Light to moderate snow will continue into Saturday over the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast. This weekend into next week, a series of atmospheric rivers will bring gusty winds, periods of heavy rain, and mountain snow to northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Colder temperatures are in store for the weekend from the Great Lakes to East Coast. Read More >
Overview
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A slow-moving upper level shortwave trough advancing out of the Mississippi Valley and subtle waves of low pressure riding along an attendant surface cold front led to multiple rounds of stormy weather on July 2nd, 2023. Though shear was only marginally sufficient, plenty of strong early July sunshine over Kentucky (on the warm side of the front) led to a highly unstable environment which fueled rounds of intense and particularly photogenic thunderstorms. The first severe thunderstorms reached the Southeastern Bluegrass and Red River Gorge areas by around 5 PM with locally intense winds. The most substantial wind damage was reported in the Levee area of Montgomery County where multiple structures sustained wind damage and many trees were snapped. An official NWS Storm Survey determined that the winds were straight-line and not tornadic. Sizable power outages were also reported in Montgomery and Menifee counties with these storms. The first cluster of storms generally weakened as they crossed the Licking River basin and departed through the Big Sandy River basin. A second line of storm organized over Central Kentucky and moved into Eastern Kentucky around and after 8 PM. The strongest portions of the second line generally impacted locations to the south of the Mountain Parkway. Overall intensity of the thunderstorms diminished during the mid and late evening with the loss of heating and increasing low-level stability. By the time storms came to an end, the National Weather Service in Jackson had received more than 60 reports of severe weather, primarily in the form of wind damage. |
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Photos
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| Shelf Cloud Approaching the Tug Fork (Pike County) (Courtesy of Mary Reed Runyon) |
View of Thunderstorm (Rockcastle County) (Courtesy of Billy Bowling) |
Wind Damage to Trees (Rowan County) (Courtesy of Joe Clark) |
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| Damaged Porch near Levee (Montgomery County) (Courtesy of NWS Storm Survey Team) |
Thunderstorm near McKee (Jackson County) (Courtesy of Jessica Thorpe) |
Snapped Power Pole near Levee (Montgomery County) (Courtesy of NWS Storm Survey Team) |
Tree Fallen on Truck (Montgomery County) (Courtesy of NWS Storm Survey Team) |
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| Partially Collapsed Barn near Levee (Montgomery County) (Courtesy of NWS Storm Survey Team) |
Roofing Material Strewn near Levee (Montgomery County) (Courtesy of NWS Storm Survey Team) |
Damaged Barn near Levee (Montgomery County) (Courtesy of NWS Storm Survey Team) |
Large Tree Uprooted near Levee (Montgomery County) (Courtesy of NWS Storm Survey Team) |
Large Tree Snapped Beside Home near Levee (Montgomery County) (Courtesy of NWS Storm Survey Team) |
Storm Reports
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Storm Reports From July 2nd, 2023 |
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0506 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 N Westbend 37.94N 83.97W
07/02/2023 Montgomery KY NWS Storm Survey
Tree trunk partially snapped at a residence
near the 2700 block of Orear Road.
0507 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SW Levee 37.95N 83.96W
07/02/2023 Montgomery KY NWS Storm Survey
NWS survey team saw a partially rotten tree
branch broken and laying along side of the
road. Time estimated from radar.
0508 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WSW Levee 37.96N 83.97W
07/02/2023 Montgomery KY NWS Storm Survey
NWS survey team saw a healthy uprooted oak
tree along Nest Egg Road. Time estimated
from radar.
0508 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSW Levee 37.96N 83.94W
07/02/2023 Montgomery KY NWS Storm Survey
NWS survey team saw multiple healthy trees
snapped. Time estimated from radar.
0514 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 ESE Levee 37.96N 83.89W
07/02/2023 Montgomery KY NWS Storm Survey
NWS survey team saw a large tree trunk
snapped and laying on a front porch,
portions of a shed roof rolled up and a
medium sized tree trunk snapped. Time
estimated from radar.
0515 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 ESE Levee 37.96N 83.89W
07/02/2023 Montgomery KY NWS Storm Survey
NWS survey team saw multiple large tree
branches blown near the 7200 block of
Carmargo Levee Road . Time estimated from
radar.
0515 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 S Camargo 37.96N 83.88W
07/02/2023 Montgomery KY NWS Storm Survey
NWS survey team saw multiple medium sized
hardwood trees uprooted along the 300 block
of Welch Road. Time estimated from radar.
0517 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 W Jeffersonville 37.96N 83.87W
07/02/2023 Montgomery KY NWS Storm Survey
NWS survey team saw a partial barn collapse
with multiple pieces of roofing metal thrown
in an adjacent field. Also, multiple large
trees trunks were snapped at the property
Time estimated from radar.
0523 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NW Means 37.95N 83.77W
07/02/2023 Menifee KY 911 Call Center
A tree was reported to be down near 377
Whispering Pines Road blocking the roadway.
The event time is radar estimated.
0527 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NNW Cornwell 37.98N 83.73W
07/02/2023 Menifee KY 911 Call Center
2 trees were reported to have been blown
down blocking the road near 2224 East Fork
Road Means, KY. The event time is radar
estimated.
0530 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NW Rothwell 37.97N 83.70W
07/02/2023 Menifee KY 911 Call Center
A tree was reported to be down on a
powerline near 107 Hidden Valley Spur Road.
The event time is radar estimated.
0534 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NE Tabor 37.93N 83.65W
07/02/2023 Menifee KY 911 Call Center
A tree was reported to have been down onto a
powerline on Amos Ridge Road just past Amos
Cut Road. The event time is radar estimated.
0537 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SE Frenchburg 37.94N 83.60W
07/02/2023 Menifee KY 911 Call Center
A tree was reported to have been blown onto
a powerline leading to the powerline being
torn from the pole. The event time is radar
estimated.
0537 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NW Denniston 37.93N 83.55W
07/02/2023 Menifee KY 911 Call Center
A tree was reported to have been blown onto
an electric line leading to a fire near 454
Mortbotts Road.
0540 PM Hail Frenchburg 37.96N 83.62W
07/02/2023 E1.00 inch Menifee KY Emergency Mngr
County EM reported quarter size hail
starting at the intersection of 460 and
KY-36 and running northeast to the
intersection of KY-36 and Old Beaver Rd.
0540 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NW Mariba 37.93N 83.59W
07/02/2023 Menifee KY 911 Call Center
A tree was reported to be have been down
onto the roadway along Pear Tree Way near
Frenchburg. The event time is radar
estimated.
0600 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ENE Gates 38.24N 83.35W
07/02/2023 Rowan KY Emergency Mngr
Images of a tree over powerlines and a house
on Castle Drive. 911 call center reported
the tree over the powerlines later caught
fire. Power was turned off for around 1000
customers, while the tree was removed and
powerlines were operated on. Power since
restored. Time estimated by radar.
0612 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 S Florress 37.88N 83.18W
07/02/2023 Morgan KY 911 Call Center
911 call center had reports of trees down at
the intersection of Lacy Creek Rd and
Highway 364. Time estimated by radar.
0620 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Gifford 37.76N 83.12W
07/02/2023 Magoffin KY 911 Call Center
911 call center had a report of a tree down
at the end of Gifford Rd at 460 N. Time
estimated by radar.
0635 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Foxtown 37.50N 83.99W
07/02/2023 Jackson KY 911 Call Center
Several trees were blown down near 200 Moore
Ridge Road in the Foxtown Community. The
event time is radar estimated.
0638 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Galen 37.89N 82.81W
07/02/2023 Johnson KY Utility Company
Trees were blown onto powerlines in the
Stambaugh vicinity per a post to social
media. The event time is radar estimated.
0644 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NNW Wind Cave 37.54N 83.95W
07/02/2023 Jackson KY 911 Call Center
Trees down near 2000 Salt Rock Road.
0648 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ENE Bays Branch 37.73N 82.76W
07/02/2023 Floyd KY 911 Call Center
A tree was blown into a powerline. The even
time is radar estimated.
0652 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Van Lear 37.77N 82.76W
07/02/2023 Johnson KY Emergency Mngr
Trees were blown down onto a powerline
leading to a fire in Van Lear.
0655 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 E Prestonsburg 37.67N 82.75W
07/02/2023 Floyd KY 911 Call Center
Multiple trees and large limbs down on Lake
Drive. The event time is radar estimated.
0717 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ESE Warfield 37.83N 82.41W
07/02/2023 Martin KY Public
Trees down onto KY 292 in the Warfield to
Lovely area. The event time is radar
estimated.
0724 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 NNE Whitepost 37.76N 82.34W
07/02/2023 Martin KY Dept of Highways
Trees and limbs were reported to have been
down in multiple locations along KY 292 from
near Warfield to the Pike County line. The
event time is radar estimated.
0740 PM Hail 1 W Clayhole 37.46N 83.32W
07/02/2023 E0.75 inch Breathitt KY Public
Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
0815 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NW Hiatt 37.44N 84.40W
07/02/2023 Rockcastle KY Public
A tree was down on Chestnut Grove Road in
the Chestnut Grover Community. The event
time is radar estimated.
0815 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SW Hardwick 37.76N 83.96W
07/02/2023 Estill KY 911 Call Center
Tree reported down over Eades Drive from the
911 call center. Time estimated by radar.
0818 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Brodhead 37.40N 84.42W
07/02/2023 Rockcastle KY Public
A tree was blown down in Brodhead. The event
time is radar estimated.
0829 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SE Pitts 37.69N 83.86W
07/02/2023 Estill KY Public
A tree was reported down on Tipton Ridge
Road. The event time is radar estimated.
0840 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 W Burr 37.34N 84.32W
07/02/2023 Rockcastle KY Public
A tree was down on Chestnut Ridge Road near
the southside of Mount Vernon. The event
time is radar estimated.
0840 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NNE Maytown 37.87N 83.45W
07/02/2023 Morgan KY 911 Call Center
Tree reported down over Highway 1010 near
mile marker 2. This would have been near the
intersection of Blackwater Rd. Time
estimated by radar.
0841 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Burr 37.34N 84.31W
07/02/2023 Rockcastle KY Public
A tree was blown down on Big Cave Road. The
even time is radar estimated.
0846 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Livingston 37.30N 84.22W
07/02/2023 Rockcastle KY Public
A tree was blown down on South Wilderness
Road. The event time is radar estimated.
0850 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Beattyville 37.57N 83.71W
07/02/2023 Lee KY Dept of Highways
Highway garage reported a tree down over
Highway 11 near mile marker 5. Time
estimated by radar.
0850 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NW Whynot 37.66N 83.80W
07/02/2023 Lee KY Dept of Highways
Highway garage reported a tree down on
KY-1746 near 52. Time estimated by radar.
0905 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ENE Lewis 37.83N 83.22W
07/02/2023 Morgan KY 911 Call Center
Tree reported down half way along KY 1162.
Time estimated by radar.
0905 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ENE Primrose 37.61N 83.59W
07/02/2023 Lee KY 911 Call Center
911 call center reported a tree down over
Blankey Branch road. Time estimated by
radar.
0906 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Mckee 37.43N 84.00W
07/02/2023 Jackson KY Public
A tree was blown down near 200 Highway KY
290.
0910 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 WSW Logville 37.87N 83.13W
07/02/2023 Morgan KY 911 Call Center
Tree reported down over Highway 364 just
prior to the intersection of Trace Fork Rd
heading eastbound. Time estimated by radar.
0942 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 W Portsmouth 37.53N 83.33W
07/02/2023 Breathitt KY Law Enforcement
A tree was reported to have been down on KY
1098 about 2 miles from KY 15.
1031 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSW Jeremiah 37.15N 82.93W
07/02/2023 Letcher KY Public
A tree was blown down along KY 7 near the
Letcher Elementary and Middle School. The
event time is radar estimated.
1038 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Grade 37.07N 84.46W
07/02/2023 Pulaski KY 911 Call Center
A tree was blown on Malvin Hill Church Road
near KY 80. The event time is radar
estimated.
1049 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Garrard 37.12N 83.75W
07/02/2023 Clay KY 911 Call Center
A tree was blown down on KY 11 in the
Garrard area near Manchester. The event time
is radar estimated.
1052 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WSW Billows 37.16N 84.33W
07/02/2023 Pulaski KY 911 Call Center
A tree was blown down on Sandy Gap near the
intersection with KY 80. The event time is
radar estimated.
1057 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WSW Fariston 37.06N 84.08W
07/02/2023 Laurel KY Public
A large tree limb was reported to be down
near 200 Riverbend Road. The event time is
radar estimated.
1122 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NNE Woollum 37.04N 83.81W
07/02/2023 Clay KY 911 Call Center
A tree was reported to be down near 8000 KY
11 South. The event time is radar estimated.
1123 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Fogertown 37.22N 83.90W
07/02/2023 Clay KY 911 Call Center
A tree was reported down on KY 472 in the
Fogertown community.
1130 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NNW Shepherdtown 37.30N 83.87W
07/02/2023 Clay KY 911 Call Center
A tree was down along US 421 near the Clay
and Jackson County line near Shepherdtown.
1135 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Hector 37.15N 83.65W
07/02/2023 Clay KY 911 Call Center
A tree was blown down onto KY 149 near
Hector. The event time is radar estimated.
1136 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SW Dewitt 36.87N 83.75W
07/02/2023 Knox KY 911 Call Center
2 trees were blown down along KY 223 near
Escoes Market with one onto a powerline
causing a fire. The event time is radar
estimated.
1140 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Oneida 37.27N 83.65W
07/02/2023 Clay KY Public
A tree was reported to have been blown down
on 1st Street.
1156 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NE Morris Fork 37.39N 83.51W
07/02/2023 Breathitt KY Public
1159 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NE Tacky Town 36.86N 83.46W
07/02/2023 Harlan KY 911 Call Center
Trees were reported to have been blown down
near the intersection of KY 1780 and KY 221
that had been received by the Leslie County
Dispatch but occurred in Harlan County. The
event time is radar estimated.
Environment
The surface analysis (Figure 1) showed multiple weak waves of low pressure tracking along a cold front making painfully slow progress into the Lower Ohio Valley. On the warm side of the front, multiple clusters of thunderstorms developed and initiated multiple outflow boundaries which moved toward the Appalachians and disintegrated.
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| Figure 1: Surface Analysis from 2AM (0600Z) July 2nd until 2 AM (0600Z) LT July 3rd, 2023 |
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| Figure 2: MLCAPE (J/kg) | Figure 3: Effective Shear (kts) | Figure 4: Bulk Richardson Number | Figure 5: Supercell Composite |
The primary threat with the storms turned out to be wind. Dry air aloft, evidenced by DCAPE (Figure 6) values largely in excess of 900 J/kg, was supportive of the generation of strong rain-cooled downdrafts. Fairly steep low-level lapse rates (Figure 7) favored those downdrafts reaching the surface and leading to damaging wind gusts. Thus it is not surprising that dozens of instances of wind damage were reported across eastern Kentucky.
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| Figure 6: DCAPE (J/kg) | Figure 7: Surface-3km AGL Lapse Rates (ºC/km) |
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