Thunder Over Louisville canceled due to weather for 1st time ever
ALL RIGHT. WE’LL CHECK IN WITH YOU AGAIN IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. THANKS, JAY. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WEATHER CANCELS THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE, WITH THE OHIO EXPECTED TO CREST ON WEDNESDAY. AS JAY JUST SHOWED US, IT WOULD BE TOO RISKY FOR THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED AIR AND FIREWORKS SHOW. WLKY’S ALEXIS MATHEWS JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM WATERFRONT PARK WITH DETAILS AND COMMUNITY REACTION. ALEXIS. YEAH, THE RAIN HAS QUITE LITERALLY WIPED OUT ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER EVENTS IN THE METRO AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST AIR AND FIREWORKS SHOWS IN THE COUNTRY. THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE NOW. THE SHOW WAS SET FOR A WEEK FROM TODAY, BUT OFFICIALS SAY BECAUSE OF THE RISING LEVELS OF THE OHIO RIVER, THUNDER CANNOT HAPPEN SAFELY. THE OHIO RIVER IS EXPECTED TO RISE TEN MORE FEET AS HEAVY RAINFALL CONTINUES. THE PEAK CREST HAS LED TO ONE OF THE METRO’S BIGGEST FLOODING EVENTS SINCE 2018. IT’S CAUSED DOZENS OF ROAD CLOSURES, PROMPTED WATER RESCUES, FORCED FLOOD WALLS TO BE INSTALLED AND HAS THE CITY’S SEWER SYSTEM AT CAPACITY. BUT SEVERE WEATHER ISN’T THE ONLY THING GOING IN THE HISTORY BOOKS THIS YEAR. OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED ON SATURDAY THEY’RE CANCELING THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE WITH NO PLANS TO RESCHEDULE. WHILE THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAN WE’D LIKE TO DO THAN TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER ON SATURDAY TO WATCH ONE OF THE BEST AIR SHOWS IN THE COUNTRY AND ARGUABLY THE BEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN THE NATION. WE REALIZE THAT AT THIS TIME, IT’S VERY LOGISTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO WHAT WE WOULD DO AND TO DO IT SAFELY. COUNTING A CANCELLATION DUE TO THE 2020 PANDEMIC. THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND TIME THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL KICKOFF EVENT HASN’T HAPPENED IN 36 YEARS. CDPH EXPECTS TO TAKE A $126 MILLION REVENUE HIT FOR IT, AND LOCAL VENDORS WILL BE IMPACTED. BUT PRESIDENT MATT GIBSON SAYS RISK WITH THE RISING RIVER, A MAIN COMPONENT OF THE PRODUCTION, OUTWEIGHS THE BENEFITS. THERE’S CONCERNS FOR CRUISE SHOW PARTICIPANTS AND ATTENDEES AS PARTS OF THE PRIME VIEWING AREA. WATERFRONT PARK WOULD ALSO BE WASHED OUT BY FLOOD WATERS. IT IS A TOUGH DECISION, BUT IT IS THE RIGHT DECISION. WHILE SOME OF THE THOUSANDS OF THUNDER GOERS ARE DISHEARTENED AND SHOCKED BY THE NEWS. I’M DEVASTATED BECAUSE THAT’S JUST A TRADITION. IT’S JUST A FUN FAMILY THING TO DO, YOU KNOW, TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THE FIREWORKS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT FOODS AND STUFF. MANY UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE CITY, PRIORITIZING COMMUNITY. I’D ALWAYS RATHER HAVE THERE BE SAFETY OVER ENTERTAINMENT, AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE DISAPPOINTED, BUT I THINK WE’D BE MORE DISAPPOINTED IF SOMEONE GOT HURT. ABSOLUTELY. AND OFFICIALS WANT TO STRESS THAT THE ONLY IMPACT SO FAR IS THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE. THERE ARE STILL MORE THAN 70 KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL EVENTS SCHEDULED TO GO ON AS PLANNED. LIVE FROM WATERFRONT PARK FOR YO
Thunder Over Louisville canceled due to weather for 1st time ever
Updated: 12:31 AM EDT Apr 6, 2025
There will be no Thunder Over Louisville in 2025. Mayor Craig Greenberg began a press conference Saturday on flooding response in the city with a statement by Kentucky Derby Festival President Matt Gibson.You can watch the entire announcement in the player below.Gibson announced that Thunder is being canceled this year. The show was set for Saturday, April 12. KDF said that, due to the expected flood levels that will be reached in the coming days, production of the signature spring event that draws hundreds of thousands to the Louisville Waterfront every year will not be possible.“This weather event and flooding is like nothing we’ve faced before – especially this close to Thunder,” said Gibson. “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.” This is the first time in history that the massive fireworks show has been canceled due to weather.This is only the second time in the event’s history that Thunder has been cancelled. It was cancelled in 2020 during the pandemic. As clean-up continues around Louisville from Sunday and Wednesday’s storms, flooding remains a big concern.Here’s a current look at the Ohio River water level.KDF said that by mid-week Louisville’s riverfront will be impacted by the stalled weather system that has moved across the south and midwest. As a result, the Thunder venue will be under water, including the prime viewing areas in Waterfront Park. KDF said the water would not recede in time to allow for preparations for Saturday’s event, with safety being a risk for all involved. What about postponing it?KDF said Thunder is such a large-scale event and massive logistical undertaking involving partners at local, state and federal levels, that it’s not able to be postponed or rescheduled for another date. The Kentucky Derby Festival is not canceled, however. Gibson encouraged the community to come out and enjoy what it has to offer.“I want to emphasize, the Kentucky Derby Festival is not cancelled,” said Gibson. “We still have a full schedule of more than 70 events planned leading up to the first Saturday in May, including Friday’s They’re Off! Luncheon. Our mission is to bring the community together in celebration and that is still our plan.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —There will be no Thunder Over Louisville in 2025.
Mayor Craig Greenberg began a press conference Saturday on flooding response in the city with a statement by Kentucky Derby Festival President Matt Gibson.
You can watch the entire announcement in the player below.
Gibson announced that Thunder is being canceled this year.
The show was set for Saturday, April 12.
KDF said that, due to the expected flood levels that will be reached in the coming days, production of the signature spring event that draws hundreds of thousands to the Louisville Waterfront every year will not be possible.
“This weather event and flooding is like nothing we’ve faced before – especially this close to Thunder,” said Gibson. “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.”
This is the first time in history that the massive fireworks show has been canceled due to weather.
This is only the second time in the event’s history that Thunder has been cancelled. It was cancelled in 2020 during the pandemic.
As clean-up continues around Louisville from Sunday and Wednesday’s storms, flooding remains a big concern.
Here’s a current look at the Ohio River water level.
KDF said that by mid-week Louisville’s riverfront will be impacted by the stalled weather system that has moved across the south and midwest.
As a result, the Thunder venue will be under water, including the prime viewing areas in Waterfront Park.
KDF said the water would not recede in time to allow for preparations for Saturday’s event, with safety being a risk for all involved.
What about postponing it?
KDF said Thunder is such a large-scale event and massive logistical undertaking involving partners at local, state and federal levels, that it’s not able to be postponed or rescheduled for another date.
The Kentucky Derby Festival is not canceled, however. Gibson encouraged the community to come out and enjoy what it has to offer.
“I want to emphasize, the Kentucky Derby Festival is not cancelled,” said Gibson. “We still have a full schedule of more than 70 events planned leading up to the first Saturday in May, including Friday’s They’re Off! Luncheon. Our mission is to bring the community together in celebration and that is still our plan.”
