National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rainfall in the Southern Plains; Heat Continues in the West

Strong to severe thunderstorms may bring areas of excessive rainfall and flooding over parts of the southern Plains today through Friday. Hot to dangerously hot temperatures are forecast across portions of the Pacific Northwest and southern Great Basin today. Gusty winds, dry, and hot conditions will bring critical fire weather to parts of central Washington state today. Read More >

On September 14, 2008 the remnants of former Hurricane Ike moved northeastward through the Ohio Valley. Thunderstorms and breezy conditions had been expected to accompany the system's low pressure center. Instead, skies remained mostly clear and the sun was able to mix up the atmosphere and generate astounding wind gusts:

A great deal of tree damage was done, along with some light structural damage. Thousands of power lines were torn down and Louisville suffered its largest blackout in at least 30 years. Louisville International Airport was shut down and a state of emergency was declared. Sadly there were four fatalities caused by falling limbs.

Click on the pictures below to see a larger version:

Capitol Avenue
Capitol Avenue, Corydon Corydon Bonnycastle Avenue Wolf Pen Branch
       
Wolf Pen Branch Wolf Pen Branch Saratoga Avenue Taylorsville Road
       
Taylorsville Road Baxter Avenue Scottsburg, Indiana IN 135