Power Outage in Pembroke, KY

This long-track EF-3 tornado began in western Tennessee near Dyersburg (see Storm Data, Tennessee, Western). It crossed from Stewart County, Tennessee into Christian County in the secured area of the Fort Campbell military reservation (see Storm Data, Tennessee, Central for the Stewart County portion of the track). The tornado passed only about half a mile southeast of the community of La Fayette on its way northeast across Interstate 24 and Fort Campbell Boulevard (U.S. Highway 41). Between La Fayette and I-24, several homes were destroyed (DI 2, DOD 6). The homes suffered complete destruction of the roof and/or attic. The walls were often damaged but remained standing. One house was moved from its foundation (DI 2, DOD 5). The occupants of the houses took shelter and generally escaped serious injury. A mobile home was destroyed (DI 3, DOD 9). A church sustained steeple damage. Significant damage occurred to the silos and irrigation system of a farm, where damage was estimated near 1 million dollars. A mile's worth of power poles were snapped on Fort Campbell Boulevard (U.S. 41) just one to two miles north of the I-24 interchange (DI 24, DOD 4). After crossing U.S. 41, the tornado struck Pembroke, where more significant structural damage occurred. A single-wide mobile home was destroyed (DI 3, DOD 9). The mobile home was not tied down. One person was injured at this site. At least one other mobile home was destroyed. Two barns were destroyed (DI 1, DOD 8). Roofs were completely removed from two houses. Elsewhere along the path east of Fort Campbell Boulevard, farm outbuildings and farm equipment were damaged or destroyed. The tornado was rated EF-2 in Christian County. Several damage sites were assigned a wind speed estimate of 125 mph, the highest in the county. The average path width in Christian County was about a mile, though it narrowed to about three-quarters of a mile toward the end of its life after crossing Highway 41. The tornado continued northeast of Pembroke before entering Todd County.

The tornado touched down on the northern perimeter of the Fort Campbell military base and proceeded northeast across U.S. Highway 41. Trees were uprooted and snapped along the path. Several barns were damaged or destroyed, including one that had its roof thrown several hundred yards into trees. Power lines were downed, and 13 empty rail cars were tipped over along the path. A couple of homes received some minor damage. The tornado lifted just northwest of Pembroke. Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph.

Several trees were uprooted across the community. Power lines were knocked down. There were homes with roof damage.

Trees were blown down on the southwest side of Hopkinsville, blocking Kentucky Highway 695 near the Highway 68 bypass. In Pembroke, power lines were down on a railroad crossing.

In Hopkinsville, a 22-year-old man sustained an arm injury when a tree landed on his moving car on Highway 380. The injury required hospital treatment, but it was not life-threatening. Another tree fell in Pembroke. Power outages were reported. A wind gust to 57 mph was measured along the west bypass in Hopkinsville at 2:57 P.M. CDT.

The tornado touched down along U.S. Highway 41A and travelled northeast to U.S. Highway 41. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted. One grain bin was blown 150 feet. Several barns or sheds were levelled. At least two dozen power poles were broken along Highway 1027 and U.S. Highway 41. Several homes received mainly minor roof damage. The tornado had estimated peak winds of 105 mph. The average path width was 175 yards.

A wind gust to 71 mph was measured at Oak Grove. The Fort Campbell airfield measured a gust to 58 mph. Numerous large trees were down in Oak Grove and Pembroke. On the Fort Campbell military installation, dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted, including six trees that were uprooted on the grounds of the high school. A tree fell on the elementary school. Some shingles were blown off buildings. Power lines and power poles were brought down by the trees. Some roads were blocked by fallen trees. Some roof damage was reported in La Fayette.

Trees, power lines, and power poles were blown down. Trees fell on at least several vehicles. Tree limbs were down on roads, blocking several of them. The roof over an indoor pool at an apartment complex on the southwest side of Hopkinsville was ripped off. Large trees at the complex were snapped or uprooted. Vehicles in the parking lot of the complex were damaged by falling trees. A window was broken, and shingles were blown off apartment building roofs. Northwest of the city, a pole barn was destroyed and the roof of a home was damaged. About 4,000 utility customers lost power.

A few trees and power lines were down.