National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heat Across the Center of the Nation; Severe Thunderstorms Across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley

Heat expands across the Desert Southwest, Plains, Mississippi Valley and Midwest into Monday. Fire weather concerns continue for portions of the Intermountain West. Active monsoonal moisture fuels thunderstorms over the Southwest with possible flash flooding. Tropical cyclone Fausto in the Pacific, should weaken as it approaches Hawaii; Dangerous surf, swells and rip currents are expected. 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.

Image
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.

Image Image Image
 
Image Image Image
nws logo Media use of NWS Web News Stories is encouraged!
Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site.
nws logo