[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. The tornado crossed over Kentucky Lake into Lyon County and moved through the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, mowing down a large swath of trees and snapping power poles before crossing Lake Barkley. The tornado reached Hickman County at 9:06 p.m., where the tornado damaged 40 buildings, with at least 12 buildings completely destroyed. The worst of the damage occurred near the Dawson Springs park, where several homes were completely destroyed, including a few low rise apartment buildings. 66 damaged and 37 destroyed, Marshall County, KY: Deaths: 11 One tornado potentially was on the ground for 227 miles, Beshear said, devastating towns like Mayfield and Princeton late Friday. A hangar and some small airplanes were destroyed at the Mayfield Graves County Airport, and multiple homes were badly damaged. Several dozen workers were able to escape from the building on their own, Edwardsville Police Chief Michael Fillback said Saturday morning. The worst of the damage occurred near the Dawson Springs park, where several homes were completely destroyed, including a few low rise apartment buildings. The tornado struck a well constructed single The tornado was the deadliest in U.S. history to occur in the month of December. Tornado devastation of Mayfield's central business district. Two anchored mobile homes were also swept away and destroyed, with their frames tossed and bent, one of which was thrown 100 yards (91m). [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. (NWS Storm Survey), Tossed vehicles and destroyed buildings in Mayfield. 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). [62], In Marshall County, containing the heavily-damaged community of Cambridge Shores, 356 structures were destroyed or 'made uninhabitable', and 341 more sustained light or moderate damage. Drought An aerial view of homes and business destroyed by a tornado on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. Kentucky tornadoes: governor says death toll expected to grow as crews sift through ruins. After crossing Kentucky Lake, the tornado thrashed across the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, where thousands of trees were ravaged. [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. 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. The tornado produced EF-4 damage in Cayce, including the total destruction of buildings and complete collapse of the walls in family homes. (NWS Storm Survey), Poultry farm on Clark Road in Fulton County. GUNNAR WORD/AFP via Getty Images A resident of the The Cardinal Inn in Bowling Green, Kentucky, looks at the damage after a tornado touched down on December 11, 2021. [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. 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. The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: Tornado devastation in Mayfield on December 11, 2021. The tornado outbreak that took place this night over the western Kentucky region resulted in damage costs up to $3.5 billion. One person was killed at a nursing home in Monette when a suspected tornado moved through Friday night, Craighead County, Arkansas, Judge Marvin Day told Jonesboro ABC affiliate KAIT. was granted after FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and DHS Sec. ", During a press briefing Saturday, Biden said this was likely "one of the largest tornado outbreaks in our history. (NOAA/NASA), Tornado path across open fields northeast of Highway 116 to Highway 1127 in Fulton County. Weather History. This time frame coincides with the start of the main tornado, following three weak tornadoes that split the two EF4's paths, implying the supercell underwent a mesocyclone re-strengthening phase during this period. AFTER (right): Overview of damage in downtown Mayfield, Ky. on Dec. 11, 2021. . We hope for a miracle', "Was the tornado that hit Mayfield an EF5? 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. Single family residences: Damage to a house in rural Hickman County. Damaged homes on US 62 west of Dawson Springs in Lyon County. AFTER (right): this image shows the damage to homes and buildings after the tornado in Mayfield, Ky. on Dec. 11, 2021. 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. ", "We're going to get through this together and the federal government is not going to walk away," Biden said. [35][26][46] A photograph was lofted from a destroyed house in Dawson Springs and transported almost 130 miles (210km) by the intense tornadic updrafts, eventually being found in New Albany, Indiana. In this instance, however, this is a "debris spike" due to a massive tornado lofting large objects high into the air. A deadly late-season tornado outbreak, the deadliest on record in December, produced catastrophic damage and numerous fatalities across portions of the Southern United States and Ohio Valley from the evening of December 10 to the early morning of December 11, 2021. [25], Farther to the northeast, the tornado reached EF2 strength, tearing roofs off homes, damaging or destroying outbuildings, and damaging irrigation equipment. [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]. 2023 www.courier-journal.com. Continuing northeast, the tornado entered Dawson Springs in far eastern Hopkins County at 10:32 p.m. Drone footage from storm chaser Brandon Clement shows the devastation left by a powerful storm in Mayfield, Kentucky. WFO Paducah Navigator [37] 22 people were killed in and around Mayfield, with hundreds more injured, many severely.[38][39][40][26]. 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. More significant damage In southern Illinois, in Edwardsville, an Amazon distribution warehouse was hit by a tornado, causing massive damage to the facility, officials said. User Defined Area Forecast US Dept of Commerce Ohio, Breckenridge, and Grayson County, KY: But the weather service initially said damage appeared to be consistent with an F3 tornado capable of producing winds as strong as 206 mph. Additionally dozens of vehicles were tossed hundreds of yards from the buildings parking lot. Cars were thrown from the parking lot into adjacent fields, metal light poles were ripped from their concrete footings, and ground scouring was noted as well. CST. 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. The tornado tracked northeast over mostly open country before causing significant damage to several homes off of Boddie Road and Darnell Road. Near the southwest city limit of Central City, a metal retail building suffered extensive loss and some damage to walls. Structures destroyed or uninhabitable: 84. Time lapse of home reconstruction in Mayfield. Map of storm reports and warning polygons, (red=Tornado Warning, yellow=Severe Tstm Warning), Convoy of Hope in Lyon County (Lyon County EMA), Rebuilding homes in Lyon County (Lyon County EMA), Delivering new appliances to tornado victims in Lyon County (Lyon County EMA). 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. [3], On December 8, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) delineated a slight risk of severe weather along much of the Mississippi Valley. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? widespread and severe damage in Stewart County was between Indian Branch and Morgan Branch, to the south of Bumpus Mills. Click to enlarge. Andy Beshear. [70], Accusations that factory management prohibited workers from leaving the candle factory in Mayfield before the tornado struck were reported on December 13. As many as 70 people are believed to have been killed in western Kentucky, and the death toll could exceed 100, according to Gov. [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. EF3 damage continued past this point as homes and metal truss towers were destroyed. 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. Structures damaged: 1000 (estimate) [57] It was rated high-end EF4, with an estimated peak wind speed of 190mph (310km/h). CURRENT HAZARDS After leaving Mayfield, the tornado weakened, producing damage at EF2 to EF3 strength and continuing northeast along I-69. Numerous agricultural buildings and electrical and communication lines were also destroyed. "For those that have seen it, what it's done here in Graves County and elsewhere, it is indescribable.". Click to enlarge. Tornado path through an open field south of Hodge Road in Hickman County. [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. Authorities had initially said two people were killed. Over 70 feared dead as 22 reported tornadoes rip through South, Midwest Kentucky likely saw its deadliest tornado system ever, the governor said. (NOAA/NASA), Before and after satellite imagery of the Cambridge Shores community on Kentucky Lake in Marshall County. Where did the tornado hit in Kentucky? Here are the latest weather forecasts for Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas. Items of Interest Injuries: 5 [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. (NWS Storm Survey), Ground level view of the destruction in downtown Mayfield. "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. (Tomer Burg/Univ. Perhaps relevant to the deadly toll in the Kentucky event, tornado frequency is increasing in winter months, . Deaths: 1 Local 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. It crossed US 231, I-165, and KY 69 near Hartford, along with the Rough River twice. Continuing northeast, the tornado entered Dawson Springs in far eastern Hopkins County at 10:32 p.m. The tornado paralleled the OhioGrayson county line, and very briefly crossed a bend in the Rough River into Grayson County. 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. (NWS Storm Survey). A nearby church had minor structural damage. The first observed damage was in Newbern near Washington Street. Damage to several homes in a neighborhood at the Princeton County Club. The western Kentucky town of Mayfield was "ground zero" of the. Deaths: 1 Only large piles of bricks and lumber remained in the hardest-hit portions of the downtown area, and streets were left buried under debris. This area endured some of the worst damage of the fierce storm front. Officials in Kentucky reported 77 fatalities statewide on Friday with just one person still missing after several tornadoes devastated the state a week ago. Destruction in Cambridge Shores looking east across Kentucky Lake. 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. As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, more than 437,000 customers were without power across Tennessee, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas. Click here for an interactive StoryMap about the tornado outbreak that occurred across the region. Aviation Weather A house along KY 339 had its roof torn off, and many trees and power poles were downed in this area. 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. "We will get through this, we will rebuild," Beshear said early Saturday. 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. occurred to several homes, farm outbuildings, and structures on Palmyra Road. The cell began exhibiting surface-based rotation southwest of Searcy, Arkansas around 5:30p.m. CST (23:30UTC). Our Office NWS Paducah Lead Meteorologist Chris Noles did an in-depth interview with ABC News on its Good Morning America program about the tornado outbreak. 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. The tornado moved northeast, uprooting and snapping numerous trees along its path. Mayfield is south of Paducah, a town in Western Kentucky with an estimated population of about 25,000 people. 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. [1] Crossing through eleven counties of the Jackson Purchase and Western Coal Field regions during its lifespan, the tornado was exceptionally long-tracked, traveling 165.6 miles (266.5km) while at times becoming wrapped in rain. [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. Commercial properties: Local Observations President Joe Biden approved the emergency declaration, which applies to 15 impacted counties, Saturday afternoon. The small community of Cayce in Fulton County was struck directly at 9:01 p.m. The tornado received a maximum rating of EF2 in Christian County and EF1 in Todd County, and 4 people were "We're working with Governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue. The largest and most devastating of the five tornadoes that ripped into Kentucky overnight Saturday tore through hundreds of miles and multiple states. South of Earlington, the tornado derailed a train, moving several rail cars several feet up an embankment next to the railroad tracks. In all, the tornado covered over 165 miles in about three hours, claiming 57 lives and injuring over 500 people. . [29][30] The large metal-framed warehouse building completely collapsed, trapping many employees and resulting in eight deaths and numerous injuries. "We are strong, resilient people, and we will be there every step of the way.". Forecast Discussion Interactive Damage Survey Map- Zoom in and click the points to see damage information and pictures. 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. [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. University of Kentucky Research and Education Center south of Princeton. Share on Facebook; . 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. Numerous large trees were snapped, denuded, and debarked, and vehicles were thrown in this area. 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 continued to devastate residential areas, levelling or sweeping homes from their foundations. There were at least 22 reported tornadoes across six states: Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. 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. The storms caused tornadoes to form in the early evening hours west of Kentucky. . Trees in this area were debarked and denuded, cars were thrown, and mobile homes were obliterated. [60], Damage totals vary by source, but the tornado produced profound destruction in multiple communities. Despite a COVID-19 surge in Kentucky, Beshear said hospitals were in good shape. The concrete foundation was scoured away. [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. A school bus garage, metal industrial buildings, and apartment buildings also sustained major structural damage or were destroyed in other areas of town. Seventy-sixpeople have been confirmed dead, Kentucky Gov. [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. Key events. A tornado outbreak tore through six states on Friday night: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. The most severe damage in Caldwell County occurred as the tornado passed just south of Princeton. Structures destroyed or uninhabitable:356, Lyon County, KY: [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. According to reports, the Distribution Center was struck by a tornado Friday night. Cars were thrown, copious amounts of structural debris were strewn in all directions, countless trees were shredded and debarked, and only rubble remained in the hardest-hit neighborhoods. [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. [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. Structures damaged: 40 Forest destruction in the Land Between the Lake NRA. "It's a very dire situation at this point," Beshear said. See photos of the tornado damage across the state. According to meteorologist Bob Henson: "No U.S. tornado is known to have killed more than 80 people outside the core . Amazon said emergency safety training in case of tornadoes is given to new employees and repeated throughout the year. More than 100 people were working at a candle manufacturing plant during the storm, Beshear said, and a roof collapse at the facility resulted in "mass casualties. A tale of two loads of Kentucky tornado relief collected, distributed, with owner-op Daniel Koors (Podcast Episode 2021) Movies, TV, Celebs, and more. Courtesy of Ohio Valley Aerial. (NWS Storm Survey). William Widmer for The New York Times. NOAA Climate Service, LOCAL INFORMATION Michael Dossett, director of Kentucky's Division of Emergency Management, compared the storms to the April 1974 outbreak that spawned hundreds of tornadoes across several states and killed more than 30 in Kentucky alone. 1:46 . Eight of the tornado warnings issued during the event by the NWS offices in Memphis, Tennessee, and Paducah, Kentucky were tornado emergency declarations, the most issued during the month of December (breaking the previous record of three issued on December 23, 2015). Cheney Orr / Reuters Structures destroyed: 21, Hickman County, KY: The report notes that the tornado damage rating might have been higher had more wind resistant structures been encountered. 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. ", Kentucky tornado donations:How to donate to Kentucky tornado relief funds, blood drives. Tornado devastation in Bremen on December 13, 2021. Once the tornado moved out of Pembroke, two mobile homes were completely Questions? 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. (Tomer Burg/Univ. The total damage caused by the tornado in Tennessee was estimated at $25,000 (2021 USD). Its 165.7 mile long path length was on the longest for a tornado in U.S. history. One fatality occurred in Cayce, and several other people were injured. 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 tornado then took straight aim for the city of Pembroke where significant tree damage was observed along with multiple houses with roof damage. Mayfield (EE.UU. In this area, 15 residents of Dawson Springs perished. Homes were significantly damaged, barns and mobile homes were destroyed, a cow was killed, and thousands of large hardwood trees were downed. tornado then continued northeast across the far northwest corner of Fort Campbell Army Base continuing to blow down trees before moving into Kentucky. Serving Madisonville and Hopkins County, KY. 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. In Bremen, the tornado claimed the lives of 11 residents of the town of 300 people. Andy Beshear has said. [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. As the tornado approached Interstate 24, mostly tree damage was observed with a few structures impacted as well. Aerial footage of damage in Dawson Springs. (NWS Storm Survey). 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). National Weather Service Mon 13 Dec 2021 05.26 EST Last modified on Mon 13 Dec 2021 07.51 EST. Track Map (Screenshot taken from interactive map above), Tornado #2 - Long-Track EF-3 across NW TN into W KY. Once the tornado crossed Fort Campbell Blvd, additional damage to electrical transmission lines was observed including over a dozen wood poles snapped. Damage in this area was rated EF2 to low-end EF3.[26]. "I say to all the victims, you're in our prayers.". Here's how the National Weather Service decides", "More than 4,500 attend Mayfield tornado relief concert", "Mayfield City Council rezones parts of historic downtown to aid in tornado recovery", "Temporary tornado memorial placed in Mayfield court square", "Kentucky candle factory bosses threatened to fire those who fled tornado, say workers", "Kentucky tornado: Candle factory workers threatened with being fired if they fled approaching storm, report says", "Kentucky tornado aftermath: Candle factory workers file lawsuit as state death toll rises to 76", "Kentucky candle factory destroyed by deadly tornado is closing", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2021_Western_Kentucky_tornado&oldid=1140392622, 2021 natural disasters in the United States, December 2021 events in the United States, Articles to be expanded from February 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, December 10, 2021, 11:48p.m. CST (UTC06:00), This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 22:26. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Injuries: At least 200 14 Dec 2021. Across Graves County, 24 people died, and at least 200 people were injured. After crossing Lake Barkley on the eastern side of the recreation area, the tornado was now in Lyon County. Observations The most Chris Phillips/Maverick Media Group, LLC via Reuters.
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tornado kentucky 2021