EF1 tornado in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky

This relatively weak and short-lived tornado occurred prior to the much larger and more powerful EF-4 tornado in northern parts of the county. The known damage path began about four miles north-northwest of Greenville along the Western Kentucky Parkway, starting at the Wendell Ford Regional Training Center grounds. Numerous trees and large branches were broken near the parkway. The tornado continued as far as the southwest city limit of Central City. Near the southwest city limit, a metal commercial structure suffered extensive roof loss and some damage to walls. Nearby, a house roof was damaged and windows were blown out. A nearby church received minor structural damage. A road sign along the Western Kentucky Parkway was blown about a tenth of a mile. Estimated peak wind speeds were near 95 mph.

On the evening of Friday, December 10, 2021, a potent storm system moving across the central United States resulted in significant long-track tornadoes. A violent EF-4 tornado began in far northwest Tennessee, and moved across western Kentucky, resulting in dozens of lost lives and a swath of destruction. The tornado was on the ground for 128 miles within the NWS Paducah forecast area, and the total path length was about 165 miles from Obion County, TN to Breckinridge County, KY. Another long-track EF-3 tornado started in Dyer County, TN, and traveled about 125 miles through northwest Tennessee and into Christian and Todd Counties in western Kentucky. A strong upper-level trough over the western Plains induced a deepening surface low that tracked northeast across the Iowa/Illinois border. A very strong and deep southwest wind flow brought moist and unstable air into the Tennessee and lower Ohio Valleys. Record high temperatures were recorded, including a high of 73 at Paducah. The combination of very strong winds aloft, unseasonably warm conditions, and a strong low pressure system were ideal for this tornado outbreak.