Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kentucky, June 18, 2026

The National Weather Service completed a storm survey and determined that a tornado occurred during the early morning hours on June 18, 2026 in Scott County and Jefferson County Indiana and then crossed the river into Trimble County Kentucky. The tornado was 1000 yards wide and 23.62 miles in length. Maximum winds were EF2 130 mph.

The tornado then crossed the Ohio River into Trimble County, Kentucky near Milton. Several trees and campers along Coopers Bottom Road received extensive damage with maximum winds at EF1 110 mph. The tornado ended just along US Highway 421 near Milton with no additional damage observed to the east of the Highway.

There were trees down on Port Royal Road.

A tree was blocking Rollington Road.

Measured by the Shelby County North Mesonet station.

A National Weather Service damage survey concluded that a brief EF-0 touched down early on the morning of Thursday June 18th, 2026. The brief spin-up tornado was embedded within a larger swath of sporadic straight-line wind damage, and touched down about 3 miles due west of Cynthiana between Mill Creek and Mill Creek Meadows Drive. Here, some tree damage as well as roof damage to a metal barn were sustained. Winds were estimated to be 80 mph with this damage. The tornado then traveled east of Mill Creek Meadows Drive toward Ammerman Pike doing more tree damage and scattering some roofing material from the upstream barn. At Ammerman Pike and|Highway 356, another metal barn sustained roof damage and had side panels blown out, along with some roof and fascia damage to a home. A large softwood tree was also uprooted here. Peak winds at this location were rated at 85 mph as the tornado made a hard northward turn and dissipated north of the Highway 356 and Ammerman Pike intersection. The tornado was on the ground for 1 minute or less and traveled less than three quarters of a mile. Peak width was estimated at 80 yards wide.

There were multiple trees down near the 200 block of United Lane.

A tree was blocking Tyler Lane. There were multiple reports of trees down nearby as well.

There were trees and power lines down on Walnut Street. A roof was torn off of one home, and a large tree fell on a car.

A tree fell on a car on South 43rd Street between Elliott Avenue and West Broadway.

There was roof damage to a manufacturing building.

A tree blocked the Mojave Trail and Wanda Lee Trail intersection.

An NWS Storm Survey determined that a swath of straight line wind damage occurred on the morning of June 18th. Most of the damage occurred near the intersection of Poplar Level Road and Fern Valley Road where a warehouse building roof was partially |collapsed, a small building lost some roofing material, and a tree was downed. The collapsed roof was pancaked downward with no debris lifted or thrown downstream. In addition, some insulation from the roof collapse was laying on the north side of the |building, but not scattered downwind. The orientation of the tree damage was NW to SE, and consistent with TDWR velocity data showing a wind surge from WNW to ESE. Severe level wind gusts were measured with this velocity surge upstream of the damage as well.

Sporadic tree damage also occurred to the ESE of the initial damage point along Fegenbush Lane. Damage stopped just north of Luhr Elementary School after a 1.25 mile swath of sporadic damage.

There had been a supercell thunderstorm that passed through the area about 15 minutes prior, however the TSDF TDWR noted no low level rotational couplet with the radar beam at 200-300 feet AGL. Some mid level rotation was noted off of LVX, but at a higher overall height. Both radar data and damage patterns, as well as an eyewitness account just after 5 AM all pointed more toward the second straight line wind signature as the culprit.

A second area of damage was also surveyed in Fern Creek along Volney Ct. Here, a large branch from a healthy large tree fell into the corner bedroom of a home. Luckily, occupants inside where shaken, but not injured. It was determined that this damage|occurred just before Midnight, well before any thunderstorms arrived. This damage was attributed to non-thunderstorm gradient winds. Nearby observations at from the KLOU ASOS at Bowman Field did measure a 44 MPH gust around the time the residents said the damage occurred.

A tree fell through a house.

A tree fell onto a home.

There were multiple trees down across Escondida Road.

There were trees downed from thunderstorm winds.

A tree was downed.

There were multiple reports of tree limbs and power lines down north of US-60.

There was a tree down on the exit ramp at the intersection of Interstate 64 and Cannons Lane.

A tree was blocking a road in Friendly Hills.

There was a vehicle stalled in water.

There was a vehicle stuck in flood waters.

A person was unable to leave there house due to flooding. Water was waist deep, almost over the hood of a car.

A tree fell down, blocking both lanes of Cummings Road.

There was a tree down on Keene Versailles road near Clear Creek.

There was a tree down on power lines and blocking the roadway.

There was a tree down on a car.

A tree fell on a house.

There was a tree down off of KY 39 at Black Bridge Lane.

A tree fell and was blocking one lane.

There was a tree on Fort Bramlett Road.

There were multiple reports of water rescues for people trapped in their vehicles from flooded roadways.

There was an apartment parking lot and local streets flooded.

A person was trapped in a vehicle being moved by flood waters.

A tree was blocking both lanes of Moore Lane.

There was a tree down over the roadway.

There were two water rescues being reported along Highway 44.

Scooter Avenue and Moberly Road have been flooded over. There was concern vehicles could have been swept off the roadway. Water was going underneath mobile homes. The town placing high water signs in the area.

Boone Road was closed between Trooper Hill Road and Celise Drive due to high water.

There was water covering Gooch Pike near Anderson Lane.

Old Railroad Grade Road was flooded.

Frog Branch Road was flooded. Water almost reached a residence.

The 700 and 900 block of Old Danville Road was completely flooded.

Stingy Creek Road and State Highway 39 flooded.

Paint Lick Creek overflowed and lead to fast flowing water over the Dry Branch Road bridge.