Minimum EF-2 Tornado Damage in Elizabethtown NWS Says

At least an EF-2 tornado tore through parts of Elizabethtown today. LaRue county will be the next county to be assessed. Remember, significant damage was done there. Wouldn't be surprised if EF-3 damage will be assessed.

MS

Following Severe Storms 2/29/12 with Updates

11:35am
Gotta take a break...
I'm going to watch the news now
My computer needs to cool off...

11:27am
Back online...looks like at least EF-3 damage out of Larue county
Tornado reportedly passed over high school just a moment ago from this second cell. This looks to be south of the first damage path near New Haven

11:20am
Scanner out of area has taken on a power failure...trying to reconnect...

11:15am
Storm is bearing down on similar areas
Count of damaged buildings coming soon....

10:59am
A lot of damage in the Wildwood area, more help needed to clear debris
Command post at Dow Corning parking lot

10:50am
Propane leak on Wildwood drive...Larue county
Awaitng latest about mobile home park
Dow Corning site will be a med site
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10:46am
Incident Command being relocated to Pritchard center due to incoming weather
Hodgenville rd is now passable; access to mobile home park is improving]
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10:40am
No reports of injuries still, but extensive damage exists
5-6 structures completely destroyed...to add insult, more tornadic cells moving back into the area.
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10:37am
Trees blocking several access points to mobile home park
Still, no injuries confirmed...but not everyone has been accounted for yet.
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10:33am
Mobile home completely destroyed...still trying to account for people.
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another update
10:25am
Mobile home park hit hard in damaged path area
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10:20am
Propane leak also in damaged area
Incident Command in place

10:15am
building has been destroyed...possible trapped individuals. This is in Larue county. No confirmed reports of injuries yet
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10:00am
Tornado on the ground near Hodgenville rd (KSP)
Shifting gears, new Tornado warning for parts of western KY near Murray, Calloway county.
Listening to spotter network.
Sounds like scud being mistaken for funnel.
Scud does not rotate...
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9:45am
Tornadic cell near Summit...Warning now for southern Hardin county...Glendale, Tonieville, southern parts of E'town.
Dime size to nickel size hail being reported
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Update...
9:30am
Leitchfield area...close to hospital, I suppose Twin Lakes Regional Medical Ctr.
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9:22am
Unconfirmed brief tornado touchdown...in Grayson county. Still listening for location.
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Update
9:20am
This thing is moving fast...Leitchfield, Clarkson, White Mills, Summit...your next.
Another report of a Funnel cloud reported near Caneyville family practice.
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Another update...
9:15am
Windy Ridge is south of US62 Beaver Dam Road. It is SR736. So far, no touchdown, but it is rapidly approaching Caneyville.
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9:10am est Update
Severe weather summary...reports from Meade county and Oldham county
Funnel cloud near Windy Ridge...
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I was hoping Leap day would live up to its expectations at my location, so far so good. No severe weather has occurred at my location here in Valley Station. The storm has leapt across my area with little incident.

Following a strong cell approaching parts of Grayson county from Butler and Ohio counties. So far, scanner is quiet.

More updates as needed...

Severe Weather Breaking Out To Our West

FINAL UPDATE II
Did I say it was my final update. Ok, this time I promise. A Tornado WATCH is now in effect for much of the Louisville coverage area till 1pm.
By the way, the damage is extensive in those areas I highlighted below.
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FINAL UPDATE
It's beginning to sound like a tornado has struck an area between Oak Ridge and Pocahontas Missouri near I-55 and U.S. 61. This is north and northwest of Cape Girardeau. Damage assessment will commence at daybreak.
Sounds like at least one injury related to the storm so far. I'm sure more reports will be forthcoming. Got to get some rest. Looks like a busy day.

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5:25 am Update
Cell is beginning to weaken a little bit now, but it sounds like the damage has been done. It sounds like a residential area was hit hard by a possible tornado near U.S. 61 west of Pocahontas and also near Oak Ridge MO. Not getting reports of injuries yet.
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5:20am est
Possible tornado touchdown has occurred. Between Oak Ridge and Pocahontas near U.S 61, several buildings damaged.
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5:10am est
Residential damage near U.S. 61North
Windows blown out..this is just west of Pocahontas.
Garage in the middle of the roadway. Sounds like tornado damage to me.

5:00am Update
Storm cell near Pocahontas, has not weakened; if not anything, it is strengthening.
Insulation and trees crossing roadway near Hwy E.
Barn down...
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4:55am Update
Church damaged and trees down in Oak Ridge MO
This cell is crossing I55 closing in on Pocahontas
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Another Update...
Millersville to Daisy north of Cape Girardeau...cell is intensifying, strong rotation radar indicated.
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4:33am est
2.50" hail now being reported in Bollinger county.
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Quick Update - 4:28am est.
Tornado warning for Northern Cape Girardeau and northern Bollinger county. Reports of golf ball size hail coming out of Bollinger county. This will move into western parts of Kentucky soon.
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Currently, tornado warnings are in effect in parts of Missouri. Reports of widespread tree damage along CR 2070 out of Dent county or Howell county. Both counties were near the tornado warning in effect for Shannon and Oregon counties, which police scanners are offline at present.

MS

March 2012 Is Severe Weather Awareness Month

Of course, as we Kentuckians are well aware, severe weather can strike at any time of the year. However, preparedness can go a long ways to help deal with the now and the later, should severe weather strike our locations.

Therefore, Kentucky Emergency Management (KyEM) has 'prepared' for us a checklist of helpful suggestions and practical planning techniques that can be practiced or applied so that we are not left distraught and confused as to the best course of action during an emergency situation, in this case, severe weather.

Please consult the following page below for preparing yourselves for any type of severe weather.
Preparedness (KyEM)

Also, do not forget that March 2012 has been proclaimed Severe Storms Awareness Month by the governor himself.
Governor Beshear's Proclamation

MS

My Monday Thoughts

Good Monday everyone. Wow, what a delightful day. Got a chance to get out and clean up the yard some, picking up all of those twigs and sticks that have fallen during the windy winter we've had.

January's average wind speed at Louisville Int'l (official) was 9.3 mph. So far this month, we've averaged nearly 7 mph, seems like more though.

Last February, winds averaged 8.8 mph while January 2011 averaged 7.6 mph. So, when you crunch the numbers, this January and February is much like last January and February. I know, except for the snow amounts. Hey, last February saw only 1.1", while this February's total has been 1.7". A minor victory there.

Speaking of snow, blizzard warnings are up for parts of the upper midwest.  A place called Sisseton, South Dakota, near Interstate 29, is expecting over a foot of snow with strong, gusty winds to help blow all of that snow around. Looks like some of those areas may be shut down.

On the spring side of things, severe thunderstorms may be possible this week for parts of our region. West KY is looking at a pretty slim chance in the SPC's 2-day outlook. Day 3 outlook has much of our region in a 30% risk for severe storms, including Louisville and points east into central KY especially. That's a pretty impressive percentage for a day 3 outlook. We'll have to keep an eye on that one.

A nice sky show we had during the past weekend as Jupiter, Venus, and the Moon played a little dance in the sky for our enjoyment.

And don't forget, daylight savings time kicks in March 11 at 2:00am this year. I'm already looking forward to that.

Enjoy your week and keep safe out there.
MS

Severe Thunderstorms With Isolated Tornadoes Possible

3:30pm UPDATE
Nothing out there yet...Pressure is falling rapidly. Dewpoints are still pretty low except in west Ky. Cloud cover increasing in west Ky. Best chance for storm initiation is within a couple of hours there. Afterward, storms could still fire up but will they be able to overcome loss of daytime heating? Perhaps...

SPC has put out a mesoscale discussion for parts of our region, particularly areas of west Ky and west IN and along the Ohio river. Tornado watch MIGHT be issued depending on how things unfold.

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Looks like it could be an active day for us spotters. Barometric pressure readings are falling off of a cliff, indicative of a rapidly intensifying storm system. In just 3 hours, barometric pressure has dropped nearly 0.15" Hg or roughly 5 mb. That's significant. My pressure reading as of 12:45pm is 29.44". It has dropped 0.02" Hg in just the past 10 minutes!

What does this mean for Louisville and the rest of our region? Look for the potential for severe thunderstorms this afternoon. NWS office in Louisville thinks severe activity should be scattered. Since the atmosphere is generating much twist in the upper levels, the dynamics are in place to support tornadic cells. Let's hope not. Damaging wind looks to be the main concern.

Keep your weather radios in alert mode. If you haven't purchased one yet, get one at your nearest home improvement center or any retail/grocery outlet, preferably one with S.A.M.E code technology. Easy to program the codes that you need to alert your area or any areas near your location.

Here are the codes below...

S.A.M.E. codes for Kentucky
S.A.M.E. codes for Indiana

Stay safe out there...

MS

Eastern/Southeast Kentucky Getting Their Snow

During the past couple of hours, snow has begun to fall and steadily at that. Snow accumulations are beginning to be realized. Remember, the heavier the snow rate, the better odds that this will overcome the warmer ground and stick.

Pikeville Web Cam

MS