A prolonged period of light to moderate rain led to flooding across portions of eastern Kentucky, particularly southeastern Kentucky, beginning during the overnight hours of Friday, February 9 into Saturday, February 10, 2018. This occurred along and ahead of a slow moving frontal boundary as generally between 1.5 and 4.5 inches of rain fell across eastern Kentucky. The hardest hit area was Harlan County, where flooding occurred across much of the county as up to 5.5 inches of rain fell. A state of emergency was declared as the Cumberland River at Baxter reached major flood stage, prompting the closure of all of the city of Harlan's floodgates. The floodgate for the city of Pikeville was also closed as the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River breached 38 feet. Additional emergency declarations were made in Bell, Clay, Floyd, Knott, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, and Perry Counties, as well as for the city of Pineville, as numerous tributaries and the main stems of the Kentucky, Cumberland, and Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy Rivers exceeded bankfull.
Nearly 2,200 power outages were blamed on the widespread flooding, while thousands of boil water advisories were issued as shelters were opened to provide water. Several bridges were also inspected by engineers for structural integrity as the flood waters receded. A number of water rescues took place during the weekend and into Monday morning, including nearly half a dozen in and around Hazard. Hundreds of people were forced from their homes as river flooding along portions of the Kentucky and Cumberland Rivers continued well into the following week. In addition, the saturated ground led to several landslides and mudslides, including one along Kentucky Highway 74 near Middlesboro.
Maximum storm total rainfall amounts from various eastern Kentucky rain gauges (by county) were as follows:
February 10-11, 2018 Maximum Rainfall Totals (3 inches +)
...Bell County Gauges...
Middlesboro AWOS           4.54 inches
Yellow Creek RAWS          3.45 inches
Meldrum Stream Gauge     5.00 inches
Pineville River Gauge         4.32 inches
Arjay IFLOWS                  4.25 inches
...Harlan County Gauges...
Harlan 3S                        4.71 inches
Harlan 3N Coop                4.60 inches
Harlan 24E Mesonet          5.59 inches
Cumberland River Gauge    4.27 inches
Lloyal River Gauge            4.92 inches
Cranks Creek Lake Gauge   4.82 inches
Big Black IFLOWS             4.14 inches
Evarts IFLOWS                3.76 inches
Cumberland IFLOWS         4.08 inches
...Knott County Gauges...
Hindman 5N                    4.11 inches
...Knox County Gauges...
Barbourville Water Coop    3.66 inches
Barbourville 3E Mesonet    4.11 inches
Barbourville River Gauge    3.72 inches
Artemus IFLOWS              3.92 inches
Dewitt IFLOWS                4.48 inches
Helton Branch IFLOWS       3.55 inches
Johnson Hollow IFLOWS     3.03 inches
Pidgeon Fork IFLOWS        3.88 inches
...Leslie County Gauges...
Hyden River Gauge            3.77 inches
...Letcher County Gauges...
Whitesburg 2NW               3.43 inches
Whitesburg 2SE Coop         3.81 inches
Skyline Coop                    3.52 inches
Whitesburg 2NW Mesonet   3.43 inches
Whitesburg River Gauge      3.65 inches
...McCreary County Gauges...
Whitley City 3N                3.48 inches
Stearns Coop                   3.76 inches
Whitley City 3N Mesonet    3.47 inches
Stearns River Gauge          4.00 inches
...Perry County Gauges...
Hazard Water Plant Coop   3.65 inches
Viper 0.5N COCORAHS       3.43 inches
Hazard River Gauge           3.44 inches
...Pike County Gauges...
Pikeville 13S Mesonet        3.44 inches
Fishtrap Lake Gauge         3.01 inches
Virgie Gauge                    3.20 inches
Elkhorn City River Gauge    3.54 inches
Myra IFLOWS                   3.38 inches
Virgie IFLOWS                  3.34 inches
Beefhide IFLOWS              3.59 inches.

Flood in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 17:06:00 to 11-FEB-18 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PIKEVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy rain caused flooding along Buckfield Branch near Shelby Creek in the vicinity of the Robinson Creek community.

Flood in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 22:00:00 to 11-FEB-18 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: MAYKING
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Running flood waters covered a portion of Highway 3406 at the bottom fork of Mayking.

Flood in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 23:00:00 to 11-FEB-18 11:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: ISOM
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flood waters covered a portion of Kentucky Highway 7 near Isom.

Flood in BELL, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 17:09:00 to 11-FEB-18 14:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: BEVERLY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Water was covering Mud Lick Road near Beverly.

Flood in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 21:38:00 to 11-FEB-18 12:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALPHORETTA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Two feet of water were observed flowing across portions of KY 122 near Bucks Branch.

Flood in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 21:38:00 to 11-FEB-18 12:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: WOLVERINE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

A portion of Highway 476 was flooded near Lost Creek due to Troublesome Creek coming out of its banks. A portion of Wolverine Road was flooded due to the North Fork of the Kentucky River overflowing its banks. Kentucky Highway 541 was under water near Jackson. A car was stranded in the flood water near the Kentucky Mountain Bible College in this same location.

Flood in BELL, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 17:09:00 to 11-FEB-18 14:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: PINEVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous roads were flooded in and around Pineville and Middlesboro including: Old Pineville Pike in Middlesboro, Highway's 2013 and 1534 in Pineville, Highway 221 at mile marker 9 in Stoney Fork and the intersection of 17th Street and Cumberland Ave in Middlesboro. A water rescue had to be performed 4 miles west northwest of Pineville at Magnet Hollow on Kentucky Highway 92 after a motorist drove into a flooded roadway. There was several feet of water across portions of Old Bell High Road near Pineville. Flooding also caused a mudslide on Kentucky Highway 74 near Middlesboro. The road was closed for around 2 weeks to clear the mudslide and repair the road.

Flood in PERRY, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 21:38:00 to 11-FEB-18 12:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: HAZARD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A water rescue had to be performed in Bonnyman on Typo Road. Four individuals and pets were trapped inside a home after it had become surrounded by 4 feet of water after First Creek overtopped its banks. A water rescue also had to be performed on Cherokee Hills Road in Hazard after a man drove his car into the north fork of the swollen Kentucky River.

Flood in JOHNSON, KENTUCKY
From 11-FEB-18 16:50:00 to 11-FEB-18 21:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: DAWKINS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The Powell Edition Horse Stable was inundated by flood waters just off Highway 23 as you turn into Van Lear.

Flood in MCCREARY, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 17:09:00 to 11-FEB-18 12:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: HOLLYHILL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A portion of Highway 92 was closed due to high water.

Flood in KNOX, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 17:09:00 to 11-FEB-18 13:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: BARBOURVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The following roads were partially blocked throughout the county due to flooding: KY 3153, KY 3439, KY 225, KY 11, KY 223, KY 1527, and KY 459. Kentucky Highway 459 at Wynn Hollow Road was impassable due to flooding (broadcast media).

Flood in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 11-FEB-18 06:55:00 to 11-FEB-18 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: PIKEVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Walters Road off Chloe Creek was impassable due to high water.

Flood in LESLIE, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 17:09:00 to 11-FEB-18 10:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: WOOTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Highway 699 was closed due to high water.

Flood in LESLIE, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 17:09:00 to 11-FEB-18 10:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: SMILAX
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Both broadcast media and the public reported that flood waters had tore a culvert out of the ground on Levis Branch Road in Smilax, and that a city park in Hyden was flooded due to overflow of the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River in that area.

Flood in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 11-FEB-18 14:15:00 to 11-FEB-18 15:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: IVEL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Toms Creek was inundated by flood waters.

Flood in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 11-FEB-18 14:30:00 to 11-FEB-18 15:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: JUSTELL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A horse farm was washed out by the flooded Levisa Fork.

Flood in PULASKI, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 17:09:00 to 11-FEB-18 14:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: SCIENCE HILL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Two to three inches of water were observed flowing across mainly the eastbound lane of Highway 635.

Flood in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 11-FEB-18 00:10:00 to 11-FEB-18 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ULVAH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Kentucky Highway 7 was under water near Old Indian Bottom Church outside of Blackey.

Flood in LEE, KENTUCKY
From 11-FEB-18 10:30:00 to 11-FEB-18 13:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: BEATTYVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A portion of Kentucky Highway 52 near downtown Beattyville was flooded due to the north fork of the Kentucky River overflowing its banks.

Flood in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 17:00:00 to 11-FEB-18 13:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: CRANKS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous roads in Cranks, Evarts, and Harlan and elsewhere around the county were closed or impassable due to flooding. A written state of emergency was declared for Harlan County during the height of the flooding.

Flood in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 11-FEB-18 00:10:00 to 11-FEB-18 13:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: LYNCH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Kentucky Highway 160 was closed through Lynch due to flooding. A written state of emergency was declared for Harlan County during the height of the flooding.

Flood in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 10-FEB-18 21:50:00 to 11-FEB-18 13:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: CUMBERLAND
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Many roads in and around Cumberland were covered with water, including Main Street near Highway 119. A written state of emergency was declared for Harlan County during the height of the flooding.