In all, there were 15 fatalities, 200 injuries, and over 1500 damaged structures in Hopkins County. He joined the newspaper in September 2021 after previously working with . [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. 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. 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. FEMA was advising residents from east-central Mississippi to extreme southwestern Virginia to stay vigilant as the storm system moved east. Numerous large trees were snapped, denuded, and debarked, and vehicles were thrown in this area. Kentucky tornadoes: See photos of the damage across the state Over 70 feared dead as 22 reported tornadoes rip through - ABC News After leaving Mayfield, the tornado weakened, producing damage at EF2 to EF3 strength and continuing northeast along I-69. 'Quad-State Tornado' crossed four states in four hours, a rare December 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. Cheney Orr / Reuters The Graves County Courthouse in Mayfield was also heavily damaged in Friday night's deadly tornado, according to the statement. [33] Several other industrial businesses were also damaged or destroyed near the candle factory, while semi-trucks and other industrial vehicles were thrown and destroyed as well, some of which were left unrecognizable. [70], Accusations that factory management prohibited workers from leaving the candle factory in Mayfield before the tornado struck were reported on December 13. 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. A fourth tornado emergency was in effect for Dawson Springs and St. Charles as the storm moved through the area. Officials in Kentucky reported 77 fatalities statewide on Friday with just one person still missing after several tornadoes devastated the state a week ago. Share on Facebook; . The Structures destroyed: 12, Graves County, KY: Along the outskirts of the town were small barns or farm outbuildings with collapsed roofs. "I think the largest loss of life in this tornado event is and will be there.". User Defined Area Forecast 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. Once the tornado crossed Fort Campbell Blvd, additional damage to electrical transmission lines was observed including over a dozen wood poles snapped. Single family residences: The freight train was carrying hazardous materials, Beshear wrote in his letter asking for a federal emergency declaration. The tornadoes were part of a weather system that also caused. "We don't know where all those people are.". Mayfield, with a population of about 10,000, is in Graves County, which borders Tennessee. widespread and severe damage in Stewart County was between Indian Branch and Morgan Branch, to the south of Bumpus Mills. 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. (Tomer Burg/Univ. ", "We're going to get through this together and the federal government is not going to walk away," Biden said. FEMA Continues Response to Tornado-Damaged Areas, Kentucky Receives A road sign along the Western Kentucky Parkway was blown about a tenth of a mile near the end of the track. Kentucky Family of Seven Among Those Killed in Tornado Around 10:55 p.m. the tornado left Hopkins County and entered Muhlenberg County, reaching the small community of Bremen at 11:00 p.m. Several homes experienced catastrophic EF-4 damage here. Numerous agricultural buildings and electrical and communication lines were also destroyed. In Tennessee, four people died as a result of the storms, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Chief of Staff Alex Pellom said. Aerial footage of damage in Dawson Springs. Kentucky likely saw its deadliest tornado system ever, the governor said. (NOAA/NASA), Before and after satellite imagery of Dawson Springs in Hopkins County. 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. It's a radar artifact that is usually caused by very large hail. In addition to Edwardsville, two EF-3 tornadoes were confirmed in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and near Defiance, Missouri, according to the National Weather Service. Click to enlarge. (The only velocities below said average recorded along the storm track, sustained between 75 and 81mph[121130km/h; 6570kn], were observed from 8:44 to 9:01p.m. CST [02:443:01 UTC], as the storm crossed from Obion County, Tennessee into Hickman County, Kentucky). Fulton County, KY: 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. Lucas Aulbach can be reached at laulbach@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4649 or on Twitter @LucasAulbach. List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes - Wikipedia Drought Dozens Dead, Injured After Historic Tornado Outbreak A nearby church had minor structural damage. "It's a very dire situation at this point," Beshear 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. [68], In June 2022, the Mayfield City Council put several blocks in the city's heavily impacted downtown under a building permit freeze as they strategized how to rebuild in the area, before rezoning the area in December 2022 for "less restrictive" commercial and residential mixed-use development. The governor declared a state of emergency and submitted a request for a federal emergency declaration. The tornado reached Hickman County at 9:06 p.m., where the tornado damaged 40 buildings, with at least 12 buildings completely destroyed. . A hangar and some small airplanes were destroyed at the Mayfield Graves County Airport, and multiple homes were badly damaged. "Overwhelmed and mixed emotions," tornado survivor Kay Houston says. Kentucky tornado path map: See the deadly, 200-mile path It abruptly intensified to high-end EF4 strength as it crossed and paralleled KY 175 through the north side of town. 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. Kentucky Gov . 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. (NWS Storm Survey), Damage to a medical center on Water Street in Mayfield. Track Map (Screenshot taken from interactive map above), Tornado #2 - Long-Track EF-3 across NW TN into W KY. 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. [41] Damage continued through the Briensburg community at EF2 intensity, where homes sustained partial to total roof loss, outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and a metal truss tower collapsed. Structures damaged: 40 Deadly Tornado Aftermath: At Least 74 Dead in Kentucky Tornadoes; Biden The tornado outbreak that took place this night over the western Kentucky region resulted in damage costs up to $3.5 billion. Night of devastating tornadoes likely kills more than 100 in Kentucky (Chris Conley/270 Drones Aerial Imagery), Tornado devastation in Bremen on December 13, 2021. The worst of the damage occurred near the Dawson Springs park, where several homes were completely destroyed, including a few low rise apartment buildings. US Dept of Commerce (NWS Storm Survey). 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. Items of Interest [28] As the tornado entered Mayfield, it regained EF4 intensity, and numerous homes were damaged or destroyed along Cardinal Road, some of which were leveled or swept from their foundations. After crossing Kentucky Lake, the tornado thrashed across the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, where thousands of trees were ravaged. Outlooks [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. Commercial properties: Andy Beshear has said. A tale of two loads of Kentucky tornado relief collected, distributed According to reports, the Distribution Center was struck by a tornado Friday night. [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. (Chris Conley), Destroyed neighborhood near the city park in Dawson Springs. Kentucky tornadoes: governor says death toll expected to grow as crews sift through ruins. A tornado near Hornersville, Missouri, was on the ground at about 8 p.m. local time. Drone footage from storm chaser Brandon Clement shows the devastation left by a powerful storm in Mayfield, Kentucky. No deaths or injuries. Emmons found the cat hiding in a dresser drawer. Continuing northeast, the tornado entered Dawson Springs in far eastern Hopkins County at 10:32 p.m. 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. Seventy-sixpeople have been confirmed dead, Kentucky Gov. 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. Authorities had initially said two people were killed. [21][15], Multiple PDS tornado warnings and tornado emergencies were also issued as well in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri. five tornadoes that ripped into Kentucky overnight Saturday, Seventy-sixpeople have been confirmed dead, Inside the final frantic hours of the Mayfield candle factory, How to donate to Kentucky tornado relief funds, blood drives, Here's how the National Weather Service decides a tornado's rating, EF3, or higherEarly estimates of the strength and size of the main Kentucky tornado, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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). On Thursday, the National Weather Service tweeted that the portion of the tornado that traveled through through Western Kentucky was given a preliminary damage rating of EF4. A tornado outbreak tore through six states on Friday night: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. 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. 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. Clymer declares State of Emergency in McCracken County following brief The Violent Tornado Outbreak of December 10-11, 2021 Aviation Weather Courtesy of Ohio Valley Aerial. [63] More than 4,500 people attended a tornado relief concert in August 2022. 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. Injuries: 5 injured. During the second, more intense tornado, peak gate-to-gate velocities of 128mph (206km/h; 111kn) were recorded at 9:58p.m. CST (04:58 UTC) over northeastern Marshall County, Kentucky. "We're working with Governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue. A tale of two loads of Kentucky tornado relief collected, distributed, with owner-op Daniel Koors (Podcast Episode 2021) Movies, TV, Celebs, and more. Structures destroyed or uninhabitable:356, Lyon County, KY: There were at least 22 reported tornadoes across six states: Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. Kentucky Tornadoes Followed Flash Floods, Ice Storm and a Covid Spike At least four tornadoes tore through western Kentucky. It crossed US 231, I-165, and KY 69 near Hartford, along with the Rough River twice. 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. [8] Though this activity lacked much vigor at its onset due to a strong capping inversion,[9] the convective cells began to show organization as they progressed eastward. 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. 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. All four tornadoes touched down in Western Kentucky. Complete destruction of homes on Bethlehem Cemetery Road in Bremen. Moving northeast, the tornado raced through Graves County, reaching the city of Mayfield at 9:26 p.m. Mayfield experienced profound damage, including the near-total destruction of Mayfields downtown historic district. [52][53] A total of 11 people were killed in and around Bremen, and others were injured. (NOAA/NASA), Before and after satellite imagery of the Cambridge Shores community on Kentucky Lake in Marshall County. AFTER (right): Overview of damage in downtown Mayfield, Ky. on Dec. 11, 2021. . (NWS Storm Survey), University of Kentucky Research and Education Center south of Princeton. "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. Deaths: 11 A mobile home was completely demolished and significant roofing damage was done to a brick home on Herndon The tornado initially caused minor damage to trees and roofs as it moved through the north side of Woodland Mills, crossing SR 5. However, no tornadoes were expected nor reported north of the border.[24]. . Deaths: 24 Several homes had significant roof damage. Deaths: 1 Local residents walk past the scene of a train derailment after a devastating outbreak of tornadoes ripped through several states in Earlington, Ky., on Dec. 11, 2021. Submit a Storm Report, CURRENT CONDITIONS Tornado Watch Map, Forecast for Tennessee, Kentucky - Newsweek Near the southwest city limit of Central City, a metal retail building suffered extensive loss and some damage to walls. EF4 damage continued near the Mayfield Bypass (US 45 Bypass), where Mayfield Consumer Products, a candle factory where approximately 110 employees were working, was flattened. Sun 12 Dec 2021 08.32 EST First published on Sun 12 Dec 2021 00.57 EST. The tornado that killed dozens and hit Western KY reportedly traveled 223 miles, which would be a new record in length. 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. An aerial view of homes and business destroyed by a tornado on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. First responders at the scene of a nursing home damaged by severe weather in Monette, Arkansas, where several people were trapped inside, Dec. 11, 2021. Several buildings and homes in downtown Dresden suffered significant damage or were completely destroyed. tornado then continued northeast across the far northwest corner of Fort Campbell Army Base continuing to blow down trees before moving into Kentucky. According to meteorologist Bob Henson: "No U.S. tornado is known to have killed more than 80 people outside the core . Damage to several homes in a neighborhood at the Princeton County Club. A powerful supercell thunderstorm traveled more than 200 miles Friday night, from Arkansas to Kentucky, and likely spawned several large, strong tornadoes across four states. Where did the tornado hit in Kentucky? Four tornadoes hit Kentucky. The tornado then took straight aim for the city of Pembroke where significant tree damage was observed along with multiple houses with roof damage. Forest destruction in the Land Between the Lake NRA. More were expected early Saturday. A state of emergency has been declared by Kentucky Gov. Many family residence homes experienced. 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). The tornado passed closest to Princeton around 10:21 p.m. Just south of the city, the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center experienced severe structural damage. Injuries: 200 to 225 Numerous tornadoes occurred with storms that traveled through Kentucky Friday evening into Saturday morning (Dec 10-11) including a significant long track tornado that devastated Mayfield, KY. 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. Please try another search. The cell began exhibiting surface-based rotation southwest of Searcy, Arkansas around 5:30p.m. CST (23:30UTC). The tornado passed just south of the city of Lafayette, Kentucky where it immediately struck a barn and knocked down several electrical transmission lines. Tornado damaged businesses after multiple tornadoes tore through the area, Dec. 11, 2021, in Mayfield, Ky. A line of severe storms sparked tornadoes overnight in Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois and Arkansas. [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. Injuries: 5 The largest and most devastating of the five tornadoes that ripped into Kentucky overnight Saturday tore through hundreds of miles and multiple states. 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). (Chris Conley), Complete destruction of a home near Bremen. Around 40 people were evacuated, although the facility had major structural damage from the storm and housed dangerous equipment, he said late Saturday morning. See photos of the tornado damage across the state. [63][64] Beshear also announced the creation of a tornado relief fund and asked people to donate blood, as donated blood was running low throughout the pandemic. [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. "This has been the most devastating tornado event in our state's history," Beshear said during a Saturday morning press briefing. President Joe Biden approved the emergency declaration, which applies to 15 impacted counties, Saturday afternoon. Numerous trees and large branches were broken near and along the Western Kentucky Parkway, starting at the Wendell Ford Regional Training Center grounds and continuing to near Central City. Hundreds of trees were downed in this area, and a couple of structures sustained minor damage. A potent storm system moved across the central United States on December 10-11, 2021 resulting in widespread severe weather. 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. . EF2 damage was noted as it tracked into Graves County, closely paralleling I-69 and US 45 directly toward the city of Mayfield. The most severe damage in Caldwell County occurred as the tornado passed just south of Princeton. The tornado entered a flatter area to the west of Hartford and began to intensify once more, and large steel power poles were bent over or broken along Johnson School Road, earning an EF3 rating. We hope for a miracle', "Was the tornado that hit Mayfield an EF5? Asa Hutchinson. [37] 22 people were killed in and around Mayfield, with hundreds more injured, many severely.[38][39][40][26]. South of Earlington, the tornado derailed a train, moving several rail cars several feet up an embankment next to the railroad tracks. occurred to several homes, farm outbuildings, and structures on Palmyra Road. This is a screen grab from video on my dash camera. Observations An interior view of tornado damage to Emmanuel Baptist Church, Dec. 11, 2021, in Mayfield, Ky. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In 2022, Timothy Marshall, . . The tornado clipped the Fort Donelson National Battlefield area of extreme southeastern Calloway County, Kentucky where it blew down several trees, then crossed the Tennessee River into the (Brett Adair/Live Storms Media), Tornado devastation in Dawson Springs on December 13, 2021. Farm outbuildings and mobile homes were demolished, and multiple houses sustained major damage or were destroyed, some of which of which were flattened. 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. A house along KY 339 had its roof torn off, and many trees and power poles were downed in this area. In this instance, however, this is a "debris spike" due to a massive tornado lofting large objects high into the air. 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. The tornado slightly weakened and moved northeast toward Paris Landing and eventually crossed the Tennessee River. Additionally dozens of vehicles were tossed hundreds of yards from the buildings parking lot. One person was receiving medical treatment, he added, with the effort shifting to a search and recovery mission. Perhaps relevant to the deadly toll in the Kentucky event, tornado frequency is increasing in winter months, . Numerous homes were completely leveled in Cambridge Shores, including multiple large lakeside homes that were flattened or swept away.