOWERS WILL IMPACT JEFFERSON...CLARK...SOUTHEASTERN
PERRY...FLOYD...SCOTT...WASHINGTON...HARRISON...EASTERN CRAWFORD...
SOUTHEASTERN ORANGE...CENTRAL OLDHAM...MEADE...JEFFERSON...WESTERN
BULLITT...NORTHEASTERN HARDIN...EAST CENTRAL HANCOCK...TRIMBLE AND
NORTHERN BRECKINRIDGE COUNTIES THROUGH 730 PM EST/630 PM CST/...
At 635 PM EST/535 PM CST/, Doppler radar was tracking gusty showers
along a line extending from near Brownstown to near Hawesville.
Movement was east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Louisville, Jeffersonville, New Albany, Jeffersontown, St. Matthews,
Shively, Madison, Shepherdsville, Lyndon, and Middletown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Louisville.
&&
LAT...LON 3873 8520 3870 8522 3874 8527 3874 8533
3865 8525 3781 8583 3782 8669 3876 8614
3878 8609 3876 8603 3877 8602 3877 8598
3875 8598 3876 8594 3873 8587 3881 8579
3883 8573 3882 8569 3883 8561 3883 8520
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 268DEG 34KT 3882 8606 3783 8671
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
NeudorffSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
657 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025
KYZ023>028-061>063-071-190100-
Hart KY-Grayson KY-Warren KY-Edmonson KY-Butler KY-Hancock KY-
Meade KY-Hardin KY-Ohio KY-Breckinridge KY-
657 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025
...GUSTY SHOWERS WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL MEADE...SOUTHEASTERN
HANCOCK...WESTERN HART...BUTLER...GRAYSON...NORTHERN WARREN...
BRECKINRIDGE...HARDIN...EASTERN OHIO AND EDMONSON COUNTIES THROUGH
800 PM EST/700 PM CST/...
At 656 PM EST/556 PM CST/, Doppler radar was tracking gusty showers
along a line extending from near Hardinsburg to near Dunmor. Movement
was east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Elizabethtown, Leitchfield, Morgantown, Hardinsburg, Brownsville,
Radcliff, Casey, Lee, Vine Grove, and Clarkson.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Louisville.
&&
LAT...LON 3783 8658 3781 8574 3778 8574 3774 8568
3765 8574 3763 8580 3757 8582 3754 8588
3747 8590 3744 8587 3703 8613 3705 8684
3707 8694 3711 8689 3714 8693 3718 8692
3718 8689 3722 8690 3725 8695
TIME...MOT...LOC 2356Z 268DEG 43KT 3782 8651 3713 8695
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
WebbThe Ft Campbell radar (KHPX), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:24 UTC.
10 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down into the roadway along Middleton Road.
A tree was blown down onto the road near the intersection of Filter Plant Road and Scottsville Road in Franklin.
A mini trailer tumbled over from a gas station onto Red Rock Road. Nearby KBWG gusted to 53 mph.
Multiple reports of trees down in Allen County. Tree damage was observed along Halifax Road, Alonzo Long Hollow Road, Franklin Road, and Smiths Grove Road.
Multiple reports of trees down in southern Hart County. Tree damage was reported on the 2000 block of South Dixie Highway, along Lawler Road, Shady Lane Church Road, Logsdon Valley Road, and Caldwell Road North. Nearby Kentucky Mesonet station HDYV gusted to 56 mph.
Trees were blown down by strong winds in northern Taylor County, with three trees being blown down onto Saloma Road near Finley Ridge Road. Trees were also blocking one lane of Kentucky Route 76 in the eastern part of Taylor County.
A National Weather Service damage survey determined that a brief EF0 tornado touched down about 1.5 miles east-northeast of Buffalo in LaRue County. Peak winds were 85 mph with a path width of 20 yards and a two mile long path. Most of the impacts from the tornado consisted of a mixture of downed trees, collapsed barns, and shingle damage to some homes.
There were several reports of downed trees across Barren County, especially in the northern part of the county. A tree was blown down across Hiseville Bear Wallow Road near Rock Springs Church Road. Other tree damage was reported along the 2600 block of North Jackson Highway and the 3800 block of Lecta Kino Road.
A 64 mph wind gust was observed at the Marion County Kentucky Mesonet station LRTO.
A tree was blown down near the intersection of Kentucky Route 52 and Boones Creek Road.
A tree was blown down by strong thunderstorm winds along the 3100 block of Kentucky Route 52.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kentucky, 2025Warnings in Kentucky, December 2025
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: 1308358, 1308359, 1308361, 1308362, 1308363, 1308364, 1308356, 1308367, 1308373, 1308375, 1308371.