Page 5 - Florida Sentinel 12-17-21

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Kentucky Tornadoes: How Big? How Strong? One Was Traveling 200 MPH On The Ground - Almost A Mile Long- For 220 Miles
Kentucky was devastated last Friday night into Satur- day morning as multiple tor- nadoes tore through the western region of the state, causing at least 80 deaths , 100 or more missing and over 100 injuries. The storms also destroyed towns, flattening businesses and homes. The damages range estimated in the billions. Government of- ficials and weather experts are still gathering damage re- ports and surveying the ef- fects as they determine the magnitude of the storms’ im- pacts. Here are early answers to common questions about the Kentucky tornadoes.
The damage done by one of the tornados was enough to categorize it as at least an EF- 5, traveling 200 mph for 220 miles on the ground, accord-
ing to the National Weather Service.
The Kentucky Division of
Emergency Management in- dicatedthatthetornadoorig- inated in Arkansas, and
traveled more than 220 miles on the ground in Kentucky before ending.
The storms started in the night making it hard to see where it was coming from.
The maximum width of the tornado was at least three-fourths of a mile, ac- cording to the National Weather Service. The Na- tional Weather Service in Pa- ducah said the historically-long tornado tracked from Cayce to at least Beaver Dam. If the National Weather Service confirms that information, it’ll be the longest continuous distance ever traveled by a tornado.
The assessments in the western-most portions of Kentucky were done by aerial survey, according to the Na- tional Weather Service in Pa- ducah. “World-class expertise” will arrive Monday to assist with more surveying.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY PAGE 5-A