National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Weather and Heavy Rainfall in the Ohio Valley; Heat Continuing in the South and Southeast

Severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts will be possible from the mid-Mississippi Valley into parts of the Ohio Valley and central Appalachians tonight. Heavy rain associated with these storms may lead to considerable flash and urban flooding impacts across portions of the Ohio Valley. Mid-summer heat persists from the Central Plains to the Southeast. Read More >

Overview

Strong environmental winds, and winds associated with intense rain showers immediately along a cold front, damaged structures, downed trees, and caused power outages all across eastern Kentucky on January 11, 2020. The first bout of winds and damage occurred from late morning through late afternoon as gusty winds developed ahead of a strong low pressure system, while the second episode of winds and damage occurred between roughly 9 pm and midnight as a line of showers and the cold front moved through eastern Kentucky.

In Rockcastle County, a tobacco barn was destroyed in the town of Hiatt due to strong gusty winds, while a mobile home was blown over. In Pulaski County, near Somerset, the roof of a deck was blown into the yard of a neighbor's house, causing damage to the inside of the neighbor's house as part of the roof went through the wall. Several docks at Conley Bottom Resort in Wayne County were damaged as well. A tree and a utility pole were both blown down near the intersection of Kentucky Highway 114 and Woodland Hills Road in Floyd County.

Earlier day heavy rainfall led to a large mudslide along U.S. Highway 421 near Hyden. This caused large trees and rocks to fall into the road, subsequently blocking both lanes of U.S. 421 in Hyden in front of the high school. Additionally in Leslie County, a tree was blown down in front of Davidson's Garage on U.S. 421. Several transformers were also blown near Hosea, including on Owls Nest Road at the ambulance service in Hyden thus causing power outages.