National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heat Continues for the East and South-Central U.S.; Strong to Severe Storms Across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

The extremely dangerous heat wave continues across the East Coast and much of the South-Central U.S. today. Record high temperatures are expected for some areas especially across the Mid-Atlantic where extreme heat risk conditions reside. There is a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) of severe thunderstorms today for the northern Mid-Atlantic into portions of southern New England. Read More >

July 2015 was a very active month, especially from the 7th through the 20th when many rounds of showers and storms crossed the region. 

Severe weather occurred in southern Indiana or central Kentucky on 11 days of the month (all but two of them from the 7th through the 20th). On the 9th a small area of gusty showers and thunderstorms around Mammoth Cave developed into a severe storm that produced damaging winds from Munfordville all the way to West Virginia. On the 12th a powerful line of storms developed over Minnesota and dove southeast, crossing southern Indiana and the Kentucky Blue Grass on the morning of the 13th accompanied by strong, damaging winds. Then later on the 13th additional showers and storms moved through the same region as the morning storms. Very heavy rain led to widespread flooding problems, including the 2nd highest stage ever recorded on the Muscatatuck River at Deputy, Indiana.

Five tornadoes struck the region during July. The first tornadoes occurred on the 10th when two EF0's struck Fort Knox. Then on the 13th a thunderstorm that moved due south from Green County to Cumberland County (and on into Tennessee) dropped two EF0 tornadoes and one EF1 tornado. The EF1 destroyed two barns and a mobile home along Ebenezer Road and KY 61 southeast of Greensburg.

The frequent rainfall kept temperatures in check for much of the month. The hottest days were the 28th and 29th with highs in the lower and middle 90s and lows only in the 70s.

  Average Temperature Departure from Normal Rain Departure from Normal
Bowling Green 80.3° +1.6° 6.17" +2.07"
Frankfort 76.0° -0.3° 11.02" +6.63"
Lexington 76.0° -0.2° 9.66" +5.01"
Louisville Bowman 78.4° +0.6° 9.24" +5.07"
Louisville International 79.5° +0.2° 8.65" +4.42"

 

Records

13th: Bowling Green record warm low of 76°
14th: Lexington record rainfall of 2.05"

Frankfort had their wettest July on record, beating the old record by more than an inch. Also, July 2015 was Frankfort's 9th wettest month ever recorded.
5th wettest July on record at Lexington
7th wettest July on record at Louisville

Harrison County, Kentucky on July 17, 2015

Low clouds ahead of a storm invading Harrison County, Kentucky on the 17th. Miranda White