Flash Flood — Carter, Kentucky

2017-06-23 to 2017-06-24 · near Boone Furnace, Carter, Kentucky

Event narrative

Significant flash flooding occurred in multiple spots across the county. Some of the first reports came from Carter Caves State Park where James Branch began flooding after 1.5 inches of rain in just over an hour. At the Carter County Fairgrounds, hundreds of folks were gathered for a music festival, many of whom were camping on the grounds. Barrett Creek, which runs next to the fairgrounds flooded, resulting in 139 campers and/or tow vehicles being damaged or totaled. Water rescues were performed, but fortunately there were no flood related injuries or deaths. Three sheriff cruisers were also totaled by the flood waters. Additional flooding occurred in Grayson and Olive Hill, where multiple houses were flooded. There was also flooding along US Route 60 and at the intersection of State Routes 654 and 854 near the Boyd County line.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Cindy made landfall in southwestern Louisiana on the 22nd. The storm weakened after making landfall and became post tropical as it moved through the Mississippi and lower Ohio River Valleys into the 23rd. At the same time, a strong cold front was moving eastward across the Midwest and western Great Lakes. The remnants of Cindy passed through the eastern portions of the Ohio River Basin during the evening of the 23rd. The tropical moisture and energy associated with the remnants combined with the lift of the approaching cold front to produce a large area of heavy rainfall. The area of the heaviest rain stretched along the Middle Ohio River Valley, from central and northeastern Kentucky into southeastern Ohio and western West Virginia.

In northeastern Kentucky, widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches were recorded. The highest amounts were measured in Carter County. A cooperative observer in Olive Hill received 3.43 inches during the evening of the 23rd into early on the 24th. A National Weather Service trained spotter measured 3.4 inches about 5 miles northeast of Olive Hill. At the nearby Carter County Fairgrounds, hundreds of folks were camping next to Barrett Creek while attending a local music festival. The campground was inundated by a significant amount of water, and many campers had to be evacuated. The remainder of the weekend music festival was cancelled.

The widespread heavy rainfall led to flash flooding initially. Then, as water drained through the water system, rivers and streamed backed up resulting in lingering flooding and road closures through the 24th.

The Little Sandy River at Grayson reached minor flood stage. The river gauge reported that the river climbed above its flood stage of 21 feet very early on the 24th. The river crested just under 23 feet mid morning, and returned within its banks at 4 o'clock in the afternoon on the 24th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (38.4745, -83.1338)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 697063. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.