A substantial number of eastern Kentucky counties are experiencing a significant weather shift. Many communities were dealing with very dry conditions and now wet is the word. Jackson National Weather Service Meteorologist Philomon Geertson said remnants of Hurricane Helene are having an impact on Kentucky. But, he said lower creek and river levels prior to recent rains help to lessen flooding risks.
“If we’d been just under normal conditions and we’d have four or five inches of rain across portions of the area the last several days and then we had the remnants of the hurricane coming in then the impacts would almost certainly be greater in terms of flooding along the creeks and larger rivers as well,” said Geertson.
Geertson said some areas of eastern Kentucky saw as much as five inches of rain this past week before the hurricane winds and rains came. The meteorologist said winds as high as 50 to 60 miles an hour may blow through some Kentucky towns.
And although all this precipitation may be a drought buster for a wide swathe of eastern Kentucky, not all, according to the meteorologist.
“The drought has been worse over northeast Kentucky and, in those areas, the forecast rainfall amounts are also lower, so for northeast portions of Kentucky, probably not,” said Geertson.
Geertson said most all portions of Kentucky should get some rain and many could see multiple inches. A flash flood watch was issued for eastern Kentucky.
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