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Lightning in Rockcastle County, Kentucky

Lightning May 8, 2025 · Rockcastle County, Kentucky

$50K
Damage as recorded

Where the report was made, with tornadoes recorded within 15 miles over the years.

What the National Weather Service wrote

Lightning was reported to have struck a residence located at the 490 block of Ottawa Church Road (KY-1650) in the community of Broadhead.

The wider storm

A cold front was tracking southeast towards Kentucky during the early morning hours of Thursday, May 8th. But by the time it got into the state, it began to stall. It remained stalled, with a spot low across western Kentucky, for much of the day. It wasn't until about 0Z that WPC analyzed it starting to sink back southward again, quickly reaching the TN border just a few hours later, where it continued to sink into the overnight. A upper level low and shortwave were also moving through the state during this time, amplifying the instability and lift in the warm sector - which is where eastern Kentucky was located. Hail seemed to be the most common mode of severe weather, not just in Kentucky but in sourrounding states to our south and east, with several 2 inch stones reported in eastern Kentucky.

Began near Ottawa (37.3591, -84.4435).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 1290961. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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