Kentucky NWS Faced Staff Cuts Before Deadly Tornado Hit
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Meteorologists with the NWS Paducah office have also confirmed several tornadoes in its region the afternoon and evening of May 16. Three tornadoes impacted western Kentucky, including an EF-3 tornado in Morganfield with winds of 155 mph, an EF-2 tornado in Allegre and an EF-2 tornado in Casky.
The National Weather Service has confirmed that a powerful EF-4 tornado tore through southern Kentucky on Friday night, devastating communities across multiple counties.
The NWS in Jackson, KY, said the track for the tornado in Russell, Pulaski and Laurel Counties was 55.6 miles long with a maximum width of 1700 yards, which is almost one mile.
The National Weather Service in Louisville is predicting possible severe weather for areas of the state on May 20, following deadly tornadoes that struck parts of Kentucky in recent days. Multiple rounds of storms are possible, with the strongest storms to fall during the evening hours.
Barbourville Road was down to one lane in front of Slate Hill Baptist Church just outside of London, Ky. in Laurel County Sunday, May 18, 2025 as utility workers made repairs from down lines on the road. Two days earlier, thunderstorms and a deadly tornado ripped through the Southern Kentucky community destroying many homes.
In Louisville, storms are expected to arrive sometime between 5-8 p.m. Maps issued by NWS Louisville at 12:03 p.m. showed southwestern Kentucky, including Bowling Green, under a greater than 10% risk for tornadoes of at least EF-2 strength within 25 miles.
The preliminary data showed high end EF3 damage, with low end EF4 indicators, mainly in the Sunshine Hills area of London, officials with the NWS said. Previous Coverage: Good Que