[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. Track Map (Screenshot taken from interactive map above), Tornado #2 - Long-Track EF-3 across NW TN into W KY. (Chris Conley), Complete destruction of a home near Bremen. All rights reserved. widespread and severe damage in Stewart County was between Indian Branch and Morgan Branch, to the south of Bumpus Mills. Weakening slightly to high-end EF3 strength but continuing to cause major damage, the tornado tracked to the northeast beyond Dawson Springs, passing north of Ilsley and through the rural community of Carbondale. Andy Beshear and more than 70 people killed. 66 damaged and 37 destroyed, Marshall County, KY:
Bowling Green and Mayfield, Ky., sustained damage after tornadoes ripped through five U.S. states overnight, on Dec. 11, 2021. . [70], Accusations that factory management prohibited workers from leaving the candle factory in Mayfield before the tornado struck were reported on December 13. Single family residences:
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. Please try another search. [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. The tornado received a maximum rating of EF2 in Stewart County, and 4 people were injured. (Brett Adair/Live Storms Media), Tornado devastation in Dawson Springs on December 13, 2021. "I think the largest loss of life in this tornado event is and will be there.". See photos of the tornado damage across the state. "This has been the most devastating tornado event in our state's history," Beshear said during a Saturday morning press briefing. Continuing into northern Muhlenberg County, yet another tornado emergency was issued for the community of Bremen as the tornado approached from the southwest. By Emily Shapiro, Max Golembo, Daniel Peck, Mark Osborne, and Meredith Deliso December 11, 2021, 4:45 PM 5:15 Chelsea Emmons holds onto a cat that belongs to her mother, Kim Gof.Read More First responders surround a damaged Amazon Distribution Center on Dec. 10, 2021, in Edwardsville, Ill. Outlooks Local Andy Beshear. Residential areas in the northern part of Dawson Springs were devastated, with entire blocks of homes destroyed, many of which were leveled or swept from their foundations. (NWS Storm Survey), Damage to a medical center on Water Street in Mayfield. 14 Dec 2021. 200 PHOTOS . The storm originated in Arkansas, according to Kentucky Division of Emergency Management director Michael Dossett, and touched down in Missouri and Tennessee before making its way into the Bluegrass State, where it ripped through the western half of the state before finally weakening in central Kentucky. Most of the damage in this area was to farm buildings, but some homes near the town of Hartford in Ohio County suffered EF-3 damage. Structures damaged: 341
At 10:14 p.m., the tornado reached Caldwell County. One fatality occurred in Cayce, and several other people were injured. [5], As an intense upper-level trough progressed across the High Plains, with robust instability and moisture return realized across the Mississippi Valley, the SPC expanded the enhanced risk and introduced a moderate risk area from northeastern Arkansas into southern Illinois on the morning of December 10. There were at least 22 reported tornadoes across six states: Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. According to meteorologist Bob Henson: "No U.S. tornado is known to have killed more than 80 people outside the core . Hundreds of trees were downed along Cane Ford Road, and an abandoned trailer home was destroyed. Forest destruction in the Land Between the Lake NRA. Paducah, KY, FORECASTS (NWS Storm Survey). Houses that were farther away from the center of the damage path sustained roof and exterior wall loss, while mobile homes, barns, garages, and outbuildings were also destroyed. "I say to all the victims, you're in our prayers.". 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. 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. As it moved through forested areas, it uprooted thousands of trees. Beshear has activated the National Guard, with 181 guardsmen deployed for search and rescue and recovery operations. Sat 11 Dec 2021 18.29 EST First published on Sat 11 Dec 2021 08.28 EST. 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. . [43] Trees were stripped of their limbs and partially debarked in and around Princeton, barns and farm buildings were obliterated, livestock was killed, and cycloidal markings were left in fields outside of town. The tornado outbreak that took place this night over the western Kentucky region resulted in damage costs up to $3.5 billion. National Weather Service To be exact, 72 of those counties are without obstetric services. In Kentucky, it struck Mayfield directly before moving northeast through Benton, Princeton and Beaver Dam before weakening in Breckinridge County. A house had roof damage and windows were blown out. Additionally dozens of vehicles were tossed hundreds of yards from the buildings parking lot. B. Pritzker said Saturday evening. Continuing northeast, the tornado entered Dawson Springs in far eastern Hopkins County at 10:32 p.m. We hope for a miracle', "Was the tornado that hit Mayfield an EF5? [34][35] Most of the structures in downtown Mayfield were heavily damaged or destroyed, including multiple large, well-built, multi-story brick buildings that completely collapsed. Damaged homes on US 62 west of Dawson Springs in Lyon County. 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. J. President Joe Biden approved the emergency declaration, which applies to 15 impacted counties, Saturday afternoon. "For those that have seen it, what it's done here in Graves County and elsewhere, it is indescribable.". 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? University of Kentucky Research and Education Center south of Princeton. (NOAA/NASA), Before and after satellite imagery of the Cambridge Shores community on Kentucky Lake in Marshall County. Injuries: 54
Its path stretched more than 220 miles, Beshear said at a 5 a.m. press conference covering the devastation. The tornado slightly weakened and moved northeast toward Paris Landing and eventually crossed the Tennessee River. Weakening back to EF1 intensity, the tornado downed trees along Carter Ferry Road and Mud College Road. This area endured some of the worst damage of the fierce storm front. Recovery efforts in Princeton,Dawson Springs, and Bremen. 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. One person was receiving medical treatment, he added, with the effort shifting to a search and recovery mission. The tornado was the deadliest in U.S. history to occur in the month of December. Mayfield, with a population of about 10,000, is in Graves County, which borders Tennessee. [1] In Kentucky, it struck Mayfield directly before moving northeast through Benton, Princeton and Beaver Dam before weakening in Breckinridge County. It's completely possible that the December 10th tornado in WKY contained either a satellite tornado, or underwent a vortex merger in Dawson Springs. Even counties that weren't hit by tornadoes were impacted by storms. 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. Multiple locations were found. Large metal silos were crumpled and heavily damaged at a granary, and the large Mayfield water tower was toppled and destroyed. The most severe damage in Caldwell County occurred as the tornado passed just south of Princeton. "We're working with Governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue. The worst of the damage occurred near the Dawson Springs park, where several homes were completely destroyed, including a few low rise apartment buildings. 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. MAYFIELD, Ky. Three days after tornadoes tore a 200-mile wound through Kentucky, scores of people remained unaccounted for on Monday. Fulton County, KY:
The tornado then followed U.S. 62, producing EF2 to EF3 damage to homes in the small communities of Lewistown and Midway. [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. [47] South-southwest of Dawson Springs, a group of storm chasers photographed a possible satellite tornado associated with the parent tornado. South of Earlington, the tornado derailed a train, moving several rail cars several feet up an embankment next to the railroad tracks. The Dawson Village apartment complex was totally destroyed, and several two-story brick apartment buildings sustained EF4 damage there, being largely reduced to rubble with only a few first-floor interior walls left intact. 2023 www.courier-journal.com. Forecast Discussion Forecasters indicated that atmospheric conditions favored the development of nocturnal supercells capable of producing long-tracked, strong tornadoes.[6]. Structures damaged: 40
Deaths: 15
On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. Tornado #3 - EF-1Tornado near Central City, KY. A relatively weak and short-lived tornado occurred on the evening of December 10, 2021,in central Muhlenberg County prior to the larger and more powerful EF-4 tornado in northern parts of the county. CURRENT HAZARDS An American Legion post and a car wash were flattened, while a church and a medical clinic sustained major damage. 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
Tornado #1 - Long-TrackEF-4 across western Kentucky. Snowfall 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. Key events. (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). 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. EF2 damage was noted as it tracked into Graves County, closely paralleling I-69 and US 45 directly toward the city of Mayfield. [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. Some outbuildings were also damaged or destroyed in this area. Here are the latest weather forecasts for Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas. (NWS Storm Survey), Ground level view of the destruction in downtown Mayfield. He joined the newspaper in September 2021 after previously working with . Several buildings and homes in downtown Dresden suffered significant damage or were completely destroyed. In southern Illinois, in Edwardsville, an Amazon distribution warehouse was hit by a tornado, causing massive damage to the facility, officials said. Emergency Management director Michael Hennigan remembers it . ABC News' Victoria Arancio, Ahmad Hemingway, Matt Foster, Hope Osemwenkhae and Matthew Vann contributed to this report. Evansville, IN Commercial properties:
Cheney Orr / Reuters (NWS Storm Survey). 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. Deaths: 1
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. A 58th fatality was the result of a heart attack while clearing debris and is listed as indirect. Large barns and garages were completely demolished, and a small brick office structure was destroyed, along with homes, very large silos, and a fertilizer storage facility. Numerous agricultural buildings and electrical and communication lines were also destroyed. It was the deadliest and longest-tracked tornado in an outbreak that produced numerous strong tornadoes in several states; 57 fatalities were confirmed in the tornado. Officials in Kentucky reported 77 fatalities statewide on Friday with just one person still missing after several tornadoes devastated the state a week ago. Past Briensburg, EF3 damage was noted along Lowery Road, where a poorly-anchored home was leveled, and a few other homes sustained EF2 damage along this segment of the path. Many family residence homes experienced. Another person remains missing in Lake County, he said. 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.