Mayfield Tornado (2021)

This historic EF-4 tornado was associated with a very long-track supercell that originally formed over eastern Arkansas. The supercell produced a nearly continuous tornado damage path from northeast Arkansas across western Tennessee and western Kentucky. The starting point of this particular tornado was in northwest Tennessee, northwest of Union City (see Storm Data, Tennessee, Western for information on this and other tornadoes associated with the supercell). This tornado crossed from Marshall County into Lyon County, Kentucky near the Hillman Ferry Campground in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The tornado crossed the Trace Highway causing near complete tree destruction and broke one wooden electrical transmission line (DI 24, DOD 4). The tornado achieved its highest rating of EF-3 as it emerged from Lake Barkley just north of Eddy Creek. Numerous homes were completely destroyed (DI 2, DOD 9) between the shore and Interstate 24 near Mile Marker 46. The damage rating of a house in this area corresponded with a wind speed of 150 mph, the highest in the county. The tornado continued to the county line producing mainly tree damage with occasional structural damage. A 98-year-old female occupant died of injuries incurred in her home south of Eddyville. In addition, 5 others were injured throughout Lyon county. A total of 141 structures were affected in Lyon County, with 45 of those totally destroyed or uninhabitable. Nearly total tree destruction was observed in the Land Between the Lakes area. The average path width was a mile. The tornado exited Lyon County into Caldwell County in a rural area about 7 miles east southeast of Eddyville.

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.