Flash Flood — Johnson, Kentucky

2014-08-22 to 2014-08-23 · near Flatgap, Johnson, Kentucky

Event narrative

Widespread flash flooding occurred across much of Johnson County during the evening of August 22nd as over three inches of rain fell in one to two hours. Basements, garages and homes were flooded in numerous areas with multiple reports of road damage to private and public property. Roads were completely blocked and in some cases were completely washed away. There were also numerous reports of downed trees and electric lines due to mudslides. Sixteen homes were classified as having major damage along with two businesses.

Wider weather episode

Significant flash flooding developed across portions of eastern Kentucky during the late afternoon and evening hours of August 22nd into the early morning hours of August 23rd. Clusters of slow moving thunderstorms moved repeatedly across the areas of Johnson, Floyd, Pike, and Martin counties. Other counties that experienced flooding were Montgomery, Powell, Wolfe, and Estill counties. The most widespread and devastating flooding, however, occurred across portions of Johnson, Floyd, and Pike counties. Floyd county was hit the hardest, particularly in a small section of north central Floyd where around 4 inches of rain fell in less than two hours. The flooding washed out roads in Estill, Floyd, and Johnson counties. At one point during the evening of August 22nd, numerous areas in and around Prestonsburg were completely under water with multiple cars and buildings surrounded by water at times. In general, 2 to 4 inches of rain fell in 90 minute to two hour period across Johnson, Floyd, and Pike counties, which lead to excessive runoff that quickly brought creeks and streams out of their banks and roadside culverts and storms drains to quickly overflow into adjacent roadways.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.9448, -82.9067)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 531320. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.