High pressure had been anchored across the southeast for the previous few days leading to dew points in the 70s, and highs in the 90s. Forecasters noted inverted-V type soundings heading into the day of the 26th, favorable for downward transport of winds from aloft.
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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.
High pressure had been anchored across the southeast for the previous few days leading to dew points in the 70s, and highs in the 90s. Forecasters noted inverted-V type soundings heading into the day of the 26th, favorable for downward transport of winds from aloft. The morning started out under a strongly unstable environment with little to no shear. Outflow from showers and storms ongoing in Tennessee kicked off convection in Kentucky earlier than expected. Storms would then tap into the favorable atmospheric conditions along with day time heating and better organize through the afternoon. The first report of wind damage occurred in Clay county just before 12:30 PM LST. After that convection pushed off to the east before the remaining reports occurred across Floyd county, just before 4 PM LST.
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 Jun 26, 12:11 PM EST, 14 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Jackson KY 111 PM EDT Thu Jun 26 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Hot and humid conditions will continue into the weekend, with temperatures gradually moderating each day. Heat indices peaking in the 100 to 105 degree range are forecast for many locations through today, before gradually lowering into the 90s by Saturday. - Diurnal shower and thunderstorm chances gradually increase through the end of the week and weekend before peaking early next week. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1211 PM EDT THU JUN 26 2025 Convection has been developing earlier than anticipated within a moderately to strongly unstable environment characterized by practically no shear. Outflow from morning convection over Tennessee has largely served as the trigger for the current activity, as well as differential heating caused by terrain. Some severe threat exists later this afternoon and early evening as storms build through and entrain a dry air mass in the middle and upper levels. Additionally, inverted-v lower levels up to 5-kft would support DCAPE values exceeding 1000 J/kg. Strong downbursts with isolated instances of damaging winds will thus be possible. UPDATE Issued at 831 AM EDT THU JUN 26 2025 A fairly comprehensive mid-morning update has been sent out. With isolated convection already over/near Bath County and the Interstate 64 corridor, PoPs were raised to 15 nearly areawide beginning with the 12z hour and then interpolated upwards into the afternoon before diminishing into the evening. RAP soundings for this afternoon indicate a moderately to strongly unstable environment with a fairly dry air above a surface environment characterized by dew points in the lower 70s and temperatures in the lower to mid 90s. This would suggest an environment supportive of strong downbursts with stronger storms, which could produce isolated instances of damaging winds. A small hail threat will also exist in addition to the threat for locally excessive rainfall. UPDATE Issued at 1120 PM EDT WED JUN 25 2025 A lingering storm or two remains in the far eastern parts of the state but should fade out through the next hour or so. Otherwise, have mainly just included the latest obs and trends for the T/Td/Sky grids. These adjustments have been sent to the NDFD and web servers along with freshened SAFs and zones with the HWO updated as soon as the storms end. UPDATE Issued at 855 PM EDT WED JUN 25 2025 00Z sfc analysis shows high pressure starting to lose control of the weather over eastern Kentucky. This has allowed a cluster of thunderstorms to develop over the Bluegrass Region and additional convection is working southeast on the initial outflow boundary. These pulsers are briefly strong before collapsing with gusty winds and a bout of heavy rain. These will continue to fade out through mid evening with the loss of instability. Currently temperatures are running in the low to mid 80s. Meanwhile, amid light winds away from any storms, dewpoints are generally in the low to mid 70s. Have updated the forecast mainly to add in the latest obs and trends for the T/Td/Sky grids but also to adjust the PoPs through the night per radar and CAMs guidance. Also touched up the valley fog expectations into dawn, Thursday. These adjustments have been sent to the NDFD and web servers along with a freshening of the zones, HWO, and SAFs. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday night) Issued at 152 PM EDT WED JUN 25 2025 Upper ridging will gradually weaken through Thursday night as a weak upper trough develops over the Southeast U.S. This will help to increase shower and thunderstorm probabilities for Thursday afternoon and evening. A few isolated showers and/or storms are possible through early this evening, but most areas will remain dry. More supportive conditions for storms will remain mostly east and southeast of the forecast area, but these more supportive conditions arrive for Thursday afternoon and evening area-wide, along with the risk for a stronger storm or two that could produce damaging winds. Although lower confidence compared to previous days, the Heat Advisory has been extended one more day through Thursday to account for maximum heat indices in the 100 to 105 degree range. Meanwhile, one more night of record or near-record high minimum temperatures are expected at our climate stations in Jackson and London. .LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday) Issued at 152 PM EDT WED JUN 25 2025 Models are in good agreement that upper-level heights gradually lower through the extended period, with a trough becoming established over the Ohio River Valley this weekend and especially into the first half of next week. As the upper ridging weakens and slides east Friday, mid-level southerly flow will increase over the area, which along with the presence of mid-level dry air may present an environment supportive of isolated microbursts producing locally damaging winds. As showers and thunderstorms becoming increasingly likely each day from Friday into next week, the increased cloud cover and moisture will allow for high temperatures to gradually lower back towards seasonal normals, while lows will also remain mild to warm but also trend back below threatening daily records for high minimums. The one aspect of the forecast that does not look to change is the high humidity, with 70s continuing through at least Tuesday if not also Wednesday of next week. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon) ISSUED AT 111 PM EDT THU JUN 26 2025 Utilized TEMPO groups to account for afternoon convection, with outflows from thunderstorm activity generating gusty and erratic winds even a good distance from the storms. This activity should wane with the loss of daytime heating, with fog developing overnight especially at valley terminals where rain occurs. With the exception of primarily daytime convection and nighttime/early morning fog, VFR conditions will prevail at the terminals. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for KYZ044-050>052- 058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120. && UPDATE...CMC SHORT TERM...CMC LONG TERM...CMC AVIATION...CMC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson KY 821 AM EDT Thu Jun 26 2025 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-271230- 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- 821 AM EDT Thu Jun 26 2025 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a portion of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Afternoon heat indices are forecast to peak in the 100 to 105 degree range for many locations this afternoon. Thunderstorms are possible, mainly this afternoon into mid-evening. A few storms that develop will be capable of producing damaging winds. torrential rain, and small hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Afternoon heat indices are forecast to peak in the 95 to 105 degree range in many locations Friday through Monday. Thunderstorms are possible area-wide Friday through Wednesday, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. A few storms that develop Friday will be capable of producing damaging winds, torrential rain, and small hail. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. JKL
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1125 AM EDT Thu Jun 26 2025
KYZ080-261600-
Laurel KY-
1125 AM EDT Thu Jun 26 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN LAUREL COUNTY
THROUGH NOON EDT...
At 1124 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Levi Jackson S.P., or over London, moving northeast at 5 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, Maplesville, Fariston, Pittsburg, Langnau, Levi Jackson S.P.,
Marydell, Lesbas, Atlanta, Sublimity City, London-Corbin Airport,
Lida, Deer Lick, Lily, and Brock.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
Hal Rogers Parkway between mile markers 1 and 10.
Interstate 75 in east central Kentucky between mile markers 34 and
41.
Kentucky Highway 80 in Laurel County between mile markers 10 and 11.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3710 8416 3725 8406 3718 8396 3717 8397
3715 8394 3712 8394 3711 8392 3712 8389
3711 8388 3711 8387 3701 8406
TIME...MOT...LOC 1524Z 219DEG 5KT 3711 8404
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
MARCUSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
116 PM EDT Thu Jun 26 2025
KYZ086-116-261745-
Clay KY-Knox KY-
116 PM EDT Thu Jun 26 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN KNOX AND CENTRAL
CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 145 PM EDT...
At 115 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Littleton, or over Manchester, moving southeast at 10 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...
Manchester, Haven, Grace, Marcum, Treadway, Goose Rock, Urban,
Creekville, Ogle, Lipps, Hima, Plank, Jonsee, Herron, Hooker, Park
Valley, Cottongin, Bernice, Pigeonroost, and House.
THIS INCLUDES Hal Rogers Parkway between mile markers 15 and 30.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3722 8390 3726 8373 3712 8355 3711 8354
3710 8354 3708 8355 3708 8354 3707 8354
3698 8382
TIME...MOT...LOC 1715Z 324DEG 10KT 3718 8378
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
MARCUSThe Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 63 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:23 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The public reported a downed tree on a home along Radio Hill Road, off of KY-687 just west of Manchester.
The public reported downed trees in the 1100 block of Left Fork Little Paint Road, off of KY-1100.
The public shared a video on social media of nickel sized hail in Prestonsburg, just off of KY-1428.
The 911 call center relayed a report of trees that were downed along North Central Avenue behind the Wendy's in Prestonsburg.
The 911 call center relayed a report of trees that were downed in the 500 Block of KY-1428, east of Prestonsburg.
A trained spotter reported hail 1 inch in diameter, along with 2.8 inches of rain from the storm that passed over the East Kentucky Science Center, located on the Big Sandy Community and Technical College campus.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, June 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: 1293342, 1293343, 1293344, 1293346, 1293347, 1293349.