[45] 14 people were killed in the Dawson Springs area, and many others were injured. [26], The tornado reached a peak width of 1.5 miles (2.4km), and was on the ground for nearly three hours, tracking 165.6 miles (266.5km) from Woodland Mills to Rough River Dam State Resort Park. The storm spawned one single. Structures damaged: 81 All rights reserved. The tornado initially caused minor damage to trees and roofs as it moved through the north side of Woodland Mills, crossing SR 5. Structures damaged: Unknown (NWS Storm Survey), University of Kentucky Research and Education Center south of Princeton. After crossing Lake Barkley on the eastern side of the recreation area, the tornado was now in Lyon County. [42] Dozens of homes were destroyed along the southern and southeastern fringes of town, especially at the Princeton Golf and Country Club subdivision, where several houses were leveled or swept away. The tornado produced those 57 fatalities in multiple locations along its extended damage path, killing 24 people in Graves County (which also saw more than 200 of the total injuries), 15 in Hopkins County, 11 in Muhlenberg County, 4 in Caldwell County, and 1 person each in Fulton, Marshall, and Lyon counties. Aerial footage of damage in Dawson Springs. Five large chicken houses were destroyed, and hundreds of large hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted along a quarter-mile wide swath along this section of the path. It abruptly intensified to high-end EF4 strength as it crossed and paralleled KY 175 through the north side of town. Kentucky tornadoes: up to 100 feared dead in historic US - The Guardian A tale of two loads of Kentucky tornado relief collected, distributed It's a radar artifact that is usually caused by very large hail. The tornado paralleled the OhioGrayson county line, and very briefly crossed a bend in the Rough River into Grayson County. It's completely possible that the December 10th tornado in WKY contained either a satellite tornado, or underwent a vortex merger in Dawson Springs. (NOAA/NASA), Before and after satellite imagery of the Cambridge Shores community on Kentucky Lake in Marshall County. (NWS Storm Survey), Damage to a medical center on Water Street in Mayfield. A road sign along the Western Kentucky Parkway was blown about a tenth of a mile near the end of the track. Amazon truck cabs are seen outside a damaged Amazon Distribution Center after it was hit by a tornado, Dec. 11, 2021, in Edwardsville, Ill. Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images The deadliest tornado in Kentucky history was March 27, 1890, when 76 people died, according to the National Weather Service. [57] It was rated high-end EF4, with an estimated peak wind speed of 190mph (310km/h). One fatality occurred in Cayce, and several other people were injured. Aerial view of EF4 damage in Mayfield, Kentucky, on December 12, one of several towns impacted by the tornado. [18][19], The SPC issued a record-setting 43 mesoscale discussions (MCD) throughout the course of the day (12 UTC December 10 to 12 UTC December 11), all of which were associated with the broader storm system: 38 of the MCDs issued were convective discussions relating to the severe thunderstorm activity, and five were non-convective discussions relating to heavy snow associated with the system that concurrently fell throughout much of the Upper Midwest. CURRENT HAZARDS EF 3, or higher? A school bus garage, metal industrial buildings, and apartment buildings also sustained major structural damage or were destroyed in other areas of town. Kentucky tornadoes: Death toll from tornadoes rises to 74 | CNN First responders surround a damaged Amazon Distribution Center on Dec. 10, 2021, in Edwardsville, Ill. After moving northeast a half mile (0.8km), it crossed the TennesseeKentucky state line near the community of State Line in Fulton County, causing additional EF0 tree damage. Despite the potential for a higher-end severe threat to materialize, forecasters expressed uncertainty regarding the extent of instability, degree of directional wind shear, and late timing of potential storms. Hourly Forecasts Deaths: 24 "We're working with Governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue. An interior view of tornado damage to Emmanuel Baptist Church, Dec. 11, 2021, in Mayfield, Ky. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. However, the National Weather Service did not confirm this.[48][49]. Tornado, high winds cause damage in Butler County The large and well-constructed Graves County Courthouse had much of its roof torn off, its clock tower collapsed, and it had some of its exterior upper-floor walls knocked down. [26], Soon after, it intensified again and crossed into Caldwell County, producing EF4 damage as it impacted the south edge of Princeton, where a tornado emergency was issued. The worst of the damage occurred near the Dawson Springs park, where several homes were completely destroyed, including a few low rise apartment buildings. Local [4] The following day, the SPC discussed higher certainty in a corridor of organized severe thunderstorm potential stretching from southeastern Arkansas northeast into southern Indiana, upgrading that region to an enhanced risk. Please try another search. occurred to several homes, farm outbuildings, and structures on Palmyra Road. Around 40 people were evacuated, although the facility had major structural damage from the storm and housed dangerous equipment, he said late Saturday morning. NWS Paducah Lead Meteorologist Chris Noles did an in-depth interview with ABC News on its Good Morning America program about the tornado outbreak. Weather History. After exiting Bremen, the tornado crossed through mainly rural areas of eastern Muhlenberg, Ohio, Breckenridge, and Grayson counties. [63][64] Beshear also announced the creation of a tornado relief fund and asked people to donate blood, as donated blood was running low throughout the pandemic. Snowfall Dozens Dead, Injured After Historic Tornado Outbreak Andy Beshear and more than 70 people killed. Houses that were farther away from the center of the damage path sustained roof and exterior wall loss, while mobile homes, barns, garages, and outbuildings were also destroyed. A fire department building had its roof torn off, and large metal boat storage buildings were also destroyed. Uprooted trees on US 51 north of Sawmill Road in Hickman County. [3], On December 8, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) delineated a slight risk of severe weather along much of the Mississippi Valley. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted by the storm. Ohio, Breckenridge, and Grayson County, KY: Forest destruction in the Land Between the Lake NRA. An RV camper was thrown 30 yards (27m) in this area as well, landing upside down, while tractors and large hay bales were also thrown considerable distances. . Emergency Management director Michael Hennigan remembers it . Bethlehem Baptist Church had one of its brick exterior walls blown out and was shifted off of its foundation slightly, while Church Street General Baptist Church lost much of its roof. Structures destroyed or uninhabitable:356, Lyon County, KY: In addition to Edwardsville, two EF-3 tornadoes were confirmed in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and near Defiance, Missouri, according to the National Weather Service. "Rescues and search efforts are ongoing -- even before the wind stopped blowing, crews were out working," Dossett said Saturday morning. Many homes were destroyed along this portion of the path, including several that were obliterated and completely swept away, with little debris remaining. It downed power lines as it crossed KY 79 at EF0 strength, where it damaged a large boat storage facility and scattered debris 300 yards (270m) to the northeast, across the runway of a small airport. The death toll in the "most severe tornado event in Kentucky's history" may end up "exceeding 100 before the day is done," Beshear said. Dual polarization radar imagery showed that the tornado had lofted debris up to 30,000 feet (9,100m) into the air as it impacted the city. December 13, 2021: HQ-21-260: Release Date: . Structures damaged: 40 Hazardous Weather Support Kelsey Joe Lane along Lake Barkley in Lyon County. Its path length of 165 miles was the ninth longest tornado path ever recorded in the U.S. (NWS Storm Survey), Damage to a forest along Bayou de Chien in Hickman County. Kentucky tornado path map: See the deadly, 200-mile path Continuing northeast, the tornado entered Dawson Springs in far eastern Hopkins County at 10:32 p.m. The Graves County Courthouse in Mayfield was also heavily damaged in Friday night's deadly tornado, according to the statement. A tornado near Hornersville, Missouri, was on the ground at about 8 p.m. local time. ", During a press briefing Saturday, Biden said this was likely "one of the largest tornado outbreaks in our history. Deadly Tornado Aftermath: At Least 74 Dead in Kentucky Tornadoes; Biden A potent storm system moved across the central United States on December 10-11, 2021 resulting in widespread severe weather. Deaths: 1 injured. More:Here's how the National Weather Service decides a tornado's rating, For the category of the biggest tornado, the National Weather Service office in PaducahtweetedSaturday it would likely "take some time to make a determination on intensity / rating.". Local tornado survivor celebrates newly renovated home in Mayfield A tale of two loads of Kentucky tornado relief collected, distributed, with owner-op Daniel Koors (Podcast Episode 2021) Movies, TV, Celebs, and more. One person was receiving medical treatment, he added, with the effort shifting to a search and recovery mission. Amazon said emergency safety training in case of tornadoes is given to new employees and repeated throughout the year. [65] The NWS office in Paducah requested mental health officers be there to assist the meteorologists due to potential trauma from assessing the path of devastation from the tornado. Officials in Kentucky reported 77 fatalities statewide on Friday with just one person still missing after several tornadoes devastated the state a week ago. The tornado again reached EF4 intensity as it tore directly through the small community of Cambridge Shores, located along the western shore of Kentucky Lake. [21][15], Multiple PDS tornado warnings and tornado emergencies were also issued as well in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri. (NWS Storm Survey), Ground level view of the destruction in downtown Mayfield. Kentucky Family of Seven Among Those Killed in Tornado