In the midst of hot and humid weather, eastern Kentucky experienced several days of strong thunderstorms from May 13th through the 16th. As daytime heating got underway during the late morning hours, shower and thunderstorm development thrived in this unstable environment, with some storms growing strong enough to produce damaging wind gusts.
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 RLX wrote it up.
In the midst of hot and humid weather, eastern Kentucky experienced several days of strong thunderstorms from May 13th through the 16th. As daytime heating got underway during the late morning hours, shower and thunderstorm development thrived in this unstable environment, with some storms growing strong enough to produce damaging wind gusts. This resulted in downed trees and power lines in the area, causing local power outages for many residents in eastern Kentucky. The weather pattern finally changed on the evening of May 16th after a cold front swept through the Ohio Valley and Central Appalachians.
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 Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 13, 2:14 PM EST, 2 hours 34 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 314 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Showers/storms at times through Wednesday, especially during the afternoon/evening hours, courtesy of an upper level low. Briefly dry Thursday, then more showers/storms later Thursday into this weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 250 PM Tuesday... Key Points: * Locally heavy rain this afternoon/evening could result in isolated instances of flash flooding. * Strong to severe storms are possible this afternoon/evening. Hail and damaging wind gusts are the main hazards. A broad upper level low to the west of the region, currently centered across the central Ohio Valley, will continue to shift north and east through the near term period. This will result in continued unsettled weather across the forecast area, with showers/storms from time to time, primarily focused during the afternoon/evening with daytime heating. Coverage is anticipated to decrease significantly tonight, with at least some patchy fog development given any clearing that occurs. Fog could be locally dense in spots. Additional shower/storm development is anticipated Wednesday afternoon/evening, although coverage should be less widespread than today, with the highest probability for rain being in/near the higher terrain. The main concerns for activity today are localized flash flooding, as well as the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms, with hail and damaging wind gusts being the main hazards. A very moist atmosphere and mean low-level flow of ~ 5-15 kts has resulted in slow-moving showers and storms across the area at present, which could lead to isolated flash flooding issues through this evening. While severe weather is not expected on Wednesday, a few isolated high water issues once again remain possible. High temperatures today will be in the low to mid 70s across the lowlands, with 60s across the mountains. High temperatures on Wednesday will be a few degrees higher than today. Lows tonight will be in the 50s across much of the forecast area. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... As of 1209 PM Tuesday... An upper-level ridge will strengthen over the middle Ohio Valley Thursday with the return of very warm weather. High temperatures will range from the middle to upper 80s across the lowlands. Chances of showers and thunderstorms will return Thursday night as a wave of 500-mb vorticity approaches from the west. A cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms may develop over the midwestern states Thursday afternoon, tracking east into the middle Ohio Valley overnight. It's unclear whether the thunderstorm complex would hold together once it approaches the Ohio River. It's possible that thunderstorms would eventually lose steam as they approach the Ohio River with unfavorable lapse rates and waning instability. However, a few models, including the NAM, still show 800-1,000 J/kg of MLCAPE available by 06Z Friday. It will be interesting to see what the CAMs suggest in upcoming runs. The SPC currently has a marginal risk of severe weather outlooked for this time period though 12Z Friday morning. There may be a higher probability of strong to severe thunderstorms Friday with plenty of instability building throughout the day, steep low-level lapse rates (8-9 C/kg), and a robust amount of 0-6km shear (40-50 kts). Highs will range from the middle to upper 80s again Friday with 60 to perhaps 70 degree dew points. A cold front will approach late Friday night, and thunderstorms will remain possible through that time period. The Day 4 SPC outlook currently shows a 15% risk area drawn over central and western Kentucky, just slightly west of our County Warning Area. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 1209 PM Tuesday... A cold front will cross east of the region Saturday morning, hopefully leaving dry and quiet weather in its wake as high pressure builds into the Ohio Valley. However, not all models are on board with this, and some models show slower solutions, keeping the front stalled over southwest Virginia throughout the weekend. However, this seems like the less likely possibility. Saturday will likely still feature lingering activity, especially during the morning as the front crosses through. We are more confident that Sunday and Monday should be mostly dry days, but will keep at least a slight chance of rain in the forecast in case the less likely model solution pans out. && .AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 220 PM Tuesday... Scattered showers and thunderstorms are currently progressing across the forecast area, providing some brief MVFR CIG restrictions, along with brief IFR/MVFR VSBY restrictions. This trend will continue through the afternoon/evening, with even the potential for ISO strong thunderstorms that could contain gusty winds and hail. Showers/storms will diminish in coverage overnight, with the development of ISO showers/storms once again towards the end of the TAF period early Wednesday afternoon. MVFR/IFR/LIFR restrictions are possible later tonight into Wednesday morning with low stratus and fog, particularly in/near the higher terrain and across the Mid-Ohio Valley. Mainly VFR returns by the end of the TAF period. Light and somewhat variable flow is expected through the TAF period. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of flight category changes in showers/storms could vary. Fog coverage overnight may be more widespread than currently anticipated. EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION: H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS. L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. UTC 1HRLY 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 EDT 1HRLY 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H M EKN CONSISTENCY H H H M H H H H H H H L PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY H H M H H H H H H H M M AFTER 18Z WEDNESDAY... In an active week, IFR conditions are possible under convection Wednesday afternoon/evening, as well as Thursday night through Friday night, and then again Saturday afternoon. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...GW/JMC NEAR TERM...GW SHORT TERM...JMC LONG TERM...JMC AVIATION...GW
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 156 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025 WVZ033-034-515>526-141800- McDowell-Wyoming-Northwest Raleigh-Southeast Raleigh- Northwest Fayette-Southeast Fayette-Northwest Nicholas- Southeast Nicholas-Northwest Webster-Southeast Webster- Northwest Pocahontas-Southeast Pocahontas-Northwest Randolph- Southeast Randolph- 156 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast, southeast and southern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening. The main hazards are damaging wind gusts and hail. Additionally, locally heavy downpours could lead to isolated instances of flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Locally heavy downpours on Wednesday could lead to isolated high water issues. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible early Friday morning through Friday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions by calling the toll-free spotter hotline, or by other methods detailed at www.weather.gov/rlx/reports. KYZ103-105-OHZ085>087-VAZ003-004-WVZ005>011-013>020-024>032-039-040- 141800- Boyd-Lawrence-Meigs-Gallia-Lawrence OH-Dickenson-Buchanan-Wayne- Cabell-Mason-Jackson WV-Wood-Pleasants-Tyler-Lincoln-Putnam-Kanawha- Roane-Wirt-Calhoun-Ritchie-Doddridge-Mingo-Logan-Boone-Clay-Braxton- Gilmer-Lewis-Harrison-Taylor-Upshur-Barbour- 156 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Kentucky, portions of southeast Ohio, southwest Virginia, and portions of central, northern, southern and western West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening. The main hazards are damaging wind gusts and hail. Additionally, locally heavy downpours could lead to isolated high water issues. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible early Friday morning through Friday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions by calling the toll-free spotter hotline, or by other methods detailed at www.weather.gov/rlx/reports. KYZ101-102-OHZ066-067-075-076-083-084-141800- Greenup-Carter-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington-Jackson OH-Vinton- 156 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Kentucky and portions of southeast Ohio. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Locally heavy downpours this afternoon and evening could lead to isolated high water issues. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible early Friday morning through Friday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions by calling the toll-free spotter hotline, or by other methods detailed at www.weather.gov/rlx/reports.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
538 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0254 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 ENE West Logan 37.88N 81.94W
05/13/2025 Logan WV 911 Call Center
Tree down in roadway blocking one lane on
Blair Mountain Hwy, Yolyn.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
542 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0535 PM Hail 5 NNW Kenna 38.74N 81.69W
05/13/2025 M1.00 Inch Jackson WV Trained Spotter
Quarter size hail going on at time of call,
along with very heavy rain.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
542 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025
KYZ101-132215-
Greenup KY-
542 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT GREENUP COUNTY THROUGH 615 PM
EDT...
At 541 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Load, or 13 miles south of Portsmouth, moving northwest at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel 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...
Portsmouth, Greenup, Load, Greenbo Lake, Letitia, Franklin Furnace,
South Shore, Wurtland, Warnock, Grays Branch, South Portsmouth, and
Brushart.
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 3859 8307 3863 8307 3864 8305 3866 8305
3868 8303 3870 8304 3873 8303 3872 8298
3876 8290 3875 8288 3869 8288 3866 8286
3861 8285 3858 8284 3856 8278 3846 8277
3842 8300 3847 8306 3856 8310
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 144DEG 11KT 3855 8295
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
04Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
545 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025
OHZ075-084-085-132215-
Athens OH-Meigs OH-Vinton OH-
545 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN MEIGS...EASTERN
VINTON AND WESTERN ATHENS COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM EDT...
At 545 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Albany, moving north at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch 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...
Athens, Nelsonville, Glouster, Albany, Lake Hope State Park,
Chauncey, Buchtel, Jacksonville, Murray City, Trimble, Zaleski,
Wilkesville, Dyesville, Darwin, Harrisonville, Dexter, Carpenter, and
The Plains.
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 3911 8201 3905 8232 3939 8245 3939 8229
3947 8228 3947 8217 3953 8216 3955 8210
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 164DEG 32KT 3930 8223
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
04Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
546 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM Debris Flow 7 WNW Rock Cave 38.87N 80.46W
05/13/2025 Lewis WV Fire Dept/Rescue
Mudslides reported in the Walkersville area.
&&
SKHPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
547 PM EDT Tue May 13 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM Flash Flood 7 WNW Rock Cave 38.88N 80.47W
05/13/2025 Lewis WV Fire Dept/Rescue
Cars stranded in high water along Johnathon
Run Road.
&&
SKHThe Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:50 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Two trees were blown down and obstructed traffic along Pinson Ridge Road and Plum Fork Road in Maloneton.
Several trees were blown down around Olive Hill.
Nearly 150 homes in the area were without power due to tree and power line damage nearby.
Residents in the Wilbur community were without power for a period of time as a result of nearby tree and power line damage.
In Louisa, nearly 100 homes were without power due to downed trees and power lines around the area.
A tree was blown down near Hurricane Road.
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, May 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: 1259315, 1259568, 1259567, 1259565, 1259566, 1259570.