LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky was devastated Friday night into Saturday morning as multiple tornadoes tore through the western region of the state, causing at least dozens of deaths plus more injuries.
The storms also destroyed towns, flattening businesses and homes.
A lot of the information released by officials has been preliminary. Government officials and weather experts are still gathering damage reports and surveying the effects of the storms as they determine the magnitude of the storms’ impacts.
Here are early answers to common questions about the Kentucky tornadoes.
How big was the tornado in Western Kentucky?
Only preliminary information has been released about the tornado which devastated Western Kentucky communities over the weekend.
The maximum width of the tornado was at least three-fourths of a mile, according to the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service in Paducah said the historically long tornado tracked from Cayce to at least Beaver Dam.
The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management indicated that the tornado originated in Arkansas, and traveled more than 220 miles on the ground in Kentucky before ending. If the National Weather Service confirms that information, it’ll be the longest continuous distance ever traveled by a tornado.
What was the rating for the tornado in Western Kentucky?
The damage done by the tornado was enough to categorize it as at least an EF-3, according to the National Weather Service, although that report is preliminary.
An EF-3 tornado is one that produces winds of 136 to 165 mph, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The assessments in the western-most portions of Kentucky were done by aerial survey, according to the National Weather Service in Paducah. “World-class expertise” will arrive Monday to assist with more surveying.
How strong was the tornado in Bowling Green?
The tornado in the Bowling Green area was confirmed to be an EF-3 tornado, according to the National Weather Service. It was separate from the tornado that devastated Mayfield, causing a factory to collapse and trapping more than 100 workers underneath. Winds in the Bowling Green tornado reached 155 mph.
Officials were still surveying damage in Bowling Green Sunday. The Warren County coroner said his office was working 12 death cases related to the severe weather.
The Bowling Green Police Department responded to “numerous reports” of building collapses, gas leaks and extrications Saturday, according to a post on the department’s Twitter page.
There were multiple reports of collapsed buildings with people trapped, according to the NOAA. A roof fire was also reported at the Corvette plant in Bowling Green.
What time did the Kentucky tornadoes hit?
Information from the NOAA indicates a tornado was reported in Cayce at 10:01 p.m. Friday, which is where the tornado was first tracked in Kentucky, according to the National Weather Service. The tornado was reported in Mayfield at 10:27 p.m.
There was also a tornado report in Mortons Gap at 11:52 p.m., and reports in Central City at 9:38 and 9:45 p.m.
The tornado in Bowling Green was reported at 2:15 a.m. Saturday, according to the NOAA.
How powerful was the tornado reported in Taylor County?
“Our survey team in Taylor County confirms at least EF-2 damage, with estimated wind speeds 120 mph near Saloma,” the National Weather Service said in a tweet. “Damage assessment continues so these figures could change.”
How many tornadoes touched down in Kentucky?
The National Weather Service in Louisville said Sunday that it was still trying to determine the total number of tornadoes in the state.
“Larger aerial survey ongoing to work out the number of separate tornadoes,” the National Weather Service said.
The National Weather Service is surveying for tornado damage across several counties, including Warren, Logan, Ohio, Taylor, Green, Hart, Spencer, Breckinridge and Grayson counties.
The National Weather Service in Paducah also said it was going to continue surveying multiple tornado tracks for the “next several days.”
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