Flood Potential Outlook
Issued by NWS Jackson, KY
Issued by NWS Jackson, KY
791
FGUS73 KJKL 131955
ESFJKL
KYC011-013-025-051-063-065-069-071-095-109-115-119-121-125-129-131-
133-147-153-159-165-173-175-189-193-195-197-199-203-205-231-235-
237-141200-
PROBABILISTIC HYDROLOGIC OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
355 PM EDT THU MAR 13 2025
...Spring Flood and Water Resources Outlook Number 3...
The flood risk is near to slightly above normal, with minor to
moderate flooding expected.
This outlook is valid through May 2025.
In Table 1 below...the current (CS) and historical (HS) or normal
probabilities of exceeding minor...moderate...and major flood stages
are listed for the valid time period.
CS values indicate the probability of reaching a flood category
based on current conditions.
HS values indicate the probability of reaching a flood category
based on historical or normal conditions.
When the value of CS is more than HS...the probability of
exceeding that level is higher than normal. When the value of CS is
less than HS...the probability of exceeding that level is lower
than normal.
...Table 1--Probabilities for minor...moderate and major flooding...
Valid Period: 03/18/2025 - 06/16/2025
: Current and Historical
: Chances of Exceeding
: Flood Categories
: as a Percentage (%)
Categorical :
Flood Stages (FT) : Minor Moderate Major
Location Minor Mod Major : CS HS CS HS CS HS
-------- ----- ----- ----- : --- --- --- --- --- ---
:Cumberland River
Barbourville 27.0 33.0 38.0 : 37 34 15 14 <5 <5
Pineville 1002.0 1010.0 1019.0 : 38 34 23 11 <5 5
Williamsburg 21.0 27.5 32.0 : 60 49 22 22 9 13
:Poor Fork Cumberland River
Baxter 16.0 18.0 20.0 : 29 26 17 15 8 9
:Kentucky River
Heidelberg 20.0 24.0 30.0 : 57 49 12 9 <5 <5
Ravenna 21.0 25.0 31.0 : 66 65 35 44 14 20
:Levisa Fork
Pikeville 35.0 42.0 50.0 : 27 15 <5 <5 <5 <5
Prestonsburg 40.0 43.0 46.0 : 5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5
Paintsville 35.0 38.0 42.0 : 25 10 19 6 12 <5
:North Fork Kentucky River
Hazard 20.0 27.0 33.0 : 23 9 5 <5 <5 <5
Jackson 29.0 31.0 40.0 : 31 24 26 20 6 <5
:Poor Fork Cumberland River
Cumberland 12.0 14.0 16.0 : 6 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5
:Red River
Clay City 17.0 19.0 23.0 : 34 27 24 19 10 6
:Russell Fork
Elkhorn City 21.0 22.0 24.0 : <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5
:South Fork Kentucky River
Booneville 27.0 32.0 38.0 : 45 43 29 23 12 8
Oneida 29.0 34.0 38.0 : 12 13 <5 6 <5 <5
Legend
CS = Conditional Simulation (Current Outlook)
HS = Historical Simulation
FT = Feet
In Table 2 below...the 95 through 5 percent columns indicate the
probability of exceeding the listed stage levels (FT) for the valid
time period.
...Table 2--Exceedance Probabilities...
Chance of Exceeding Stages
at Specific Locations
Valid Period: 03/18/2025 - 06/16/2025
Location 95% 90% 75% 50% 25% 10% 5%
-------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
:Cumberland River
Barbourville 10.8 12.0 20.2 24.0 29.6 34.6 36.3
Pineville 981.1 983.1 989.5 996.0 1008.9 1016.2 1017.5
Williamsburg 12.4 15.3 18.7 22.5 26.4 31.7 33.3
:Poor Fork Cumberland River
Baxter 3.6 4.2 8.2 13.4 16.6 19.2 21.7
:Kentucky River
Heidelberg 15.9 16.3 18.5 20.5 22.0 24.3 27.3
Ravenna 17.2 17.8 20.0 22.8 26.4 32.7 37.7
:Levisa Fork
Pikeville 11.6 13.1 17.0 23.5 36.1 38.4 40.6
Prestonsburg 8.4 11.3 15.8 25.1 32.3 37.4 40.2
Paintsville 9.3 11.7 16.7 26.6 34.8 43.1 47.6
:North Fork Kentucky River
Hazard 6.2 6.3 8.8 12.7 19.3 24.6 27.2
Jackson 7.6 8.5 15.4 22.4 31.2 36.8 40.6
:Poor Fork Cumberland River
Cumberland 4.6 4.9 6.8 8.3 10.5 11.0 12.3
:Red River
Clay City 7.9 8.5 10.6 13.8 18.8 22.9 24.6
:Russell Fork
Elkhorn City 8.8 9.3 10.4 13.1 15.8 17.8 18.9
:South Fork Kentucky River
Booneville 11.1 12.1 19.8 25.4 33.4 38.9 41.2
Oneida 11.7 13.2 17.1 21.5 25.2 29.7 33.2
In Table 3 below...the 95 through 5 percent columns indicate the
probability of falling below the listed stage levels (FT) for the
valid time period.
...Table 3--Nonexceedance Probabilities...
Chance of Falling Below Stages
at Specific Locations
Valid Period: 03/18/2025 - 06/16/2025
Location 95% 90% 75% 50% 25% 10% 5%
-------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
:Cumberland River
Barbourville 2.6 2.4 2.2 2.1 2.0 1.9 1.9
Pineville 977.2 977.0 976.9 976.7 976.6 976.6 976.5
Williamsburg 4.2 3.9 3.6 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.2
:Poor Fork Cumberland River
Baxter 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3
:Kentucky River
Heidelberg 10.1 9.8 9.5 9.4 9.2 9.1 9.1
Ravenna 11.2 11.0 10.7 10.5 10.3 10.2 10.1
:Levisa Fork
Pikeville 7.2 7.0 6.8 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.2
Prestonsburg 3.2 2.9 2.6 2.2 2.0 1.9 1.7
Paintsville 4.2 4.2 3.8 3.2 3.0 2.8 2.7
:North Fork Kentucky River
Hazard 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1
Jackson 1.9 1.8 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.2
:Poor Fork Cumberland River
Cumberland 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.4
:Red River
Clay City 3.3 3.1 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.6
:Russell Fork
Elkhorn City 6.9 6.8 6.6 6.5 6.4 6.4 6.3
:South Fork Kentucky River
Booneville 4.8 4.6 4.4 4.1 3.9 3.7 3.6
Oneida 7.8 7.6 7.3 6.9 6.7 6.5 6.4
These long-range probabilistic outlooks contain forecast values that
are calculated using multiple season scenarios from 30 or more years
of climatological data...including current conditions of the
river...soil moisture...snow cover...and 30 to 90 day long-range
outlooks of temperature and precipitation. By providing a range of
probabilities...the level of risk associated with long-range planning
decisions can be determined. These probabilistic forecasts are part
of the National Weather Service`s advanced hydrologic prediction
service.
Following a very wet first two and a half weeks of February,
precipitation through the first two weeks of March has averaged well
below normal. Despite the drier conditions, current soil moisture was
still somewhat above normal across the area. Most streamflows are
currently below normal to much below normal across eastern Kentucky.
Reservoir levels were generally near normal, although the larger
lakes are still above normal, following the flooding that took place
in the middle of February. There is currently no snowpack in place.
Through this weekend, a stronger storm system will bring 1 to 2.5
inches of rainfall to the area, with locally higher amounts possible
where thunderstorms track repeatedly over the same locations. The
best chance of this occurring appears near and west of I-75. This
rainfall could allow for some stronger rises on area rivers, with at
least minor flooding possible along the main stem of the Kentucky
River and possibly the Cumberland River, depending on the exact
totals.
The 6 to 10 day outlook, which runs from March 19th to March 23rd,
calls for above normal temperatures and precipitation. The 8 to 14
day outlook, which runs from March 21st to March 27th, calls for
above normal temperatures and precipitation.
The outlook for the rest of March calls for above normal temperatures
and precipitation. Normal temperatures for March are in the upper 40s
and normal precipitation is between 4.5 and 5 inches.
The seasonal outlook, which covers March through May, calls for above
normal temperatures and precipitation.
Additional supportive data and explanations are available for
precipitation and temperature outlooks as well as soil moisture at
www.cpc.noaa.gov.
Current snowpack data are available at www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa.
Current streamflow data are available at water.usgs.gov/waterwatch.
Current reservoir levels for this area are available at www.lrl-
wc.usace.army.mil/reports/lkreport.html.
Visit our web site weather.gov/jkl for more weather and water
information.
This is the final Spring and Flood Water Resources Outlook for 2025.
$$
GEOGERIAN