Strong Wind — Leslie, Kentucky

2020-04-12 · Leslie, Kentucky

Wider weather episode

A strong storm system and associated cold front approached eastern Kentucky on Easter Sunday, with rainfall beginning during the afternoon. As the low pressure system intensified and moved into the Ohio Valley during the evening of the 12th, wind speeds began to drastically increase across eastern Kentucky. The Kentucky Mesonet station in Dorton, (positioned at 2774 feet elevation) recorded a 79 mph wind gust.

Several other gusts of 40+ mph occurred, leading to numerous instances of damage across eastern Kentucky. This includes downed trees, power lines, and structural damage, causing several roadways to be blocked for a period of time into the morning of the 13th. As many as 70,000 to 75,000 power outages were reported across eastern Kentucky. As a result of these winds, Kentucky Power reported 318 poles had to be replaced while a total of 33 miles of electric wire were downed. A few notable areas of damage include:

- Pikeville where widespread tree and structural damage occurred, including to a marina on Fishtrap Lake and to the roof of a grocery store. An amateur radio and radio station tower were also blown over.

- Roof damage in Hi Hat in Floyd County.

- A tree blown onto a car in Cumberland in Harlan County.

- Trees blown onto homes in Barbourville.

- Uprooted/snapped trees, power poles shifted several inches, and roof damage near Smilax in Leslie County.

- A barn destroyed in Stinnett in Leslie County.

- Roofs blown off of homes/apartments from Hollyhill to Whitley City, multiple trees downed on homes and across roadways, and hardwood trees snapped in McCreary County.

- A tree falling into a house in Corbin and one on top of a car in Williamsburg.

- A garage having its roof blown off and door blown out in Hazard.

- A tree falling onto a home in Pippa Passes in Knott County.

- A tree falling onto and destroying a home in Blackey in Letcher County.

...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS FROM SUNDAY EVENING TO EARLY MONDAY MORNING...

3 E Dorton: 79 MPH @ 1010 PM 04/12

1 WNW Yellow Mountain: 55 MPH @ 1045 PM 04/12

3 WNW Pleasant: 53 MPH @ 1209 AM 04/13

London-Corbin Apt: 49 MPH @ 953 PM 04/12

1 WNW Big Black Mountain: 46 MPH @ 805 PM 04/12

Shelbiana: 46 MPH @ 930 PM 04/12

Pike County Apt: 45 MPH @ 1115 PM 04/12

Owingsville 4 S: 45 MPH @ 115 AM 04/13

NWS Jackson: 44 MPH @ 215 AM 04/13

Peabody: 43 MPH @ 1101 PM 04/12

2 N Marshes Siding: 42 MPH @ 950 PM 04/12

Crown: 41 MPH @ 915 PM 04/12

Williamsburg: 40 MPH @ 937 PM 04/12

Jackson Apt RAWS: 40 MPH @ 1115 PM 04/12

NWS Jackson: 40 MPH @ 1120 PM 04/12

Widespread rainfall of 1-2 inches fell, with 3-4 inches over portions of southeast Kentucky and the upper Cumberland Valley. A swift water rescue took place in Bell County as a motorist became stranded in flood waters.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 876174. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.