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). The tornado crossed from Lyon County into Caldwell County in a rural area about 7 miles east southeast of Eddyville. The tornado crossed the Princeton Golf and Country Club resulting in collapsed walls of nearby homes (DI 2, DOD 10). This is where it achieved its highest rating of EF-4. A house near this country club received the highest wind speed estimate in the county, which was 180 mph. The tornado crossed southeast of Princeton, destroying large sections of the University Of Kentucky Research and Education Center (DI 15, DOD 10). The tornado then damaged many homes and trees near and just south of U.S. Highway 62 (Dawson Road). Just southwest of the intersection of US 62 and CR 2619, the tornado took a more easterly path (or rightward jog), continuing to damage homes along U.S. Highway 62 (Dawson Road) (DI 2, DOD 9). Two of the fatalities occurred at permanent homes on Dawson Road. The tornado trajectory then shifted back to northeast (or leftward jog), after which it crossed into Hopkins County on the southwest side of Dawson Springs. There were four fatalities in Caldwell County, with 11 others injured, 3 critically. All four of the deceased were found outside their residences. A couple who resided in a mobile home were both killed between Princeton and Dawson Springs. In total, around 300 structures were completely destroyed. The average path width was a mile.

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.