Strong Wind — Taylor, Kentucky

2023-01-19 · Taylor, Kentucky

Event narrative

Two power poles carrying main transmission lines were broken, causing power outages in Campbellsville. The call about the broken power poles was received around the time that the Taylor County Kentucky Mesonet site gusted to 55 miles per hour.

Wider weather episode

During the late morning and afternoon hours on January 19th, a strong low pressure system and attendant cold front passed through the Ohio Valley. Behind the cold front, a strong low-level pressure and height gradient promoted the development of 50 knot winds a few thousand feet off the ground. Dry air working in behind the front also allowed for mostly sunny skies, which promoted greater low-level mixing, facilitating downward momentum transfer. Widespread gusts of greater than 40 miles per hour were observed, with isolated pockets of wind damage occurring across central Kentucky.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1078479. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.