During the second half of March, precipitation across the region was generally minimal to nil, which allowed the forest litter and dead trees/branches to become very dry. This helped set the stage for a high fire danger situation as rapidly deepening low pressure passed to the west on March 30th. Strong southerly flow ahead of the system led to wind gusts of around 40 mph at many locations by early afternoon. In addition, a bubble of very warm and dry air over the Southeast US was pulled northward by the low-level jet and further dried due to downsloping effects off of the Great Smoky and Cumberland mountains. The combination of strong winds, very warm temperatures, dry fuels, and low relative humidities were very favorable for rapid fire spread and a number of small wildfires ended up breaking out across eastern Kentucky.
After a brief lull in the gusts during the evening of the 30th, the most intense winds with this storm system roared across eastern Kentucky from midnight to 4 AM on the 31st along and just ahead of a line of decaying showers moving in from the west. Wind gusts peaked in the 40 to 60 mph range across much of the forecast area during this time frame. Numerous power outages resulted, especially near/southwest of KY-15. Among the hardest hit was Owsley County, where over half the county lost power for a few hours overnight when the powerful winds blew a large tree down and damaged infrastructure near a substation. The winds also blew trees down onto power lines leading to downed lines and snapped power poles. A few instances of significant roof damage were also reported.

High Wind in KNOX, KENTUCKY
From 31-MAR-22 01:00:00 to 31-MAR-22 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 44.20K
Reported by: Utility Company

The local electric company reported that falling trees snapped 3 power poles in a row along KY-1803 at New Bethel. A church adjacent to the down power lines had its roof blown off. County dispatch reported numerous small power outages and trees on lines throughout the county. The county judge executive indicated that multiple carports and other similar structures were displaced.

Strong Wind in POWELL, KENTUCKY
From 30-MAR-22 18:00:00 to 31-MAR-22 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 46.00 EG
Property damage: 1.40K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Powell County dispatch reported sporadic tree damage across the county. A tree was reportedly blown down onto power lines, taking them down as well, approximately 1 ENE of Stanton at 11:45 PM EST, March 30th. Additional reports of trees blown down onto Thorpe Ridge, Cane Creek, and Black Creek roads were received early on the 31st.

Strong Wind in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 31-MAR-22 01:30:00 to 31-MAR-22 03:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 44.00 MG
Property damage: 1.20K
Reported by: ASOS

The ASOS at the NWS in Jackson reported a wind gust of 51 mph at 2:03 AM EST, March 31st. Pictures on social media showed a tree blown down, and damage to the roof of a house and barn, 2 miles ESE of Guerrant.

High Wind in WOLFE, KENTUCKY
From 31-MAR-22 00:45:00 to 31-MAR-22 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 7.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Pictures on social media showed roofing blown off of a small home near Hazel Green. Another picture showed roofing removed from a structure in the Lacy Creek area.

Strong Wind in MCCREARY, KENTUCKY
From 30-MAR-22 18:49:00 to 31-MAR-22 02:50:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 45.00 EG
Property damage: 0.60K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Sporadic large tree damage was reported across the county. The McCreary County dispatch reported that strong wind gusts had blown down a large tree onto a road around 6:49 PM on the 30th, approximately 3 miles NNW of Hollyhill. At 10:30 PM another large tree was reportedly blocking Lum-Strunk Rd. A third report of a large tree blocking Williamsburg was estimated to have occurred around 3:50 AM on the 31st.

Strong Wind in PERRY, KENTUCKY
From 31-MAR-22 01:15:00 to 31-MAR-22 02:55:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 44.00 EG
Property damage: 0.60K
Reported by: Public

The public reported that strong winds had blown down a large tree across Lost Creek Road a couple miles east southeast of Dice.

Strong Wind in ESTILL, KENTUCKY
From 30-MAR-22 19:47:00 to 31-MAR-22 00:50:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 46.00 EG
Property damage: 0.30K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Estill County dispatch reported sporadic trees blown down onto roadways. The first downed tree was reported at 7:47 PM EST on the 31st along Cobb Fork about 1 miles ESE of Fox. Additional trees was reportedly blown down onto Sandhill Rd. near Weedon at 11:40 PM, and on Hood Avenue in Irvine around 12:29 AM.

Strong Wind in MENIFEE, KENTUCKY
From 31-MAR-22 00:15:00 to 31-MAR-22 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 47.00 EG
Property damage: 0.80K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

County dispatch reported that a tree was blown down and blocked one lane of KY-1274. Another tree was blown down onto power lines at the intersection of Sulphur Springs and Cope Ridge roads.

High Wind in LAUREL, KENTUCKY
From 30-MAR-22 22:35:00 to 31-MAR-22 23:55:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

The local utility company reported that a tree had fallen onto power lines and snapped a power pole along Old Way Rd approximately 2 miles NNE of Brock. The nearby ASOS at the London Corbin Airport clocked a peak gust of 48 knots (55 mph) at 11:53 PM EST, March 30th.

Strong Wind in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 30-MAR-22 21:05:00 to 31-MAR-22 04:55:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 44.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

The local utility company reported that multiple trees were blown down onto power lines along KY-221 near the junction of KY-1780. The trees broke the cross arms on 3 power poles which allowed the lines to fall on the ground.

High Wind in MAGOFFIN, KENTUCKY
From 31-MAR-22 01:50:00 to 31-MAR-22 02:30:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 13.80K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The county emergency manager reported that a barn along Improvement Fork Rd. had collapsed due to strong winds, and also that trees had been blown down along Ivy Point Rd. and US-460 at Bear Branch Rd. Local dispatch reported that multiple trees were blown down on US-460, 0.8 miles west of Salyersville, and also directly across KY-7 within the city limits.

High Wind in ROCKCASTLE, KENTUCKY
From 31-MAR-22 00:10:00 to 31-MAR-22 00:40:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.40K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

County dispatch reported several trees blown down along Cooper Creek and Sweetwater roads. A local utility company also reported that a power pole along Hidden Valley Road had been broken by a falling tree. A personal weather station at nearby Wabo measured a 54 mph peak wind gust at 1:24 AM.

Strong Wind in MONTGOMERY, KENTUCKY
From 30-MAR-22 21:15:00 to 31-MAR-22 00:35:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 9.30K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Strong winds led to sporadic tree damage. County dispatch reported a tree down onto a power line at approximately 12:35 AM EST on the 31st. A large tree was also blown down onto the intersection of Bedford and Tabor roads. An NWS Employee near Hope reported that nearly all of the trusses on a large barn, which was under construction, were blown over.

Strong Wind in PULASKI, KENTUCKY
From 30-MAR-22 17:50:00 to 30-MAR-22 23:50:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 3.20K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Sporadic tree damage was observed around the county. A tree was reportedly blown down onto the bed of a pickup truck around 10:55 PM EST in Burnside. County dispatch reported a large tree blown down across Estesburg Rd at 11:15 PM, approximately 3 NNE of Pulaski. Another large tree was blown down across Melvin Church Rd. Power lines were knocked down by trees 3 WSW of Alpine.

High Wind in OWSLEY, KENTUCKY
From 31-MAR-22 00:45:00 to 31-MAR-22 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 53.40K
Reported by: Utility Company

The local utility company reported that a large tree had been blown down onto and damaged a double circuit adjacent to the substation, located 1/2 miles west of city of Booneville, causing a major power outage across much of the county. Two other power poles, one up the left hand fork of Cow Creek and the other near Vincent, were snapped due to large trees falling onto the power lines. Otherwise, the emergency manager reported a number of small power outages around the county due to fallen trees. The extensive damage required the electric company to call in additional assistance from outside the area.

High Wind in WHITLEY, KENTUCKY
From 31-MAR-22 01:00:00 to 31-MAR-22 01:30:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 9.60K
Reported by: AWOS

The Williamsburg Airport AWOS recorded a peak wind gust of 51 knots (59 mph) at 1:15 AM EST on the 31st. Numerous gusts in excess of 40 mph were recorded between 11:55 PM EST, March 30th and 2:35 AM EST, March 31st. A local utility company reported that the winds had blown multiple trees onto power lines along Hightop Rd (approximately 2 miles SE of Rye) and snapped two 3-phase power poles.

High Wind in BELL, KENTUCKY
From 31-MAR-22 00:35:00 to 31-MAR-22 01:35:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 6.60K
Reported by: Utility Company

A local utility company reported that multiple trees were blown down onto power lines and broke a 3-phase power pole along KY-3483.

High Wind in CLAY, KENTUCKY
From 30-MAR-22 23:35:00 to 31-MAR-22 02:15:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 16.40K
Reported by: Utility Company

The local utility company reported multiple broken power poles and numerous small power outages due to trees falling on power lines. Broken poles were located along Hounchell Rd. and Liberty Rd.