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Flooding: Introduction
Flooding, in most years, is responsible for more fatalities than tornadoes,
lightning, or other weather-related hazards. An abundance of rivers and streams
combined with rough topography and abundant precipitation make flooding a
recurrent problem in Kentucky. Unfortunately, many people live in flood prone
areas where lives and property can be lost with little or no warning.
Increasing urbanization contributes to the problem by increasing the rate of
stormwater runoff that often causes flooding in populated areas.
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Photo Credit: M. McLane/National
Weather Service |
Kentucky's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico provides a source of moisture that
is capable of producing heavy rainfall and flooding over the Commonwealth
any time of the year. Still, the right atmospheric conditions must be in place.
One scenario involves a series of slow moving storms tracking along a
stationary front. These storms, following one after another, are capable of
dropping copious amounts of rainfall on the same area. Another scenario occurs
when a low-pressure system becomes cut off from the circulation of the jet
stream and lingers over the region for up to a week or more, bringing day after day
of damp, cloudy weather. Finally, severe thunderstorms sometimes produce
intense rainfall over a short period and cause localized flooding.
The right amount of rain at the right time can cause a flash flood with little
or no warning. Homes can be swept away, roads submersed, crops destroyed, and
lives lost in a matter of minutes. Individuals and communities located in flood
prone areas cannot always rely on past experience to predict the magnitude and
impact of the next flood. However, mitigation strategies can be implemented to
minimize the threat of flooding to life and property.
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