EF1 Tornado — Monroe, Kentucky

2021-05-03 · near Tompkinsville, Monroe, Kentucky

Event narrative

The National Weather Service determined an EF-1 tornado with maximum sustained winds of 95 mph caused a damage path 60 yards wide.

The thunderstorm quickly became severe in southwest Monroe County. It quickly became severe in southwest Monroe County and became tornadic on the southwest side of Tompkinsville. The tornado touched down near the intersection of Second and Jackson Streets. Trees were lying in multiple directions and most of them were twisted, snapped, or uprooted. Power lines were down, and several power poles were snapped. Winds at that location were between 85 and 90 mph with a width of 50 yards.

Farther to the northeast, between 5th Street and Carter Street, the tornado increased to 95 mph and the width expanded out to 60 yards. Several homes experienced roof damage with some windows blown out. One home had multiple large trees uprooted with a camper trailer and pontoon boat flipped over. There were several pieces of lumber that were impaled in the ground and pieces of sheet metal thrown into trees.

The US Bank building received roof damage before the tornado briefly lifted before touching down near the intersection of Pedigo and White Streets.

There was significant tree damage on the east of Main Street by Pedigo Street. Trees were facing multiple directions. Mud spatter was on the backside of homes and vehicles along Short Street to Monroe Street. Multiple power lines were down in the area. Winds decreased to 90 mph along Monroe Street.

The National Weather Service drone found some twisted tree tops near Spring Valley Road and Woodhaven as a result of wind speeds of 85 mph. The tornado lifted at Jackie Crow Salvage Yard as it threw debris on top of a hill about 250 yards from the salvage yard.

Several videos showed brief funnels coming down from the main storm, almost like a small skipping tornado.

Wider weather episode

Early on May 3rd, central Kentucky sat in the warm sector ahead of an approaching surface low. Much of the region saw only rain showers, but one isolated cell in southern Kentucky was able to produce a short lived EF-1 tornado in the city of Tompkinsville, KY.

On May 4th, a cold front, following the first system, produced additional rain showers and thunderstorms on the already saturated ground. The result was widespread flash flooding with isolated severe wind damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.7022, -85.6957)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 963036. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.