Watch Cumberland Falls raging waters after rainfall, Eastern Kentucky flooding

The aftermath from this weekend’s heavy rainfall in Kentucky has produced dangerous conditions and devastating floods, leading to deaths.

And now one of the state’s iconic landmarks is overflowing with all that water flowing down from the mountains, Cumberland Falls.

Cumberland Falls, the largest waterfall south of the Niagara, and home to one of the only two moonbows in the world, is spilling over with water from the Cumberland River.

Drone video from photographer Ben Childers shows the rushing water at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park racing at such a furious pace and height that you can’t see the boulders tourists normally walk on near the shore.

State Park officials say the Cumberland Falls area is flooded and unsafe and have closed the falls area, parking lot, gift shop and visitors center. The resort has also lost electricity and use of its sewage system.

According to figures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), rainfall amounts from Feb. 15 leading to Feb. 16 caused the Cumberland River to rise 5 feet in a manner of hours. In total, the river, as measured by the gauge at Cumberland Falls itself, reached 13.51 feet the morning of Feb. 16 before beginning to recede.

Additionally, the river itself nearly crested 32 feet, which would’ve been a major flooding stage, per NOAA standards.

This story was originally published February 18, 2025 at 12:25 PM.

Brian Simms

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-379-9041

Brian Simms has been with the Herald-Leader for 20-plus years, most recently reporting and editing coverage of restaurants, bars, food and bourbon. He is also a photographer and manages the newspapers photo archive that dates back to the late 1930s. Support my work with a digital subscription