Kentucky, 2026

Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Kentucky, June 9, 2026

June 9, 2026 · NWS LMK · 10 events in 7 counties and zones

As southwest winds brought warm temperatures and moisture to the region, scattered showers and thunderstorms developed and worked east through the Lower Ohio Valley, resulting in flash flooding and a single report of wind damage across central Kentucky.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LMK wrote it up.

As southwest winds brought warm temperatures and moisture to the region, scattered showers and thunderstorms developed and worked east through the Lower Ohio Valley, resulting in flash flooding and a single report of wind damage across central Kentucky.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jun 9, 5:14 AM CST, 56 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • * Unsettled weather with localized area of heavy rainfall and flash flooding are possible across KY and southern IN now through Wednesday morning. While basin average rainfall of 0.75-2 inches are expected, localized amounts of 3-6 inches will be possible in heavier swaths, mainly across central KY. * Despite some morning showers and weak storms on Wednesday, hot temperatures and mugginess are expected Wednesday and Thursday, with peak afternoon heat index values between 90-100. * An approaching cold front later in the week provide more opportunity for rain and some storms Thursday evening through Friday, though timing is still uncertain.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 9, 5:14 AM CST, 56 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Louisville KY
714 AM EDT Tue Jun 9 2026

...Updated Aviation Discussion...

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Unsettled weather with localized area of heavy rainfall and flash
  flooding are possible across KY and southern IN now through
  Wednesday morning. While basin average rainfall of 0.75-2 inches
  are expected, localized amounts of 3-6 inches will be possible in
  heavier swaths, mainly across central KY.

* Despite some morning showers and weak storms on Wednesday, hot
  temperatures and mugginess are expected Wednesday and Thursday,
  with peak afternoon heat index values between 90-100.

* An approaching cold front later in the week provide more
  opportunity for rain and some storms Thursday evening through
  Friday, though timing is still uncertain.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 401 AM EDT Tue Jun 9 2026

A complex of showers and storms continues overnight along our
western CWA gradually moving NE. Though daytime heating has waned,
there is plenty of moisture in the vertical throughout our CWA,
which has produced some torrential downpours along our western
border counties. Some of these areas have already picked up 1-1.5"
of rain in the past few hours and will continue to see on and off
moderate rain showers through the morning. This type of periods of
heavy rain will be the theme for the short term, at least through
Wednesday morning. The synoptic setup features very weak low to mid
level flow over the next 24 hours. As a result, as waves of rain and
storms roll through, localized heavier rainfall totals creating
flooding concerns will continue through this afternoon and into
overnight Wednesday. The current rounds of rain was part of a series
of shortwaves moving through the Plains, and as the first of a
couple moves off to our north, it leaves behind moisture-rich air,
high dewpoints and warm temperatures for the morning. Another
shortwave moving NE through the central plains will maintain surface
SW flow for the remainder of Tuesday - Wednesday.

From general lift induced by the central plains shortwave,
additional rounds of MCVs will move in along an axis of enhanced
PWATs oriented along a NW-SE line from roughly the Kansas City area
towards Richmond, KY. The initial MCV moving SE from Kansas City
will generally break up as it approaches, though rainfall rates will
remain high within embedded storms from what will likely become a
messy scattered complex of convection. Short range model guidance
has a general drying trend later in the evening on Tuesday, before
more storms and/or additional MCVs fire off again within a pool of
increased PWATs that will linger right over KY overnight through
Wednesday morning.

This general pool of increased stationary PWATs of 1.8-2.0"
lingering through the overnight is the cause of greatest concern for
flooding. Latest 00Z HREF guidance suggests a series of back-
building and training storms over far southern IN moving SE through
the heart of KY towards the Somerset-Richmond, KY area. HREF 6hr
LPMM data through overnight Wednesday features some areas of
receiving 4-6". Other signals of significant rainfall within short
bursts of time exist in HREF guidance, with 3hr QPF probability of
exceeding 1" is above 50% early Wednesday morning, with a 10%
hatched area of exceeding 3" in 3hr QPF. Altogether, there is a
strong signal of localized flooding, mainly through central KY going
through a lull of flooding probability Tuesday afternoon and
increasing in action from training storms overnight Tuesday into
Wednesday. As a result, the current Flood Watch will be extended
through 12Z Wednesday morning, and will be monitored for any further
expansion or time extensions.

With regard to any severe risk, as storms approach from the WNW,
there may be enough mid-level shear to sustain a severe wind threat
over our western CWA. The severe risk is low and is only for gusty
winds and this will be monitored throughout the day. The main
concern is for localized flooding concerns that ramp up later in the
night on Tuesday. Area wide rainfall totals through Wednesday
morning should range 0.75 - 2", though localized areas of 3-6" are
still possible in training storms in central KY.

Despite the rounds of rain today, muggy conditions with dew points
in the low to mid 70s will make the air feel thick and oppressive
between showers. Highs will be in the low to mid 80s with breaks in
cloud cover later on Tuesday.

By Wednesday morning, the main concern will be continued training
showers and storms. Surface moisture will remain high giving plenty
of moisture for storms to work with despite the lack of daytime
heating. As the day progresses, an axis of high pressure to our SW
will build into the lower Ohio Valley, expected to act as a lid for
any continued convection and generally sweep storms out towards the
east by lunchtime. Latest HREF guidance wants to slow this process
down with continued convection. For now, we are forecasted skies to
gradually clear SW to NE during the day. Without a significant
change in air masses though, dew points will remain high in the low
to mid 70s. A heat advisory may need to be issued for Wednesday as
highs will reach the low 90s by afternoon, with heat indices maxing
out in the low 100s at times.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 401 AM EDT Tue Jun 9 2026

      Wednesday - Sunday ...

Heading into Thursday, the surface to mid level ridge will remain
overhead locking in hot temperatures and high dew points. Heat
indices will raise into the upper 90s and isolated low 100s again,
meaning another heat advisory may be needed. One note of difference
is a building LLJ from the SW in response to a tightening pressure
gradient on Thursday. A larger mid to upper level trough will be
swinging through the Northern Plains meaning gusty winds on Thursday
afternoon from daytime mixing is possible, gusting 20-25 MPH. This
could serve as a way to cool off during the day if nothing else.

This trough over the northern plains will kick off a trailing cold
front that should sweep through the Ohio Valley. The timing of this
cold front is key to any severe weather potential Thursday evening-
Friday morning. Current trend is to sweep through during the
overnight limiting the severe potential and serving as another rain
chance with some gusty winds. Beyond this, relief from the heat at
least temporarily is expected. Temperatures will remain near or just
above normal as a return of warm moist air looks to return beyond
Saturday.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 714 AM EDT Tue Jun 9 2026

VFR to MVFR conditions will continue through the morning hours with
storms rolling through KY airports over the next several hours.
Southerly flow will slowly shift out of the southwest this afternoon
gusting near 20kts. Beyond this initial round of storms this
morning, spotty storms are possible in the afternoon. More
widespread coverage of storms returns later this evening from the NW
that will linger overnight into Wednesday morning. Prolonged rounds
of storms and rain are possible at times Tuesday evening temporarily
dropping ceilings to MVFR conditions. Otherwise, passing -SHRA with
winds becoming lighter overnight is expected with VFR-MVFR
conditions remaining Wednesday morning.

&&

.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...Flood Watch through this evening for KYZ023>031-034-038-045-
     046-053-054-061>065-070>078-081-082.
IN...Flood Watch through this evening for INZ076>078-083-084-
     089>092.

&&

SHORT TERM...BKF
LONG TERM...BKF
AVIATION...BKF

The radar

The Louisville radar (KLVX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:09 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Hart

When
June 9, 6:10 AM CST to 7:10 AM CST
Where
Hart County, 1.79 mi WNW of Defries to 2.05 mi WNW of Defries
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
37.280, -85.710

There was rushing water across Highway 677 near Davis Bend Road.

Flash Flood, Green

When
June 9, 6:20 AM CST to 7:20 AM CST
Where
Green County, 0.69 mi N of Grab to 0.76 mi NE of Grab
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
37.230, -85.600

Flash flooding was reported on Grab Rd.

Flash Flood, Green

When
June 9, 6:21 AM CST to 7:21 AM CST
Where
Green County, 0.99 mi NNE of Webbs Xrds to 1.12 mi NNE of Webbs Xrds
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
37.263, -85.593

Flash flooding was reported at the intersection of Highway 88 and Highway 1464.

Flash Flood, Nelson

When
June 9, 9:00 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
Where
Nelson County, 2.58 mi WSW of Bloomfield to 1.75 mi WSW of Bloomfield
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
37.880, -85.360

Old Bloomfield and Dugan Lane were closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Hardin

When
June 9, 9:15 AM EST to 10:15 AM EST
Where
Hardin County, 1.02 mi NNW of Martin Box to 1.15 mi NNW of Martin Box
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
37.684, -85.907

Peterson Drive was flooded.

Flash Flood, Jefferson

When
June 9, 10:45 AM EST to 11:45 AM EST
Where
Jefferson County, 1.35 mi NNE of Louisville to 1.32 mi NNE of Louisville
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
38.246, -85.766

State Emergency Management reported a submerged vehicle and water rescue on the 900 block of West Broadway in downtown.

Flash Flood, Marion

When
June 9, 11:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Marion County, 4.32 mi SW of Dants to 4.22 mi SW of Dants
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
37.586, -85.506

There were reports of cracked asphalt on Sulphur Lick Road from water over the road.

Flash Flood, Marion

When
June 9, 11:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Marion County, 0.88 mi SW of Dants to 0.55 mi SW of Dants
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
37.620, -85.460

A culvert washed out and asphalt cracked on Springtown Rd near Loretto.

Flash Flood, Jefferson

When
June 9, 11:45 AM EST to 12:45 PM EST
Where
Jefferson County, 0.7 mi ENE of Louisville to 0.77 mi NE of Louisville
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
38.235, -85.769

The underpass at 9th and Oak Street was flooded.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
June 9, 1:59 PM CST
Where
Butler County, 2.07 mi WSW of Woodbury
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
37.173, -86.686

There were multiple trees down and power poles snapped between 4500-5000 Bowling Green Road, southeast of Morgantown.

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kentucky in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, June 2026

Sources

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: 1351843, 1351846, 1351844, 1353518, 1353529, 1353521, 1353530, 1353594, 1353523, 1354337.