High risk for southern Kentucky
A new round of severe storms is forecasted for Kentucky on Monday, May 20, with southern regions facing the most serious threats. The National Weather Service has flagged Russell, Laurel, and Pulaski counties—already devastated by tornadoes just days ago—as at risk again for all modes of severe weather, including damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding.
Meteorologist Mike Kochasic from the National Weather Service in Louisville stressed the gravity of the situation: “Really all modes of severe weather are possible, including in the areas hardest hit recently.” The Storm Prediction Center has issued an “enhanced” risk level for southern Kentucky, the third-highest on their five-tier scale. There’s also a greater than 10% probability of a significant tornado, meaning EF-2 or stronger, across the southern half of the state.
City-specific threats
Communities including Corbin, London, and Williamsburg are especially vulnerable, with a 45% chance of experiencing damaging wind gusts above 60 mph (approximately 96.5 km/h). In Louisville, although under a “slight” risk level, the forecast still warns of a 15% chance of strong winds and 5% for a significant tornado, along with potential localized flooding due to recent rainfall.
Communication challenges and safety concerns
Complicating matters, a scheduled outage of NOAA weather radios is affecting parts of central Kentucky and southern Indiana through May 21. This outage is due to a nationally coordinated systems upgrade. Residents who typically rely on these radios for weather alerts are urged to use alternative sources, such as smartphone alerts, which remain active for those in Louisville and surrounding areas.
Recent destruction and casualties
These warnings follow the deadly May 16 outbreak, when a tornado ravaged southeastern Kentucky, killing 19 people—17 in Laurel County, one each in Pulaski and Russell counties. Although Louisville avoided fatalities, the storm injured at least four people when a tree crashed through a home, and left approximately 45,000 residents without power at its peak.
Residents are being asked to remain extremely vigilant and monitor multiple weather alert systems due to the continuing threat of tornadoes, hail, and severe thunderstorms across the state.
