LEXINGTON, Ky. — National Weather Service investigators have preliminarily determined that the violent tornado that crumbled parts of Western Kentucky traveled a continuous 165.7 miles.
That figure is much smaller than the 227-mile distance initially reported by Gov. Andy Beshear, but it would still be the ninth-longest tracked tornado in U.S. history. It would also be the longest tracked tornado in Kentucky’s history.
The tornado first touched down in the southwestern parts of Woodland Mills, Tennessee, just outside of Kentucky at 8:49 p.m. Central time. The twister stayed on the ground for just under three hours and lifted up two and a half miles northeast of Falls of Rough, Kentucky.
The tornado traveled at roughly 60 miles per hour.
Surveyors believe the tornado traveled 128 miles in Kentucky alone. In its path were several hard-hit communities, including Mayfield, Benton and Dawson Springs.
NWS surveyors recently determined the tornado peaked at wind speeds of 190 miles per hour, classifying it as an EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. In order to be considered an EF5 tornado, wind speeds need to be above 200 miles per hour.
The assessment is preliminary, so it’s possible it could be upgraded to an EF5 once the investigation is complete.
Surveyors estimate the tornado’s maximum width was at least one mile. According to NWS, the tornado first entered Kentucky at 8:56 p.m. Friday in Fulton County.
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