Updated: 7 tornadoes confirmed after New Year’s Day storms in Kentucky
The National Weather Service has confirmed tornado damage in multiple Kentucky counties after more severe storms passed through the state Saturday.
Hopkinsville in Christian County suffered damage after an EF-2 tornado with 115-mile-per-hour winds hit the area, according to the National Weather Service in Paducah. The tornado was about 125 yards wide. Taylor County suffered EF-1 damage with winds reaching maximum speeds between 105 and 110 miles per hour.
There was EF-1 damage in Madison and Barren counties, according to the National Weather Service. There were wind speeds estimated at 90 miles per hour in Madison County and 95 miles per hour in Barren County.
There was also EF-1 tornado damage in Marion County, as well as Todd and Logan counties from one tornado which started in Todd County and ended in Logan County, according to the National Weather Service.
There was tornado damage on the south side of Bowling Green in Warren County with maximum wind speeds of 85 miles per hour and straight-line wind damage of 75 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service in Louisville. The Bowling Green tornado was categorized as an EF-0 tornado, according to preliminary surveys.
More damage surveys were going to be conducted Monday, so the number of confirmed tornadoes could increase, according to Kentucky Emergency Management.
“We are urging Kentuckians in impacted areas to please stay off the roads as much as possible tonight,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement Sunday. “Cold temperatures and the possibility of snowfall, combined with wet roads and standing water, are expected to create even more hazardous road conditions.”
Thirty-one counties were impacted by the storms, according to the governor’s office. That included Pike County, where 1,190 power outages were reported. Another 342 outages were reported in Floyd County. Local disaster declarations were in effect in Casey, Clay, Floyd, Madison, Owsley, Pike and Taylor counties.
At least seven landslides have been reported, as well as washouts, according to the state. There were more than 75 road closures Saturday, mainly in Eastern Kentucky due to flooding. Two-thirds of those roads were still closed Sunday afternoon.
No deaths or injuries had been confirmed as of Sunday afternoon, according to Beshear’s office.
“The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated with personnel from the Kentucky National Guard, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Kentucky State Police and Kentucky Department for Public Health,” Beshear’s office said Sunday.
Storm damage was still being surveyed Sunday in multiple counties, including Christian, Madison, Taylor, Marion, Warren, Barren and Hart counties. Logan County was set to be surveyed Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
Western Kentucky just suffered the deadliest tornado event in the state’s history a few weeks prior to Saturday’s storms. The danger of Saturday’s weather prompted Beshear to declare a state of emergency.
“It is devastating that we are once again experiencing severe weather just weeks after the deadly tornadoes hit Western Kentucky. Sadly, some counties have been affected by both of these events,” Beshear said in a news release.
Photos from the National Weather Service in Paducah showed one structure destroyed in Hopkinsville. Another showed heavy damage to walls and the roof of another building.
The storms damaged homes and barns in Madison County and caused flooding in Casey County businesses, according to WKYT, the Herald-Leader’s reporting partner.
“It was crazy coming through here. The trees were down, everyone was out here. I had never seen anything like this,” Olivia Goode, whose home was damaged in the storm, told WKYT.
Winter weather incoming after storms
Winter weather advisories have been issued for several Kentucky counties immediately following the tornadoes and flooding. Clinton, Cumberland, Monroe and Russell counties were under an advisory from 7 p.m. Sunday until 7 a.m. Central Time Monday.
“Up to 1 inch of snow is possible, which could lead to some hazardous travel conditions Monday morning,” the National Weather Service said.
Part of Graves County, and all of Calloway, Trigg, Christian and Todd counties were also under a winter weather advisory through 9 p.m. Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Several Eastern Kentucky counties were also under a winter weather advisory Sunday night into Monday morning, with snowfall accumulations between 1 and 3 inches possible for much of the region, according to the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service in Jackson advised local drivers to “use caution” while driving Monday.
There was concern that colder temperatures “could complicate response efforts” in areas affected by Saturday’s storms, according to a news release from Beshear’s office.
This story was originally published January 2, 2022 at 2:24 PM.