EF3 Tornado — Monroe, Kentucky

2008-02-05 · near Bugtussle, Monroe, Kentucky

Event narrative

The tornado crossed into Monroe County, Kentucky from Macon County, Tennessee. About two miles west of Gamaliel, the tornado destroyed two conventional homes and two mobile homes. Thirteen residents of the four homes took shelter in the basement of one of the homes. They escaped without injury, although they were trapped in rubble for 30 minutes. Several other homes were damaged in a subdivision a mile north of Gamaliel. The tornado ripped the roof off a brick home there. It tracked across rural Monroe County, uprooting and snapping large trees. On the north side of Tompkinsville, it destroyed a large wood frame warehouse and twisted a large steel frame metal building off its foundation. A nearby well built brick home had its roof and exterior walls swept away. It also destroyed a detached three car garage.

Wider weather episode

A cold front along with a strong upper level low produced a squall line that crossed central Kentucky. This set off widespread severe weather, and spawned several tornadoes.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.6250, -85.8900)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 79195. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.