Power Outage in Bowling Green, KY

There were trees and power lines down.

Snowfall of 1 to 2 inches accumulated with blowing snow and strong wind gusts of 30-40 mph. Rapidly falling temperatures resulted in slick roads and significant travel impacts. Treacherous travel conditions were noted throughout December 23rd, a busy holiday travel day. Wind chills of -25 were observed on the morning of the 23rd. Extreme cold strained the power grid and rolling blackouts were implemented by utility companies.

Trees were blown down along Windsor Circle, which also brought down power lines.

Trees were blown down along Browning Road near its intersection with Rockfield Browning Road, also resulting in downed power lines.

The National Weather Service in Louisville surveyed a tornadic supercell over the course of 6 days in Warren County which directly struck Bowling Green. The tornado first touched down in rural southwestern Warren County just south of the intersection of Wimpee Smith Road and Petros Browning Rd. It tracked to the northeast for approximately 26 miles before entering Edmonson County. The tornado continued approximately 3.6 miles into Edmonson before dissipating at 0138 CST. At the tornado's beginning in Warren County, the tornado twisted, snapped, topped and uprooted softwood and hardwood trees. The tornado was about 200 yards wide, with EF1 winds of 90 mph. Aerial photography confirmed the tornado was continuous in this rugged area of southwest Warren County. The tornado increased to EF2, between 120 and 125 mph, doing major damage to several older barns along Tommy Smith Road. It threw a 1700 pound cattle trailer, 300 yards into a creek ravine.The NWS drone showed a distinct narrow main funnel within the larger funnel. This 30 to 35 yard funnel was clearly seen scouring the corn field and produced the most concentrated damage. The narrow funnel crossed Browning Rd and hit a well constructed house. The only major part of the house that survived was an interior bathroom and hallway. Winds were estimated at 135 mph, and areas outside the narrow funnel had damage of 100 mph, and the entire overall width was 250 yards wide. The survey team found extensive tree damage along Van Meter Rd and Fuqua Rd and aerial photography confirmed the tornado was continuous in this rugged, mainly forested area. The tornado did minor roof damage to some homes along Blue Level Road with winds of 86 to 90 mph but did more substantial roof and side damage to several barns with winds of 90 to 95 mph. Based on drone technology, there appeared to be two distinct areas of damage, and likely had a smaller satellite tornado. There was extensive roof damage to the Zomi Agape fellowship center with insulation thrown both downwind and on the upwind side of the building. The tornado increased in speed when it was over Old Tramm Rd by Rembrandt Court and Powell Road. One house on Rembrandt Court was knocked off its foundation by the garage attachment and slid about 15 feet. Other homes were knocked down to just interior bathrooms and hallways remaining, but there were some foundation construction concerns. EF2 winds of 130 to 135 mph were evidenced in this area. Several houses were knocked down to the foundation, but there were foundation construction concerns. In addition, farm equipment from a barn on the right side of Powell St was thrown directly into homes on the left side of Powell Rd. The survey team found significant house damage to dozens of homes in the Creekwood subdivision. This included exterior collapsed walls, roofs blown off, foundations severely compromised, garages blown in, insulation blown on all four sides of houses, and garages severely damaged or destroyed. In fact, they were dozens of double garages damaged, where one garage door blew in and the other garage door blew out. There were hundreds of powerlines and snapped power poles down throughout the county. Trees were uprooted snapped and twisted facing in all directions. Dozens of cars were flipped, twisted, turned, and thrown into homes. 2 x 4s were thrown into the ground, like missiles. Several splintered boards were impaled into vehicle windshields, tires, and along the hood grills. Most of the damage was rated EF2 from 115 to 135 mph except for 8 homes near Mossy Creek. The survey team brought in engineers from WKU to look at 8 homes, which were wiped down to the foundation from Moss Creek to Mossy Stone. Engineers helped in determining winds speeds were 160 mph for these houses, a high EF3 rating. Tragically, several fatalities occurred in the subdivision area. The tornado was 250 yards wide in Creekwood, but increased to about 350 yards wide before crossing Veterans Parkway. The tornado crossed the William Natcher Parkway and hit large townhouses along Veterans Parkway. There were numerous windows shattered and some roof damage. One of the town houses was shifted off the foundation, but there were no bricks or other support on it. The tornado crossed Russellville Rd hitting many businesses. At Royal Motor Cars, several storage buildings were destroyed, major loss of roof panels at Cabreras Mexican restaurant and an auto parts store. At Plumbers Supply company at 2321 Russellville Rd. The garage was blown in and collapsed. The main building had a shifted foundation, and a partial collapse of some exterior cinderblock walls, tractors and trailers were twisted and flipped, and there was numerous power poles snapped. The Shell gas station had major damage to service station canopy and store, as well as walls of an Enterprise car rental. The tornado increased to quarter mile wide and went from EF2 of 130 mph, from Royal Motorcars to AutoZone, and then decreased to EF2, 115-120 mph and narrowed to 1/8th of a mile with major tree and roof damage along Lealand Street, Cedar Ridge, and University Drive. A fully loaded dumpster was thrown 250 yards. At Russell Road and Springhill Avenue, a Marathon gas station had its pumps destroyed, and most of the exterior walls were destroyed. The tornado missed Western Kentucky University by 225 yards, but debris was thrown all over the campus including some impaled debris into buildings. The tornado went along 31W including doing significant damage to roof at Bobas lounge, a liquor store, and a smoke shop. This was estimated to be 110 to 120 mph winds, and tornado width decreased to 250 yards by Walgreens and Taco Bell. The tornado, appeared to be slightly elevated, doing mainly tree damage, power poles, and house roofing and siding along Magnolia Ave and Nutwood St. It crossed Lehman, went along Covington, with wind speeds mainly of 95 to 110 mph. The owner of 708 Nutwood said, your warning saved our lives, as our house was violently shaking, but we sought shelter and lived. Much of the tree damage was facing from the northeast to the northwest. The tornado paralleled Cemetery Rd doing roof and gutter damage along with power lines and tree damage. The tornadoes speed and winds increased along Cherokee Dr. with roofs removed and large healthy hardwood trees uprooted. The width increased to 300 yards and speeds to 105 mph with width of 225 yards. The narrow 175 yard funnel, hit the Indian Hills golf course, twisting, snapping, and topping numerous pines and cedars with winds speeds of 86 to 90 mph. The tornado then crossed the Barren River and increased in speed along Old Porter Pike to EF2, between 111 and 120 mph. Huge diameter hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted, including several very tall oak trees. There was also extensive roof damage to some well built homes. It weakened as it approached exit 28, doing EF1 damage of 90-95 mph to Hucks gas station and damaged a very tall Wendys sign. On the north side of 31 W, a fully loaded 18 wheeler facing west, was knocked over and was dragged 15 yards to a northwesterly directly. Winds were increased to EF2, of 115 mph. At the Corvette plant there was significant roof damage, with metal sheeting, insulation, HVAC units, and other debris thrown hundreds of yards downwind. Light poles in the parking lot were snapped, One of the security checkpoints at the Corvette plant was totally destroyed with large sections of the building being thrown several hundred yards, and weighing over 100 pounds, striking several vehicles. Winds were mainly in the 110 to 120 mph range. The tornado continued to parallel I 65, just west of the interstate. It struck several homes at Bristow Rd and Friendship Rd. Most of the damage was done to roofs siding and gutters and destroyed a well- built greenhouse. Numerous power poles and lines were down and the debris pattern was facing from southeasterly, all the way to northwesterly. There was some barn and tree damage near Kelly Road and the CSX railroad crossing. Winds were 85 to 90 mph and width of 200 yards. The tornado really increased across the TransPark at Exit 30. A few metal building structures at the peak intensity of the tornado sustained heavy damage. The middle building totally collapsed. Analysis showed that building was well constructed, but the shearing force from the intense tornado ripped the metal frame from the anchoring plates of the building. Analysis of the third building showed the tornado had weakened some at this point, down to EF2 levels. The WSR-8D radar showed a Tornadic Debris Signature downstream of this area, which was lofted to around 18 kft, right at the high end of EF3 of 165 mph. The tornado weakened further downstream as it caused roofing and siding damage to several structures and tree damage into southeast Edmonson County. Civil Air Patrol imagery helped identify the end point of this tornado.

After an in-depth radar analysis and on-the-ground surveying, the survey team found a separate tornado which first touched down as a thin skipping tornado just before the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport. It damaged a storage building, and then became more ground based on the east side of the airport, damaging the roof of a well built hangar. The Bowling Green ASOS measured a 63 mph wind gust about a quarter mile away from the 100 yard wide tornado of 100 mph. The tornado increased in size to about 200 yards hitting the Hub apartments and townhouses. There was extensive damage to windows, as well as roofing. The garage units had the most structural roofing and side wall damage. Winds increased to 110 mph. ||The tornado became more elevated hitting several trees, power lines, and there was some apartment roofing damage near the Barren River. The tornado crossed Interstate 65 near the 27 mile marker and was about 200 yards wide. ||There was extensive tree damage and one barn was destroyed east of the interstate between Cumberland Trace Road and Porter Pike. Winds were between 90 and 100 mph, and then the tornado increased to EF2 120 mph striking the Corvette track and Motorsports Park. There was extensive damage to the main building and a series of garage and storage buildings had extensive structural damage to the individual roofs. Debris was thrown over half a mile to the east northeast. The tornado was 225 yards wide, and the survey team could see the main tornado damage about a half a mile away towards the Corvette plant on the other side of the interstate. NWS used drone technology to analyze the roofing structures for wind speed determinations. ||The tornado weakened and paralleled Interstate 65 along McGinnis Road and Bristow Road. Most of the damage was tree damage. Trees were snapped, twisted, and uprooted facing from the northwest to the southeast direction. There was also some siding, gutter, and roofing damage. The tornado was between 100 and 150 yards wide and the wind speeds were around 90 to 95 mph before it lifted at the 29.2 mile marker.

After an in-depth radar analysis and on-the-ground surveying, the survey team found a separate tornado which first touched down as a thin skipping tornado just before the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport. It damaged a storage building, and then became more ground based on the east side of the airport, damaging the roof of a well built hangar. The Bowling Green ASOS measured a 63 mph wind gust about a quarter mile away from the 100 yard wide tornado of 100 mph. The tornado increased in size to about 200 yards hitting the Hub apartments and townhouses. There was extensive damage to windows, as well as roofing. The garage units had the most structural roofing and side wall damage. Winds increased to 110 mph. ||The tornado became more elevated hitting several trees, power lines, and there was some apartment roofing damage near the Barren River. The tornado crossed Interstate 65 near the 27 mile marker and was about 200 yards wide. ||There was extensive tree damage and one barn was destroyed east of the interstate between Cumberland Trace Road and Porter Pike. Winds were between 90 and 100 mph, and then the tornado increased to EF2 120 mph striking the Corvette track and Motorsports Park. There was extensive damage to the main building and a series of garage and storage buildings had extensive structural damage to the individual roofs. Debris was thrown over half a mile to the east northeast. The tornado was 225 yards wide, and the survey team could see the main tornado damage about a half a mile away towards the Corvette plant on the other side of the interstate. NWS used drone technology to analyze the roofing structures for wind speed determinations. ||The tornado weakened and paralleled Interstate 65 along McGinnis Road and Bristow Road. Most of the damage was tree damage. Trees were snapped, twisted, and uprooted facing from the northwest to the southeast direction. There was also some siding, gutter, and roofing damage. The tornado was between 100 and 150 yards wide and the wind speeds were around 90 to 95 mph before it lifted at the 29.2 mile marker.

There were reports of a tree and power lines down in Bowling Green.

A tree and power lines came down along the 400 block of West 12th Avenue.

More than 4,000 customers were without power in Warren County from downed power lines.

A tree blew down on a power line at Shawnee Estates in Bowling Green.

The public reported trees down on power lines near the corner of Cabell Drive and Chestnut Street.

Trained spotters reported power lines down due to severe thunderstorm winds.

Local law enforcement reported trees and tree limbs down across town due to strong thunderstorm winds. There were several power lines down as well according to utility companies.

Local law enforcement reported numerous large trees and power lines down in the Bowling Green area and across the county.

Power lines were down blocking portions of Audubon Drive.

A county official reported a tree down against a power pole in the Brentmoor and Ashmoor areas. Due to this, approximately 112 customers temporarily lost power.

A line of storms produced winds that downed several trees and power lines in and just east of Bowling Green along Interstate 65.

The Warren County emergency dispatch reported several trees and power lines down along Barren River Road just north of Bowling Green. The storm that brought this damage was the same supercell that produced a wall cloud and damage upstream in Butler County.

A tree fell on power lines along Nutwood Street near T. C. Cherry School.

The Warren County emergency dispatch reported power-lines down along East 14th Avenue.

A spotter in Bowling Green on Scottsville Road reported a peak gust of 59 mph. He also reported many trees and power lines down.

Many reports from law enforcement arrived about trees down and power outages across Bowling Green. Debris was scattered across several streets.

A county official reported branches and power lines down across Bowling Green as a result of strong gradient winds. A traffic light at the intersection of Scottsville Road and Interstate 65 was damaged. Local wind sensors measured winds up to 40 mph at this time.

Local law enforcement reported scattered trees and power lines downed across Bowling Green.

Local media noted numerous power outages across Bowling Green.

Trees were down- some on power lines. Power lines were also down and trees were blocking roads.

Trees and power lines were down in the Newman Road area of Bowling Green.

A power pole was downed near Creek Wood Ave and Russell Rd.

Power lines and poles were downed.

Trees and power lines were downed in Richardsville.

Spotter reported widespread wind damage in the Plum Springs Area just north of Bowling Green. Several trees and power lines were downed and shingles were blown off several roofs. Quarter size hail was also reported.

Power lines were downed. Local media reported an estimated 60 mph wind gust.

Trees and power lines were downed.

Roof damage was reported in the Stonehenge Apartment complex. Trees and power lines were downed throughout the city.

Numerous trees and power lines were downed.

Trees and power lines were downed.

Trees and power lines were downed. One large tree was blown on to a home.

Trees and power lines were downed by thunderstorm winds.

During the afternoon on June 29, the southeastern United States was in an area of high pressure. In the weak shear environment, pulse thunderstorms initiated during the warming of the day. Outflow boundaries, from the first storms, initiated other storms. This resulted in isolated wind damage to trees and power lines near Bowling Green.

A large Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) formed over Missouri early in the day. By evening, a line of severe storms had made its way into Kentucky and sounthern Indiana. This line continued south and southeast through Kentucky causing widespread damage and a loss of life. In the end, 3 tornadoes were confirmed with many other reports of downed trees, severe hail, property damage, and power outages.

A strong cold front brought a line of heavy rain showers across central Kentucky during the afternoon and evening hours November 28. As the line passed through south-central Kentucky, wind gusts ranged from 55 mph to 70 mph in isolated locations. This resulted in sporadic power outages and downed limbs.

A cold front approached central Kentucky during the afternoon hours June 8th and sparked a round of strong to severe thunderstorms. The storms produced sporadic wind damage including downed trees, power lines and damage to homes.

After an early morning Mesoscale Convective System moved east, strong instability redeveloped during the afternoon and evening hours ahead of an occluded front associated with an upper level low over the upper Midwest. Very strong instability, coupled with moderate northwest 500mb flow and seasonably low freezing levels, led to the development of scattered severe thunderstorms that produced up to tennis ball sized hail. A few of the storms also produced wind gusts that downed trees and power lines.

Thunderstorms downed trees and power lines, and produced large hail over much of central Kentucky. At Three Springs in Hart County, several barns were knocked down and a mobile home was blown off the foundation. Power lines were blown on to houses at Sonora in Hardin County. North of Hartford in Ohio County, trees were blocking Highway 69.

Clusters of severe thunderstorms downed trees and power lines over much of south central Kentucky.

A gust front ahead of a line of thunderstorms downed trees and power lines over parts of South Central Kentucky.

Besides the structural damage, trees and power lines were downed over much of central Kentucky.

Trees and power lines were downed by straight line winds over much of south central Kentucky.

Trees and power lines were down across much of South Central Kentucky due to thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power lines across South Central Kentucky. Power was out for a time in the Bowling Green and Glasgow areas. Power poles were snapped in half near Bowling Green. At Sunnyside in Warren county, a roof was blown off a mobile home.