Extreme Heat and Fire Weather Conditions in the West; Severe Thunderstorm Threat in the Northern Plains on Thursday

Extreme heat will may set some new daily temperature records across the Desert Southwest. Hot, dry and windy conditions and dry thunderstorms continue to bring fire weather concerns for portions of the Desert Southwest, the central Great Basin and Rockies. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected across the Northern Plains late Thursday. Read More >

Every year NWS Louisville does routine hydrology surveys to check river gauge equipment and USGS or flood reference marks at river gauges across central Kentucky and southern Indiana. Up until now, we've done these on foot documenting what we can see at ground level.

Pictured below is the river gauge at South Fork Licking River at Cynthiana, KY.

Last week, the first routine hydrology survey using drones gave a unique bird's eye view of the river gauge as well as the area along the river upstream and downstream of the gauge. This survey information at regular river levels is helpful in documenting what areas could be impacted along the river when flood waters rise. These "impacts" are inserted directly into NWS River Flood Warnings.

The video below shows the river gauge at South Fork Licking River at Cynthiana, KY as well as the area upstream and downstream of the gauge.

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Extreme Heat and Fire Weather Conditions in the West; Severe Thunderstorm Threat in the Northern Plains on Thursday

Drones Used for Routine Hydrology Surveys