February 26-28, 2021 Heavy Rains Produce Flash Flooding and Significant River Flooding

Tornadoes

Tornado - CUMBERLAND CITY CLINTON COUNTY, KENTUCKY Date Feb. 28, 2021 Time (Local) 9:18-9:22 PM EST EF Rating EF1 Est. Peak Winds 110 mph Path Length 3.6 miles Max Width 75 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The National Weather Service in conjunction with Clinton County Emergency Management conducted a storm damage assessment survey. The initial tornado touchdown was on the western edge of Cumberland City, approximately 5 miles northeast of Albany.  There were several snapped trees along with roofing damage at several homes, before more extensive structural damage occurred at 5250 Hwy 558. Several large barns were destroyed or had at least 70% of the walls blown out. A brand new 64 x 56 large brand new (1 month old) constructed barn with 6 foot footers in concrete was totally destroed. The debris from the barn was thrown over a quarter-mile down wind to the northeast. Another 60 by 43 barn that had recently been remodeled and upgraded had three walls blown out. A Kubota UTV weighing 2500 pounds was moved 30 yards and rotated 180 degrees. There was also extensive snapping and uprooting of trees. Winds were estimated to be 110 mph. Farther northeast, a large 50 x 60 barn was destroed and debris went at least a half mile down wind. A mobile home along Hwy 829 was lifted off its foundation, and there was several trees uprooted and snapped. The tornado crossed 829 and then crossed 1009 with extensive tree damage along both sides of the road. A large barn on 1009 had two walls blown out with debris thrown over a half a mile downwind and was thrown into Wayne county. The tornado continued into far western portions of Wayne county. We would like to thank Clinton County emergency management director Lucas Abner, for his assistance with the survey along with Dr. Bill Fountain, Extension Specialist from the University of Kentucky Extension. Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

Radar Reflectivity at 917 PM. Reds and Yellows are Heavier Rain. Storm Relative Velocity at 917 PM. Red/Green(&Blue) couplet indicative of broad storm rotation Spectrum Width at 917 PM. Yellows/Reds indicate turbulent/changing motions Echo Tops at 917 PM. Yellows showing some of the taller storms of the day.

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Flooding

Peak rainfall totals for the whole event ranged from 2-7 inches, with the highest values in south central Kentucky. Heavy rain resulted in widespread flooding, including some flash flooding. Widespread river flooding also occurred, including moderate to major flooding along the Kentucky River.

Hydrographs

Kentucky River @ Camp Nelson	Barren River @ Bowling Green	Rolling Fork River near Boston	First Flood Warning at new Burkesville point on Cumberland River
Kentucky River @ Frankfort	Kentucky River @ Lockport	Ohio River @ Louisville (McAlpine Upper)	Ohio River @ Louisville (McAlpine Lower)

Photos

Franklin County, KY Flooding	Franklin County, KY Flooding	Franklin County, KY Flooding	Franklin County, KY Flooding
Franklin County, KY Flooding	Franklin County, KY Flooding	Franklin County, KY Flooding	Franklin County, KY Flooding

Drone footage of the Ohio River at Louisville

Drone footage of the Kentucky River at High Bridge

Drone footage of the Kentucky River in Frankfort

WeatherNation interviews NWS Louisville Meteorologist-in-Charge John Gordon about flooding

Photos & Video

Flooding

Belle of Louisville	Louisville Loop	Playground in Louisville

Tornado Damage in Clinton County

Drone photo showing rotation patterns in tree damage as well as grass (NWS Storm Survey)	Additional drone footage (NWS Storm Survey)	Additional drone footage (NWS Storm Survey)	Additional drone footage (NWS Storm Survey)

Storm Reports

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0844 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 N Tompkinsville       36.71N 85.69W
02/28/2021                   Monroe             KY   Law Enforcement  

            one tree down. 

0852 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 ENE Marrowbone        36.82N 85.46W
02/28/2021                   Cumberland         KY   Dept of Highways 

            HWY 90 W had a road closure due to a downed 
            utility pole. 

0918 PM     Tornado          1 WSW Cumberland City   36.79N 85.09W
02/28/2021                   Clinton            KY   NWS Storm Survey 

            EF1 tornado on the ground for 4 minutes, 
            continuing into far western portions of 
            Wayne county. It caused several uprooted and 
            or snapped trees and structural damage to 
            several homes and large barns. 

Rain Reports

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       3 SW Liberty            37.28N 84.96W
03/02/2021  M6.65 inch       Casey              KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station PCWN Liberty 3 SW. 

0700 PM     Heavy Rain       4 N Albany              36.75N 85.13W
03/02/2021  M6.63 inch       Clinton            KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station ALBK2 Albany 4 N. 

0812 PM     Heavy Rain       5 ESE Rhoda             37.13N 86.15W
03/02/2021  M6.57 inch       Edmonson           KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station CDSK2 Houchin Meadow. 

0200 PM     Heavy Rain       3 ESE Mammoth Cave      37.19N 86.04W
03/02/2021  M6.43 inch       Hart               KY   CO-OP Observer   

            CO-OP Observer station MAMK2 3.4 E Mammoth 
            Cave. 

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       4 N Black Gnat          37.36N 85.46W
03/02/2021  M6.40 inch       Taylor             KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station BNGL Campbellsville 7 W. 

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       2 SE Hays               37.01N 86.11W
03/02/2021  M6.29 inch       Barren             KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station MROK Glasgow 11 W. 

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       2 NW Russellville       36.85N 86.92W
03/02/2021  M6.19 inch       Logan              KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station RSVL Russellville 2 W. 

0900 AM     Heavy Rain       1 N Dubre               36.85N 85.55W
03/02/2021  M5.87 inch       Cumberland         KY   Cocorahs         

            Cocorahs station KY-CM-1 Dubre 1.0 NE. 

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       3 SSE Cane Valley       37.14N 85.29W
03/02/2021  M5.75 inch       Adair              KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station CMBA Columbia 3 N. 

0815 PM     Heavy Rain       3 NE Rich Pond          36.93N 86.47W
03/02/2021  M5.67 inch       Warren             KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station FARM Bowling Green 5 S. 

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       1 ENE Hardyville        37.26N 85.78W
03/02/2021  M5.60 inch       Hart               KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station HDYV Munfordville 6 E. 

0753 PM     Heavy Rain       1 ESE Bowling Green     36.97N 86.42W
03/02/2021  M5.54 inch       Warren             KY   ASOS             

            ASOS station KBWG Bowling Gree. 

0815 PM     Heavy Rain       1 N Albany              36.71N 85.14W
03/02/2021  M5.39 inch       Clinton            KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station ALBN Albany 1 N. 

0818 PM     Heavy Rain       1 WSW Rich Pond         36.89N 86.52W
03/02/2021  M5.35 inch       Warren             KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station CW2972 Bowling Green. 

0815 PM     Heavy Rain       Liberty                 37.32N 84.94W
03/02/2021  M5.34 inch       Casey              KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station EW7213 Liberty. 

0800 PM     Heavy Rain       3 E Sweeden             37.25N 86.23W
03/02/2021  M5.31 inch       Edmonson           KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station BOWK2 MAMMOTH CAVE BOWLING 
            GREEN 21NNE KY US. 

0756 PM     Heavy Rain       1 WNW Burkesville       36.80N 85.38W
03/02/2021  M5.22 inch       Cumberland         KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station TR889 Alpine. 

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       1 SSW Waco              37.72N 84.15W
03/02/2021  M5.16 inch       Madison            KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station ELST Richmond 8 E. 

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       3 WSW Danville          37.62N 84.82W
03/02/2021  M5.13 inch       Boyle              KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station DANV Danville 3 SW. 

0815 PM     Heavy Rain       4 W Mintonville         37.19N 84.91W
03/02/2021  M5.11 inch       Casey              KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station EW5790 Liberty. 

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       4 WNW Burkesville       36.80N 85.43W
03/02/2021  M5.11 inch       Cumberland         KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station GRDR Burkesville 3 W. 

0100 PM     Heavy Rain       3 E Sweeden             37.25N 86.23W
03/02/2021  M5.03 inch       Edmonson           KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station BOWK2 MAMMOTH CAVE BOWLING 
            GREEN 21NNE KY US. 

0700 PM     Heavy Rain       2 WSW Burkesville       36.78N 85.40W
03/02/2021  M4.97 inch       Cumberland         KY   CO-OP Observer   

            CO-OP Observer station BRKK2 1.8 W 
            Burkesville. 

0900 AM     Heavy Rain       3 SE Halfway            36.77N 86.25W
03/02/2021  M4.93 inch       Allen              KY   Cocorahs         

            Cocorahs station KY-AL-14 Scottsville 3.5 
            WNW. 

0900 AM     Heavy Rain       1 NNE Rapids            36.68N 86.46W
03/02/2021  M4.92 inch       Simpson            KY   Cocorahs         

            Cocorahs station KY-SM-5 Franklin 7.1 ESE. 

0819 PM     Heavy Rain       2 ENE Roseville         36.90N 85.88W
03/02/2021  M4.62 inch       Barren             KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station CW9659 Glasgow. 

0815 PM     Heavy Rain       3 NNW Glasgow           37.03N 85.95W
03/02/2021  M4.49 inch       Barren             KY   AWOS             

            AWOS station KGLW Glasgow. 

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       1 SSW Wisdom            36.99N 85.70W
03/02/2021  M4.41 inch       Metcalfe           KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station RNDH Edmonton 5 W. 

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       3 E Providence          36.67N 86.61W
03/02/2021  M4.24 inch       Simpson            KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station SWZR Franklin 4 SW. 

0820 PM     Heavy Rain       1 SW Woodbury           37.18N 86.65W
03/02/2021  M4.21 inch       Butler             KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station WDBY Morgantown 4 SSE. 

0815 PM     Heavy Rain       2 SSE Albany            36.66N 85.11W
03/02/2021  M4.10 inch       Clinton            KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station 3863D 2 SE Albany. 

0815 PM     Heavy Rain       Fern Creek              38.16N 85.61W
03/02/2021  M4.06 inch       Jefferson          KY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station EW9362 Louisville. 
 

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Environment

Synoptic Environment

Figure 1: February 28, 7 PM EDT Surface Analysis	Figure 2: 850mb March 1, 00Z	Figure 3: Precipitable Water March 1, 00Z	Figure 4: 300mb March 1, 00Z

Near-storm Environment

Figure 5: February 28, 7 PM EDT MSL Pressure	Figure 6: February 28, 7 PM EDT MUCAPE	Figure 7: February 28, 7 PM EDT Effective Bulk Shear

Additional environmental data

Day One Excessive Rainfall Outlook from the Weather Prediction Center (WPC)	WPC Storm Total Precipitation Forecast from the morning of February 27	Total Rainfall