Overview
A potent low pressure system moved through the Midwest Monday, November 5, 2018. Showers and thunderstorms formed out ahead of the cold front trailing from this system. Central Kentucky saw a lot of rain, but then as the warm front lifted into southern Kentucky, a few storms became severe, causing damage. Three weak tornadoes were confirmed. Flooding was a minor issue as well, as saturated soils continue to allow water to pool from these heavy rain events. |
Tornadoes:
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Tornado - Near Columbia, KY
Track Map Downloadable KMZ File |
Tornado - Near Lebanon, KY
Track Map Downloadable KMZ File |
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Tornado - Near Brownsville, KY
Track Map Downloadable KMZ File |
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The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
Wind:
The strongest wind gusts associated with this event came late Monday evening/early overnight hours.
Kentucky Mesonet peak winds from the squall line. |
Flooding
Add a written summary if needed.
Hydrographs
River gauge on Elkhorn Creek near Peaks Mill, KY | Gauge on the Rolling Fork River near Boston, KY | Gauge on Rough River near Dundee, KY |
Radar/Photos
24-hour rainfall map from the Kentucky Mesonet | 24-hour rainfall estimate from the Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) program. |
Radar:
Header
Storm relative winds from the Ft. Knox radar (KLVX). Greens indicate relative inflow, with reds outflow. The "Home" location is where the tornado near Columbia, KY started causing damage. | A measure of how turbulent the winds were along the squall line Monday night. Brighter colors indicate lots of turbulent winds. Areas with "kinks" indicate some potential for tornadoes. | The reflectivity image, showing the line surging outward in the vicinity where the tornado developed. |
Same as above, but this time the home location is near Mammoth Cave, KY | Same measure of turbulence as above (aka, spectrum width), but for Mammoth Cave, KY | As above, but for near Mammoth Cave, KY. |
Same as above, but this time the home location is near Lebanon, KY | Same measure of turbulence as above (aka, spectrum width), but for Lebanon, KY | As above, but for near Lebanon, KY. |
Storm Reports
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 916 PM EST TUE NOV 6 2018 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 1000 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 NW CUSTER 37.74N 86.26W 11/06/2018 M2.07 INCH BRECKINRIDGE KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-BK-7. 0815 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 N DUBRE 36.85N 85.55W 11/06/2018 M2.02 INCH CUMBERLAND KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-CM-3. 0808 AM HEAVY RAIN 6 NE HOOKTOWN 38.42N 84.07W 11/06/2018 M2.01 INCH NICHOLAS KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-NC-1. 0746 AM FLOOD 6 NW SWITZER 38.31N 84.82W 11/06/2018 FRANKLIN KY EMERGENCY MNGR STILLHOUSE HOLLOW RD ALONG ELKHORN CREEK. CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER. 0746 AM FLOOD 3 SE GRAEFENBURG 38.13N 84.99W 11/06/2018 FRANKLIN KY EMERGENCY MNGR FRANKLIN COUNTY EMA REPORTED AVENSTOKE RD NEAR COUNTY LINE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER FROM A CREEK. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 W ELK CREEK 38.10N 85.42W 11/06/2018 M2.07 INCH SPENCER KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-SP-4. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 SE LIBERTY 37.30N 84.92W 11/06/2018 M2.07 INCH CASEY KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-CS-4. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 NNE PLANO 36.90N 86.41W 11/06/2018 M2.18 INCH WARREN KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-WR-32. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 NNW LEXINGTON 38.10N 84.53W 11/06/2018 M2.20 INCH FAYETTE KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-FY-31. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 ENE MOUNT WASHINGTON 38.06N 85.51W 11/06/2018 M2.30 INCH BULLITT KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-BT-16. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 N GEORGETOWN 38.23N 84.55W 11/06/2018 M2.31 INCH SCOTT KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-SC-1. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 SE ELIZABETHTOWN 37.69N 85.84W 11/06/2018 M2.45 INCH HARDIN KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-HD-5. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 NE HARTFORD 37.49N 86.85W 11/06/2018 M2.72 INCH OHIO KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-OH-1. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 WNW FORKS OF ELKHORN 38.22N 84.82W 11/06/2018 M2.76 INCH FRANKLIN KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-FR-1. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 ENE NAZARETH 37.84N 85.43W 11/06/2018 M2.78 INCH NELSON KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-NL-12. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NE ALTON 38.11N 84.90W 11/06/2018 M2.84 INCH FRANKLIN KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-FR-21. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 N ALBANY 36.72N 85.13W 11/06/2018 M2.04 INCH CLINTON KY MESONET 18-HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT THE CLINTON COUNTY KENTUCKY MESONET STATION. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 N GAMALIEL 36.67N 85.79W 11/06/2018 M2.08 INCH MONROE KY PUBLIC 18-HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT THE MONROE COUNTY KENTUCKY MESONET STATION. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 ENE PROVIDENCE 36.68N 86.61W 11/06/2018 M2.17 INCH SIMPSON KY MESONET 18-HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT THE SIMPSON COUNTY KENTUCKY MESONET STATION. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 NNW RUSSELLVILLE 36.86N 86.91W 11/06/2018 M2.28 INCH LOGAN KY MESONET 18-HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT THE LOGAN COUNTY KENTUCKY MESONET STATION. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 ENE HARTFORD 37.46N 86.85W 11/06/2018 M2.31 INCH OHIO KY MESONET 18-HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT THE OHIO COUNTY KENTUCKY MESONET STATION. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 WSW LEITCHFIELD 37.47N 86.34W 11/06/2018 M2.33 INCH GRAYSON KY MESONET 18-HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT THE GRAYSON COUNTY KENTUCKY MESONET STATION. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 NW CECILIA 37.68N 85.97W 11/06/2018 M2.35 INCH HARDIN KY MESONET 18-HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT THE HARDIN COUNTY KENTUCKY MESONET STATION. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 S WISDOM 36.99N 85.70W 11/06/2018 M2.56 INCH METCALFE KY MESONET 18-HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT THE METCALFE COUNTY KENTUCKY MESONET STATION. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 WSW MILLVILLE 38.12N 84.88W 11/06/2018 M2.88 INCH FRANKLIN KY MESONET 18-HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY KENTUCKY MESONET STATION. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 WSW KELAT 38.50N 84.34W 11/06/2018 M2.92 INCH HARRISON KY MESONET 18-HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT THE HARRISON COUNTY KENTUCKY MESONET STATION. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 W SCOTTSVILLE 36.75N 86.21W 11/06/2018 M3.24 INCH ALLEN KY MESONET 18-HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT THE ALLEN COUNTY KENTUCKY MESONET STATION. 0647 AM FLOOD 5 ESE MIDWAY 38.12N 84.60W 11/06/2018 FAYETTE KY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS ROADWAY IS CLOSED AT THE RR OVERPASS DUE TO HIGH WATER. LEESTOWN RD BETWEEN DOLAN LN / SCOTT CO LINE. 0631 AM HEAVY RAIN FRANKLIN 36.73N 86.57W 11/06/2018 M2.36 INCH SIMPSON KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-SM-4. 0615 AM HEAVY RAIN MIDWAY 38.16N 84.68W 11/06/2018 M2.07 INCH WOODFORD KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-WF-6. 0602 AM FLOOD 1 SSE WATERFORD 38.02N 85.43W 11/06/2018 SPENCER KY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS REPORTED AT LILY PIKE AND LOVE LANE SPENCER COUNTY KY...ROADWAY IS FLOODED AND IMPASSABLE. 0555 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 SSW ROWLAND 37.48N 84.65W 11/06/2018 M2.15 INCH LINCOLN KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-LN-6. 0530 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 NNE RUSSELLVILLE 36.86N 86.89W 11/06/2018 M2.53 INCH LOGAN KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-LG-3. 0416 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NNW FLIPPIN 36.76N 85.90W 11/06/2018 M2.64 INCH MONROE KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-MO-1. 0400 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 NE HOLLAND 36.72N 86.03W 11/06/2018 M3.06 INCH ALLEN KY COCORAHS 24-HOUR TOTAL MEASURED AT SITE KY-AL-4. 0330 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 NE NAZARETH 37.84N 85.46W 11/06/2018 M3.13 INCH NELSON KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0309 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 WSW OLGA 36.94N 85.19W 11/06/2018 M2.19 INCH RUSSELL KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0300 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 S CAMPBELLSVILLE 37.34N 85.35W 11/06/2018 M2.09 INCH TAYLOR KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0300 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 ENE ROSEVILLE 36.90N 85.88W 11/06/2018 M3.23 INCH BARREN KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0300 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 N AUBURN 36.92N 86.71W 11/06/2018 M2.64 INCH LOGAN KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0300 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 NNW FOUNTAIN RUN 36.75N 85.98W 11/06/2018 M2.87 INCH BARREN KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0256 AM FLOOD 1 WSW BEREA 37.57N 84.31W 11/06/2018 MADISON KY PUBLIC DELAYED REPORT. SIGNIFICANT PONDING OF WATER ALONG ROADWAY (JEFFERSON ST & BRENWOOD AVE). DRAINAGE DITCHES OVERFLOWING ON PEGGY FLATS RD. RANDOM DEBRIS ALL OVER, HOWEVER NO TREES DOWN THAT I OBSERVED. 0230 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 N WISDOM 37.04N 85.70W 11/06/2018 M2.70 INCH METCALFE KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0200 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 NNE HAMMONVILLE 37.44N 85.78W 11/06/2018 M2.03 INCH LARUE KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0200 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 SW CUB RUN 37.26N 86.13W 11/06/2018 M2.25 INCH EDMONSON KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0200 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 NNE SCOTTSVILLE 36.77N 86.18W 11/06/2018 M3.99 INCH ALLEN KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0100 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 S MADRID 37.58N 86.34W 11/06/2018 M2.36 INCH GRAYSON KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0100 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 ESE BAIZETOWN 37.35N 86.67W 11/06/2018 M2.65 INCH BUTLER KY PUBLIC RAINFALL TOTAL MEASURED AT PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. 0100 AM FLOOD 1 WNW DUBRE 36.84N 85.56W 11/06/2018 CUMBERLAND KY PUBLIC BRIDGE FLOODED IN DUBRE, CUMBERLAND COUNTY, KY. REPORTED AT 5:15 AM WITH PICTURE. LSR TIME STAMP ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 1246 AM FLASH FLOOD 2 NE WELCHS CREEK 37.37N 86.54W 11/06/2018 BUTLER KY EMERGENCY MNGR BOSS HOG ROAD NEAR GRANCER ROAD IS COMPLETELY WASHED OUT. 1228 AM TSTM WND DMG 6 WNW FORD 37.93N 84.34W 11/06/2018 FAYETTE KY BROADCAST MEDIA REPORTED ON MCCALLS MILL RD...BARN AND TREES DAMAGED. ALSO REPORTED TREES DOWN IN THE 4800 BLOCK OF ATHENS WALNUT HILL RD...TREES, BARN, AND PLAYSET DAMAGED. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 1225 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 NE SPEARS 37.92N 84.39W 11/06/2018 FAYETTE KY BROADCAST MEDIA SEVERAL PICTURES OF SNAPPED TREES AND A BARN ROLLED OVER. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON REPORT AND RADAR DATA FROM JKL AND LVX. 1220 AM TSTM WND DMG 2 ENE SULPHUR WELL 37.84N 84.52W 11/06/2018 JESSAMINE KY EMERGENCY MNGR REPORTS OF TREES DOWN AND MINOR FLOODING NEAR SULFER WELL AND CHRISMAN MILL. 1155 PM FLOOD 2 ENE FRANKFORT 38.20N 84.84W 11/05/2018 FRANKLIN KY BROADCAST MEDIA ROLLING ACRES DRIVE CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING. 1155 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SE COBURG 37.18N 85.28W 11/05/2018 ADAIR KY EMERGENCY MNGR LARGE TREE DOWN ACROSS ROADWAY AT BUTLER CREEK AND HOLMES BEND RD. 1155 PM TSTM WND GST 3 N COLUMBIA 37.15N 85.29W 11/05/2018 M57 MPH ADAIR KY MESONET MEASURED GUST AT KENTUCKY MESONET SITE. 1152 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 SSE COBURG 37.18N 85.29W 11/05/2018 ADAIR KY EMERGENCY MNGR CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 1 SSE COBURG FOR INCORRECT TIME. 3 TO 4 BARNS DAMAGED NEAR MT CARMEL RD AND MILKY WAY LN. 1152 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 SSE COBURG 37.18N 85.29W 11/05/2018 ADAIR KY EMERGENCY MNGR MULTIPLE TREES DOWN NEAR MT. CARMEL AND MILKY WAY LN. 1150 PM TSTM WND DMG CANE VALLEY 37.18N 85.32W 11/05/2018 ADAIR KY EMERGENCY MNGR TREE BLOCKING ROADWAY. 1150 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 W COLUMBIA 37.10N 85.34W 11/05/2018 ADAIR KY EMERGENCY MNGR TREE ACROSS ROADWAY AT GREENSBURG RD AND PETTYS FORK CREEK. 1146 PM FLOOD 3 W GREENSBURG 37.26N 85.55W 11/05/2018 GREEN KY EMERGENCY MNGR WATER ACROSS SEVERAL ROADWAYS REPORTED AT GREEN COUNTY KY. 1140 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NNE NEW MARKET 37.53N 85.30W 11/05/2018 MARION KY EMERGENCY MNGR BARN DESTROYED ALONG HWY 289. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 1138 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 SSE HOBSON 37.40N 85.36W 11/05/2018 TAYLOR KY STORM CHASER RELAYED REPORT ON DRAGWAY LANE, WITH PICTURES, OF A SOFTWOOD TREE DOWN ON A VEHICLE AND ANOTHER TREE SPLIT. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 1128 PM FLOOD 3 NNW SMITHS GROVE 37.09N 86.22W 11/05/2018 WARREN KY TRAINED SPOTTER 6-8 INCHES OF WATER ON 31 W COVERING APPROX 30 YARDS OF ROADWAY 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF HWY 101E. 1055 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SSW PLANO 36.84N 86.43W 11/05/2018 WARREN KY 911 CALL CENTER TREE DOWN ON WOODBURN ALLEN SPRINGS RD. 1055 PM TSTM WND GST FRANKLIN 36.72N 86.58W 11/05/2018 M50 MPH SIMPSON KY MESONET 1037 PM FLOOD 1 NNE RUSSELLVILLE 36.86N 86.89W 11/05/2018 LOGAN KY PUBLIC DELAYED REPORT. LOTS OF STANDING WATER AND WATER RUNNING OVER SEVERAL ROADS IN THE CITY. 1037 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 SW MAMMOTH CAVE 37.16N 86.15W 11/05/2018 EDMONSON KY 911 CALL CENTER 2 TREES DOWN ON MAMMOTH CAVE ROAD IN MAMMOTH CAVE PARK. 1033 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 E RICHARDSVILLE 37.11N 86.42W 11/05/2018 WARREN KY TRAINED SPOTTER MULTIPLE LARGE LIMBS DOWN ALONG HWY 185 JUST SOUTH OF ANNA.
Rain Reports
Figure 1: 24-hour rainfall totals across southern Indiana and central Kentucky, ending at approximately 7 AM EST Tuesday. | Figure 2: Same, but for a zoomed in look at the Louisville Metro area. | Figure 3: Same, but for the entire state of Kentucky. |
Environment
Some images showing what the environment setup was like for the line of severe storms that went through central Kentucky Monday night.
Figure 1: Radar image and pressure field contoured. Line of storms formed ahead of front. | Figure 2: Upper level wind field, showing a jet streak (120-130 knots) moving over mid MS River. Contours are areas where atmosphere allowed for good "outflow" of thunderstorm tops. | Figure 3: Lower-level flow field, around 3000 feet above ground, showing 60-70 knot winds blowing across central Kentucky as well as lots of moisture (green contours) and warmth (red dashed lines). |
Figure 4: A measure of available instability, just nosing into southern KY. These fall severe events typically have just a little bit of instability to work with to allow for strong rotation aloft to get down to the surface in a few places. | Figure 5: A measure of just how strong the rotation was from the surface to 1 kilometer above ground. Thanks to the limited instability, a lot of this shear was not realized in more tornadoes! | Figure 6: The Significant Tornado Parameter (STP), showing that more violent tornadoes (EF2 or greater) were not likely over our region. |
Figure 7: The precipitable water, a measure of how much moisture was available for storms to work with. This map shows values pretty high for this time of year. |
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