Sat 11 Dec 2021 18.29 EST First published on Sat 11 Dec 2021 08.28 EST. NWS Paducah plansto document the recovery of cities and towns that were devastatedduring this tornado outbreak. Aerial view of damage to the Cambridge Shores and Sherwood Shores communities on Kentucky Lake. WFO Paducah Navigator On December 12, 2021, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite acquired this natural-color image of the tornado track across western Kentucky near Mayfield. 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). Lucas Aulbach can be reached at laulbach@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4649 or on Twitter @LucasAulbach. Fire Weather (NWS Storm Survey), Damage to a forest along Bayou de Chien in Hickman County. [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. Mayfield is south of Paducah, a town in Western Kentucky with an estimated population of about 25,000 people. 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. ", "We're going to get through this together and the federal government is not going to walk away," Biden said. Click to enlarge. December 13, 2021: HQ-21-260: Release Date: . (Chris Conley/270 Drones Aerial Imagery). Damage estimates were in the millions according to the owners for just this one farm. Several duplexes were destroyed at Clarkdale Court, including one that was leveled with only a pile of debris remaining. Please select one of the following: At 10:14 p.m., the tornado reached Caldwell County. Gov. (NWS Storm Survey). widespread and severe damage in Stewart County was between Indian Branch and Morgan Branch, to the south of Bumpus Mills. As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, more than 437,000 customers were without power across Tennessee, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas. The report notes that the tornado damage rating might have been higher had more wind resistant structures been encountered. In all, there were 15 fatalities, 200 injuries, and over 1500 damaged structures in Hopkins County. 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.". 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. Damaged homes on US 62 west of Dawson Springs in Lyon County. Many homes were destroyed along this portion of the path, including several that were obliterated and completely swept away, with little debris remaining. [44] Numerous vehicles were thrown into piles in the parking lot of the complex. (NOAA/NASA), Before and after satellite imagery of the Cambridge Shores community on Kentucky Lake in Marshall County. Emergency Management director Michael Hennigan remembers it . After crossing Lake Barkley on the eastern side of the recreation area, the tornado was now in Lyon County. Land Between the Lakes area of Stewart County and did massive tree damage to heavily wooded areas uprooting thousands of trees along its path. Forecasters indicated that atmospheric conditions favored the development of nocturnal supercells capable of producing long-tracked, strong tornadoes.[6]. Weather History. The tornado then followed U.S. 62, producing EF2 to EF3 damage to homes in the small communities of Lewistown and Midway. Share on Facebook; . [70], Accusations that factory management prohibited workers from leaving the candle factory in Mayfield before the tornado struck were reported on December 13. 2021 Western Kentucky tornado 1 language During the late evening of Friday, December 10, 2021, a violent, long-tracked EF4 tornado moved across Western Kentucky, producing severe to catastrophic damage in numerous towns, including Mayfield, Princeton, Dawson Springs, and Bremen. EF2 damage was noted as it tracked into Graves County, closely paralleling I-69 and US 45 directly toward the city of Mayfield. As the tornado approached Interstate 24, mostly tree damage was observed with a few structures impacted as well. (NWS Storm Survey). "We are strong, resilient people, and we will be there every step of the way.". Near the southwest city limit of Central City, a metal retail building suffered extensive loss and some damage to walls. 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. (NWS Storm Survey), Aerial view of the destruction of the Cambridge Shores community on Kentucky Lake (NWS Storm Survey). 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. However, the National Weather Service did not confirm this.[48][49]. A school bus garage, metal industrial buildings, and apartment buildings also sustained major structural damage or were destroyed in other areas of town. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted by the storm. Structures destroyed: 21, Hickman County, KY: The lawsuit alleges that the factory had up to three and a half hours to let workers leave as safety precautions and did not, and the company showed a "flagrant indifference to the rights of workers" and violated the Kentucky occupational safety and health workplace standards, by refusing evacuations. "For those that have seen it, what it's done here in Graves County and elsewhere, it is indescribable.". Injuries: 200 to 225 [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. Deaths: 1 It abruptly intensified to high-end EF4 strength as it crossed and paralleled KY 175 through the north side of town. Structures damaged: 1000 (estimate) [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. Deaths: 4 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 Another long-track EF-3 tornado with estimated peak winds of 160 mphstarted in Dyer County, TN, and traveled 122.7 miles through northwest Tennessee and into Christian and Todd Counties in western Kentucky. Structures damaged: 141 [22][23], Effects from the system responsible for the outbreak extended into Canada, where the Meteorological Service of Canada issued wind and heavy rainfall warnings for portions of Ontario. Shortly before 7 p.m. local time, a "large and extremely dangerous tornado" was confirmed near Jonesboro, Arkansas, moving northeast at 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service. In this area, 15 residents of Dawson Springs perished. ), 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 . A mobile home was completely demolished and significant roofing damage was done to a brick home on Herndon 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. CST. "Dozens" were killed at a candle factory in Mayfield, where 110 people were working when the storm hit Friday night, Beshear said at a 4 a.m. press conference. A few farm outbuildings were also damaged or destroyed in this area. There were reports of two people dead after a tornado moved through northeast Arkansas, according to Gov. 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. "This will be, I believe, the deadliest tornado system to ever run through Kentucky," he added. Three large churches were destroyed in downtown Mayfield, including the First Presbyterian Church, a large and well-built brick structure that was mostly leveled. The tornado received a maximum rating of EF2 in Stewart County, and 4 people were injured. Past Briensburg, EF3 damage was noted along Lowery Road, where a poorly-anchored home was leveled, and a few other homes sustained EF2 damage along this segment of the path. As many as 70 people are believed to have been killed in western Kentucky, and the death toll could exceed 100, according to Gov. Serving Madisonville and Hopkins County, KY. The University of Kentucky Research Center was destroyed, with metal roof trusses carried hundreds of yards from the structure and wrapped around trees. It should have shut down':Inside the final frantic hours of the Mayfield candle factory. He joined the newspaper in September 2021 after previously working with . [27] However, no structures were impacted near US 51, and no rating was applied to the intense scouring. Tornado . [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. In southern Illinois, in Edwardsville, an Amazon distribution warehouse was hit by a tornado, causing massive damage to the facility, officials said. (NWS Storm Survey), Poultry farm on Clark Road in Fulton County. Activity Planner, CLIMATE AND PAST WEATHER Observations But the weather service initially said damage appeared to be consistent with an F3 tornado capable of producing winds as strong as 206 mph. . The tornado then crossed into Todd County where mostly tree damage and damage to farm/outbuildings were observed. 165 damaged and 18 destroyed The largest and most devastating of the five tornadoes that ripped into Kentucky overnight Saturday tore through hundreds of miles and multiple states. Forest destruction in the Land Between the Lake NRA. 1:46 . "This has been the most devastating tornado event in our state's history," Beshear said during a Saturday morning press briefing. Mon 13 Dec 2021 05.26 EST Last modified on Mon 13 Dec 2021 07.51 EST. The tornado moved into Hickman County and appeared to intensify dramatically as it crossed US 51, where extreme ground scouring occurred in nearby fields. Items of Interest Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook, Evansville Local Standard Radar (low bandwidth), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Before and after satellite imagery of downtown Mayfield. [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. The total damage caused by the tornado in Tennessee was estimated at $25,000 (2021 USD). The White House said Saturday it is in touch with state and local officials and will provide the federal government's "full support as needed. The small community of Cayce in Fulton County was struck directly at 9:01 p.m. "I say to all the victims, you're in our prayers.". 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. Here are the latest weather forecasts for Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas. (@Kentuckyweather) December 11, 2021. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. [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. Storm and Precipitation Reports 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. Hopkinsville, KY 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. of Oklahoma), Regional radar loop across the Lower Ohio and Mid-Mississippi River valleys from 6 PM Dec. 10 to 8 AM Dec. 11. [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). Andy Beshear. Bowling Green and Mayfield, Ky., sustained damage after tornadoes ripped through five U.S. states overnight, on Dec. 11, 2021. 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. Structures destroyed or uninhabitable:356, Lyon County, KY: [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. of Oklahoma), Radar Loop from KPAH from 8:46 PM CST to 10:02 PM CST, 9:27 PM CST: Clockwise from top left: Base Reflectivity, Base Velocity, Storm Relative Velocity, Correlation Coefficient KPAH at Mayfield, KY, Radar Loop from KHPX from 9:55 PM CST to 11:22 PM CST, 10:36 PM CST: Clockwise from top left: Base Reflectivity, Base Velocity, Storm Relative Velocity, Correlation Coefficient KHPX near Dawson Springs, KY, SPC Day 1 Outlook update issued at 10:18 AM, SPC Day 1 Tornado Probability issued at 10:18 AM, SPC Day 1 Wind Probability issued at 10:18 AM, SPC Day 1 Hail Probability issued at 10:18 AM. (NWS Storm Survey). Its 165.7 mile long path length was on the longest for a tornado in U.S. history. It will be a "miracle" if anyone is found alive at this point, he said during a briefing Saturday afternoon. 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. Structures destroyed: 45, Caldwell County, KY: Many trees continued to be denuded and debarked. (NWS Storm Survey), Ground level view of the destruction in downtown Mayfield. After exiting Bremen, the tornado crossed through mainly rural areas of eastern Muhlenberg, Ohio, Breckenridge, and Grayson counties. Once the tornado crossed Fort Campbell Blvd, additional damage to electrical transmission lines was observed including over a dozen wood poles snapped. "Rescues and search efforts are ongoing -- even before the wind stopped blowing, crews were out working," Dossett said Saturday morning. [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. 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). Chris Phillips/Maverick Media Group, LLC via Reuters. 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.