Tornadoes and Hail in Kentucky, May 16, 2025

Many reports and pictures of large hail came in from the town of Barlow and just south of it including the largest hailstones estimated at grapefruit size on Circle Drive east of Barlow (4.5'', public report) and just above softball size south of town on Hartman Ln (4.25'', public report). Numerous photos and reports from emergency management and the public of additional hailstones ranged from ping pong ball to baseball size. Many windows were broken as a result of these very large hailstones along with damage to gutters, roof, vehicles, and siding.

Hailstones up to baseball size occurred on KC Dunn Rd on the northeast side of Barlow, two miles south of La Center, and in La Center with damage to windows as a potent supercell storm moved through Ballard County.

Hail measured to golf ball size fell in Grahamville, while additional one to one and a half inch (estimated) hail in Grahamville was reported via mPING.

Hail measured to golf ball size was reported in Heath and on Cairo Road. Several homes suffered minor roofing damage in the subdivision off of Steele Rd.

Quarter size hail was measured west of Barkley Regional Airport, while half-dollar size hail was estimated at the airport.

Power lines and broken poles fell across the road from the EM office with power outages in the area.

Hail measured to quarter size fell at the McCracken EM office, while golf ball size hail fell at Noble Park in Paducah.

A picture was submitted of a funnel cloud viewable from Schmidt Road.

Multiple reports of hail came in from Smithland, with the larger stones measuring from golf ball to tennis ball size.

A tree fell through the roof of a home on Gass Rd.

A swath of large hail fell with a storm moving eastward in southern Livingston County. Hail estimated to golf ball size fell near the Gum Spring Branch on KY-453. Rednaur Rd had truck windows broken out and house windows broken from hail. Damage to siding occurred to a home on Newburn Rd and to the roof, siding, and windows of a home on Sanders Cemetery Rd. Baseball size hail was reported on Greenwood Rd.

Two inch hail was measured in Calvert City as a supercell moved eastward through northern Marshall County.

Hail estimated at quarter size was reported in Kuttawa.

A tree was blown down across the road around mile marker 11 on KY-93.

An NWS damage survey found that a brief EF-1 with peak winds of 105 mph tornado occurred southwest of the Lamasco community in southeast Lyon County, KY. Most of the damage was in the form of uprooted trees along Highway 274, but a pole barn and chicken coop were destroyed and a cattle fence damaged. Additionally, a house near the destroyed outbuilding suffered roof damage. NWS Paducah would like to thank Lyon County EMA for their assistance with drone footage for this survey.

Ping pong ball size hail was measured in Princeton.

Approximately 10 trees were uprooted near the Trigg/Lyon County line. A home on High Point Dr had trees go into the roof and side of the building. This damage occurred from a supercell storm which had produced a tornado to the west-northwest on KY-274.

Hail estimated to baseball size fell south of Princeton.

Estimated hail size in Dawson Springs. Report submitted via mPING.

Hail estimated at quarter size was reported near Crofton.

Hail estimated to nickel size fell on Woodburn-Hay Rd.

Hail measured to nickel size fell on Douglas Combs Rd off of KY-109 north of Hopkinsville.

An EF-2 tornado (EF-1 in Christian County) started along Shaw Ovil Road where it did some minor damage to a couple homes and snapped a couple tree trunks. It continued east into Todd County south of Ovil Rd. Estimated peak winds for the Christian County portion of the tornado were 105mph.

An EF2 tornado started along Shaw Ovil Road in Christian County, continuing east into Todd County, crossing Hwy 189 and eventually lifting to the west of Hwy 181. The worst damage occurred along Blue Hole Road where several chicken houses were completely destroyed and a mobile home was swept away. Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted and a few outbuildings were damaged. Peak winds for the Todd County portion of the tornado, and the tornado as a whole, were 120mph.

Hail estimated to quarter size was reported in Clifty.

Trees and power lines were downed near Allegre as part of the rear flank downdraft region of a tornado that passed by to the north.

An EF-3 tornado with peak winds of 155 mph impacted the south side of Morganfield, KY, on the evening of May 16, 2025. The tornado began along Bunger Road where ground scouring of newly-planted crops was seen. Moving east, the tornado intensified,|doing EF-3 damage to several homes on Highway 130, Robinson Road, US Highway 60, Terre Hill Road, and Wildlife Road. Some homes suffered near catastrophic damage, with most roofs and most exterior walls removed. The tornado weakened after it crossed Highway 56 moving east, lifting near Kit Harris Road. The tornado reached a peak width of around 500 yards and caused four minor injuries along its 9.94 miles track.

Hail measured to penny size was reported south of Henderson via mPING.

A center pivot turned over on Sycamore Rd and a tree was blown down onto a house in Hickman as a surging portion of a thunderstorm line progressed eastward through northwestern Fulton County.

Hail measured to quarter size was reported in Owensboro as a supercell moved eastward through the city.

Penny size hail was estimated east of Owensboro. The report was submitted via mPING.

An NWS damage survey found straight line wind damage associated with winds of 80 to 93 mph impacted Princeton, KY, on the evening of Friday, May 16, 2025. The most severe damage occurred in downtown Princeton, where a business lost its roof and several homes suffered minor to major damage due to trees falling onto homes. Numerous large tree limbs were downed across the city. Emergency management also reported power poles snapped, a tree fell onto a house on U.S. 62 on the west side of Princeton, while another tree falling onto a house on W Green St, destroying it.

Max wind gust from Kentucky Mesonet station PRNC (2SE Princeton) over the five minute period.

Tree limbs were reported down in the Earlington area as a line of storms moved eastward through the county.

A tree was blown onto a house in the Fulgham Community with damage to a carport and vehicles and minor damage to living areas.

A line of straight-line winds moving west to east brought down trees onto the Purchase Parkway past mile marker 10, and in Wingo just north of KY-339.

Several trees were downed across Muhlenberg County due to straight-line winds from a line of thunderstorms that progressed eastward through the county.

Max wind gust from Kentucky Mesonet station CCTY (6N Greenville) over the five minute period.

Straight-line winds produced damage roughly along a line west of Draffenville. Barn collapses occurred on Griggstown Rd and Foust Sledd Rd while big tree limbs were blown across roads into fields on Oak Valley Rd.

Penny size hail was estimated south of Mayfield and reported via mPING.

Trees and power lines were downed in the city of Mayfield.

A roof was blown off the back porch on KY-303 near KY-339.

A tree was blown down on top of a house, damaging the roof, into the living area, with one outside wall damaged.

Quarter inch hail was measured south of Sedalia. The report was submitted via mPING.

Hail measured to penny size fell in Water Valley as a line of storms moved eastward across Graves County. The report was submitted via mPING.

Wind speed measured on KY-80 near the Graves/Calloway County line. Power flashes were visible.

A long line of damaging straight-line winds occurred in southern Marshall County. Emergency management reported an overturned camper on Sid Darnell Road, while broadcast media reported multiple trees uprooted near the intersection of Murray Hwy and Union Hill Rd.

An NWS damage survey found straight line thunderstorm wind damage impacted parts of southeast Marshall County, KY, on the evening of Friday, May 16, 2025. Impacted communities included Hardin, Olive, and Aurora. Estimated wind speeds were 74 to 85mph. Most damage was from scattered downed tree limbs and uprooted trees including several uprooted trees on Liberty School Rd.

Wind gust measured at the KCEY Murray-Calloway County Airport.

A few trees were downed on the north side of Murray, including a tree at Riviera Court.

A partial fence was blown down at Murray State University as a line of thunderstorms moved across the city. Numerous large limbs were downed in the City of Murray. Doors were blown in at Marshall's department store. Cheri Theatres had their business sign destroyed by winds with downed tree limbs on the south side of Chestnut St.

A tree fell through the roof into a house causing water to intrude.

NWS damage survey team found extensive straight line wind damage occurred in the Cumberland Shores community on the eastern side of Lake Barkley. Estimated winds were 80-90 mph. Numerous trees were uprooted, including one that feel onto a home, causing major damage. A few homes near and east of Donaldson sustained shingle damage as well.

Significant wind damage also occurred north of the surging reflectivity nub. A tree went through the roof of a mobile home on Old Dover Rd, south of Pleasant Hill Church Rd. Further south on Old Dover Rd, a tree damaged the roof of a home south of Douglas Thomas Rd. A tree fell through the roof of a home on Nelums Rd. Minor damage to a roof occurred on Casey Creek Dr, while on Tuggle Rd a skylight and skirting of a manufactured home were compromised.

A large tree was blown down, going all the way through a house as a line of thunderstorms moved through Cadiz.

Several trees were downed as storms moved across Muhlenberg County. A home on KY-1163 near Beech Creek was damaged by straight-line winds.

Measured wind gust at Gracey as a line of storms moved eastward into Christian County.

Straight-line winds on the north side of a tornado track blew trees onto multiple homes along Glass Ln.

An EF2 tornado touched down along County Highway 164 just north of I-24 and caused some shingle damage to a house and pretty significant damage to a couple of barns. It continued east uprooting or snapping dozens of trees along its path. Many homes experienced mainly roof damage along River Bend Road and Westminster Place. The tornado crossed Hwy-41A and snapped about a half dozen power poles. Some damage to a house and outbuildings occurred along Harry Berry Lane before the tornado lifted just east of County Highway 109. Estimated peak winds with this tornado were 118 mph. The tornado occurred within a broader area of sporadic straight line winds that swept across southern Christian County.

Debris was reported in the road at Lafayette Rd/Country Club Ln. Power lines and poles were downed, blocking the road at Fort Campbell Blvd/Country Club Ln.

A large tree was downed by thunderstorm winds on Walnut St. Minor road flooding also occurred in this area.

Max wind gust from Kentucky Mesonet station ZION (5SW Elkton) over the five minute period.

Hail estimated to quarter size fell in Oak Grove.