Category: Weather

PAOLI…SALEM…SCOTTSBURG…MADISON…
JASPER…MARENGO…TELL CITY…CORYDON…NEW ALBANY…
JEFFERSONVILLE…HAWESVILLE…HARDINSBURG…BRANDENBURG…
BEAVER DAM…LEITCHFIELD…ELIZABETHTOWN…FORT KNOX…
MOUNT WASHINGTON…SHEPHERDSVILLE…LOUISVILLE…LA GRANGE…
BEDFORD…NEW CASTLE…SHELBYVILLE…FRANKFORT…GEORGETOWN…
CYNTHIANA…TAYLORSVILLE…LAWRENCEBURG…VERSAILLES…
LEXINGTON…PARIS…CARLISLE…BARDSTOWN…SPRINGFIELD…
HARRODSBURG…NICHOLASVILLE…WINCHESTER…HODGENVILLE…
LEBANON…DANVILLE…LANCASTER…RICHMOND…MORGANTOWN
400 PM EST TUE FEB 19 2008 /300 PM CST TUE FEB 19 2008/
…SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM POSSIBLE THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY…
A WARM FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE NORTHWARD TOWARD THE REGION
THURSDAY. WARM AND MOIST AIR WILL MOVE UP AND OVER THE PRE-
EXISTING COLD SURFACE AIR IN PLACE ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY
AND SOUTHERN INDIANA RESULTING IN MIXED WINTRY PRECIPITATION.
AT THIS TIME…IT APPEARS THAT A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET WILL
BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF KENTUCKY AND ALL OF
SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA…ALONG WITH SOME LIGHT SNOW POSSIBLE IN
SOUTHERN INDIANA AS WELL. WHILE THERE IS STILL QUITE A BIT OF
UNCERTAINTY TO THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM…GIVEN THE
AMOUNT OF MOISTURE EXPECTED…SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF FREEZING RAIN
AND SLEET WILL BE POSSIBLE. SHOULD THIS SCENARIO PLAY OUT…TRAVEL
WILL BECOME NEGATIVELY IMPACTED DURING THIS EVENT…ESPECIALLY
THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND THURSDAY NIGHT.
FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS SOUTHERN KENTUCKY…WARMER SURFACE TEMPERATURES
ARE EXPECTED TO KEEP THE PRECIPITATION PRIMARILY IN THE FORM OF
PLAIN RAIN.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR THE LATEST
UPDATES ON THIS WINTER WEATHER SITUATION. FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS
AND WEATHER INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEB PAGES AT WEATHER.GOV/LEXINGTON
AND WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE.
$$
13/AL
Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MIDDAY
WEDNESDAY…
.A STRONG UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCE COMBINED WITH A WEAK SURFACE LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE
AREA AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THIS SHOULD DEVELOP A SWATH OF
SNOWFALL FROM SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA TO THE NORTHERN BLUEGRASS
REGION BY LATE MORNING WEDNESDAY.
INZ076>079-091-092-KYZ030>043-049-200300-
/O.NEW.KLMK.SN.Y.0004.080220T0800Z-080220T1700Z/
ORANGE IN-WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN-JEFFERSON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN-
JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-
SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-
FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-CLARK KY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…PAOLI…SALEM…SCOTTSBURG…MADISON…
NEW ALBANY…JEFFERSONVILLE…LOUISVILLE…LA GRANGE…BEDFORD…
NEW CASTLE…SHELBYVILLE…FRANKFORT…GEORGETOWN…CYNTHIANA…
TAYLORSVILLE…LAWRENCEBURG…VERSAILLES…LEXINGTON…PARIS…
CARLISLE…WINCHESTER
339 PM EST TUE FEB 19 2008
…SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 12 PM EST WEDNESDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE HAS ISSUED A SNOW
ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 12 PM EST WEDNESDAY.
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM COMBINED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE
WILL GENERATE SNOW ACROSS SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA…FAR NORTH-
CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND THE NORTHERN BLUEGRASS REGION…INCLUDING
THE LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON METRO AREAS. THE BEST CHANCE FOR
SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 4AM AND 7AM EST ACROSS INDIANA…AND
BETWEEN 7AM AND 10AM EST ACROSS THE NORTHERN BLUEGRASS.
LOCATIONS ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM SALEM INDIANA…TO NEW
CASTLE AND PARIS KENTUCKY COULD SEE UP TO TWO INCHES OF SNOW
ACCUMULATION BY LATE MORNING WEDNESDAY. OTHER LOCATIONS WITHIN THE
ADVISORY AREA MAY SEE AROUND AN INCH OF SNOW.
SINCE MUCH OF THE SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR DURING THE
WEDNESDAY MORNING COMMUTE…IT IS ADVISED THAT MOTORISTS TRAVELING
TOMORROW MORNING USE EXTRA CAUTION. ROADS WILL BECOME SLICK AND
HAZARDOUS…WITH SNOW FIRST DEVELOPING ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES
SO LEAVE AMPLE TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATIONS.
$$
AL
Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage

A LIGHT WINTRY MIX TONIGHT…
.A BAND OF FREEZING RAIN…SLEET…AND SNOW WILL MOVE SLOWLY FROM
WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT. THIS BAND OF WINTRY
PRECIPITATION COMBINED WITH ROADS FREEZING OVER FROM THE SLUSH AND
WATER ON ROADWAYS FROM THE MELTING EARLIER TODAY HAS RESULTED IN
VERY SLICK ROADS AND SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.
INZ077>079-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-070>078-
081-082-130900-
/O.NEW.KLMK.WW.Y.0006.080213T0109Z-080213T0900Z/
WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN-JEFFERSON IN-CRAWFORD IN-PERRY IN-
HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN-HANCOCK KY-BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY-
OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY-JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY-
TRIMBLE KY-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-
SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY-
NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY-MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-
CLARK KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY-BOYLE KY-GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-
BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY-GREEN KY-TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY-
LINCOLN KY-LOGAN KY-WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY-ALLEN KY-BARREN KY-
MONROE KY-METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY-CUMBERLAND KY-
CLINTON KY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…SALEM…SCOTTSBURG…MADISON…
MARENGO…TELL CITY…CORYDON…NEW ALBANY…JEFFERSONVILLE…
HAWESVILLE…HARDINSBURG…BRANDENBURG…BEAVER DAM…
LEITCHFIELD…ELIZABETHTOWN…FORT KNOX…MOUNT WASHINGTON…
SHEPHERDSVILLE…LOUISVILLE…LA GRANGE…BEDFORD…NEW CASTLE…
SHELBYVILLE…FRANKFORT…GEORGETOWN…CYNTHIANA…TAYLORSVILLE…
LAWRENCEBURG…VERSAILLES…LEXINGTON…PARIS…CARLISLE…
BARDSTOWN…SPRINGFIELD…HARRODSBURG…NICHOLASVILLE…
WINCHESTER…HODGENVILLE…LEBANON…DANVILLE…LANCASTER…
RICHMOND…MORGANTOWN…BROWNSVILLE…MUNFORDVILLE…GREENSBURG…
CAMPBELLSVILLE…LIBERTY…STANFORD…RUSSELLVILLE…
BOWLING GREEN…FRANKLIN…SCOTTSVILLE…GLASGOW…
TOMPKINSVILLE…EDMONTON…COLUMBIA…JAMESTOWN…BURKESVILLE…
ALBANY
809 PM EST TUE FEB 12 2008 /709 PM CST TUE FEB 12 2008/
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST /3 AM CST/
WEDNESDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST /3 AM CST/
WEDNESDAY.
LIGHT FREEZING RAIN…SLEET…AND SNOW COMBINED WITH WATER AND
SLUSH FREEZING ON ROADWAYS WILL MAKE FOR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS
TONIGHT.
ICE AND SNOW WILL MAKE ROADS…BRIDGES…AND SIDEWALKS SLICK AND
HAZARDOUS. MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO
REACH THEIR DESTINATION.
$$
13
Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage

I went out a little over an hour ago to get disaster supplies. (cigarettes and Ale8)
While I was out I took a few pictures. Here they are:

PAOLI…SALEM…SCOTTSBURG…MADISON…
JASPER…MARENGO…TELL CITY…CORYDON…NEW ALBANY…
JEFFERSONVILLE…HAWESVILLE…HARDINSBURG…BRANDENBURG…
BEAVER DAM…LEITCHFIELD…ELIZABETHTOWN…FORT KNOX…
MOUNT WASHINGTON…SHEPHERDSVILLE…LOUISVILLE…LA GRANGE…
BEDFORD…NEW CASTLE…SHELBYVILLE…FRANKFORT…GEORGETOWN…
CYNTHIANA…TAYLORSVILLE…LAWRENCEBURG…VERSAILLES…
LEXINGTON…PARIS…CARLISLE…BARDSTOWN…SPRINGFIELD…
HARRODSBURG…NICHOLASVILLE…WINCHESTER…HODGENVILLE…
LEBANON…DANVILLE…LANCASTER…RICHMOND…MORGANTOWN…
BROWNSVILLE…MUNFORDVILLE…GREENSBURG…CAMPBELLSVILLE…
LIBERTY…STANFORD
606 PM EST MON FEB 11 2008 /506 PM CST MON FEB 11 2008/
…WINTRY PRECIPITATION ACROSS SOUTHERN INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
AT 600 PM EST REGIONAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADARS
SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF PRECIPITATION…OCCASIONALLY
HEAVY…STREAMING STEADILY EASTWARD FROM WESTERN AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF
SOUTHERN INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. THIS WINTRY MIX WILL
CONTINUE TO OVERSPREAD THE AREA REACHING SOUTHEAST INDIANA AND THE
BLUEGRASS BY 715 PM EST. SURFACE REPORTS SHOW THIS AREA OF
PRECIPITATION TO BE A MESSY MIX OF SNOW…SLEET…AND FREEZING
RAIN.
AS THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION CONTINUES TO MOVE EAST RESIDENTS
ALONG AND NORTH OF THE OHIO RIVER CAN EXPECT PRIMARILY SNOW EARLY
THIS EVENING WITH OCCASIONAL SLEET MIXING IN AT TIMES. EXPECT AN
ICY MIX OF SNOW…SLEET…AND POSSIBLY FREEZING RAIN…SOUTH OF
THE OHIO RIVER.
ROAD CONDITIONS WILL QUICKLY DETERIORATE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
THIS EVENING. USE GREAT CAUTION WHEN DRIVING…OR PLAN YOUR TRIP
FOR ANOTHER TIME. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND CHECK OUR
WEBSITE…WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE…FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
$$
AML
Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage

Chris is laying out his guesses as what we’ll see tonight into tomorrow, and it don’t look pretty. As of right now, it looks like we’ll see somewhere around 4+ inches of snow/sleet/ice–whatever mother nature decides to throw us. It’s worth checking back in over there and at the NWS every so often, to keep abreast of what we’re gonna be slammed with…
UPDATE: (at 6:38p.m.)
Chris has opened a new post for commenting on the current conditions:

…he reports that several areas are already seeing the snow and ice, and that roads are getting slick. I hope D gets out of work early…

SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN
TO MAINLY SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA AND NORTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY…WITH
THE BEST CHANCE OF WINTRY PRECIPITATION STARTING LATE AFTERNOON OR
EARLY EVENING AND LASTING THROUGH MID-DAY TUESDAY.
KYZ029-034>043-049-120115-
/O.UPG.KLMK.WW.Y.0004.080211T2100Z-080212T1700Z/
/O.EXA.KLMK.WS.W.0002.080211T2100Z-080212T1700Z/
BULLITT KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-
ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-
CLARK KY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…MOUNT WASHINGTON…SHEPHERDSVILLE…
SHELBYVILLE…FRANKFORT…GEORGETOWN…CYNTHIANA…TAYLORSVILLE…
LAWRENCEBURG…VERSAILLES…LEXINGTON…PARIS…CARLISLE…
WINCHESTER
1210 PM EST MON FEB 11 2008
…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
12 PM EST TUESDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
12 PM EST TUESDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.
SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON TO THE NORTH
OF A SLOW MOVING WARM FRONT. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A
MIXTURE OF SNOW…SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN OVERNIGHT AS WEAK LOW
PRESSURE MOVES UP THE FRONT INTO KENTUCKY. AT THIS TIME…THE BEST
CHANCE FOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD OCCUR BETWEEN 8 PM TONIGHT
AND 2 AM TUESDAY MORNING. THE BEST CHANCE FOR ICE ACCUMULATIONS
WILL OCCUR OVER MAINLY BETWEEN 2 AM AND 12 PM TUESDAY MORNING.
THERE WILL BE A TIGHT GRADIENT OF SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OVER THE
WARNED AREA. FROM BULLITT COUNTY EAST INTO THE BLUEGRASS AREA
INCLUDING THE LEXINGTON METRO AREA…SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE
BETWEEN 3 TO 6 INCHES. ICE ACCUMULATIONS OVER THE WARNED AREA WILL
RANGE FROM A TENTH OF AN INCH TO A QUARTER OF AN INCH.
A COMBINATION OF SNOW…SLEET…OR FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED. ICE
AND SNOW WILL MAKE ROADS…BRIDGES…AND SIDEWALKS SLICK AND
HAZARDOUS. DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE RAPIDLY. MOTORISTS
SHOULD USE CAUTION AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH THEIR
DESTINATION. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO…LOCAL
MEDIA…OR WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET FOR THE LATEST
INFORMATION ON THIS WEATHER SITUATION.
$$
Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage

WINTER STORM TO BRING SNOW…SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN…
INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-110530-
/O.NEW.KLMK.WS.A.0001.080211T2100Z-080212T1200Z/
ORANGE IN-WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN-JEFFERSON IN-DUBOIS IN-
CRAWFORD IN-PERRY IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN-HANCOCK KY-
BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY-OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY-
JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-
SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-
FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY-
MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY-BOYLE KY-
GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…PAOLI…SALEM…SCOTTSBURG…MADISON…
JASPER…MARENGO…TELL CITY…CORYDON…NEW ALBANY…
JEFFERSONVILLE…HAWESVILLE…HARDINSBURG…BRANDENBURG…
BEAVER DAM…LEITCHFIELD…ELIZABETHTOWN…FORT KNOX…
MOUNT WASHINGTON…SHEPHERDSVILLE…LOUISVILLE…LA GRANGE…
BEDFORD…NEW CASTLE…SHELBYVILLE…FRANKFORT…GEORGETOWN…
CYNTHIANA…TAYLORSVILLE…LAWRENCEBURG…VERSAILLES…
LEXINGTON…PARIS…CARLISLE…BARDSTOWN…SPRINGFIELD…
HARRODSBURG…NICHOLASVILLE…WINCHESTER…HODGENVILLE…
LEBANON…DANVILLE…LANCASTER…RICHMOND
428 PM EST SUN FEB 10 2008 /328 PM CST SUN FEB 10 2008/
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY MORNING…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING.
SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY LATE AFTERNOON ON MONDAY TO THE
NORTH OF A SLOW MOVING WARM FRONT. THE SNOW MAY BECOME A MIX OF
SNOW…SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN MONDAY NIGHT AS WEAK LOW PRESSURE
MOVES UP THE FRONT INTO KENTUCKY.
A WINTER STORM WATCH IS ADVANCED NOTICE THAT SEVERE WINTER
WEATHER IS POSSIBLE. UNTREATED ROADS WILL LIKELY BECOME SLICK AND
HAZARDOUS MONDAY NIGHT AS TEMPERATURES HOVER JUST BELOW THE
FREEZING MARK.
$$
DK/AML
Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage

VERY WINDY CONDITIONS TONIGHT AND EARLY SUNDAY…
.A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION TONIGHT WITH STRONG
WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS DEVELOPING BEHIND THE FRONT. STRONG WINDS
WILL PERSIST THROUGH MUCH OF THE OVERNIGHT HOURS BEFORE
DIMINISHING SUNDAY MORNING.
INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>025-027>043-045>049-053>057-
063>067-076>078-081-082-091700-
/O.NEW.KLMK.WI.Y.0003.080210T0300Z-080210T1700Z/
ORANGE IN-WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN-JEFFERSON IN-DUBOIS IN-
CRAWFORD IN-PERRY IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN-HANCOCK KY-
BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY-
JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-
SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-
FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY-
MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY-BOYLE KY-
GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-HART KY-GREEN KY-TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY-
LINCOLN KY-METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY-CUMBERLAND KY-
CLINTON KY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…PAOLI…SALEM…SCOTTSBURG…MADISON…
JASPER…MARENGO…TELL CITY…CORYDON…NEW ALBANY…
JEFFERSONVILLE…HAWESVILLE…HARDINSBURG…BRANDENBURG…
LEITCHFIELD…ELIZABETHTOWN…FORT KNOX…MOUNT WASHINGTON…
SHEPHERDSVILLE…LOUISVILLE…LA GRANGE…BEDFORD…NEW CASTLE…
SHELBYVILLE…FRANKFORT…GEORGETOWN…CYNTHIANA…TAYLORSVILLE…
LAWRENCEBURG…VERSAILLES…LEXINGTON…PARIS…CARLISLE…
BARDSTOWN…SPRINGFIELD…HARRODSBURG…NICHOLASVILLE…
WINCHESTER…HODGENVILLE…LEBANON…DANVILLE…LANCASTER…
RICHMOND…MUNFORDVILLE…GREENSBURG…CAMPBELLSVILLE…LIBERTY…
STANFORD…EDMONTON…COLUMBIA…JAMESTOWN…BURKESVILLE…ALBANY
328 AM EST SAT FEB 9 2008 /228 AM CST SAT FEB 9 2008/
…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ THIS EVENING
TO 12 PM EST /11 AM CST/ SUNDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE HAS ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ THIS
EVENING TO 12 PM EST /11 AM CST/ SUNDAY.
WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 50 MPH
WILL DEVELOP THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE OVERNIGHT. WINDS WILL
DECREASE SOMEWHAT SUNDAY MORNING…BUT REMAIN BREEZY THROUGH
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
WINDS THIS STRONG MAY CAUSE MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE WITHOUT EXTRA
PRECAUTIONS. MOTORISTS…ESPECIALLY IN HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES…SHOULD USE CAUTION AND REMAIN ALERT FOR SUDDEN GUSTS OR
CROSS WINDS.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO…LOCAL MEDIA OR
WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION
AND FORECASTS.
$$
Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage

Diana () left a comment to my previous post, asking me the following:

So what do you think about the official f2 being here… Will it make a difference in how all the people who had reported damage will be treated? Do you think there is any underlying damage that has not been found yet.

My response was too long to post as a comment, so I have pasted it here, below:

Well, as a guy who’s interested in disastrous weather, I’m excited to find that the storm spawned a tornado with some significant power, instead of just some strong winds. The last tornado we experienced was very short lived and only an F0, back in ’96. If you remember that one, it didn’t do anything major, except destroy a few signs out at the square, and rip a few shingles (as I recall). I’m glad to know that there weren’t any serious injuries and that there weren’t any fatalities (other than livestock). But, I do kind of wish that it had been a bit stronger. Not that I wish destruction against anyone, but I would like to see the community pull together for a disaster again.

Of course the people involved (meaning victims) will have some different treatment for a short period of time. Friends and family will be doing and giving so much to these people over the next few weeks, until they get tired of it. Or, I hope that would be the scenario, anyway. I wouldn’t want to think that these people will be forgotten about.

With any disaster there are hidden damages which will surface later. There will be something to appear later, and who knows how big it will be, or whether it will have any effect on any lives. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Other “hidden” problems did surface from this storm, though. I know that you were asleep when things went down, and that you were pretty much still asleep when things calmed back down, so I really don’t know how much of it you remember. So, I guess I’ll try and run through everything again, as I know it.

When the warning was issued, all on duty officers scrambled to different locations to act as spotters. Within a few minutes, the bulk of the storm ripped through town, power was knocked out, and dispatch became flooded with calls. All officers dispersed, and responded where they could. About twenty minutes later, when things began to become more organized, I went to the office to answer the phones should any calls come in. I was there until 7:30 or so, about a half-hour after power was restored. Roughly six hours of excitement. A lot happened during that short amount of time. A lot went wrong.

There were two things which I know went wrong long before the storm hit, which might not have made a difference in what all transpired that morning–one being the NWS eSpotter system. That morning the NWS realized that they were having issues with the system and were attempting to have it up and running before anything happened. I do not know whether it became functional or not–I was having issues, but am not sure whether it was on my end or theirs.

The other thing which went awry before the storm involves KYWINS. The morning before was the first morning in which I attempted to login. I was able to login, but was unable to download the client list, and was unable to chat with anyone. I do know that the system recognized me, for dad told me he had been sending me alerts via the messenger, but I never received any of them. I know this issue is on Ky’s end and not mine, because I have attempted a login using his computer, and have the same issue using my account.

An issue which will likely arise (meaning: I’m sure someone will cause a fuss) is related to the fact that we hadn’t activated any spotters. Spotter activation wouldn’t have helped to begin with, due to the fact that it was night. It is impossible to spot a tornado at night. Another reason why spotters weren’t activated is that it is understood that spotters in Harrison County are self-activating. All of the spotters on the roster are involved in emergency operations or are avid scanner enthusiasts. At each training session, it has been made clear that for night-time storms, spotters are encouraged to stay at home, and keep an eye out. If the spotters follow this rule, they will be safe, and offer the county better coverage. It had been understood that in Cynthiana, the police department would act as spotters. This was apparently forgotten, because Laytart did not dispatch the units to spot until the alert came through.

Speaking of dispatch, that’s where most of that morning’s issues lie. When the power went out, dispatch essentially died. It has been this way ever since the E911 system was implemented. Our dispatch center does not have an adequate backup power supply. The computers and consoles are on a UPS system which allows barely enough time for someone to turn on the generator. Other “non-essential” and high-power equipment aren’t attached to the batteries, and typically fault when powered back on. If you’ll remember, I had told you once before that several years ago McGuffin allocated a generator which was set to auto-power any attached system when normal sources shut off. This generator was more than able to serve the task of keeping dispatch running–it had operated as the backup system for Bluegrass Airport’s runway lights. As I recall, the city said “thanks, but no thanks” and gave it to Harrison Machine Shop. (I may be wrong.) As a consequence, a good portion of the dispatch equipment was rendered powerless–including the phone system. Dispatch also lost contact with surrounding counties’ agencies where a few radios faulted from the disruption.

Dad was busy most of the morning running around trying to keep the radios working–that’s why I was sitting at the office to answer the phone. He ran to the towers to deliver/fire-up the generators (except for the city fire dept.–they actually handle it on their own), and ran to dispatch to aid in resetting and troubleshooting the equipment.

Other issues? Plenty. How about our understaffed police department? and the fact that we don’t have a take-home fleet? Other officers came on duty, but the few that were in town had to be picked up by those on duty, while others had to drive in. The sheriff’s dept. didn’t have this issue.

What about the government? Brown was out of town–big surprise. Alex, however, was up and came in as soon as he could–he stopped by the office to see what was going on, and to find out what he needed to do.

Why is it that county government runs so smoothly, and the city government has so many issues? I’d wager that the issues with dispatch wouldn’t have happened if it were controlled by the county. Yes, it’s a “joint” venture, but the city has control–it’s attached to the police department. Don’t get me wrong, I do not want to bad-mouth CPD, but they are heavily limited by the city.

I dunno… I could ramble on forever about this…

My biggest sticking point is the lack of organization within the city when it comes to any disaster. Similar events unfolded during the ice-storm and the flood. Harrison County has learned a lot. Cynthiana has not. I can’t wait until they day comes where we either get a good mayor, or the city commission votes to approach the county with the proposal of a merged government. (Yes, the city has to make the decision first. So, chances are, it’ll never happen.)

So, will the families be treated differently? Yes. Maybe their voices will be heard if they decide to call for better organization, though I doubt it, where they aren’t citizens of the City of Cynthiana. Are there any unseen damages which have taken place, or will take place in light of the storm? Undoubtedly. The big question, which you failed to ask, is whether anything has been, or can be learned from it. Only time will tell. Unfortunately, time hasn’t helped us yet.

Further comments are welcome.