Kentucky tornadoes: How big? How strong? How did they rate and more answers

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 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.

The maximum wind speed of the tornado was estimated to be anywhere between 158 and 206 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. Winds of 200-plus miles per hour indicate an EF-5 tornado.

The early assessments in the western-most portions of Kentucky were done by aerial survey, according to the National Weather Service in Paducah. “World-class expertise” was expected to 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. 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 the biggest tornado reached Fulton and Hickman counties at 8:29 p.m., Graves and Marshall counties at 9:05 p.m., Lyon and Livingston counties at 9:40 p.m., Caldwell, Hopkins and Christian counties at 10:09 p.m. and Muhlenberg and McLean counties at 10:36 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?

The tornado in Taylor County confirmed EF-3 damage, with winds speeds of 140 miles per hour near Saloma, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service previously categorized the damage as EF-2, but quickly updated its analysis.

How many tornadoes touched down in Kentucky?

At least five tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down in Kentucky, according to state officials.

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.”

This story was originally published December 12, 2021 at 12:58 PM.

Jeremy Chisenhall

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-493-1925

Jeremy Chisenhall covers criminal justice and breaking news for the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. He joined the paper in 2020, and is originally from Erlanger, Ky.