Kentucky storm brings heavy rain, landslides, water rescues and flooded roads
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Eastern KY suffers massive flooding
Raging flood waters over the weekend, and severe cold weather, have claimed the lives of 14 people across Kentucky.
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Kentucky is seeing the effects of heavy rain and storms that rolled in early Saturday morning.
Some counties in the southern part of the state have seen over three inches of rain since midnight, according to Kentucky Mesonet, a statewide weather and climate service date site based at Western Kentucky University. The National Weather Service in Louisville issued a Flash Flood Warning for multiple counties in south central Kentucky, lasting until 6:15 p.m. Saturday.
“The threat for a few strong to severe storms shows up from late this afternoon into the evening hours, with the greatest risk across south central Kentucky,” said Chris Bailey, WKYT chief meteorologist.
Bailey is predicting up to eight inches of precipitation. Louisville’s National Weather Service office is predicting six inches in its forecast.
The entire state is under a flood watch until Sunday afternoon. The National Weather Service is also predicting river flooding, with the Kentucky, Rolling Fork, Green and Rough Rivers at highest risk.
Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency on Friday ahead of the rain. That means the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center is activated, and the Kentucky National Guard is on standby ready to respond.
Emergency responses to Kentucky flooding
A landslide Saturday morning closed the north bound lane of Interstate-69 in western Kentucky near the Caldwell-Hopkins County line, at mile marker 87. That lane will likely be closed all weekend, said Trooper Ridge Porter with Kentucky State Police.
In Knox County, four people were trapped in their Eastern Kentucky home because of flood waters, according to a Facebook post from the Richland Fire Department. Once officers responded, along with the Knox County Special Operations Response Team, all four people, and several dogs, were rescued.
The London-Laurel County Emergency Response Team has responded to multiple water rescues, and reminded people not to drive through standing water.
Letcher County Sheriff’s Department reported on Facebook a minor landslide on Kentucky Highway 805, high waters and flooded roads.
This story was originally published February 15, 2025 at 3:06 PM.
