Flash Flood — Calloway, Kentucky

2021-02-28 · near Pottertown, Calloway, Kentucky

Event narrative

Considerable flash flooding occurred in Murray and the nearby surrounding area. Numerous roads were flooded, including main thoroughfares such as U.S. Highway 641 and Highway 80. Water entered homes and businesses. Creeks such as Ledbetter Creek were well out of their banks. Brookfield Lane in Murray was completely submerged, with deep water in some areas. Some cars were halfway submerged on the Kentucky 121 bypass close to the CSFB Center. Part of Baily Road was washed away. Many roads were still flooded in the evening due to the ongoing rain. Storm total rainfall was 5.05 inches at Murray. Specific damage figures for the City of Murray include: 2 locations with road or culvert damage and at least 6 businesses flooded. There were some flooded homes but none that were evacuated by emergency services. The figures for Calloway County outside Murray include: at least 91 locations with road or culvert damage and an unspecified number of flooded residences. No evacuations were conducted by emergency services.

Wider weather episode

Major flash flooding occurred in the Tennessee border counties from Fulton east to Elkton. Ahead of a northward moving warm front, rain moved northeastward across the region during the late afternoon and evening hours on February 27. Waves of moderate to heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms continued through the night and into the day on the 28th. The heaviest rain occurred across southern portions of western Kentucky during the morning and afternoon hours on the 28th. This heavy rain was associated with a cold front that trailed from a low pressure system. The low moved from the Plains to the Great Lakes, placing western Kentucky in a very moist warm sector. Hourly rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour caused major flash flooding to occur in the towns of Fulton, Murray, Hopkinsville, and Elkton along with surrounding areas. Storm total rainfall amounts were in the 4 to 7 inch range in this corridor. Numerous roads were impassable and/or washed out across these areas due to high water over them. Murray was hit especially hard during the morning on the 28th with several cars, homes, and businesses flooded. The rain continued into the evening on the 28th, before gradually tapering off from northwest to southeast by around midnight.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 940964. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.