Structures damaged: 40 In all, the tornado covered over 165 miles in about three hours, claiming 57 lives and injuring over 500 people. The tornado that killed dozens and hit Western KY reportedly traveled 223 miles, which would be a new record in length. Deaths: 1 "This is a tragic day in Illinois history," the governor said during a press briefing. First responders surround a damaged Amazon Distribution Center on Dec. 10, 2021, in Edwardsville, Ill. The large and well-constructed Graves County Courthouse had much of its roof torn off, its clock tower collapsed, and it had some of its exterior upper-floor walls knocked down. "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. Sun 12 Dec 2021 08.32 EST First published on Sun 12 Dec 2021 00.57 EST. [29][30] The large metal-framed warehouse building completely collapsed, trapping many employees and resulting in eight deaths and numerous injuries. . Andy Beshear and more than 70 people killed. Its path stretched more than 220 miles, Beshear said at a 5 a.m. press conference covering the devastation. 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. ", "We're going to get through this together and the federal government is not going to walk away," Biden said. [74] The following January, the factory closed and Mayfield Consumer Products laid off approximately 250 workers there, shifting operations and the remaining workers to a new plant in the nearby town of Hickory.[75]. In a statement Saturday night, Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said: "Were deeply saddened by the news that members of our Amazon family passed away as a result of the storm in Edwardsville, IL. The tornado slightly weakened and moved northeast toward Paris Landing and eventually crossed the Tennessee River. Other structures: SKYWARN Cheney Orr / Reuters Evansville, IN Despite a COVID-19 surge in Kentucky, Beshear said hospitals were in good shape. Rescuers continued to search for survivors Monday after tornadoes tore through Kentucky and neighboring states over the weekend, devastating entire towns and killing dozens of people. 200 PHOTOS . [26], Past Midway, the tornado became violent and reached EF4 strength again, producing catastrophic damage as it made a direct hit on the city of Dawson Springs, located along the CaldwellHopkins county line. [1] A later 58th fatality was the result of a heart attack while clearing debris and is listed as indirect. Tornado Watch Map, Forecast for Tennessee, Kentucky - Newsweek All NOAA. A tornado near Hornersville, Missouri, was on the ground at about 8 p.m. local time. 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. The total damage caused by the tornado in Tennessee was estimated at $25,000 (2021 USD). of Oklahoma), Regional radar loop across the Lower Ohio and Lower Mississippi River valleys from 6 PM Dec. 10 to 8 AM Dec. 11. A devastating tornado outbreak has killed dozens of people across multiple states, with Kentucky possibly seeing its deadliest tornado system ever, officials said. The event developed as a trough progressed eastward across the United States, interacting with an unseasonably moist and unstable . List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes - Wikipedia The small community of Cayce in Fulton County was struck directly at 9:01 p.m. (NWS Storm Survey). Concrete floor slabs were torn from the foundation of one home and shattered, while the paved driveway of another residence was cracked and scoured. AFTER (right): this image shows the damage to homes and buildings after the tornado in Mayfield, Ky. on Dec. 11, 2021. Deadly Tornado Aftermath: At Least 74 Dead in Kentucky Tornadoes; Biden Land Between the Lakes area of Stewart County and did massive tree damage to heavily wooded areas uprooting thousands of trees along its path. Over 3,778 residences, 183 commercial properties, and 103 other buildings were either damaged or totally destroyed, including the county courthouse and the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory. NOAA Climate Service, LOCAL INFORMATION Five others suffered serious injuries. Injuries: 5 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. 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. Structures destroyed: 21, Hickman County, KY: [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. Seventy-sixpeople have been confirmed dead, Kentucky Gov. Tornado outbreak of December 10-11, 2021 - Wikipedia The tornado finally weakened and dissipated near the Falls of Rough in Grayson County at 11:55 p.m. In all, there were 15 fatalities, 200 injuries, and over 1500 damaged structures in Hopkins County. Some logistics facilities and warehouses were leveled in an industrial park as the tornado exited town, and several metal self-storage unit buildings and large garages were obliterated nearby. Tornado damage in Kentucky and other states Dec. 12, 2021 - CNN Questions? More than half of Kentucky's 120 counties did not have a dedicated OB-GYN in 2020 and 2021. NWS Paducah plansto document the recovery of cities and towns that were devastatedduring this tornado outbreak. 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. Regional radar loop across the Lower Ohio and Mississippi River valleys from 6 PM Dec. 10 to 8 AM Dec. 11. Numerous large trees were snapped, denuded, and debarked, and vehicles were thrown in this area. . Please select one of the following: At 10:14 p.m., the tornado reached Caldwell County. family brick home near Bear Creek where it took off the roof and top story. Andy Beshear told reporters the death. About. Recovery efforts in Princeton,Dawson Springs, and Bremen. Commercial properties: This area endured some of the worst damage of the fierce storm front. Cars were thrown hundreds of yards and mangled. Dual polarization radar imagery showed that the tornado had lofted debris up to 30,000 feet (9,100m) into the air as it impacted the city. Even counties that weren't hit by tornadoes were impacted by storms. The (NWS Storm Survey), University of Kentucky Research and Education Center south of Princeton. It crossed US 231, I-165, and KY 69 near Hartford, along with the Rough River twice. of Oklahoma), Radar Loop from KPAH from 8:46 PM CST to 10:02 PM CST, 9:27 PM CST: Clockwise from top left: Base Reflectivity, Base Velocity, Storm Relative Velocity, Correlation Coefficient KPAH at Mayfield, KY, Radar Loop from KHPX from 9:55 PM CST to 11:22 PM CST, 10:36 PM CST: Clockwise from top left: Base Reflectivity, Base Velocity, Storm Relative Velocity, Correlation Coefficient KHPX near Dawson Springs, KY, SPC Day 1 Outlook update issued at 10:18 AM, SPC Day 1 Tornado Probability issued at 10:18 AM, SPC Day 1 Wind Probability issued at 10:18 AM, SPC Day 1 Hail Probability issued at 10:18 AM. The EF-3 tornado had peak winds of at least 155 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Two anchored mobile homes were also swept away and destroyed, with their frames tossed and bent, one of which was thrown 100 yards (91m). (NWS Storm Survey), Tossed vehicles and destroyed buildings in Mayfield. Michael Dossett, director of Kentucky's Division of Emergency Management, compared the storms to the April 1974 outbreak that spawned hundreds of tornadoes across several states and killed more than 30 in Kentucky alone. [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. [71][72] Workers said they were told by management that "if you leave, youre more than likely to be fired. Structures damaged: 1000 (estimate) One person was receiving medical treatment, he added, with the effort shifting to a search and recovery mission. (NWS Storm Survey). 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. 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. In Bremen, the tornado claimed the lives of 11 residents of the town of 300 people. CST. [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. Tornado . A tornado outbreak tore through six states on Friday night: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. The tornado struck a well constructed single Click to enlarge. Live updates: Deadly tornadoes slam through six states One of the most devastated sites is the southwestern Kentucky city of Mayfield, where a tornado hit the Mayfield Consumer Products. We hope for a miracle', "Was the tornado that hit Mayfield an EF5? widespread and severe damage in Stewart County was between Indian Branch and Morgan Branch, to the south of Bumpus Mills. The tornado then crossed KY 54, where the last area of EF2 damage occurred, as a frail home was destroyed and left with only a few walls standing, and large trees were snapped, one of which fell on and destroyed a car. Kentucky Family of Seven Among Those Killed in Tornado Forecasters indicated that atmospheric conditions favored the development of nocturnal supercells capable of producing long-tracked, strong tornadoes.[6]. Large metal silos were crumpled and heavily damaged at a granary, and the large Mayfield water tower was toppled and destroyed. Officials in Kentucky reported 77 fatalities statewide on Friday with just one person still missing after several tornadoes devastated the state a week ago. In this area, 15 residents of Dawson Springs perished. Structures damaged: Unknown [1][26], After moving to the northeast of Cayce, the tornado weakened but still remained strong as it moved through rural areas to the northeast of town at EF3 intensity, destroying barns and a cell tower, and tearing the roof and exterior walls from a house. Soon after, the tornado became violent and directly impacted the small community of Cayce at EF4 intensity, where multiple homes and small businesses were damaged or destroyed, with some that were leveled or swept clean from their foundations. B. Pritzker said Saturday evening. Along the outskirts of the town were small barns or farm outbuildings with collapsed roofs. Structures damaged: 40 One tornado potentially was on the ground for 227 miles, Beshear said, devastating towns like Mayfield and Princeton late Friday. [55] Some weakening occurred, but significant damage continued after the tornado exited Bremen and crossed US 431, where some homes and mobile homes were damaged or destroyed, and hundreds of large trees were snapped and denuded. "Overwhelmed and mixed emotions," tornado survivor Kay Houston says. Homes were significantly damaged, barns and mobile homes were destroyed, a cow was killed, and thousands of large hardwood trees were downed. [54] Among the fatalities was District Judge Brian Crick, who represented Muhlenberg and McLean counties, as confirmed in a statement from the Supreme Court of Kentucky on December 11. [26], Soon after, it intensified again and crossed into Caldwell County, producing EF4 damage as it impacted the south edge of Princeton, where a tornado emergency was issued. Mayfield is south of Paducah, a town in Western Kentucky with an estimated population of about 25,000 people. CURRENT HAZARDS ", Kentucky tornado donations:How to donate to Kentucky tornado relief funds, blood drives. "For those that have seen it, what it's done here in Graves County and elsewhere, it is indescribable.". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellites Spot Tornado Tracks Across Midwest - NASA Damage in this area was rated EF2 to low-end EF3.[26]. WFO Paducah Navigator Several outbuildings and mobile homes were also obliterated in the Cayce area. was granted after FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and DHS Sec. Its 165.7 mile long path length was on the longest for a tornado in U.S. history. Observed Precipitation, RADAR "We're working with Governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue. The concrete foundation was scoured away. Activity Planner, CLIMATE AND PAST WEATHER Its 165.7 mile long path length was on the longest for a tornado in U.S. history. Most of the damage through this section of Marshall County ranged from EF2 to EF3 in intensity, though a few homes to the southwest of Benton were leveled or swept from their foundations at high-end EF3 strength. It then intensified again as it approached and crossed the Marshall County line before moving through the northwestern and northern outskirts of Benton, damaging or destroying many homes, garages, and outbuildings, downing numerous trees and power lines, and flipping RV campers. (NWS Storm Survey), Blueridge Road near Lake Barkley in Lyon County. (Photo from @MeanMotionMedia ) shows a possible second vortex to the left", "This is looking SSW just as the tornado was entering Dawson Springs. The tornado produced those 57 fatalities in multiple locations along its extended damage path, killing 24 people in Graves County (which also saw more than 200 of the total injuries), 15 in Hopkins County, 11 in Muhlenberg County, 4 in Caldwell County, and 1 person each in Fulton, Marshall, and Lyon counties. tornado then continued northeast across the far northwest corner of Fort Campbell Army Base continuing to blow down trees before moving into Kentucky. Hopkinsville, KY The tornado continued northeast causing mostly tree damage before completely destroying four tobacco barns and damaging three equipment garages off of Bradshaw Road. The First Christian Church sustained collapse of its domed roof and upper walls, while the First United Methodist Church's sanctuary, which was constructed with very thick masonry exterior walls, collapsed. Still producing violent EF-4 damage, numerous homes and pieces of infrastructure suffered catastrophic damage. Kentucky tornadoes: See photos of the damage across the state EF 3, or higher? Kentucky tornadoes: governor says death toll expected to grow as crews sift through ruins. After the dissipation of that tornado in Obion County northeast of Samburg, the supercell produced three weak, brief tornadoes before this one formed several miles to the northeast. [4] The following day, the SPC discussed higher certainty in a corridor of organized severe thunderstorm potential stretching from southeastern Arkansas northeast into southern Indiana, upgrading that region to an enhanced risk. 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). At least 70 dead as tornadoes sweep US midwest, leaving many without Kentucky Gov . Damaged vehicles and personal property are strewn over a wide area, Dec. 11, 2021, in Bremen, Ky, after a devastating tornado swept through the area overnight. "We don't know where all those people are.". It's completely possible that the December 10th tornado in WKY contained either a satellite tornado, or underwent a vortex merger in Dawson Springs. In 2022, Timothy Marshall, . 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.