The National Weather Service in Jackson, Kentucky, has confirmed that the tornado that ravaged parts of south central and east Kentucky late May 16 was an EF-4 — the fourth strongest category on the Enhanced Fujita Scale out of five.
After landing in Russell County around 10:33 p.m., the tornado ripped through Pulaski and Laurel counties before lifting around 11:56 p.m., trekking 55.6 miles in total and reaching speeds of 170 mph, said Dustin Jordan, science and operations officer for the NWS office in Jackson.
It was the deadliest tornado to ever come through the 33-county warning area that the Jackson office covers, Jordan said. The last deadly tornado to sweep through Laurel County was March 2, 2012, he said. That tornado — an EF-2 with winds reaching an estimated 125 mph — killed six people, according to NWS data.
Jordan was unable to confirm how many of the 19 storm-related deaths confirmed by Gov. Andy Beshear could be attributed to the tornado, though Beshear has said 17 of the deaths were in Laurel County, one was in Pulaski County and one was in Russell County.
Damage survey crews have been working since May 17 to track the tornado’s path and determine its strength. With the work complete, that team will now compile a report summarizing its strength and impacts, Jordan said.
Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky tornadoes: NWS in Jackson confirms EF-4 tornado