National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Critical Fire Weather Persists in the Southern Plains; Severe Weather and Heavy Rain Expected Over the Weekend

High winds and very dry conditions will continue to produce elevated to critical fire weather conditions over portions of New Mexico and far western Texas through Saturday. Heavy snow will continue in the Central Rockies Heavy rain, flooding, and severe thunderstorm risks increase from the Southern Plains into the Lower Missouri Valley this weekend. Read More >

Overview

A slow moving low pressure system, in combination with the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Gordon, and abundant moisture brought a long duration heavy rainfall event to much of the Bluegrass region of eastern Kentucky. Southwesterly low level winds ahead of a very slow moving cold front ushered rich moisture into eastern Kentucky, which when combined with the available lift, resulted in copious amounts of rainfall. This, in combination with several inches of rain the past couple of days, led to widespread flooding and flash flooding.

 

 

Bath, Montgomery, and Menifee Counties all saw significant impacts. This includes 50-70 homes and 20-25 businesses, one of which was a school in Menifee County, being inundated with water. Numerous roads were damaged as culverts were washed out, forcing schools to close the following day. Disaster declarations were made for Montgomery and Menifee Counties while nearly a dozen water rescues were performed. Additionally, an eight year old boy was swept into a culvert in Morehead.

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Significant flash flooding leading to a culvert on Dog Trot Road being completely washed out west of Frenchburg. Courtesy of Bill Helton.