National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

A powerful cold front rolled through east Kentucky on Wednesday, causing widespread wind damage. This strong cold front was the result of a very strong late Fall system with a 160 knot jet stream in the upper levels. This jet stream helped to spawn a powerful surface low pressure that moved across the lower Great Lakes Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. As the surface low moved northeast, it was able to bring the cold front through east Kentucky. During the frontal passage and thereafter, strong winds aloft, in the 50 to 60 mph range, were able to be brought down to the surface causing the strong wind gusts. A slot of dry air that typically wraps into a low pressure system helped to keep skies clear, which actually allowed for stronger winds to be brought to the surface. Widespread damage was reported across east Kentucky, and sadly, two fatalities and one injury were reported. According to Pulaski County law enforcement, a young mother and her unborn baby were killed when a tree fell on the mother in Somerset. A young man was also injured by the tree.

Below is a list of the strongest wind gusts recorded across eastern Kentucky.

SITE            COUNTY                  PEAK WIND

BMBL            KNOX                    41 MPH
BNVL            OWSLEY                  42 MPH
BTCK            JOHNSON                 33 MPH
MRHD            ROWAN                   50 MPH
OLIN            JACKSON                 43 MPH
QKSD            BREATHITT               44 MPH
WLBT            MORGAN                  50 MPH
LOZ             LAUREL                  49 MPH
JKL             BREATHITT               55 MPH
SME             PULASKI                 48 MPH
FGX             FLEMING                 56 MPH
IOB             MONTGOMERY              48 MPH
K22             FLOYD                   49 MPH
7KO             PIKE                    46 MPH
1A6             BELL                    33 MPH
HAZ             PERRY                   45 MPH
EKQ             WAYNE                   49 MPH

AND HERE ARE SOME PEAK WINDS FROM RAWS SITES AROUND EASTERN KENTUCKY...

STATION         COUNTY                  PEAK WIND

TRIANGLE MTN    ROWAN                   59 MPH
SOMERSET        PULASKI                 47 MPH
YELLOW CREEK    BELL                    36 MPH
KOOMER          WOLFE                   50 MPH
JULIAN CARROLL  BREATHITT               49 MPH
PEABODY         CLAY                    45 MPH
BIG SANDY       MARTIN                  49 MPH

Below are a few pictures of damage to Missy's All In One Liquidation Store in Campton, KY. Thanks to WTVQ 36 in Lexington for sharing these pictures.

Credit WTVQ 36 in Lexington

Prior to cold front arrival, anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of rain fell across east Kentucky causing widespread minor flooding problems. This widespread and ample rainfall also led to river flooding in the Kentucky, Cumberland, and Licking river basins. Below is a map of observed rainfall from area Cooperative Weather Observer, CoCoRaHS observers, as well as RAWS and ASOS observing platforms across eastern Kentucky.

Below, it is easy to see why river flooding became a problem as east Kentucky was hit with widespread rainfall of 1 to 3 inches.

Below is a list of all storm reports received at the NWS in Jackson as of 11 PM Wednesday night. Thanks to all who relayed the reports.

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1241 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG BIGGS                   37.42N 82.27W
12/09/2009                   PIKE               KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 194.

0215 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 S MCKEE               37.39N 84.00W
12/09/2009                   JACKSON            KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN ON CAR ON HIGHWAY 290.

0506 AM     FLOOD            CRANKS                  36.76N 83.17W
12/09/2009                   HARLAN             KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HIGHWAY 421 WAS CLOSED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS DUE TO
            FLOODING.

0545 AM     FLOOD            PONZA                   36.72N 83.64W
12/09/2009                   BELL               KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            BLUE RIDGE CHURCH ROAD WASHED OUT

0545 AM     FLOOD            PINEVILLE               36.76N 83.70W
12/09/2009                   BELL               KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PAGE CUTOOF ROAD OFF OF HIGHWAY 25E WAS FLOODED. HIGHWAY
            25E WAS NOT FLOODED AS ORIGINALLY STATED.

0545 AM     FLOOD            CALLAWAY                36.78N 83.56W
12/09/2009                   BELL               KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PORTIONS OF HIGHWAY 2012 OR BALKAN ROAD FLOODED

0710 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG ASHCAMP                 37.27N 82.43W
12/09/2009                   PIKE               KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POWER LINES DOWN ON DAVE HOLLOW OFF OF JACKSONS BRANCH.

0730 AM     FLOOD            MURPHYFORK              37.83N 83.42W
12/09/2009                   MORGAN             KY   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            WATER OVER THE ROAD AND TREES DOWN OVER THE ROAD

0915 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 6 SE FRENCHBURG         37.89N 83.54W
12/09/2009                   MENIFEE            KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ONE TREE DOWN ON HIGHWAY 460 E.

1000 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 W IRVINE              37.70N 84.06W
12/09/2009                   ESTILL             KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN IN THE SANDHILL AREA.

1010 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 S IRVINE              37.62N 83.97W
12/09/2009                   ESTILL             KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN IN BARNES MOUNTAIN AREA.

1030 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG SALYERSVILLE            37.75N 83.06W
12/09/2009                   MAGOFFIN           KY   NWS EMPLOYEE

            LARGE LIMBS WERE BLOWN DOWN.

1115 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 SE MOUNT STERLING     38.01N 83.88W
12/09/2009                   MONTGOMERY         KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TWO TREES DOWN ON TAP LANE.

1120 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 W VINCENT             37.47N 83.87W
12/09/2009                   OWSLEY             KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 30...ABOUT 5 MILES WEST OF
            BOONEVILLE.

1130 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG FLEMINGSBURG            38.42N 83.74W
12/09/2009                   FLEMING            KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ONE TREE DOWN ACROSS ROAD NEAR FLEMINGSBURG. ALSO, PHONE
            LINE AND POWER LINE DOWN IN TOWN. TIN OFF OF MANY ROOF
            ACROSS COUNTY.

1130 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 NE TYNER              37.37N 83.88W
12/09/2009                   JACKSON            KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 1431 IN THE WHISPERING PINES AREA.

1130 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG FLEMINGSBURG            38.42N 83.74W
12/09/2009                   FLEMING            KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ONE TREE DOWN ACROSS ROAD NEAR FLEMINGSBURG. ALSO...PHONE
            LINE AND POWER LINE DOWN IN TOWN. TIN OFF OF MANY ROOFS
            ACROSS COUNTY.

1130 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 6 E BOONEVILLE          37.48N 83.57W
12/09/2009                   BREATHITT          KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 30.

1150 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG BIG CREEK               37.16N 83.57W
12/09/2009                   CLAY               KY   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            POWER LINES DOWN ALONG WHITAKER FORK

1150 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG LEATHERWOOD             37.04N 83.17W
12/09/2009                   PERRY              KY   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            POWER LINES DOWN ON HWY 463

1159 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG PINEVILLE               36.76N 83.70W
12/09/2009                   BELL               KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            SEVERAL REPORTS OF TREES BLOWN DOWN ACROSS ROADS
            THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. MAINLY ALONG HWY 190 NEAR
            PINEVILLE AND ALONG HWY 92. ALSO RECEIVED REPORT FROM CO
            DISPATCHER OF TREES DOWN ON KY66...SIMS FORK RD...WHICH
            LOCALS HAVE REMOVED.

1200 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG WHITESBURG              37.12N 82.83W
12/09/2009                   LETCHER            KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN THROUGHOUT COUNTY.

1200 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG BUCKHORN                37.35N 83.47W
12/09/2009                   PERRY              KY   PUBLIC

            TREES DOWN REPORTED BY UPS DRIVER.

1200 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 N FRENCHBURG          38.03N 83.62W
12/09/2009                   BATH               KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ONE TREE DOWN ON HIGHWAY 36.

1200 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 NE FRENCHBURG         37.99N 83.58W
12/09/2009                   MENIFEE            KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ONE TREE DOWN ON HIGHWAY 1274.

1200 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 10 N WHITLEY CITY       36.87N 84.48W
12/09/2009                   MCCREARY           KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            TREES DOWN ACROSS 3257 IN NRN MCCREARY NEAR PULASKI...HWY
            DEPT HAS CLEARED.

1200 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 SSE STEARNS           36.67N 84.46W
12/09/2009                   MCCREARY           KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            TREES DOWN ACROSS KY741

0100 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG VIRGIE                  37.33N 82.58W
12/09/2009                   PIKE               KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            A POWERLINE WAS BLOWN DOWN ONTO A HOME CAUSING THE HOME
            TO CATCH FIRE.

0100 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 N CAMPTON             37.76N 83.55W
12/09/2009                   WOLFE              KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            TREES DOWN ON HARVEST RIDGE ROAD.

0100 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 SW CAMPTON            37.68N 83.61W
12/09/2009                   WOLFE              KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            TREES DOWN ON SANDY RIDGE ROAD.

0115 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 NE CAMPTON            37.75N 83.53W
12/09/2009                   WOLFE              KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            TREES DOWN ON TOLSON DRIVE.

0132 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG SOMERSET                37.08N 84.61W
12/09/2009                   PULASKI            KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            *** 2 FATAL, 1 INJ *** 2.5 - 3 FOOT DIAMETER TREE FELL ON
            A PREGNANT WOMAN AND STRUCK HER IN THE HEAD. SHE WAS
            TAKEN TO LOCAL HOSPITAL AND PRONOUNCED D.O.A. ATTEMPTS TO
            SAVE THE BABY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. A YOUNG MALE WAS ALSO
            INJURED AND RELEASED

0149 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG BEULAH HEIGHTS          36.80N 84.44W
12/09/2009                   MCCREARY           KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            TREES DOWN ACROSS KY1045...CLEARED BY HWY DEPT.

0149 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG WHITLEY CITY            36.72N 84.48W
12/09/2009                   MCCREARY           KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            TREES DOWN ACROSS E92 NEAR FROM MILE MARKER 20 TO
            25...CLEARED BY HWY DEPT.

0200 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 18 W PIKEVILLE          37.48N 82.84W
12/09/2009                   FLOYD              KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER LINE DOWN ON LEFT FORK OF BLACKBERRY.

0202 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 S MOREHEAD            38.12N 83.44W
12/09/2009                   ROWAN              KY   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            TRIANGLE MOUNTAIN FIRE WEATHER OBSERVING STATION REPORTED
            A GUST TO 59 MPH.

0215 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 8 N PAINTSVILLE         37.93N 82.81W
12/09/2009                   JOHNSON            KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN AND POWER OUT IN THE STAMBAUGH AREA. 8 TREES
            DOWN ACROSS COUNTY.

0230 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 N COON                37.84N 83.06W
12/09/2009                   MAGOFFIN           KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            52 MPH WINDS. BLEW SHINGLES OFF GARAGE.

0230 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 SW INEZ               37.85N 82.56W
12/09/2009                   MARTIN             KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            POWER LINE DOWN ON SALT WELL ROAD HIGHWAY 3412.

0235 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 S INEZ                37.82N 82.54W
12/09/2009                   MARTIN             KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            POWER LINE DOWN ROUTE 40 OR BLACK LOG ROAD.

0245 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 10 NW PIKEVILLE         37.58N 82.64W
12/09/2009                   FLOYD              KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POWER LINE DOWN AND ON FIRE AT WOLF BEND.

0245 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 NW INEZ               37.90N 82.58W
12/09/2009                   MARTIN             KY   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            POWER LINE DOWN MILO ROAD HIGHWAY 1884 AT PACKBOTTOM
            CHURCH.

0300 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG PIKEVILLE               37.48N 82.51W
12/09/2009                   PIKE               KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            A PINE TREE WAS BLOWN DOWN DOING MINOR DAMAGE TO A HOME
            NEARBY AND DAMAGING A FENCE.

0300 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG DOTSON                  37.65N 82.86W
12/09/2009                   FLOYD              KY   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            A MOBILE HOME HAD THE ROOF BLOWN OFF.

0304 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG JACKSON                 37.56N 83.38W
12/09/2009                   BREATHITT          KY   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            TREES DOWN NEAR H.S. IN JACKSON

0320 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG LONDON                  37.13N 84.08W
12/09/2009                   LAUREL             KY   OTHER FEDERAL

            SGT FROM KY NATIONAL GUARD REPORTS WIND GUST BLEW A TENT
            DOWN. NO INJURIES