EF1 Tornado — Allen, Kentucky
2019-06-21 · near Mt Aerial, Allen, Kentucky
Event narrative
The National Weather Service in conjunction with Allen County EMA conducted a storm survey across the western half of Allen County. There was significant straight line wind damage across much of the county facing an easterly and southeasterly direction. Interspersed with the straight line wind damage was at least one tornado across western Allen County north of and paralleling KY 585.
The tornado touched down near the Horseshoe Ford Road and Horseshoe Bend Road intersection. There were numerous large hardwood trees split, twisted, and uprooted facing from northerly to southeasterly. Horseshoe Bend Road was closed due to trees down across the road and from flooding. Winds in this area were estimated to be between 90 and 95 mph. Further east along Mayhew Road a large, well-built barn
was uplifted and removed from its foundation with several cedar and maple trees twisted and snapped. Across a farmer's field, corn was flattened and twisted in multiple directions. Large, heavy fuel tanks were rolled in two different directions on Mayhew Road. Several barns and outbuilding had roof damage as well.
At the Mayhew and Pope Road intersection there was extensive softwood and hardwood tree damage, especially around the Harmony
Missionary Baptist Church at 5226 Pope Road. Residents said there was a major pressure change with the tornado.
There were indications there may have been more than one tornado as tree positions would go from a tornadic circulation of northeasterly to southeasterly direction and then to all straight line wind damage in an easterly wind direction, then back to a tornadic circulation in multiple directions. Radar supports this ground analysis with mesovortices along the leading edge of the potent squall line. The width of the individual circulations varied between 75 and 125 yards with widespread straight line wind damage all around. Most of the wind damage was between 85 and 95 mph.
More tree and power line damage was along KY 585 near Shores Road. The tornado dissipated halfway between the intersection of KY 585 and Shores Road and the intersection of Shirk Road and Grider Drive.
The survey crew traveled all along southern Allen County south of Scottsville and found straight line winds facing east and southeasterly directions.
Wider weather episode
A large Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) formed over Missouri early in the day. By evening, a line of severe storms had made its way into Kentucky and sounthern Indiana. This line continued south and southeast through Kentucky causing widespread damage and a loss of life. In the end, 3 tornadoes were confirmed with many other reports of downed trees, severe hail, property damage, and power outages.
View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.7726, -86.3893)
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 841482. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.