National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Excessive Rainfall and Significant Flooding in the Upper Midwest This Weekend

Heavy to excessive rainfall is expected over the weekend across eastern Iowa, northern Missouri, northwest Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Numerous flash floods, some with significant impacts, are expected in these areas. Heaviest rainfall will occur overnight Saturday and Sunday, so be sure to have multiple ways to receive warnings. Read More >

Groundhog Day this year was cloudy and wet, and according to tradition that means we'll have an early spring. With as warm and, especially, wet as this February turned out to be, perhaps the groundhog's prediction has come true!

A slow-moving low pressure system moved through the Tennessee Valley early in the month, bringing many of us 2-4 inches of rain from the 3rd through the 5th. The storm also brought a wintry mix to the region, especially in southern Indiana. A CoCoRaHS observer northwest of Plattsburg, Indiana, reported nearly four inches of snow.

The next significant system blew through the region on the 17th, bringing generally 1 to 3 inches of rain. However, the bigger story with this event was the straight-line winds out ahead of it, gusting to 50-60mph!

Additional rains came in from the 22nd through the 25th, adding moisture to already wet ground and sending some rivers, including the Ohio at Tell City, into flood.

  Average Temperature Departure from Normal Precipitation Departure from Normal Snow Departure from Normal
Bowling Green 40.6° -0.5° 6.10" +2.03" 0.1" -2.8"
Frankfort 38.4° +0.6° 7.29" +3.89"    
Lexington 37.9° +0.4° 7.69" +4.05" 1.3" -3.2"
Louisville Ali 39.6° +0.1° 6.74" +3.33" 1.6" -2.5"
Louisville Bowman 38.8° +0.1° 6.81" +3.54"    

 

Records

3rd: Precipitation of 1.93" at Frankfort, precipitation of 1.92" at Lexington, precipitation of 1.51" at Louisville
17th: Precipitation of 2.41" at Frankfort, precipitation of 2.31" at Louisville

5th wettest February on record at Frankfort and Lexington

Icy branches in Edmonson County, KY February 24, 2022

Icy conditions in Edmonson County on the 24th. Photo courtesy Johnny Merideth via Twitter