Kentucky will be receiving some strong winds and heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Harvey on Thursday and Friday, Kentucky Today’s Tom Latek reports.
“But it’s not going to be like what Texas or Louisiana got,” said John Gordon with the National Weather Service office in Louisville.
“It’s also not going to be like Hurricane Ike in 2008, with 70- to 80-mile-per-hour winds that came flying through here on a Sunday morning.”
Gordon said two to six inches of rain is in the forecast with the heaviest amounts in a swath from Southwest and into Central Kentucky and on to the Northeast. Lesser amounts are expected in eastern Kentucky.
Hydrologist Mike Callahan said there could be some significant rises on rivers, mainly in southern and Western Kentucky, leading to minor flooding. “If any type of flooding happens in Central Kentucky, it might be on the Green, Barren and the Salt River, especially in the Rolling Fork area.
“The Kentucky and Ohio Rivers should be all right, even the lower Ohio, which could actually use a little bit of water to keep navigation problems to a minimum.”
His bottom line, any river flooding should be minor and short-lived.
Science Officer Ted Funk said areas north of the Western and Bluegrass Parkways, then north of I-64, will see the highest winds. “Probably sustained winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour, with gusts up to 40.” South and east of that line, winds should be lighter, he said.
Funk says there will also be a marginal risk of severe weather, including brief tornado spin-ups, in south central Kentucky. However, there will be a greater risk of severe weather, south of Kentucky.
Forecasters said the period from Thursday evening through Friday evening will be the time for the most rain and wind, with things clearing out on Saturday.
Several high school football games throughout the state, especially in the Louisville and Lexington areas, moved Friday night games to Thursday night because of the impending weather.
Florence Freedom change promotions
This weekend the Florence Freedom will host the Normal Cornbelters in the final homestand of the regular season at UC Health Stadium, and promotions have been adjusted due to the weather.
The Friday night fireworks and Princess Night promotions will be rescheduled for another game. Fans with tickets for Friday night’s game can still come to see the Freedom take on the Normal Cornbelters, and also exchange them for Saturday, Sept. 2, Sunday, Sept 3., or any 2017 playoff game due to the forecasted tropical storms Friday night. That’s two games for the price of one.
Fans with tickets to Friday’s game can simply exchange them at the box office for the future date of their choice.
Princess Night will be rescheduled for Sunday, Sept 3. Game time on Sunday is scheduled for 2:35 p.m., with gates opening at 1:35 p.m.
The fireworks will be rescheduled and combined into an incredible playoffs DOUBLE fireworks show on Friday, September 8 when the Freedom host game 3 of the Frontier League Divisional round.
None of the games for this weekend have been postponed or moved as of Wednesday. Only the promotions have been moved to better accommodate fans, and the forecasted weather.
Fans with questions can contact the Freedom at 859-594-4487, or stop by UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way, Florence.