Past Weather Events Archive

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread thunderstorm outbreaks and tornadoes. Tornadoes, hail, wind damage, and flooding impacts can be found in these summaries. If the event was focused mainly on flooding it will be found under the "Flooding" section.

For a searchable database of all documented tornadoes that have touched down in the NWS Jackson, KY forecast and warning area since 1845 please visit the East Kentucky Tornado Database.

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread flooding. River and flash flooding can be found in these summaries. If the flooding event accompanied severe thunderstorms or tornado outbreaks, it will likely be included in that event's summary under the "Thunderstorms / Tornadoes" section.

The East Kentucky Flood of April 1977

Torrential rains fell from April 2-5, 1977 causing devastating flooding across southeast Kentucky and adjacent areas of southern West Virginia, southwest Virginia and parts of Tennessee. Fifteen Kentucky counties were declared disaster areas as the floods killed 10 people in east Kentucky and 22 people in the four state area affected, with damages estimated at $175 million at the time, or roughly $711 million in 2016 dollars.

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Remembering the Flood of '57

Devastating floods occurred across southeastern Kentucky, southwestern West Virginia, western Virginia, and northeastern Tennessee in late January and early February of 1957. In eastern Kentucky, the headwaters of the Big Sandy, Kentucky and Cumberland Rivers were especially hard hit. In fact, the 1957 flood remains the flood of record at several points on the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy, the North, Middle and South Forks of the Kentucky River, and on the upper reaches of the Cumberland River.

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The Flash Flood Disaster of 1939...

Catastrophic flash flooding occurred across eastern Kentucky during the overnight hours of July 4 to July 5, 1939 as 2.5 to 9 inches of rain fell in a short period of time. The Red Cross reported that flooding affected 21 counties in eastern Kentucky, with 79 people losing their lives. The most disastrous flash flooding occurred in Breathitt and Rowan counties. Gov. A.B. Chandler described the flooding as probably the “worst calamity of its kind to ever visit Kentucky.” 

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The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread winter storms. Heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and blizzards can be found in these summaries. If the event focused on wind chills, it will be found under the "Heat / Cold" section.

Paralyzing Winter Storm of January 1994

Up to an inch of ice combined with anywhere from 6 to 26" of snow to paralyze the state.  Record cold invaded the region behind the snow and ice plunging many locations to 30 below zero or colder.

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Blizzard of 1993

One of the strongest storms of the century brought 6 to 30 inches of snow to eastern and southeastern Kentucky from March 12-14, 1993. Strong winds accompanied the snow, resulting in blizzard conditions and snow drifts of 6 to 10 feet.

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Spring Snowstorm of April 2-5, 1987

A prolonged and very heavy late season snowstorm caused extensive problems over southeast Kentucky and much of the central and southern Appalachians from late on April 2nd through April 5th. ^The storm system buried most of southeast Kentucky under 1 to 3 feet of snow, with drifts up to 10 feet reported in Letcher County.

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The Great Appalachian Storm of 1950

One of the most damaging and meteorologically unique winter storms to strike the eastern United States occurred on Thanksgiving weekend 1950. After it was over, up to 57 inches of snow blanketed the central Appalachians and one of the most widespread and damaging wind events ever recorded over the Northeastern U.S. made the Great Appalachian Storm of 1950 the costliest storm on record up until that time. East Kentucky wasn’t spared as record setting cold combined with over a foot of snow for many areas.

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