Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kentucky, February 24 to 25, 2018

Nickel-size hail was reported on Highway 672.

On Highway 307, a couple of small grain bins were destroyed. A trampoline and a playhouse were blown around. The damage occurred in very rural farm country.

This EF-1 tornado began just south of Kentucky Highway 999 and moved northeast for about two miles. A barn was destroyed. Debris from the barn damaged a nearby house and was embedded into a small trailer over 100 yards away. Some debris was buried up to three feet deep. Another outbuilding was destroyed. As the tornado crossed Highway 999, it damaged the roofs of two homes. A garage between the two homes had windows broken, and the west side of the building was pushed out. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path of the tornado. There was an eyewitness account of the tornado. Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph.

This EF-1 tornado touched down about 1 mile southwest of Bell City and moved northeast across Highway 97 into Calloway County. The majority of the path and associated damage occurred in Calloway County. In the Graves County portion, a few barns were damaged or destroyed. A house sustained minor damage. Many dozens of trees, some very large, were snapped or uprooted. At least one eyewitness observed the tornado. A convergent damage pattern consisting of dozens of very large uprooted trees was visible from Kentucky Highway 97. Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph. The tornado path continued into Calloway County.

This EF-1 tornado moved from Graves County into Calloway County near State Route 97. The tornado tracked across mainly rural farm country before lifting a few miles southwest of Murray. Most of the path and associated damage was in Calloway County. More than a half dozen barns were damaged or destroyed. A newly built, well-constructed barn was completely destroyed, and debris was strewn hundreds of yards. Two empty grain bins were blown over. Several homes were damaged, mainly due to fallen trees and blowing debris. Two semi trailers were overturned. Two mobile homes were blown from their foundations. Many dozens of trees, some very large, were snapped or uprooted. At least one eyewitness observed the tornado. Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph.

This brief EF-1 tornado occurred in a very rural area of east central Graves County near the community of Golo. Near the touchdown location, some shingles were blown off a roof, and a few trees were uprooted or snapped. The tornado continued northeast and damaged trees along the path. The roof of a residence was uplifted briefly, and a window was blown in. Behind the residence, a mobile home with a wood base was lifted and rolled about 30 yards down a hill and was still intact. A small outbuilding was also destroyed on the property. Several large trees were uprooted or snapped on the property. The tornado track length was about one mile. Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph.

This EF-1 tornado crossed the southern part of the city of Murray, damaging about 40 homes. The tornado touched down several blocks west of Highway 641 and lifted on the east edge of the city at the Clarks River floodplain. Most of the damage consisted of roof damage, mainly shingle loss. Two homes were a total loss, with roof decking removed, windows blown out, and part of an exterior wall caved in due to projectile impacts. At least four businesses were damaged, with the majority of the roof removed from one. Dozens of trees were uprooted or broken. The mayor of Murray declared a state of emergency. Peak winds were estimated near 105 mph.

A tree was blown over, landing inside a home southwest of Benton. Some roof and siding damage occurred in the same area along Highway 641.

A tree was blown down, blocking both lanes of Highway 778.

The path of this EF-0 tornado started on the west side of the Pennyrile Parkway, then moved northeast across Lake Morris. At least four barns or sheds were damaged, primarily due to partial loss of roofing and siding. One camper trailer was overturned. Limbs were broken off hundreds of trees. Some trees were uprooted. There was one eyewitness account of the tornado near the start of the damage track. The track ended on the northwest side of Highway 107. Peak winds were estimated near 85 mph.

This EF-2 tornado touched down on the south side of Hopkinsville, just west of the junction of the Pennyrile Parkway and U.S. Highway 41. Three apartment buildings near the intersection of the Pennyrile Parkway and U.S. 41 were destroyed. The roof and most walls were blown down on the second story. Another apartment building was heavily damaged. All nine injuries occurred in the apartment complex, which consisted of two-and-a-half story buildings. One car was flipped and blown some distance. Two others were blown from their original positions, and several others were damaged. At least four retail buildings sustained major roof and siding damage, with windows and doors blown in or broken. Four barns were heavily damaged or flattened, and four houses sustained mainly minor roof damage. Two large commercial buildings were damaged, with one sustaining major roof and wall damage. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted. The damage east of the city near Highways 68 and 80 was relatively minor, consisting of uprooted trees, destroyed barns, and shingle damage. Peak winds were estimated near 135 mph at the destroyed apartment complex on the south side of Hopkinsville.

This brief EF-0 tornado touched down along Highway 189 about a mile west of the Todd County line. Two garages or farm buildings sustained minor roof damage. A few tree limbs were broken. There was one eyewitness account of the tornado. Peak winds were estimated near 65 mph.

Considerable street flooding was occurring in the city of Owensboro, with numerous manhole covers popped. Almost an inch of rain was measured at the Owensboro airport in an hour. In the far south part of the county, Route 554 was flooded just east of Todd Bridge Road.

A water rescue was conducted near Mason Creek on Highway 359. A vehicle was swept off the roadway by the flash flood. Fire department dive team members recovered the body of the victim from the submerged car. The 77-year-old victim was a local farmer.

At least two feet of water was over State Route 132 West between Dixon and Clay. The flooding was near State Route 857, close to Crab Orchard Creek.