HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Survey teams with the National Weather Service in Paducah have confirmed that an EF-2 tornado touched down in southern Christian County, passing over Fort Campbell Boulevard during the storms on May 16.
Details from the survey show that the tornado initially touched down along Highway 164, just north of I-24 at 9:26 p.m., casing shingle damage to a house and significant damage to barns. The path of the tornado continued east, uprooting and breaking dozens of trees and damaging roofs along Riverbend Road and Westminster Place. Traveling just over 10 miles, the tornado continued to cross U.S. 41 ALT, breaking several power poles. It lifted east of Highway 109 at 9:34 p.m.
Additional details reveal that the tornado had winds peak at 118 mph and was about 225 yards wide. The tornado occurred within a broader area of sporadic straight-line winds that swept across southern Christian County.
NWS confirmed at least nine tornadoes hit the entire region Friday evening. There was one EF-4 tornado, two EF-3 tornadoes, and four EF-2. According to a statement, additional damage surveys are planned for Monday around the Land Between the Lakes area in western Kentucky.
No injuries were reported in Christian County during the severe weather, but Gov. Andy Beshear said that as of 1 p.m. Saturday, there were 18 confirmed deaths connected to the severe weather in the state. The fatalities include 17 people in Laurel County and one in Pulaski County.
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