As the tornado approached Interstate 24, mostly tree damage was observed with a few structures impacted as well. The storm originated in Arkansas, according to Kentucky Division of Emergency Management director Michael Dossett, and touched down in Missouri and Tennessee before making its way into the Bluegrass State, where it ripped through the western half of the state before finally weakening in central Kentucky. 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. Please try another search. A potent storm system moved across the central United States on December 10-11, 2021 resulting in widespread severe weather. The program was created after an EF-4 tornado ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky, on Dec. 10, 2021. "We will get through this, we will rebuild," Beshear said early Saturday. (Tomer Burg/Univ. Single family residences: [25], Farther to the northeast, the tornado reached EF2 strength, tearing roofs off homes, damaging or destroying outbuildings, and damaging irrigation equipment. Forest destruction in the Land Between the Lake NRA. CURRENT HAZARDS Near the southwest city limit of Central City, a metal retail building suffered extensive loss and some damage to walls. [28] As the tornado entered Mayfield, it regained EF4 intensity, and numerous homes were damaged or destroyed along Cardinal Road, some of which were leveled or swept from their foundations. More than 12,300 Louisville Gas & Electric customers were without power as of 8:30 p.m., according to LG&E's power map. To the northeast of Dawson Springs and Interstate 69 there was damage to small barns and other farm outbuildings, along with roofs and walls separated from floor and undercarriages of manufactured homes. [36] Several restaurants, an indoor soccer facility, a barber shop, automotive business, gym, bank, movie theatre, health and rehab center, and many other businesses were destroyed in downtown Mayfield. The tornado then lifted just before impacting the city of Elkton where straight-line winds became dominant. The most (NOAA/NASA), Tornado path across open fields northeast of Highway 116 to Highway 1127 in Fulton County. A mother and her three children survived with relatively minor injuries by hanging on to a mattress as they were thrown 200 feet through the air into a field after the tornado swept their Dawson Springs home from its foundation. UPDATE: Tornado Warning extended to 3:15 PM Posted by Butler County Sheriff's Office on Monday, February 27, 2023 As of 3:08 p.m., wind gusts were closed at 51 mph at Lunken Airport and 46 mph at CVG. Authorities had initially said two people were killed. The tornado moved northeast, uprooting and snapping numerous trees along its path. It should have shut down':Inside the final frantic hours of the Mayfield candle factory. US Dept of Commerce It then intensified again as it approached and crossed the Marshall County line before moving through the northwestern and northern outskirts of Benton, damaging or destroying many homes, garages, and outbuildings, downing numerous trees and power lines, and flipping RV campers. After the dissipation of that tornado in Obion County northeast of Samburg, the supercell produced three weak, brief tornadoes before this one formed several miles to the northeast. In 2022, Timothy Marshall, . 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. Structures damaged: 341 Devastated forecast at Hillman Ferry in Land Between the Lakes NRA. [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. (NWS Storm Survey), Graves County Courthouse in downtown Mayfield. A hangar and some small airplanes were destroyed at the Mayfield Graves County Airport, and multiple homes were badly damaged. NWS Paducah Lead Meteorologist Chris Noles did an in-depth interview with ABC News on its Good Morning America program about the tornado outbreak. With a confirmed death toll of 57, it was the deadliest single tornado in the United States since the Joplin, Missouri tornado on May 22, 2011, ten years earlier. A few farm outbuildings were also damaged or destroyed in this area. Mayfieldwas hit hard. Numerous homes were completely leveled in Cambridge Shores, including multiple large lakeside homes that were flattened or swept away. Storm and Precipitation Reports Tornado devastation of Mayfield's central business district. Two other buildings were also heavily damaged along with multiple silos destroyed. of Oklahoma), Regional radar loop across the Lower Ohio and Lower Mississippi River valleys from 6 PM Dec. 10 to 8 AM Dec. 11. FEMA was advising residents from east-central Mississippi to extreme southwestern Virginia to stay vigilant as the storm system moved east. Kentucky likely saw its deadliest tornado system ever, the governor said. . [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. As many as 70 people are believed to have been killed in western Kentucky, and the death toll could exceed 100, according to Gov. Only large piles of bricks and lumber remained in the hardest-hit portions of the downtown area, and streets were left buried under debris. To be exact, 72 of those counties are without obstetric services. The tornadoes were part of a weather system that also caused. Andy Beshear told reporters the death. 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. [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. [29][30] The large metal-framed warehouse building completely collapsed, trapping many employees and resulting in eight deaths and numerous injuries. A school bus garage, metal industrial buildings, and apartment buildings also sustained major structural damage or were destroyed in other areas of town. Submit a Storm Report, CURRENT CONDITIONS . "This will be, I believe, the deadliest tornado system to ever run through Kentucky," he added. of Oklahoma), Regional radar loop across the Lower Ohio and Mid-Mississippi River valleys from 6 PM Dec. 10 to 8 AM Dec. 11. Damaged vehicles and personal property are strewn over a wide area, Dec. 11, 2021, in Bremen, Ky, after a devastating tornado swept through the area overnight. A neighborhood near the Princeton Golf and Country Club was hit at 10:18 p.m., and several structures experienced EF-4 tornado damage. [60], On December 11, Kentucky governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency for parts of western Kentucky, followed that same day by President Joe Biden's approval of a federal emergency disaster declaration for the state of Kentucky. At 10:14 p.m., the tornado reached Caldwell County. (NWS Storm Survey). Chelsea Emmons holds onto a cat that belongs to her mother, Kim Goforth, Dec. 11, 2021, in Bremen, Ky., while searching Goforth's following a tornado that struck overnight. Structures damaged: 1000 (estimate) The total damage caused by the tornado in Tennessee was estimated at $25,000 (2021 USD). Fulton County, KY: Drought (Chris Conley/270 Drones Aerial Imagery), Tornado devastation in Bremen on December 13, 2021. The tornado received a maximum rating of EF2 in Christian County and EF1 in Todd County, and 4 people were In Kentucky, it struck Mayfield directly before moving northeast through Benton, Princeton and Beaver Dam before weakening in Breckinridge County. Key events. NWS Paducah KY Weekly Partner Briefing In Marshall County, the tornado passed along the northwest edge of the city of Benton from 9:45 to 9:50 p.m. with estimated peak wind speeds of 140 MPH. Regional radar loop across the Lower Ohio and Mississippi River valleys from 6 PM Dec. 10 to 8 AM Dec. 11. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Continuing northeast, the tornado entered Dawson Springs in far eastern Hopkins County at 10:32 p.m. Courtesy of Ohio Valley Aerial. The tornado outbreak that took place this night over the western Kentucky region resulted in damage costs up to $3.5 billion. [52][53] A total of 11 people were killed in and around Bremen, and others were injured. Residential areas in the northern part of Dawson Springs were devastated, with entire blocks of homes destroyed, many of which were leveled or swept from their foundations. injured. During the second, more intense tornado, peak gate-to-gate velocities of 128mph (206km/h; 111kn) were recorded at 9:58p.m. CST (04:58 UTC) over northeastern Marshall County, Kentucky. . 2021 Western Kentucky tornado A long-tracked wedge spawned by the Quad-State supercell, that damaged, destroyed, or obliterated thousands of structures along a path of 165.6 miles (266.5 km) while moving at 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). Injuries: 5 The tornado finally weakened and dissipated near the Falls of Rough in Grayson County at 11:55 p.m. 01:39 - Source: CNN Tornado devastation captured by incredible drone. Many trees continued to be denuded and debarked. Aviation Weather At 5:51p.m. CST, the National Weather Service office in North Little Rock issued the first tornado warning associated with the storm for portions of Jackson, Lawrence, White, and Woodruff counties. The tornado received a maximum rating of EF2 in Stewart County, and 4 people were injured. [67], Disaster relief and humanitarian groups such as the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and World Vision collected donations and provided aid after the tornado. (Chris Conley), Destroyed neighborhood near the city park in Dawson Springs. Numerous large trees were snapped, denuded, and debarked, and vehicles were thrown in this area. WFO Paducah Navigator A fourth tornado emergency was in effect for Dawson Springs and St. Charles as the storm moved through the area. [66], The tornado's major impacts on Graves County Court operationsincluding the destruction of the courthouse in Mayfieldled the Kentucky Supreme Court to suspend the county's court operations (including physical and electronic court filings) between December 13, 2021 and January 11, 2022. (Brett Adair/Live Storms Media), Tornado devastation in Dawson Springs on December 13, 2021. In a statement Saturday night, Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said: "Were deeply saddened by the news that members of our Amazon family passed away as a result of the storm in Edwardsville, IL. Observations Emergency Management director Michael Hennigan remembers it . NWS Paducah plansto document the recovery of cities and towns that were devastatedduring this tornado outbreak. Along the outskirts of the town were small barns or farm outbuildings with collapsed roofs. Click to enlarge. The tornado then took straight aim for the city of Pembroke where significant tree damage was observed along with multiple houses with roof damage. The tornado clipped the Fort Donelson National Battlefield area of extreme southeastern Calloway County, Kentucky where it blew down several trees, then crossed the Tennessee River into the Most of the damage in this area was to farm buildings, but some homes near the town of Hartford in Ohio County suffered EF-3 damage. 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. Structures destroyed: 21, Hickman County, KY: Please select one of the following: At 10:14 p.m., the tornado reached Caldwell County. Across Graves County, 24 people died, and at least 200 people were injured. At least 74 people in Kentucky have died after a weekend tornado outbreak across eight states flattened homes and businesses in the Midwest and South. Weakening slightly to high-end EF3 strength but continuing to cause major damage, the tornado tracked to the northeast beyond Dawson Springs, passing north of Ilsley and through the rural community of Carbondale. [28], The National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency for Mayfield at 9:26p.m. CST (03:26 UTC) as the now-massive wedge tornado approached the town from the southwest. Local residents walk past the scene of a train derailment after a devastating outbreak of tornadoes ripped through several states in Earlington, Ky., on Dec. 11, 2021. Injuries 11 (including 3 critically) (Tomer Burg/Univ. "This is a tragic day in Illinois history," the governor said during a press briefing. MAYFIELD, Ky., Dec 11 (Reuters) - At least 100 people were feared dead in Kentucky after a swarm of tornadoes tore a 200-mile path through the U.S. Midwest and South, demolishing homes,. In this area, 15 residents of Dawson Springs perished. In all, the tornado covered over 165 miles in about three hours, claiming 57 lives and injuring over 500 people. Items of Interest The event developed as a trough progressed eastward across the United States, interacting with an unseasonably moist and unstable . Its path length of 165 miles was the ninth longest tornado path ever recorded in the U.S. Tornado devastation in Mayfield on December 11, 2021. The tornado then crossed into Todd County where mostly tree damage and damage to farm/outbuildings were observed. Gov. [26][56] The last area of EF3-strength damage occurred along KY 69 and Utley Drive northeast of Hartford, where a poorly-anchored block-foundation home was swept away and completely destroyed, and other houses nearby sustained total loss of their roofs and exterior walls. 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. Kelsey Joe Lane along Lake Barkley in Lyon County. Around 40 people were evacuated, although the facility had major structural damage from the storm and housed dangerous equipment, he said late Saturday morning. A devastating tornado outbreak has killed dozens of people across multiple states, with Kentucky possibly seeing its deadliest tornado system ever, officials said. Tornado devastation in Bremen on December 13, 2021. Where did the tornado hit in Kentucky? (NWS Storm Survey). The first observed damage was in Newbern near Washington Street. More were expected early Saturday. We also want to thank all the first responders for their ongoing efforts on scene.". Minor tree damage occurred before the tornado finally dissipated near Park Drive in Grayson County at 11:48p.m. CST (5:48 UTC) as it entered Rough River Dam State Resort Park near Rough River Lake, approximately four miles (6.4km) west of McDaniels. [34][35] Most of the structures in downtown Mayfield were heavily damaged or destroyed, including multiple large, well-built, multi-story brick buildings that completely collapsed. It moved through an abandoned coal strip mine, overturning a large section of a coal conveyor belt, snapping many trees, and downing power poles. 5 people were injured in west Tennessee. Emmons found the cat hiding in a dresser drawer. Also, the fast forward speed of the tornado had little dwell time of strong winds over a building and thus, the damage likely would have been more severe if the tornado were slower.[59], The Western Kentucky tornado killed 57 people and resulted in between 508 and 533 injuries (according to figures from the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky). "It's a very dire situation at this point," Beshear said. In southern Illinois, in Edwardsville, an Amazon distribution warehouse was hit by a tornado, causing massive damage to the facility, officials said. (Tomer Burg/Univ. A road sign along the Western Kentucky Parkway was blown about a tenth of a mile near the end of the track. It became strong again north of Centertown, producing EF2 damage as multiple homes and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, including a well-built house that had much of its roof torn off and sustained collapse of an exterior wall. The tornado continued northeast causing mostly tree damage before completely destroying four tobacco barns and damaging three equipment garages off of Bradshaw Road. [1] Homes and businesses sustained significant EF3 damage in this area, and two tractor-trailers were lifted and thrown 40 yards (37m), with one of the cabs being badly mangled. [31][32][29][30] Allegedly, workers' jobs had been threatened if they left the factory between the first and second tornado warnings for the area a tornado warning had been issued earlier that evening at approximately 5:30p.m. CST and then again after the second tornado warning was issued after 9:00p.m. The governor declared a state of emergency and submitted a request for a federal emergency declaration. Filmed in August 2022 by Chris Conley/270 Drone Aerial Imagery. As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, more than 437,000 customers were without power across Tennessee, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas. ABC News' Victoria Arancio, Ahmad Hemingway, Matt Foster, Hope Osemwenkhae and Matthew Vann contributed to this report. Several duplexes were destroyed at Clarkdale Court, including one that was leveled with only a pile of debris remaining. Drone footage from storm chaser Brandon Clement shows the devastation left by a powerful storm in Mayfield, Kentucky. A tornado near Hornersville, Missouri, was on the ground at about 8 p.m. local time. [5], As an intense upper-level trough progressed across the High Plains, with robust instability and moisture return realized across the Mississippi Valley, the SPC expanded the enhanced risk and introduced a moderate risk area from northeastern Arkansas into southern Illinois on the morning of December 10. An aerial view of the damage to the candle factory after a devastating outbreak of tornadoes ripped through several states, in Mayfield, Ky., Dec. 11, 2021. University of Kentucky Research and Education Center south of Princeton. Destruction in Cambridge Shores looking east across Kentucky Lake. The [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. All rights reserved. SKYWARN Several outbuildings and mobile homes were also obliterated in the Cayce area. All NOAA. Crick served McLean and Muhlenberg counties, the court said. Mayfield, with a population of about 10,000, is in Graves County, which borders Tennessee. First responders at the scene of a nursing home damaged by severe weather in Monette, Arkansas, where several people were trapped inside, Dec. 11, 2021. After crossing Lake Barkley, the tornado weakened to EF3 strength but continued to cause major damage as it crossed KY 93 and I-24 near the eastern shore of the lake, where many additional homes sustained major damage or were destroyed, including several that were leveled or swept from their foundations. 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's a radar artifact that is usually caused by very large hail. The tornado struck a well constructed single Two anchored mobile homes were also swept away and destroyed, with their frames tossed and bent, one of which was thrown 100 yards (91m). The largest and most devastating of the five tornadoes that ripped into Kentucky overnight Saturday tore through hundreds of miles and multiple states. Structures destroyed or uninhabitable: 84. Satellite 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. From there the tornado progressed over U.S. Highway 68, where power lines were destroyed along with collapsed metal truss towers, before arriving at the Cambridge Shores community on the western shore of Kentucky Lake at 9:57 p.m. One person died here, and the tornado produced EF-4 damage, including several homes with all the walls collapsed, large sections of roofs torn off, and uprooted hardwood trees. [45] 14 people were killed in the Dawson Springs area, and many others were injured. Emergency crews respond at a damaged Amazon.com, Inc warehouse after a tornado passed through Edwardsville, Ill., Dec. 10, 2021 in this still image taken from drone video obtained on Dec. 11, 2021. Andy Beshear and more than 70 people killed. The report notes that the tornado damage rating might have been higher had more wind resistant structures been encountered. (NOAA/NASA), Before and after satellite imagery of Dawson Springs in Hopkins County. A nearby church had minor structural damage. The CBS program 60 Minutes interviewed staff from NWS Paducah and survivors of the tornado to share the power of its devastation with the world. In Madisonville, Kentucky, a train derailment was caused by the storms, though no injuries were reported. Structures damaged: 40 CST. Rescuers continued to search for survivors Monday after tornadoes tore through Kentucky and neighboring states over the weekend, devastating entire towns and killing dozens of people. Five others suffered serious injuries. The tornado slightly weakened and moved northeast toward Paris Landing and eventually crossed the Tennessee River. (NWS Storm Survey), Poultry farm on Clark Road in Fulton County. "We don't know where all those people are.". [20] The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a total of 149 tornado warnings throughout the night across portions of nine states including Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana. In Kentucky, it struck Mayfield directly before moving northeast through Benton, Princeton and Beaver Dam before weakening in Breckinridge County. [60], Damage totals vary by source, but the tornado produced profound destruction in multiple communities. [8] Though this activity lacked much vigor at its onset due to a strong capping inversion,[9] the convective cells began to show organization as they progressed eastward. Bowling Green, the home of Western Kentucky University, also saw extensive damage the school canceled commencement ceremonies scheduled for Saturday in the aftermath of the storm. The tornado produced EF-4 damage in Cayce, including the total destruction of buildings and complete collapse of the walls in family homes. [55] Some weakening occurred, but significant damage continued after the tornado exited Bremen and crossed US 431, where some homes and mobile homes were damaged or destroyed, and hundreds of large trees were snapped and denuded. An American Legion post and a car wash were flattened, while a church and a medical clinic sustained major damage. Its 165.7 mile long path length was on the longest for a tornado in U.S. history. This area endured some of the worst damage of the fierce storm front. The Associated Press has confirmed the deaths of 22 people in Kentucky from the storms, as search and rescue missions are ongoing. [11] One of the first tornadoes associated with the storm, an EF0, touched down in western Poinsett County (near Weiner) around 6:40p.m. CST; about fifteen minutes later, storm spotters reported a large tornado near Greenfield, prompting a PDS tornado warning for portions of Poinsett, Craighead and Mississippi counties (including areas to the south of Jonesboro). Continuing northeast, the tornado entered Dawson Springs in far eastern Hopkins County at 10:32 p.m. South of Earlington, the tornado derailed a train, moving several rail cars several feet up an embankment next to the railroad tracks. Many family residence homes experienced loss of significant roof covering material, collapsed chimneys and garage doors, and walls completely folded with broken windows and shattered glass. Complete destruction of homes on Bethlehem Cemetery Road in Bremen. Tornado path through an open field south of Hodge Road in Hickman County. AFTER (right): this image shows the damage to homes and buildings after the tornado in Mayfield, Ky. on Dec. 11, 2021. Timothy Marshall, a meteorologist, and structural and forensic engineer, Christine L. Wielgos, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service of Paducah, & Brian E. Smith, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service of Omaha, later published a damage survey from Dawson Springs which rated this apartment complex as mid-EF3 intensity with winds estimated at 155 miles per hour (249km/h). "We're working with Governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue. "One block from my grandparents' house, there's no house standing," Beshear said. Kentucky Gov . South of Earlington, the tornado derailed a train, moving several rail cars several feet up an embankment next to the railroad tracks. Seven miles north of Benton in the small town of Briensburg, there were a few homes with large sections of roof structures removed, though most walls remained standing. [61] The tornado destroyed primarily low-income rental housing units, leading to a depleted stock of affordable housing in the city; the Mayfield Housing Authority reported that it had more than 700 requests for one-bedroom units almost a year after the tornado. [26], Afterward, the tornado intensified even further, reaching near high-end EF4 intensity as it tore directly through the center of town, resulting in widespread, catastrophic damage throughout the historic downtown square of Mayfield. On Thursday, the National Weather Service tweeted that the portion of the tornado that traveled through through Western Kentucky was given a preliminary damage rating of EF4. [43] Trees were stripped of their limbs and partially debarked in and around Princeton, barns and farm buildings were obliterated, livestock was killed, and cycloidal markings were left in fields outside of town. Hundreds of trees were downed along Cane Ford Road, and an abandoned trailer home was destroyed. A CSX freight line train was derailed as the tornado struck Barnsley, and 25 multi-ton freight cars were derailed, several of which were thrown from the tracks, including one that was tossed into a house. Over 3,778 residences, 183 commercial properties, and 103 other buildings were either damaged or totally destroyed, including the county courthouse and the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory. Recovery efforts in Princeton,Dawson Springs, and Bremen. The tornado scoured multiple trenches into the ground in this area, with all grass and several inches of topsoil removed in the worst affected areas. Structures destroyed: 300 (estimate), Hopkins County, KY One person was receiving medical treatment, he added, with the effort shifting to a search and recovery mission. Mon 13 Dec 2021 05.26 EST Last modified on Mon 13 Dec 2021 07.51 EST. The tornado began in Obion County, in northwest Tennessee, and tracked across 11 counties in western Kentucky: Fulton, Hickman, Graves, Marshall, Lyon, Caldwell, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Breckenridge, and Grayson. There were reports of two people dead after a tornado moved through northeast Arkansas, according to Gov. The Dawson Village apartment complex was totally destroyed, and several two-story brick apartment buildings sustained EF4 damage there, being largely reduced to rubble with only a few first-floor interior walls left intact. [1][26], After moving to the northeast of Cayce, the tornado weakened but still remained strong as it moved through rural areas to the northeast of town at EF3 intensity, destroying barns and a cell tower, and tearing the roof and exterior walls from a house. Injuries: 54 It then continued to travel northeast where it passed Indian Branch and Morgan Branch where it continued to uproot trees and destroyed some farm outbuildings, lifted the roofs off of some single and double wide mobile homes and completely flattened some barns and single wide structures. Still producing violent EF-4 damage, numerous homes and pieces of infrastructure suffered catastrophic damage.

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