FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA THROUGH TONIGHT…

FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA THROUGH TONIGHT…

PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN THAT BEGAN EARLY SATURDAY MORNING…HAVE
CONTINUED TODAY AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING. THIS WILL
RESULT IN CONTINUED WIDESPREAD AREAL AND FLASH FLOODING…MAINLY
ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

A SWATH OF VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES HAS
ALREADY OCCURRED ACROSS THAT PART OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY EXTENDING
FROM RUSSELLVILLE…BOWLING GREEN AND BROWNSVILLE IN SOUTH CENTRAL
KENTUCKY THROUGH HODGENVILLE…LEBANON AND SPRINGFIELD IN CENTRAL
KENTUCKY TO HARRODSBURG AND VERSAILLES IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

THIS HAS RESULTED IN NUMEROUS ROAD CLOSURES…VEHICLE AND BUILDING
EVACUATIONS AND RESCUES…MUD SLIDES AND EVEN A SMALL DAM FAILURE
IN METCALFE COUNTY.

ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING
WILL RESULT IN ANOTHER 1 TO 3 INCH RAIN ACCUMULATION WITH THE
HEAVIEST AMOUNTS EAST OF INTERSTATE 65 ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL
KENTUCKY. HERE LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS AROUND 4 INCHES ARE
POSSIBLE BEFORE THE RAIN BEGINS TO LIGHTEN UP AFTER A COLD FRONT
PASSAGE LATE TONIGHT.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ADVISES AGAINST ANY UNNECESSARY
TRAVEL TONIGHT…ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY. MANY FLOOD
RELATED DEATHS ARE DUE TO CARELESS OR UNSUSPECTING MOTORISTS WHO
ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODED ROADS. IF YOU COME TO A FLOODED ROADWAY…

TURN AROUND…DON’T DROWN!

LESS THAN TWO FEET OF WATER ON A BRIDGE OR HIGHWAY CAN FLOAT MOST
VEHICLES WHEN THE BUOYANCY FORCE OF THE WATER BECOMES GREATER THAN THE VEHICLE WEIGHT…ELIMINATING ANY FRICTIONAL FORCE BETWEEN THE
WHEELS AND THE ROAD.  A CAR…TRUCK OR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE CAN BE
SWEPT OFF A ROAD INTO A STREAM IF THE WATER IS MOVING RAPIDLY.

RESIDENTS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY ARE
ENCOURAGED TO STAY ABREAST OF THE LATEST FORECASTS. STAY TUNED TO
NOAA ALL-HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO AND YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR THE
LATEST WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS. A FULL SUITE OF WEATHER INFORMATION
IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE.