Tornado and Hail in Kentucky, March 1, 2017

Areas of wind damage occurred in Carlisle County, mostly in areas near U.S. Highway 51. The roof was blown off the agri-chem building along U.S. Highway 51 north of Bardwell. Structural damage was reported in Arlington.

Widespread damaging winds occurred in much of Ballard County. Wind damage occurred in La Center, where the Ballard County High School and a law office sustained roof damage. The roof of the law office was partially blown off. Elsewhere, widespread damage to trees and power lines was reported across the county. Several homes sustained damage, mainly to roofs. South of La Center, a pole barn about 1,100 square feet was destroyed. Most walls and the roof collapsed, damaging numerous possessions in the barn.

A wind gust to 63 mph was measured at the Kentucky mesonet site.

In Clinton, a tower over 180 feet tall was blown down. Portions of a 16-by-20 foot shed were blown into a field. A wind gust to 67 mph was measured by a Davis weather station a couple of miles south of Clinton.

Along U.S. Highway 51 between Fulton and Crutchfield, one small barn was destroyed. Another old small barn lost a large section of tin roof.

Widespread damaging winds around 75 mph occurred across much of western and central McCracken County, including the cities of Paducah and Lone Oak. A wind gust to 75 mph was measured by the automated observing system at Barkley Regional Airport. A wind gust to 68 mph was measured at a fire station in Grahamville. Numerous buildings sustained minor roof damage, including a few historic landmarks in downtown Paducah. A metal wall panel was blown off a large storage building in Paducah. A large tree fell through the kitchen and bedroom of a house. Several outbuildings and sheds were destroyed, including one that was blown onto a road near Barkley Regional Airport. Trees and signs were blown down areawide, including some large uprooted trees. Numerous power outages lasted through the morning. Some roads were blocked by downed trees and power lines. A large tree was down on a vehicle in Paducah, destroying the vehicle. A power pole and power lines were down on a car in Lone Oak.

Widespread damaging winds were observed across southwest Graves County. A wind gust to 77 mph was measured at the Kentucky mesonet site near Pryorsburg. In Water Valley, a large metal roof was blown up against a neighboring house. Shingles were blown off at least one house. Power poles were blown over, and trees were down. At a residence three miles northwest of Wingo along Highway 58, the whole back porch of the residence was ripped off and blown into the bedroom and front yard.

Along Highway 1820 west of Melber, several trees were blown down. An antenna tower was blown down. Siding was blown off a structure.

A microbust containing winds estimated near 80 mph damaged some agricultural property along Highway 483 between Clear Springs and Hickory. An empty grain bin was blown at least 50 yards, and another grain bin was dented inward. A small part of the metal roof of a chicken house was blown several hundred yards. A carport was thrown about a quarter mile. There was extensive shingle damage at two apartment buildings in the Hickory area. A few trees were snapped or uprooted. The damage path was about one mile long.

Trees were uprooted, and large branches were broken. This tree damage immediately preceded the EF-2 tornado that began in the Cuba community.

This tornado began near the community of Cuba and lifted after tracking about 1.5 miles. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. A single-family residence was destroyed. Much of the roof and upper portions of the house were removed. The roof was blown off a church. Several headstones in a cemetery were blown up to 30 feet. A number of barns were blown down. A machine shed was blown from its foundation. At least a dozen trees were uprooted. Dozens of others sustained broken limbs or trunks.

Large metal panels, possibly from a carport or shed, were blown onto a city street.

A microburst with estimated winds near 100 mph destroyed an outbuilding and snapped some hardwood trees. A cinder-block workshop was severely damaged. Tin was peeled off a well-built barn. The microburst began right along the Graves County line on the south side of the Purchase Parkway, then continued east along Highway 3526 for about 1.5 miles.

Widespread damaging winds were observed across northern and central Marshall County. A wind gust to 75 mph was measured by National Weather Service personnel on a hill at the interchange of I-24 and the Purchase Parkway. The roof was blown off a large metal storage shed at the Marshall County Road Department near Draffenville. Several structures sustained minor damage in Benton. Trees and power lines were down, causing power outages. Several large pine trees were toppled at a residence on U.S. Highway 68, destroying a vehicle. Wind gusts around 75 mph were estimated by a National Weather Service employee near Palma.

A small wooden barn was destroyed near the Calloway County line, and numerous large branches were broken. This damage was associated with the storm that produced the EF-2 tornado near Cuba.

A wind gust to 60 mph was estimated by firefighters.

Several large branches were broken along the Graves County line. This damage was associated with the storm that produced the EF-2 tornado near Cuba in Graves County.

Significant damage occurred at the Kentucky State Penitentiary. Three staff members at the penitentiary were injured by flying glass, debris, and equipment picked up by the wind. Their injuries were not life threatening. The roof was blown off the prison gym. The resident of a mobile home in Eddyville estimated winds gusted to around 75 mph. The resident said their mobile home was rocking in the wind.

A wind gust to 77 mph was measured at a Kentucky mesonet site. Trees were damaged, including at least one uprooted tree in Princeton.

A wind gust to 70 mph was measured by emergency management personnel. Some roof damage was reported.

A tree was blown down near Dawson Springs, blocking U.S. Highway 62. A trained spotter at Mortons Gap estimated a wind gust to 70 mph.

Scattered wind gusts around 60 mph were reported north and west of Hopkinsville. A wind gust to 60 mph was measured by a trained spotter along U.S. Highway 68 near the Trigg County line. At the Kentucky mesonet site six miles north of Hopkinsville, a wind gust to 61 mph was measured.

A wind gust to 63 mph was measured at the Fort Campbell airfield. Several business signs and a couple trees were blown down on the south side of Hopkinsville.

This hail occurred at the Pembroke fire station.

A wind gust to 59 mph was measured at a Kentucky mesonet site.