6:55 pm ET
‘We will come back:’ Butler, Falmouth residents prepare to evacuate
Keely Doll
No one’s seen the Licking River this high since 1997.
The river, which winds through Pendleton County in northern Kentucky, flows through the cities of Falmouth and Butler, both of which issued evacuation orders on Saturday. Despite many residents moving to the area years after the historic floods, which killed five people and caused $50 million of damage, the shared memory of the community weighed heavy as residents prepared to leave.
Rob Braun, spokesperson for Pendleton County EMS, said the community has been preparing since storms rolled in on Thursday. Many residents and businesses had already left before the evacuation orders were officially announced — even employees with Heritage Bank packed up the vault, shut off the lights and left town in preparation for the flood, Braun said.
“I’ve been seeing trucks all day, pickup trucks and trailers, horse trailers, cattle trailers,” Braun said. “It’s an agricultural area, so they are loading up with their friends and moving back with mom or moving in with friends.”
Marshall Brown, 23, who lives just across the bridge connecting Butler to the rest of the county, was distraught Saturday afternoon as he packed up to leave his home of 15 years.
“If we get back, hopefully it’s not as bad as we think it’s going to be,” Brown said. “But right now, right here, people are just taking whatever they can find.”
Across the river, Robert Watts frantically worked to fix his pickup truck, a teal porch umbrella propped over the open hood. Watts had his family evacuate but stayed behind in an attempt to fix his truck and pack belongings for him and his daughter.
4:14 pm ET
Elizabethtown residents shocked over extent of rising water
Lucas Aulbach
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — Howard Dunn has spent his whole life in Elizabethtown, and he’s never witnessed a scene like he saw Saturday.
Dunn was one of several people who pulled over along East Dixie Avenue to check out the Steel Drive Business Park, with several businesses partially submerged in rising floodwaters. At least one car was nearly completely underwater just before 4 p.m.
Dunn lives on a second-floor apartment, he noted with some relief. The region was projected to see about a foot of rain throughout the storm system. Dunn had to drive through water to visit his daughter on Friday in Stephensburg, about 10 miles west of Elizabethtown.
“She called me this morning and said the water’s too deep now. I checked my floorboards, and they’re still dry,” he joked.
Sarah Sprague, another onlooker, hadn’t seen Elizabethtown this flooded since moving to the region from Vermont in 2005. Behind her along East Dixie Avenue, water continued to rise, slowing drivers still working to get past it before the roads were swallowed up.
“The White Mills area was awful,” she said, and nearby Freeman Lake had swelled over its normal capacity, as well. “This has been the most standing water in E’town that I have ever seen.”
3:24 pm ET
Thunder Over Louisville 2025 canceled among severe flooding risks
Keisha Rowe and Olivia Evans
Thunder Over Louisville, the opening ceremony for the Kentucky Derby Festival, has been canceled, local officials announced Saturday.
The event had been scheduled for April 12.
In a statement, officials said they do not believe they will be able to conduct the necessary operations safely with potentially historic river levels expected to impact the city.
“This weather event and flooding is like nothing we’ve faced before — especially this close to Thunder,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO. “While we’d love to bring everyone together on Saturday to watch one of the best air shows and fireworks shows in the country — we know it’s not logistically possible and would not be safe to do so.”
Officials said information for people who purchased tickets to the KDF Thunder Over Louisville VIP Roof Party will be forthcoming.
The Kentucky Derby Festival is prepared to take a financial hit this year with the loss of the event, which produces an economic impact of $126 million on its own.
Because several local vendors participate in Thunder Over Louisville by supplying food, drink and activities for visitors, Gibson said it was important to announce the cancellation as early as possible to allow vendors to not make any additional investments.
“Being early and having this discussion as early as possible is about affecting their impact as well,” he said.
Thunder producer Wayne Hettinger said the cancellation is “a tremendous disappointment,” but added that he decided to “rock back, deal with the situation, the agony of it and pull the plug” because the safety of the community and crew is more important.
2:27 pm ET
Mayfield again hit with severe weather, as rain blankets west Kentucky
Connor Giffin
MAYFIELD, Ky. — Floodwaters lapped at homes, churches and school properties in parts of Graves County, as rain continued to fall in heavy sheets across much of west Kentucky on Saturday.
In a low-lying corner of Mayfield, a small creek had grown into a wide channel, inundating some properties and encroaching on Mayfield Elementary School. The school sits at the edge of the floodplain, and was inaccessible as water swallowed up the road and parking lot.
This week’s floods mark another bout of damaging weather for Mayfield, which suffered a direct hit from a violent tornado in 2021 — a much more destructive disaster that leveled parts of the town.
Already, Graves County had accumulated more than 8.6 inches of rain over the past 48 hours, as of 1 p.m. Saturday. Since midnight, total precipitation was estimated at 4.4 inches, more than any other county, according to Kentucky Mesonet.
Down the road from Mayfield, a stretch of U.S. 45 through Pryorsburg was narrowly above water level, and the Independent Bible Methodist Church had floodwaters up to its sandbagged front door.
Many state and county roads in west Kentucky were closed Saturday as floodwaters swept over pavement. Clinton, the seat of Hickman County, was inaccessible from several directions due to road closures, and some of the remaining routes into town were barely above water as of midday Saturday.
2:10 pm ET
Frankfort could see highest river level since 1989
Olivia Evans
Kentucky’s capital city could soon see the Kentucky River crest to the highest level in more than three decades.
In a Facebook post, Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson said the Kentucky River is predicted to crest at more than 44 feet and could surpass the levels it reached in 1989.
Since Friday, the river has risen more than 10 feet and is expected to rise an additional 5 feet by Monday, Wilkerson posted. Many streets in North and South Frankfort are already experiencing flooding.
2:06 pm ET
Cleaning up from a tornado and preparing for a flood in Taylor County
Lucas Aulbach
CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY. — In Taylor County, where teams are still cleaning up damage from a likely tornado that hit the region late Wednesday or early Thursday, emergency crews have beefed up staffing in anticipation of what could be coming.
Ronnie Dooley, county emergency management director, said additional personnel from Georgia were stationed in the county ready to help assist if rescues are needed. A crew from Vermont had been in Campbellsville on Friday, but by Saturday had been dispatched further west.
In all, Dooley said, emergency management staffing had tripled in recent days to prepare for rising waters.
“Right now we’re in good shape,” he said at about 1:15 p.m., “but that could change very quickly.”
No requests for service had been called in at that point Saturday, Dooley said. On Friday, a water rescue took place in the region’s Merrimac community, he noted, with a few others Thursday night.
Flooding is less common in Taylor County than in some surrounding areas. Casey County, for instance, has been hit in the past due to its hilly terrain, he said. Several roads in the region are still closed, though, as waters in the Green River and other creeks, streams and lakes had risen.
Nearly 10 inches of rain has fallen during the storm system, Dooley said, with roughly an additional 4 inches expected. But with preparations well underway, he said crews will be prepared when the time comes.
“We know where our flood-prone areas are,” Dooley said. “We’ll be ready for anything that comes our way.”
2:03 pm ET
Butler, Kentucky to experience severe flooding
Keely Doll
Both bridges into the city of Butler in Pendleton County could become impassible following heavy rains and flooding on Saturday, effectively turning the town into an island, officials said.
Pendleton County Emergency Management Service spokesperson Rob Braun said water from the Licking River would likely overtake the bridge, cutting off the town. Butler was put under an evacuation order Saturday afternoon, with all residents told to leave the city before 4:30 p.m.
The nearby town of Falmouth was also put under an evacuation order, with residents encouraged to leave by 8 p.m.
12:10 pm ET
Nelson County reports flood death
Olivia Evans
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office reported the death of a 74-year-old in a Facebook post on Saturday.
At about 3:40 a.m., first responders were called to a water rescue where an individual was found trapped in a fully submerged vehicle in the 2800 block of Nelsonville Road. While emergency responders were able to get to the vehicle, the lone occupant was found deceased.
The name of the deceased is being withheld at this time to ensure the family has been notified, the release stated.
“Please do not try to cross flooded roadways. The end result does not outweigh the risk,” the post stated. “Turn around don’t drown is more than a saying it’s the difference between life and death.”
12:06 pm ET
Powell County prepares for flooding as Red River rages
Stephanie Kuzydym
CLAY CITY, Ky. — Powell County residents were preparing for flooding after the Red River raged overnight, from intermittent rain Friday.
Roads in and out of Clay City were covered by the river, which rose out of its banks overnight, flooding basements and backyards.
By Saturday morning, the water began to recede, but not enough to uncover Main Street, leaving no easy way in and out of downtown Clay City.
Vehicles stopped far from the water’s edge and reversed to turn around from the raging water.
Residents told The Courier Journal the only way into the city was through Stanton. Pulling into Stanton, a roadway sign advised residents of flash flooding from April 3-7.
“Turn around. Don’t drown,” the sign flashed.
11:51 am ET
Falmouth, Butler placed under mandatory evacuation
Stephanie Kuzydym
The cities of Falmouth and Butler in Pendleton County announced a mandatory evacuation of its residents Saturday before the Licking River and its South Fork crest, which the National Weather Service predicts will happen late Sunday night.
Residents were given until 8 p.m. Saturday to leave the cities. After that, access to the area will be limited and utility service will cease, according to the evacuation order.
The Licking River is expected to rise to 41.5 feet, per the National Water Prediction Service. Flood stage is 33 feet.
The small community of Falmouth is no stranger to flooding.
In March 1997, the river rose more than 24 feet above the flood stage, sending water rushing into town — killing five and flooding nearly 1,000 homes. The flood reached 50 feet at its height, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, breaking the record for the worst flood in the town’s history.
The damage at the time was estimated at $50 million.
10:52 am ET
NWS: High potential for life-threatening flooding continues in west Kentucky
Olivia Evans
Kentucky Mesonet had observed some areas in west Kentucky have seen up to 12 inches of rainfall over the past 72 hours, while central Kentucky has experienced between 5-7 inches of rainfall, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Kochasic said in a video briefing Saturday morning.
Additional rounds of heavy rainfall are expected to occur throughout the day Saturday, exacerbating ongoing flooding and creating a potential for new flooding to pop up.
The area stretching from Evansville, Indiana, to Louisville through Lexington is expected to have a 40% chance of experiencing life-threatening flash flooding, Kochasic said. Further west, in the Jackson Purchase area of the commonwealth, residents will see up to a 70% chance of dangerous flooding.
On top of the continued flooding dangers, Saturday brings additional severe storm potential, including damaging winds and isolated tornadoes possible on the edge of Jefferson County through central Kentucky. The afternoon and evening are the likeliest times when the potential winds and tornadoes could come through.
Starting Sunday, the rain front is expected to move further east with a slightly weakened front. However, the flood threats will remain across Kentucky, especially in areas near the Green River, Kentucky River and Ohio River.
Once the front moves out Sunday, early next week is expected to bring some drier conditions, Kochasic said.
10:40 am ET
Waters rising in Marshall County amid unyielding rainfall
Connor Giffin
BENTON, Ky. — The Clarks River, normally running tamely through Benton in Marshall County, had overtaken a stretch of Main Street on Saturday morning, and turned empty fields into lakes. Rain continued to fall in Benton and in other areas upstream Saturday, and the community was preparing for the river to swell further.
Floodwaters had nearly reached the edge of Benton’s WCBL broadcasting station as of 9 a.m. Outside the family-run oldies station, owner Chris Freeland was hauling sandbags in tall waterproof boots as the river crept up.
Freeland, who is also the state representative for the area, said the flooding this month and in February is unprecedented for the property. He’s a Benton native, and said “never in my life” have floodwaters come up so high at the station.
“All these 100-year storms and 100-year events seem to be happening in the last two years,” he said.
February flooding reached the front steps of the station but receded quickly, he said. With downpours continuing in upstream areas like Calloway County on Saturday, he fears this round of flooding could be far worse.
Freeland and his brother were moving as much broadcasting equipment as possible off the ground, but he said the wiring for the station’s AM transmitter is ground level, and if floodwaters get high enough, it could be ruined.
“I’m worried,” Freeland said. “With more rain coming, and all the threat that they’re talking about, who knows? We’ve been here for 70-something years in this building. It’s never gotten past the front steps … We’ll see.”
10:27 am ET
State of emergency declared for Utica, IN
Olivia Evans
The town of Utica, Indiana, across the Ohio River from Louisville, is bracing for another round of devastating flooding as rain continues to fall on the region Saturday.
Utica Council President Steve Long declared a state of emergency Thursday and filed an advisory against nonessential travel. The declaration remains in effect through Tuesday.
“This will lead to road closing and damage to homes in downtown Utica,” the declaration stated.
As Long prepares the town for the flooding, the declaration advised people to avoid the roadways in Utica during the storm in an effort to keep things clear for “removal of trees on the road and emergency response vehicles.”
A Facebook post from the city of Jeffersonville, Indiana, stated the city is “assisting Utica residents with pumps and barricades, as well as anticipating closing off a couple of streets in [Jeffersonville].”
The town, which was ravaged by flooding in February 2018 and often sees more flood days than other nearby areas, is once again bracing for “potential conditions of distress that jeopardize safety and welfare of the residents of the Town of Utica.”
9:05 am ET
Strong winds, tornadoes possible Saturday ahead of hard freeze
Keisha Rowe
Straight-line winds above 58 mph and isolated tornadoes are possible Saturday evening as rain continues to fall across the region, but conditions could potentially worsen as a cold front, expected to move through Kentucky when the storm system moves out, brings freezing temperatures, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Louisville.
Louisville has a small potential to see severe weather, including strong winds, hail bigger than 1 inch and isolated tornadoes, beginning Saturday evening, but chances increase for a centralized swath of Kentucky, including the cities of Bowling Green, London, Lexington and Frankfort. The system is expected to push out of the area and toward east Kentucky beginning Sunday morning.
A cold front following the system is anticipated to bring low temperatures to the area early next week, with readings below freezing Monday night.
Several areas will also have to contend with rivers cresting at the same time, with many expected to be well above major flood stage. Mayor Craig Greenberg said Friday the Ohio River is expected to crest in Louisville by mid-week and pose a considerable threat to riverside areas. River levels are anticipated to be 5 feet higher near the Upper McAlpine Locks than it was during the February floods, while the Lower McAlpine could see a crest of 68 feet, potentially causing severe issues for residents in west and southwest Louisville.
Louisville 5-day weather forecast
Sunday
Showers. High near 49. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
