Historic Rainfall & Flooding April 2-6, 2025

News Headlines

Overview

Multiple rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms impacted the lower Ohio Valley April 1-6, 2025. The first significant wave consisted of severe thunderstorms producing several tornadoes during the afternoon and evening on April 2nd. Flash flooding became a greater concern during the overnight as storms trained over the same locations. Over the next few days, waves of showers and storms rode along the frontal boundary bringing lots of rain which lead to widespread flash and areal flooding. Showers and storms came through daily, until the evening of April 6th. The resultant flooding turned into historic and near-record breaking river flooding along many river basins.

Widespread flash flooding occurred over almost all of the area during rounds of heavy rain April 3-6. Numerous roads were closed across multiple counties including major highways in some areas. Multiple water rescues occurred especially over central Kentucky. Some mudslides and landslides also occurred as a result of copious amounts of rainfall. Unfortunately, 3 fatalities occurred in central Kentucky due to the dangerous flooding with 7 flood fatalities total across the state.

Moderate to major river flooding occurred on most area rivers due to the excessive rainfall. Some of the hardest hit river basins included the Kentucky, Green, Rough, Rolling Fork and Ohio. Some river crests were historic, including a new record crest at Camp Nelson on the Kentucky River and the #2 all time crest at Frankfort. The crest at McAlpine Upper on the Ohio River was #8 all time.

Regional Summary of April 1-6, 2025 Severe Weather and Flooding

***This webpage is under construction.***

Observed Rainfall April 1-6, 2025

Flood
Rain
Records
Aerial
Photos
Radar
Environment
Service
Additional

Flooding

Hydrographs (Click on images to enlarge)

river gage overview

Major Flooding at these locations:


Kentucky River - Camp Nelson, KY	Kentucky River - High Bridge, KY	Kentucky River - Frankfort, KY	Kentucky River - Lockport, KY


Green River - Woodbury, KY	Green River - Rochester, KY	Elkhorn Creek - Peaks Mill, KY	Rolling Fork - Boston, KY

Moderate Flooding at these locations:


Ohio River - Clifty Creek, IN	Ohio River - Louisville, KY (McAlpine Upper)	Ohio River - Louisville, KY (McAlpine Lower)	Ohio River - Cannelton, IN


Ohio River - Tell City, IN	Salt River - Shepherdsville, KY	Rough River - Dundee, KY	Rough River - Rough River Lake, KY


Green River - Mammoth Cave, KY	Barren River - Bowling Green, KY

Rain Reports

Click on images to enlarge:


Rainfall Totals from Kentucky Mesonet	Regional Map of Rainfall Totals

Quick links: Indiana | Kentucky

Indiana Rainfall Totals - April 1-7 (>6")

Name	Station Type	Total Precipitation
GALENA 4.3 ENE	CoCoRaHS	10.04
NEWBURGH 0.3 SE	CoCoRaHS	9.55
CANNELTON 6.8 NE	CoCoRaHS	8.91
NEWBURGH 1.3 ENE	CoCoRaHS	8.75
HENRYVILLE 2.6 E	CoCoRaHS	8.62
RUSHVILLE	COOP	8.50
LEOPOLD 1.7 ESE	CoCoRaHS	8.47
MILLTOWN 5.7 SSE	CoCoRaHS	8.46
EVANSVILLE 8.8 WSW	CoCoRaHS	8.43
GALENA 3.0 SE	CoCoRaHS	8.41
BOONVILLE 1S	COOP	8.31
ENGLISH 7.9 SSW	CoCoRaHS	8.28
J.T. MYERS LOCKS & DAM	COOP	8.20
TELL CITY	COOP	8.08
BOWLING GREEN 0.4 S	CoCoRaHS	7.87
CLARKSVILLE 2.3 N	CoCoRaHS	7.83
(KD9LES) GOSPORT 1.2 WNW	CoCoRaHS	7.72
NEW SALISBURY 1.2 WNW	CoCoRaHS	7.70
MILLTOWN 3.6 S	CoCoRaHS	7.69
MILLTOWN 6.1 SW	CoCoRaHS	7.68
EVANSVILLE 2.5 NE	CoCoRaHS	7.68
GREENVILLE 2.6 SSW	CoCoRaHS	7.67
FERDINAND 2.3 SSE	CoCoRaHS	7.66
SPENCER 7.0 S	CoCoRaHS	7.63
CLAY CITY 0.4 SE	CoCoRaHS	7.63
BROOKLYN 0.5 ENE	CoCoRaHS	7.62
ROCKPORT 4.0 WNW	CoCoRaHS	7.57
JEFFERSONVILLE 0.8 NW	CoCoRaHS	7.56
BOONVILLE 4.5 WSW	CoCoRaHS	7.51
JEFFERSONVILLE 1.6 ESE	CoCoRaHS	7.41
MARTINSVILLE 11.5 WNW	CoCoRaHS	7.41
BOONVILLE 1.4 N WBNL RADIO	CoCoRaHS	7.38
GOSPORT 4.2 E	CoCoRaHS	7.33
GOSPORT 4.0 WSW	CoCoRaHS	7.33
HYMERA 0.4 W	CoCoRaHS	7.33
BOONVILLE 2.4 N	CoCoRaHS	7.30
SHAKAMAK STATE PARK	COOP	7.29
CLIFTY CREEK	COOP	7.27
ELLETTSVILLE 2.7 NE	CoCoRaHS	7.26
POSEYVILLE 2.9 SSE	CoCoRaHS	7.24
SULLIVAN 0.5 SW	CoCoRaHS	7.24
BLOOMFIELD 4.5 ENE	CoCoRaHS	7.23
(KC9RPX)ELLETTSVILLE 0.5 W	CoCoRaHS	7.22
SPENCER 5.7 SE	CoCoRaHS	7.22
BLOOMFIELD 5.3 ESE	CoCoRaHS	7.21
(N9JPX)PARAGON 3.2 ENE	CoCoRaHS	7.17
NEW ALBANY 4.6 NE	CoCoRaHS	7.15
ELLETTSVILLE 5.8 SW	CoCoRaHS	7.08
MILLTOWN 3.7 WSW	CoCoRaHS	7.07
EVANSVILLE 6.7 NW	CoCoRaHS	7.05
MOUNT VERNON 10.6 ENE	CoCoRaHS	7.05
GREENFIELD 1.5 S	CoCoRaHS	7.04
NEW PALESTINE 1.2 NW	CoCoRaHS	7.00
CHARLESTOWN 2.6 N	CoCoRaHS	7.00
EVANSVILLE 5.4 NNE	CoCoRaHS	7.00

Kentucky Rainfall Totals - April 1-7 (>8")

Name	Station Type	Total Precipitation
MAYFIELD 2N	COOP	15.64
GREENVILLE 6.2 WSW	CoCoRaHS	15.31
EDDYVILLE 2.0 NNE	CoCoRaHS	14.99
EDDYVILLE 11.5 SSE	CoCoRaHS	14.70
GRAND RIVERS 3.9 S	CoCoRaHS	14.63
EDDYVILLE 11.6 SSE	CoCoRaHS	14.51
EDDYVILLE 5S	COOP	14.34
CROFTON 3N	COOP	14.16
LEWISBURG 0.2 E	CoCoRaHS	13.84
FULTON 3.3 NE	CoCoRaHS	13.78
CROFTON 0.3 W	CoCoRaHS	13.52
EDDYVILLE 5.9 SE	CoCoRaHS	13.50
CALVERT CITY 2.5 SSW	CoCoRaHS	13.32
GREENVILLE 0.3 ESE	CoCoRaHS	13.18
BOWLING GREEN WKU	COOP	13.11
WOODBURY 4.1 SW	CoCoRaHS	13.06
CADIZ	COOP	12.75
NOLIN RIVER LAKE	COOP	12.38
SEDALIA 5.0 SE	CoCoRaHS	12.34
SONORA 2.7 SE	CoCoRaHS	12.30
HOPKINSVILLE 0.3 NW	CoCoRaHS	12.15
NEW HAVEN 6.4 NE	CoCoRaHS	12.15
FARMINGTON 5.6 S	CoCoRaHS	12.13
KUTTAWA 3.4 NW	CoCoRaHS	12.05
FULTON 5.0 W	CoCoRaHS	12.04
MILLERSTOWN 4E	COOP	11.96
RUSSELLVILLE	COOP	11.92
BOWLING GREEN	COOP	11.88
BOWLING GREEN 6.2 WSW	CoCoRaHS	11.85
BEAVER DAM 0.6 NW	CoCoRaHS	11.49
RUSSELLVILLE 5.8 NE	CoCoRaHS	11.48
RUSSELLVILLE 6.6 N	CoCoRaHS	11.42
SMITHS GROVE 0.3 SE	CoCoRaHS	11.34
RUSSELLVILLE 1.3 NNE	CoCoRaHS	11.31
BOWLING GREEN 0.7 WSW	CoCoRaHS	11.20
ELIZABETHTOWN 1.8 SE	CoCoRaHS	11.09
HARRODSBURG 10.8 NW	CoCoRaHS	11.07
ROCKFIELD 3.0 N	CoCoRaHS	10.91
MADISONVILLE 1.6 NE	CoCoRaHS	10.68
ABERDEEN	COOP	10.67
PARIS	COOP	10.61
BOWLING GREEN WARREN COUNTY AP	WBAN	10.48
HERNDON 5S	COOP	10.45
ELIZABETHTOWN 6.5 N	CoCoRaHS	10.42
KEVIL 4.6 NW	CoCoRaHS	10.39
ELIZABETHTOWN 7.9 ENE	CoCoRaHS	10.32
SPRINGFIELD 1.7 N	CoCoRaHS	10.22
AUBURN 0.3 SW	CoCoRaHS	10.20
KNOB LICK 4S	COOP	9.95
ROCHESTER FERRY	COOP	9.90
ELIZABETHTOWN 2.3 N	CoCoRaHS	9.79
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE 6.3 S	CoCoRaHS	9.76
HANSON 2.2 NE	CoCoRaHS	9.70
DANVILLE 1.2 NE	CoCoRaHS	9.63
MARION 1 SSW	COOP	9.60
LIBERTY 1.1 SE	CoCoRaHS	9.59
MCDANIELS	COOP	9.57
TRENTON 2.3 SSW	CoCoRaHS	9.54
NICHOLASVILLE 1.2 SE	CoCoRaHS	9.44
BARDSTOWN 4.6 NW	CoCoRaHS	9.43
BRADFORDSVILLE 8.5 ENE	CoCoRaHS	9.41
GLASGOW 2.1 NE	CoCoRaHS	9.41
OLMSTEAD 2.9 N	CoCoRaHS	9.37
HENDERSON 0.4 SSW	CoCoRaHS	9.36
CORNERS	COOP	9.35
BOWLING GREEN 4.3 S	CoCoRaHS	9.30
LAWRENCEBURG 5.2 S	CoCoRaHS	9.24
GUTHRIE 0.8 WNW	CoCoRaHS	9.17
CALHOUN 6.4 E	CoCoRaHS	9.17
LEBANON 5.6 E	CoCoRaHS	9.17
PADUCAH 1.3 W	CoCoRaHS	9.14
DIX DAM	COOP	9.11
PADUCAH 8.5 WSW	CoCoRaHS	9.10
SHEPHERDSVILLE 3.2 ENE	CoCoRaHS	9.04
MASONVILLE 6.0 SSE	CoCoRaHS	8.96
CALHOUN 4ENE	COOP	8.91
CALHOUN 6.2 N	CoCoRaHS	8.80
LAWRENCEBURG 9.0 WNW	CoCoRaHS	8.80
WEST PADUCAH 3.1 SSW	CoCoRaHS	8.72
FRANKFORT 3.3 NE	CoCoRaHS	8.69
LEXINGTON 4.3 W	CoCoRaHS	8.66
KEVIL 5.7 NNW	CoCoRaHS	8.64
LEXINGTON 1.7 SSE	CoCoRaHS	8.63
FRANKFORT 3NE	COOP	8.63
UTICA 5.4 ESE	CoCoRaHS	8.61
WARSAW MARKLAND DAM	COOP	8.60
STEPHENSPORT 8.0 N	CoCoRaHS	8.60
FOX CHASE 1.4 W	CoCoRaHS	8.58
OAK GROVE 4.6 NW	CoCoRaHS	8.56
BEREA 1.9 SE	CoCoRaHS	8.56
HENDERSON 4.5 S	CoCoRaHS	8.54
MASONVILLE 0.8 ENE	CoCoRaHS	8.52
FRANKFORT 5.0 SW	CoCoRaHS	8.47
UTICA 0.0 W	CoCoRaHS	8.47
SHEPHERDSVILLE 5NE	COOP	8.42
LEXINGTON 6.6 S	CoCoRaHS	8.41
REYNOLDS STATION 2.5 SSW	CoCoRaHS	8.40
GEORGETOWN 1.2 N	CoCoRaHS	8.37
LEXINGTON 4.5 SSW	CoCoRaHS	8.35
LOUISVILLE 8.3 ESE	CoCoRaHS	8.31
SCOTTSVILLE 4.9 NE	CoCoRaHS	8.29
MASONVILLE 0.7 NW	CoCoRaHS	8.28
SCOTTSVILLE 5.5 N	CoCoRaHS	8.27
BEREA 3.2 W	CoCoRaHS	8.25
FRANKFORT 1.8 ENE	CoCoRaHS	8.25
OWENSBORO 4.4 ESE	CoCoRaHS	8.24
DANVILLE	COOP	8.18
WEST PADUCAH 2W	COOP	8.18
LEXINGTON 3.7 WSW	CoCoRaHS	8.18
PADUCAH BARKLEY REGIONAL AP	WBAN	8.16
Paducah Area	ThreadEx	8.16
GEORGETOWN 7.2 ENE	CoCoRaHS	8.15
MASONVILLE 0.1 SSE	CoCoRaHS	8.15
LEXINGTON BLUE GRASS ARPT	WBAN	8.14
Lexington Area	ThreadEx	8.14
SCOTTSVILLE 1.6 NE	CoCoRaHS	8.09
LAWRENCEBURG 0.4 NNW	CoCoRaHS	8.06
FRANKFORT CAPITAL CITY AP	WBAN	8.05
FRANKFORT 1.5 ENE	CoCoRaHS	8.03
BRADFORDSVILLE 6.8 S	CoCoRaHS	8.03
LEXINGTON 5.1 ESE	CoCoRaHS	8.02
GEORGETOWN 1.0 NW	CoCoRaHS	8.01

Records

Rainfall Records

New 4 Day Rainfall Record at Bowling Green, KY - 10.04"

Old Record: 9.67" ending May 2/3/4, 2010

More than 2" of rain fell Three Consecutive Days in a Row at Louisville & Bowling Green, KY.

This has never happened at Louisville and has only happened one other time

at Bowling Green (Jan 21-23, 1937).

River Locations within their Top 3 Highest Recorded River Crests*
Site	April 2025 Peak Crest (Date)	Preliminary Rank of April 2025 Crest	Record Crest (Date)
Kentucky River at Camp Nelson	47.04 ft (April 6)	1	46.02 ft (May 3, 2010)
Kentucky River at High Bridge Lock	47.13 ft (April 6)	3	53.10 ft (December 8, 1978)
Kentucky River at Lockport	53.50 ft (April 7)	3	56.85 ft (January 26, 1973)
Kentucky River at Frankfort Lock	48.27 ft (April 7)	2	48.47 ft (December 10, 1978)
Green River (KY) at Rochester	53.3 ft (April 8)	3	61.60 ft (January 27, 1937)

* All river data is preliminary at this time.

Aerial

Quick links: K entucky River | Rolling Fork | Rough River | Green River

Ohio River


Louisville, KY April 8, 2025 Courtesy of Ben Childers Photography	Louisville, KY April 9, 2025 Courtesy of Live Storms Media


Louisville, KY April 8, 2025 (West side near Shawnee Golf Course) Courtesy of WLKY News	Louisville, KY April 8, 2025 (Shippingport Island) Courtesy of WLKY News


Louisville, KY April 8, 2025 (Harrods Creek) Courtesy of Aerial Photography Louisville	Louisville, KY April 7, 2025 (Coxs Park area) Courtesy of Aerial Photography Louisville


Westpoint, KY April 9, 2025 approx. 8:40-9:07 am EST NWS Louisville Drone Survey	Madison, IN April 8, 2025 approx. 2:30-3:00 pm EST Hanover Beach, IN April 9, 2025 approx. 1:00-1:30 pm EST Courtesy of Jefferson County, IN EMA


Utica, IN April 7, 2025 Courtesy of Ben Childers Photography	Utica & New Albany, IN April 8, 2025 Courtesy of Mosier Works


Charlestown, IN April 10, 2025 Courtesy of Clark County Emergency Management and Clark County Sheriff's Office	Jeffersonville/Clarksville/New Albany, IN April 8, 2025 Courtesy of Roger Turpen


Cannelton, IN April 8, 2025 approx. 3:00-6:00 pm CDT Courtesy of Construction Engineering Solutions and Construction Technology Solutions	Tell City, IN April 8, 2025 approx. 3:00-6:00 pm CDT Courtesy of Construction Engineering Solutions and Construction Technology Solutions

Troy, IN April 8, 2025 approx. 3:00-6:00 pm CDT
Courtesy of Construction Engineering Solutions and Construction Technology Solutions

Kentucky River


Frankfort, KY April 7, 2025 Courtesy of Frankfort Police Department	Lockport, KY April 8, 2025 approx. 11:18-11:42 am EST NWS Louisville Drone Survey

Rolling Fork


Coming Soon! (source)	Coming Soon! (source)

Rough River


Dundee, KY April 9, 2025 approx. 9:37-9:47 am CST NWS Louisville Drone Survey	Hartford, KY April 9, 2025 approx. 10:29-10:33 am EST NWS Louisville Drone Survey

Green River


Woodbury, KY April 10, 2025 approx. 8:56-10:02 am CST NWS Louisville Drone Survey	Rochester, KY April 10, 2025 approx. 10:49-11:42 am CST NWS Louisville Drone Survey

Photos


Frankfort, KY	Morgantown, KY	Ohio River at Tell City	Hawesville, KY


US 68 in Jessamine County, KY (KYWXChaser859 on X)	Louisville, KY (Joel Schipper, WDRB)	Kentucky River at Lockport	Russell County, KY

Radar

Click here for a radar loop from this event (3 PM April 2nd through 3 AM April 6th).

Environment

The mid to upper level pattern consisted of broad southwesterly flow across the Ohio and Tennessee Valley's in between a large scale trough across the western U.S. and ridging located along the southeast coast.


500mb chart - 7 PM April 2	500mb chart - 7 PM April 3	500mb chart - 7 PM April 4	500mb chart - 7 PM April 5

A cold front was located to our west on the afternoon of April 2nd. It would then make passage and become positioned to our south on the 3rd before lifting back north into western Kentucky and the Missouri bootheel on the 4th. The boundary would shift south of our area again on the 5th.


Mean Sea Level Pressure - 4 PM April 2	Mean Sea Level Pressure - 1 AM April 4	Mean Sea Level Pressure - 7 PM April 4	Mean Sea Level Pressure - 1 PM April 5

Low level moisture transport was quite anomalously through the 4 day period. The 850mb front remained draped over the region from April 3-5, even while the surface front largely remained south of the area during these periods.


850mb Moisture Transport - 4 PM April 2	850mb Moisture Transport - 7 PM April 3	850mb Moisture Transport - 7 PM April 4	850mb Moisture Transport - 2 PM April 5

Precipitable water values ranged from 1.5 to 1.9" through the period, which was greater than the 99th percentile for this time of the year. This allowed thunderstorms to be very efficient rainfall producers as they continued to train across the same areas.


Precipitable Water - 7 PM April 2	Precipitable Water - 1 AM April 4	Precipitable Water - 1 AM April 5	Precipitable Water - 4 PM April 5

These are just a few of the numerous mesoscale precipitation discussions that were in effect across our region during this 4 day period.


WPC Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion on April 2	WPC Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion on April 3	WPC Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion on April 4	WPC Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion on April 5

Service

Our office started messaging the heavy rain potential a week before the event unfolded. Forecast rainfall amounts were in the 6 to 8" range 5 days before the event began and then continued to trend upwards into the 8-10" range over central Kentucky.


Forecast Graphic issued by NWS Louisville the morning of March 29th	Forecast Graphic issued by NWS Louisville the morning of March 31st.

The Weather Prediction Center outlooked our region in a moderate risk for excessive rainfall on April 2nd. This was followed by 3 straight days where a moderate-high risk excessive rainfall outlook was in effect for some part of our forecast area from April 3-5.


WPC Day 1 Excessive Rainfall Outlook valid for April 2	WPC Day 1 Excessive Rainfall Outlook valid for April 3	WPC Day 1 Excessive Rainfall Outlook valid for April 4	WPC Day 1 Excessive Rainfall Outlook valid for April 5

NWS Louisville also did multiple conference calls and video briefings leading up to and during this historic event. Below are recordings of some of those briefings:


April 2, 2025 6am Briefing	April 2, 2025 4pm Briefing


April 4, 2025 930am Briefing	April 5, 2025 9am Briefing

Additional

Kentucky Impacts

Casualties & Rescues: 7 confirmed flood fatalities in Kentucky; 90+ water rescues performed.
Infrastructure & Utilities: 52,000+ without power; 1,100+ without water; 3,000+ under boil advisory; 5 sewer systems down.
Transportation: 500+ roads closed, including entire state/U.S. highways underwater. Interstate closures on I-65, I-169, I-165, I-69, I-71, Pennyrile Pkwy and Gene Snyder Frwy. 13 mudslides; 1 rockslide.
Evacuations & Sheltering: 200+ evacuations, including mandatory evacuations in Carroll and Pendleton Counties. 40+ emergency shelters opened. Several state parks and some hotels served as shelters.
Frankfort Flood Response: 2nd highest flood crest in Frankfort with the Kentucky River cresting just below the city's flood wall. Many evacuations. The Mayor of Frankfort issued a mandatory curfew April 6-7 during the peak of flooding. Buffalo Trace Distillery closed for several days due to extensive flooding. Water treatment plant shutdown for a few days. State office buildings in Frankfort were closed April 7.

How rare was this rainfall event?

Media use of NWS Web News Stories is encouraged!
Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site.

Weather Story

Weather Map

Local Radar

LMK RSS Feed