Several days of heavy rain expected in Kentucky. Gov. Beshear urges caution
As rivers begin rising and rain continues falling in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear warned residents Thursday to remain safe amid potentially life-threatening flooding.
Heavy rain fell on Kentucky beginning Wednesday evening, as significant storms produced at least two tornadoes. One touched down in McCracken County around 10 p.m., and one touched down in Louisville early Thursday.
And now, more heavy rain is expected for fall for at least the next three days. Western Kentucky could see an additional 10 inches of rain before the end of the weekend, while Lexington could see an additional 6 inches.
More than 4 inches of rain could fall in Central Kentucky by Friday, said WKYT Chief Meteorologist Chris Bailey.
“This is some of the most rain we’ve seen in a short period of time in Western Kentucky and in Central Kentucky,” Beshear Thursday said at a weekly news update. “And remember, it’s just going to grow. It’s just going to accumulate on top of itself.”
Several counties, including Allen, Barren, Calloway, Christian, Clinton, Cumberland, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, Todd and Trigg counties, were already under a flash flood warning as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
Flash flooding is either ongoing or expected in small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.
Many south-central Kentucky counties will be under a flood warning until at least 1 a.m. Friday. The NWS said flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected in rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
Virtually the rest of the state is under a flood watch through Sunday morning, according to the NWS.
The rain is expected to fall on and off through at least Saturday. Beshear said rain is expected to taper off Sunday, but rivers could continue to rise because of the rain accumulation from the days prior.
“Everybody needs to be really cognizant of flooding,” Beshear said. “If we got through one of the worst forecasts for tornadoes we’ve seen in a while, this is one of the worst for flooding. We just want to make sure we keep everybody safe.”
The Cumberland River at Burkesville, in Cumberland County, was already reporting minor flooding Thursday afternoon after rising about 7 feet in seven hours, according to the NWS.
The Mississippi River in Hickman County, the Rolling Fork River in Nelson County and multiple spots of the Green River are expected to have major flooding.
At least 25 state highways, many in Western Kentucky, were blocked by floodwater Thursday. Beshear said the number is expected to rise.
Emergency Management is activated and ramping up in preparation for more storms. Swift water rescue teams are on standby, including with help from Vermont, Beshear said.
“We will get through this if everyone takes the rising and standing water seriously,” Beshear said. “Don’t drive through roadways you cannot see, it’s how we lost too many people in the past. It’s not worth it, just turn around.”
