Kentuckians urged to get ready for intense storms overnight and into Saturday morning
The entire state of Kentucky was urged to be prepared for a strong storm system late Friday and early Saturday.
A tornado cut a swath across the western half of the state, prompting Gov. Andy Beshear to declare a state of emergency. The governor’s office said the governor would hold a media briefing on the damage and weather conditions at 5 a.m. Saturday.
WKYT Chief Meteorologist Chris Bailey said in an interview at about 12:30 a.m. that storm activity would likely be greatest in Lexington between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m.
“Lexington has not had one tornado watch this whole year,” he said. “We will break that streak tonight.”
The National Weather Service said the severe weather was expected between 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. The greatest threat was in the far western part of the state and decreases moving eastward, the weather service said.
A tornado watch was issued for 34 Kentucky counties, many along the Interstate 65 corridor, until 3 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The weather service in Louisville said there was potential for “a few tornadoes,” along with “isolated hail up to ping pong size” and “scattered wind gusts up to 80 mph.”
A separate tornado watch covered a number of counties further west.
Widespread rainfall of 1 to 2 inches is possible across much of the state, and localized flooding could result from more intense rain in some places, according to the weather service.
Gov. Andy Beshear’s office issued a news release Friday afternoon warning Kentuckians across the state to be ready.
“Since this will be an overnight event, Kentuckians are advised to have ways to receive weather warnings during the night,” the release stated. “Those living in vulnerable locations should consider finding lodging elsewhere. Everyone should stay away from any downed power lines.”
The State Emergency Operations Center was to be activated at 8 p.m. in preparation for the storms.
“Kentuckians should follow their local forecasts as this storm front moves through our state,” Beshear said in the release. “Folks need to have plans for safely sheltering in place in the event of a tornado, and they need to be prepared in case there are disruptions to local utilities.”
Michael Dossett, director of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, urged people to “make every effort to monitor news and weather reports for storm updates in your area” and said families might want to review their safety plans.
“This is a dangerous system with conditions that are favorable for severe thunderstorms, longer-lived tornadoes, supercells and squall lines,” he said.
Bailey reported that the threat for tornadoes is higher in the western half of the state, though potential for damaging winds is more widespread.
People were reminded to secure or bring inside their outdoor holiday decorations, the weather service said.
The National Weather Service said the storm system will usher in a cold front. Gusty winds of up to 40 mph may follow the storms Saturday, the weather service said.
Temperatures will drop into the upper 30s by late Saturday afternoon, Bailey said.
This story was originally published December 10, 2021 at 6:49 PM.
