Thunderstorm Wind in Elliott County, Kentucky

Elliott County Dispatch received 21 reports of trees down from around the county, and two reports of downed power lines. Most of the trees were blown down along Brown Ridge Road, north of Sandy Hook, as well as KY-32, south of Sandy Hook.

A strong upper level low pressure system was in place across the Great Lakes region heading into the morning hours of Saturday, August 17. From this a cold front draped southwestward, moving towards the state throughout the day. By the time it reached western Kentucky during the afternoon hours. the warm/unstable airmass ahead of the boundary had already spawned showers and thunderstorms. A line of storms formed ahead of the front and continued to outpace the frontal passage eastward. By the time it reached eastern Kentucky, multiple severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for these strong storms. Throughout the afternoon and evening hours, widespread wind damage occurred in numerous counties. Multiple locations also saw damaging hail. While the main line of storms fizzled out during the evening hours in the far east, additional discrete thunderstorms continued ahead and all the frontal boundary into the overnight for central and eastern Kentucky.