Heat Persists in the South Central U.S. and Southwest; Heavy rains in the Desert Southwest and Central Plains

Sweltering heat remains across the South-Central Plains, Lower/Middle Mississippi Valley, and the Southwest this week with limited nighttime relief. Thunderstorms will bring heavy rainfall leading to localized flash flooding in portions of the Desert Southwest and central Plains. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across portions of the central Plains into the Northeast. Read More >

Overview

A series of thunderstorms caused widespread flash flooding across portions of Pike County on the evening of July 17, 2010. Initially, thunderstorms developed and moved into the area about 4 pm in the afternoon. Thereafter, thunderstorms redeveloped and moved repeatedly over the same locations, producing the flash flooding.

The National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Kentucky issued it's first flash flood warning at 7:57 pm as thunderstorms producing very heavy rainfall continued to move through central Pike County. Tragically, the flash flooding was directly, or indirectly responsible for 2 fatalities. Best estimates indicate that between 3 and 7 inches of rain fell across central portions of Pike County between 4 pm Saturday afternoon and 1 am Sunday morning, with the bulk of the rainfall occurring between 5 pm and 10 pm Saturday.

Radar estimated rainfall from 1 pm to 10 pm Saturday July 17, 2010

The greatest rainfall amount measured in a rain gauge during the event came from an observer on Lick Creek who measured 4.90" between 6:30 pm and 10 pm Saturday evening July 17th. A cooperative observer in Fedscreek reported 3.66 inches (24 hour amount as of 7am Sunday morning), and an IFLOWS gage at East Ridge High School recorded 4.36 inches over a three and a half hour period Saturday evening as well.

The pictures included below were taken from a NWS survey team and are all from the Racoon Community.

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Heat Persists in the South Central U.S. and Southwest; Heavy rains in the Desert Southwest and Central Plains

Deadly flash flooding hits Pike County on July 17th