[12], Doppler radar analysis estimated that the supercell maintained a nearly continuous high-end rotational vorticity signature, averaging at 94mph (151km/h; 82kn) for approximately four hours and 20 minutes, among a rarity of thunderstorms (averaging 1.5% of all supercells) that produce mesocyclonic vorticity exceeding such speeds. Four tornadoes hit Kentucky. Along the outskirts of the town were small barns or farm outbuildings with collapsed roofs. SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) When storms roll in to Scott County, a lot of people think back to the early-morning of December 6, 2021. One such stormwhich formed from the initial mid-afternoon activity near Arkadelphia, Arkansasmatured into a long-lived supercell as it progressed in an unstable, deeply moist, and highly sheared environment;[10] this cell ultimately persisted for longer than 550 miles (890km) over several hours from eastern Arkansas to northeastern Kentucky, producing two large and intense tornadoes along its track, among eleven tornadoes in total. 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,. [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. 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. NWS The tornado continued northeast causing mostly tree damage before completely destroying four tobacco barns and damaging three equipment garages off of Bradshaw Road. 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. Drought Several outbuildings and mobile homes were also obliterated in the Cayce area. (Chris Conley/270 Drones Aerial Imagery), Tornado devastation in Bremen on December 13, 2021. "Overwhelmed and mixed emotions," tornado survivor Kay Houston says. Deaths: 15
A mobile home was completely demolished and significant roofing damage was done to a brick home on Herndon
Some logistics facilities and warehouses were leveled in an industrial park as the tornado exited town, and several metal self-storage unit buildings and large garages were obliterated nearby. It crossed US 231, I-165, and KY 69 near Hartford, along with the Rough River twice. 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. The Graves County Courthouse in Mayfield was also heavily damaged in Friday night's deadly tornado, according to the statement. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also pledged assistance to people affected by the tornadoes. Structures damaged: 341
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. In this area, 15 residents of Dawson Springs perished. NWS storm damage surveys found a violent EF-4tornado began in far northwest Tennesseeand moved across western Kentucky, resulting in significant destruction to portions of the region. Tornado devastation in Bremen on December 13, 2021. Damage to several homes in a neighborhood at the Princeton County Club. Mon 13 Dec 2021 05.26 EST Last modified on Mon 13 Dec 2021 07.51 EST. [54] Among the fatalities was District Judge Brian Crick, who represented Muhlenberg and McLean counties, as confirmed in a statement from the Supreme Court of Kentucky on December 11. (NWS Storm Survey). 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. [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. Injuries: 5
Even counties that weren't hit by tornadoes were impacted by storms. 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. Several buildings and homes in downtown Dresden suffered significant damage or were completely destroyed. The University of Kentucky Research Center was destroyed, with metal roof trusses carried hundreds of yards from the structure and wrapped around trees. Entering Breckinridge County at EF1 intensity, it paralleled the BreckinridgeGrayson county line and passed northwest of Falls of Rough. The freight train was carrying hazardous materials, Beshear wrote in his letter asking for a federal emergency declaration. After crossing Kentucky Lake, the tornado thrashed across the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, where thousands of trees were ravaged. In Kentucky, it struck Mayfield directly before moving northeast through Benton, Princeton and Beaver Dam before weakening in Breckinridge County. Continuing northeast, the tornado entered Dawson Springs in far eastern Hopkins County at 10:32 p.m. [27] However, no structures were impacted near US 51, and no rating was applied to the intense scouring. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? [63] On December 15, Mayor of Mayfield Kathy Stewart ONan said that recovery efforts would continue. One of the most devastated sites is the southwestern Kentucky city of Mayfield, where a tornado hit the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory Friday night while people were working. The tornado passed just south of the city of Lafayette, Kentucky where it immediately struck a barn and knocked down several electrical transmission lines. . Injuries: 5
[71][72] Workers said they were told by management that "if you leave, youre more than likely to be fired. (NWS Storm Survey), Ground level view of the destruction in downtown Mayfield. PADUCAH McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer has declared a state of emergency the county in light of tornado damage sustained during Friday's severe weather. [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. 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. Our Office 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. Around 40 people were evacuated, although the facility had major structural damage from the storm and housed dangerous equipment, he said late Saturday morning. Large barns and garages were completely demolished, and a small brick office structure was destroyed, along with homes, very large silos, and a fertilizer storage facility. William Widmer for The New York Times. Injuries 11 (including 3 critically)
The program was created after an EF-4 tornado ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky, on Dec. 10, 2021. Share on Facebook; . According to meteorologist Bob Henson: "No U.S. tornado is known to have killed more than 80 people outside the core . CST. 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. injured. 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. Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook, Evansville Local Standard Radar (low bandwidth), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Before and after satellite imagery of downtown Mayfield. Filmed in August 2022 by Chris Conley/270 Drone Aerial Imagery. 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. [51] Thousands of large trees were mowed down, and vehicles were flipped. Kentucky likely saw its deadliest tornado system ever, the governor said. The post office, city hall, fire station, and police station were also significantly damaged or destroyed,[29] and the emergency operations center lost the ability to transmit radio communications. The tornado then crossed into Todd County where mostly tree damage and damage to farm/outbuildings were observed. 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. The largest and most devastating of the five tornadoes that ripped into Kentucky overnight Saturday tore through hundreds of miles and multiple states. A neighborhood near the Princeton Golf and Country Club was hit at 10:18 p.m., and several structures experienced EF-4 tornado damage. The tornado produced EF-4 damage in Cayce, including the total destruction of buildings and complete collapse of the walls in family homes. By Emily Shapiro, Max Golembo, Daniel Peck, Mark Osborne, and Meredith Deliso December 11, 2021, 4:45 PM 5:15 Chelsea Emmons holds onto a cat that belongs to her mother, Kim Gof.Read More 01:39 - Source: CNN Tornado devastation captured by incredible drone. [26], Past Midway, the tornado became violent and reached EF4 strength again, producing catastrophic damage as it made a direct hit on the city of Dawson Springs, located along the CaldwellHopkins county line. [16][17] By the pre-dawn hours of December11, a decrease in instability led to a gradual weakening of a line of thunderstorms stretching along the associated cold front from eastern Kentucky southward into central Alabama. Hourly Forecasts (Chris Conley), Destroyed neighborhood near the city park in Dawson Springs. The tornado paralleled the OhioGrayson county line, and very briefly crossed a bend in the Rough River into Grayson County. Emmons found the cat hiding in a dresser drawer. The tornado finally weakened and dissipated near the Falls of Rough in Grayson County at 11:55 p.m. "This has been the most devastating tornado event in our state's history," Beshear said during a Saturday morning press briefing. National Weather Service [21][15], Multiple PDS tornado warnings and tornado emergencies were also issued as well in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri. In addition to Edwardsville, two EF-3 tornadoes were confirmed in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and near Defiance, Missouri, according to the National Weather Service. (Chris Conley), Complete destruction of a home near Bremen. 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. A neighborhood near the Princeton Golf and Country Club was hit at 10:18 p.m., and several structures experienced EF-4 tornado damage. [70], Accusations that factory management prohibited workers from leaving the candle factory in Mayfield before the tornado struck were reported on December 13. [13][14][15], Elsewhere, multiple lines of intense storms, some featuring embedded supercells, developed across the Mississippi Valley region through the overnight hours, contributing to additional strong and long-lived tornadoes. (NWS Storm Survey), Damage to a medical center on Water Street in Mayfield. The tornado initially caused minor damage to trees and roofs as it moved through the north side of Woodland Mills, crossing SR 5. Several homes had significant roof damage. Its 165.7 mile long path length was on the longest for a tornado in U.S. history. Interactive Damage Survey Map- Zoom in and click the points to see damage information and pictures. Tornado devastation in Dawson Springs on December 13, 2021. Structures destroyed: 300 (estimate), Hopkins County, KY
Ohio, Breckenridge, and Grayson County, KY:
Structures destroyed: 21, Hickman County, KY:
The toll makes it the deadliest tornado ever recorded in the United States in the month of December, in addition to being the deadliest tornado in over a decade. A fire department building had its roof torn off, and large metal boat storage buildings were also destroyed. Devastated forecast at Hillman Ferry in Land Between the Lakes NRA. 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. Tornadoes were also confirmed on the ground in Mayfield, Kentucky, at about 9:30 p.m. local time and in Princeton, Kentucky, just after 10 p.m. Hundreds of trees were downed along Cane Ford Road, and an abandoned trailer home was destroyed. Tornado devastation of Mayfield's central business district. 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. [60], Damage totals vary by source, but the tornado produced profound destruction in multiple communities. "We will get through this, we will rebuild," Beshear said early Saturday. ", During a press briefing Saturday, Biden said this was likely "one of the largest tornado outbreaks in our history. 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). 200 PHOTOS . The concrete foundation was scoured away. Serving Madisonville and Hopkins County, KY. 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. The most severe damage in Caldwell County occurred as the tornado passed just south of Princeton. 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. [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. "I say to all the victims, you're in our prayers.". Concrete floor slabs were torn from the foundation of one home and shattered, while the paved driveway of another residence was cracked and scoured. Destruction in Cambridge Shores looking east across Kentucky Lake. The
", Kentucky tornado donations:How to donate to Kentucky tornado relief funds, blood drives. 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. Three large churches were destroyed in downtown Mayfield, including the First Presbyterian Church, a large and well-built brick structure that was mostly leveled. "This will be, I believe, the deadliest tornado system to ever run through Kentucky," he added. "We're working with Governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue. Kentucky Gov . Single family residences:
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. Fire Weather (NWS Storm Survey), Graves County Courthouse in downtown Mayfield. . The First Christian Church sustained collapse of its domed roof and upper walls, while the First United Methodist Church's sanctuary, which was constructed with very thick masonry exterior walls, collapsed. Photos by Jeff Stevens on facebook", "Tragic tornado damage to neighborhood on NW side of Bremen, KY", "Kentucky district judge confirmed dead in tornado outbreak", "NWS Damage Survey for 12/10/2021 Tornado Event Ohio/Breckinridge/Grayson County Kentucky Tornado", "One Year Later, Tornado Recovery Continues to Make Progress", "Kentucky tornado survivors living in limbo nearly one year later", "Kentucky hardest hit as storms leave dozens dead in 5 states", "Governor Andy Beshear declares a State of Emergency after Western Kentucky tornadoes", "Mayfield, Ky., mayor: 'There's always hope. Mayfieldwas hit hard. (NWS Storm Survey), Tossed vehicles and destroyed buildings in Mayfield. "We are strong, resilient people, and we will be there every step of the way.". ), 12 dic (EFE).- Pasadas 24 horas desde que un poderoso tornado asol la pequea localidad estadounidense de Mayfield, en Kentucky, el rescate contina en lo que era una . The Associated Press has confirmed the deaths of 22 people in Kentucky from the storms, as search and rescue missions are ongoing. Damage to a house in rural Hickman County. [26][56] Damage of up to high-end EF2 intensity occurred beyond this point as the tornado crossed Humble Valley Road, Halls Creek Road, and Mount Vernon Road before passing north of Olaton. Structures destroyed or uninhabitable: 84. Structures damaged: 1000 (estimate)
Once the tornado moved out of Pembroke, two mobile homes were completely
J. "This has been one of the toughest nights in Kentucky history,and some areas have been hit in ways that are hard to put into words," Beshear said. "I think the largest loss of life in this tornado event is and will be there.". At 3:00p.m. CST (21:00UTC), the SPC issued a tornado watch across the highest risk area (encompassing central and eastern Arkansas, west Tennessee, northwestern Mississippi, southeastern Missouri, and southern portions of Illinois and Indiana), the first of eleven issued over subsequent hours over the middle Mississippi Valley. EF 3, or higher? (NWS Storm Survey), Damage to a forest along Bayou de Chien in Hickman County. Trees in this area were debarked and denuded, cars were thrown, and mobile homes were obliterated. In Bremen, the tornado claimed the lives of 11 residents of the town of 300 people. Soon after, the tornado became violent and directly impacted the small community of Cayce at EF4 intensity, where multiple homes and small businesses were damaged or destroyed, with some that were leveled or swept clean from their foundations. A tornado near Hornersville, Missouri, was on the ground at about 8 p.m. local time. A music venue housed in an old school building was badly damaged, and the Cayce Volunteer Fire Department building was totally destroyed, with the metal beams of the structure being severely twisted, while pieces of heavy machinery were tossed around. MAYFIELD, Ky. Three days after tornadoes tore a 200-mile wound through Kentucky, scores of people remained unaccounted for on Monday. A church and a business were damaged nearby, and further weakening occurred further to the northeast, where EF0 to EF1 damage to trees and structures was noted. Passing near the MuhlenbergMcLean county line, the tornado weakened substantially as it crossed into Ohio County at 11:10p.m. (05:10 UTC), producing EF1 damage as it traversed rugged, hilly terrain to the west of Centertown. 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. Several dozen workers were able to escape from the building on their own, Edwardsville Police Chief Michael Fillback said Saturday morning. Another person remains missing in Lake County, he said. A devastating tornado outbreak has killed dozens of people across multiple states, with Kentucky possibly seeing its deadliest tornado system ever, officials said. Aviation Weather The tornado reached Hickman County at 9:06 p.m., where the tornado damaged 40 buildings, with at least 12 buildings completely destroyed. Tornado #3 - EF-1Tornado near Central City, KY. A relatively weak and short-lived tornado occurred on the evening of December 10, 2021,in central Muhlenberg County prior to the larger and more powerful EF-4 tornado in northern parts of the county. Four fatalities occurred in Princeton, along with numerous injuries. In 2022, Timothy Marshall, . Deaths: 4
In Kentucky, it struck Mayfield directly before moving northeast through Benton, Princeton and Beaver Dam before weakening in Breckinridge County. In Madisonville, Kentucky, a train derailment was caused by the storms, though no injuries were reported. 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. Alejandro Mayorkas visited affected areas of Kentucky Sunday to see tornado destruction firsthand and meet with first responders and emergency management officials conducting operations throughout the state. 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. 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. [74] The following January, the factory closed and Mayfield Consumer Products laid off approximately 250 workers there, shifting operations and the remaining workers to a new plant in the nearby town of Hickory.[75]. It's a radar artifact that is usually caused by very large hail. Please try another search. Its. SKYWARN The tornado slightly weakened and moved northeast toward Paris Landing and eventually crossed the Tennessee River. The Paducah officealso saidan aerial assessment of damage appearedto show an "historic long track tornado" that was at least three-quarters of a mile wide in Kentucky as it went from southwest of Cayce in Fulton County to at least Beaver Dam in Ohio County. "One block from my grandparents' house, there's no house standing," Beshear said. Still producing violent EF-4 damage, numerous homes and pieces of infrastructure suffered catastrophic damage. The worst of the damage occurred near the Dawson Springs park, where several homes were completely destroyed, including a few low rise apartment buildings. All NOAA. The tornado began in the community of Woodland Mills in Obion County, Tennessee along Woodland Mills Road at 8:54p.m. CST (02:54 UTC), produced by the same supercell that had previously produced another violent long-tracked tornado that affected northeast Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel, and northwest Tennessee, near Reelfoot Lake. Damage in this area was rated EF2 to low-end EF3.[26]. [1] Meanwhile, according to FEMA, in Mayfield 257 residential buildings were destroyed and about a thousand more were damaged, in a town with a population of just over 10,000. The cell began exhibiting surface-based rotation southwest of Searcy, Arkansas around 5:30p.m. CST (23:30UTC). Forecasters indicated that atmospheric conditions favored the development of nocturnal supercells capable of producing long-tracked, strong tornadoes.[6].