Thunderstorm Wind in Clay County, Kentucky

A tree was blown down on Bar Creek Road in the town of Barcreek.

Severe storms were not really expected on August the 12th in eastern Kentucky - however locations to our northeast and south/southeast were in more of the risk zone for stronger convection. A MCS developed ahead of a cold front west of the state, and moved fairly quickly eastward into Kentucky. The expectation was that it would weaken as it moved into eastern Kentucky without the availability of better instability and lift that was located outside of our CWA. However, storms persisted, especially across the southern half of the state. As they made their way into southeast Kentucky, one storm was strong enough to prompt a severe thunderstorm warning for Laurel County. This was the only severe thunderstorm warning of the day, outside of several special weather statements. The warning was warranted, however, as we did end up with a tree down in the community of Barcreek. However, the majority of the reports remained in the higher risk areas, across Central and Eastern Tennessee and points southward, as well as the northeast Ohio Valley into New England.