Overview of the May 10th 2016 tornadoes, including videos and maps of EF-3 in Graves County, KY

Tornadoes:

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Tornado - MAYFIELD, KY area Graves/Marshall Counties Date May 10, 2016 Time (Local) 2:44 PM - 3:24 PM EF Rating EF-3 Est. Peak Winds 140 mph Path Length 19 miles Max Width 450 yards Injuries/Deaths 10 injuries Summary: Dozens of structures including mobile homes, businesses, barns, and garages were destroyed. Several homes received major damage or were destroyed. Some cars were tossed around and lofted atop other cars or structures. Track Map

Tornado - Bancroft, KY area Muhlenberg/Christian Counties Date 5/10/16 Time (CDT) 5:25 PM - 5:35 PM EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 105 mph Path Length 5 miles Max Width 100 yards Injuries/Deaths None Summary: Dozens of trees snapped and uprooted. Several barns destroyed. One house roof heavily damaged, including loss of some rafters. Track Map

Tornado - Cerulean, KY area Trigg, KY Date May 10, 2016 Time (Local) 7:17 PM - 7:21 PM EF Rating EF-0 Est. Peak Winds 80 mph Path Length 1.6 mile Max Width 100 yards Injuries/Deaths None Summary: One barn totally collapsed, another partially destroyed. Most of path was through grassy farm fields. Track Map     Other tornadoes: EF-1 in Union County, KY tracked from 5.7 miles west-southwest of Morganfield to 2.1 miles west of Morganfield between 6:06 and 6:14 P.M.  Peak winds were estimated near 90 mph. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. EF-0 in Hardin County, IL briefly touched down 2.7 miles east-southeast of Karbers Ridge at 5:56 P.M. Some minor tree damage occurred. EF-0 in Lyon County, KY touched down briefly crossing the Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway in the Land Between the Lakes area at 3:55 P.M. Peak winds were estimated near 65 mph. EF-0 in Christian County, KY touched down briefly southwest of Sinking Fork at 7:29 P.M. Peak winds were estimated near 60 mph. EF-0 in Christian County, KY touched down briefly on the west side of U.S. Highway 41 near Lake Blythe at 7:45 P.M. Peak winds were estimated near 70 mph. EF-0 in Pope County, IL touched down west of Highway 145 between Dixon Springs and Glendale at 5:36 P.M. Peak winds were estimated near 70 mph. All of the information on this page is preliminary. Final details will be contained in the Storm Data publication from the National Climatic Data Center.

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Hail:

Large hail was observed with the supercells. Hailstones were larger than golf balls in some of the storms, beginning with the Owensboro, KY storm around 1 P.M. The storm that produced the EF-1 tornado near Bancroft in Muhlenberg County, KY also produced baseball-size hail about 5:30 P.M. The storm that produced the EF-0 tornado near Cerulean, KY also dropped hailstones about the size of baseballs. Finally, there were reports of quarter-size hailstones in Hopkinsville around 8:40 P.M., mainly on the northeast side of town.

Damaging straight-line winds were observed with a few storms. However, tornadoes and large hail were the main culprits behind most of the damage.

Hail

Radar imagery (using Gibson Ridge software) of the biggest hailstorms of the day...

Owensboro, KY hailstorm 1:05 P.M.	Muhlenberg Co. hailstorm 5:22 P.M.	Northeast Trigg Co hailstorm 7 P.M.	Hopkinsville hailstorm 8:43 P.M.

Photos & Video: Many eyewitnesses took photos and video of this tornado. The tornado passed through the north side of the city of Mayfield during the middle of the afternoon as some people were leaving school or work. The funnel was not rain-wrapped and was easily visible from a distance.

Videos: Video 1 was taken from Sullivan Road, several miles northwest of Mayfield. The tornado passed southeast and east of the videographer, Travis Willett.  Click here for the full video.

Video 2 was taken along U.S. Highway 45 near Mid-Continent University, a mile or two north of Mayfield. The tornado passed just south of the videographer.  Click here for the full video.

Video 3 was taken in the Mayfield area by Justin Myers.  Click here for the full video.

Video 4, which is over three minutes long, includes a hailstorm. The video was taken in the Mayfield area by Bobby Hamilton.  Click here for the full video.

Damage photo 1... Location: West of Mayfield, less than one-half mile before the tornado crossed Highway 121. Damage rating: EF3. A truck was tossed about 150 yards. This was the first indication of EF3 damage along the tornado damage path.

Damage photo 2...EF3 damage to a large "flea market" type of business on Highway 121 just northwest of Mayfield.

Damage photo 3...EF3 damage to vehicles at an auto dealership on U.S. Highway 45 near the northern city limit of Mayfield.

Damage photo 4...Location: Several miles northeast of Mayfield, just east of the interchange of the Purchase Parkway and Highway 131. Damage rating: EF3. Most of the second floor was removed from the home. A resident took shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor, which was the only room that remained intact.  This was the last indication of EF3 damage along the track.

Photo below taken from the Purchase Area Development District office, which is on the south side of the Purchase Parkway interchange with Highway 121.

Radar:

Click here for a radar loop of this event

Reflectivity from the Paducah radar at 2:47 PM CDT as the tornado clipped the northwest edge of Mayfield. (Gibson Ridge software used for image).

Storm-relative winds from the Paducah radar at 2:49 PM CDT as the tornado clipped northwest Mayfield. (Gibson Ridge software used for image).

Reflectivity from the Paducah radar at 3:02 PM CDT, shortly after the tornado hit the north edge of Mayfield. (Gibson Ridge software used for image).

Storm-relative winds from the Paducah radar at 3:02 PM CDT, shortly after the tornado left Mayfield. (Gibson Ridge software used for image).

Animation of radar imagery, focused on the Graves/Marshall County supercell:

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Preliminary Storm Reports

Map icons: purple-hail, red-tornado, orange-funnel cloud, yellow-wind

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1200 AM CDT WED MAY 11 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1241 PM     HAIL             WEST LOUISVILLE         37.70N 87.29W
05/10/2016  E2.00 INCH       DAVIESS            KY   PUBLIC         

0100 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 W OWENSBORO           37.76N 87.14W
05/10/2016  E60.00 MPH       DAVIESS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LOTS OF PEA SIZED HAIL ALONG WITH ESTIMATED 60 MPH WINDS.


0103 PM     HAIL             OWENSBORO               37.76N 87.12W
05/10/2016  M1.00 INCH       DAVIESS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ALSO REPORTED 55+ WINDS.

0103 PM     HAIL             2 SW OWENSBORO          37.74N 87.15W
05/10/2016  M2.00 INCH       DAVIESS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0103 PM     HAIL             OWENSBORO               37.76N 87.12W
05/10/2016  E0.25 INCH       DAVIESS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA SIZED HAIL AT AIRPORT

0103 PM     HAIL             OWENSBORO               37.76N 87.12W
05/10/2016  M1.75 INCH       DAVIESS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0105 PM     HAIL             SORGHO                  37.75N 87.25W
05/10/2016  E1.25 INCH       DAVIESS            KY   PUBLIC         

0106 PM     HAIL             ROCKPORT                37.88N 87.05W
05/10/2016  E0.50 INCH       SPENCER            IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA TO MARBLE SIZED HAIL, ALSO WHAT SEEMED LIKE A VERY
            STRONG GUST OF WIND, POSSIBLE DOWNBURST.

0106 PM     HAIL             OWENSBORO               37.76N 87.12W
05/10/2016  E1.00 INCH       DAVIESS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            QUARTER SIZED HAIL NEAR HWY 431

0111 PM     HAIL             OWENSBORO               37.76N 87.12W
05/10/2016  M1.00 INCH       DAVIESS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL REPORTED ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN.

0120 PM     HAIL             PANTHER                 37.64N 87.22W
05/10/2016  E1.75 INCH       DAVIESS            KY   PUBLIC         

            ALONG HIGHWAY 81

0128 PM     HAIL             WHITESVILLE             37.68N 86.87W
05/10/2016  E1.00 INCH       DAVIESS            KY   PUBLIC         

0247 PM     TORNADO          4 ENE FANCY FARM        36.78N 88.73W
05/10/2016                   GRAVES             KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0247 PM     TORNADO          MAYFIELD                36.74N 88.65W
05/10/2016                   GRAVES             KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            *** 8 INJ *** 8 NON LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES REPORTED BY
            KY STATE POLICE.

0250 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NW MAYFIELD           36.75N 88.66W
05/10/2016                   GRAVES             KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            COLLAPSED BUILDING ON HWY 121 NORTH IN GRAVES COUNTY.
            LIKELY TORNADO DAMAGE.

0251 PM     TORNADO          2 NNW MAYFIELD          36.76N 88.66W
05/10/2016                   GRAVES             KY   PUBLIC         

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND CROSSING HIGHWAY 121

0255 PM     TORNADO          2 N MAYFIELD            36.77N 88.65W
05/10/2016                   GRAVES             KY   NWS EMPLOYEE   

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND CROSSING HIGHWAY 45. DAMAGE/DEBRIS
            HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED.

0306 PM     TORNADO          10 NE MAYFIELD          36.84N 88.52W
05/10/2016                   GRAVES             KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND PRODUCING DAMAGE ON THE
            GRAVES/MARSHALL COUNTY LINE.

0320 PM     TORNADO          2 WSW BENTON            36.84N 88.39W
05/10/2016                   MARSHALL           KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND NEAR MILE MARKER 40 ON THE PURCHASE
            PARKWAY.

0413 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 N LAKE CITY           37.06N 88.25W
05/10/2016                   LIVINGSTON         KY   EMERGENCY MNGR 

            MANY TREES DOWN. DAMAGE TO CELL TOWERS. NEAR MM 34 ON
            I-24/69.

0442 PM     HAIL             HANSON                  37.42N 87.47W
05/10/2016  M0.75 INCH       HOPKINS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0446 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     LAMASCO                 36.99N 87.94W
05/10/2016                   LYON               KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0501 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     CROFTON                 37.05N 87.48W
05/10/2016                   CHRISTIAN          KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NEAR CROFTON

0503 PM     HAIL             CROFTON                 37.05N 87.48W
05/10/2016  M1.00 INCH       CHRISTIAN          KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0504 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 E HANSON              37.42N 87.44W
05/10/2016                   HOPKINS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LOOKING EAST FROM I-69 HANSON EXIT

0504 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 E HANSON              37.42N 87.44W
05/10/2016                   HOPKINS            KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LOOKING EAST FROM HANSON EXIT I-69

0514 PM     HAIL             3 WSW SACRAMENTO        37.40N 87.32W
05/10/2016  M1.50 INCH       HOPKINS            KY   PUBLIC         

0514 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 E HANSON              37.42N 87.40W
05/10/2016                   HOPKINS            KY   EMERGENCY MNGR 

0525 PM     TORNADO          2 NE APEX               37.12N 87.32W
05/10/2016                   MUHLENBERG         KY   911 CALL CENTER

0526 PM     TORNADO          RUDEMENT                37.64N 88.49W
05/10/2016                   SALINE             IL   PUBLIC         

            BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN.

0526 PM     TORNADO          7 SW GREENVILLE         37.13N 87.27W
05/10/2016                   MUHLENBERG         KY   911 CALL CENTER

            SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO HOUSE ON JOE ELI LANE ON
            MUHLENBERG/CHRISTIAN CO. LINE. RESIDENT TOOK COVER IN A
            STORM SHELTER.

0530 PM     TORNADO          APEX                    37.10N 87.34W
05/10/2016                   CHRISTIAN          KY   911 CALL CENTER

            EMS/EMA TRACKED TORNADO FROM FIRST TOUCHDOWN NEAR APEX TO
            WEIR TO SOUTH OF DRAKESBORO NEAR BROWDER...THEN THE
            TORNADO LIFTED AT APPROXIMATELY 555 PM. QUARTER TO LARGER
            THAN GOLF BALL HAIL WAS REPORTED ALONG THE PATH.

0530 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     EDDYVILLE               37.50N 88.59W
05/10/2016                   POPE               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            GROUND HUGGING WALL CLOUD SIGHTED.

0530 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 SE WHITE PLAINS       37.13N 87.31W
05/10/2016                   MUHLENBERG         KY   EMERGENCY MNGR 

            SEVERAL BUILDINGS DAMAGED ALONG ELI LANE...5 BUILDINGS
            DAMAGED ALONG JERRELLS CREEK ROAD...TREES UPROOTED AND
            TWISTED IN THAT AREA. POWER POLES DOWN IN SW PART OF
            COUNTY...WIDESPREAD HAIL DAMAGE WITHIN THE COUNTY...HAIL
            UP TO SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN GOLF BALLS OCCURRED. EVENTS
            OCCURRED BETWEEN 530 AND 600 PM.

0535 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GREENVILLE              37.21N 87.18W
05/10/2016                   MUHLENBERG         KY   EMERGENCY MNGR 

            ROOF BLOWN OFF HOUSE ON TERRELLS CREEK ROAD SOUTH OF
            GREENVILLE.

0536 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 NW DIXON SPRINGS      37.42N 88.71W
05/10/2016                   POPE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN LIKELY. DIFFICULT TO SEE BECAUSE
            OF TREES.

0546 PM     HAIL             1 S GREENVILLE          37.19N 87.18W
05/10/2016  M2.75 INCH       MUHLENBERG         KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0547 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 NW GOLCONDA           37.38N 88.51W
05/10/2016                   POPE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ROTATING WALL CLOUD SIGHTED.

0548 PM     HAIL             BEECH CREEK             37.18N 87.06W
05/10/2016  M1.00 INCH       MUHLENBERG         KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0549 PM     HAIL             BEECH CREEK             37.18N 87.06W
05/10/2016  M1.75 INCH       MUHLENBERG         KY   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TIME OF EVENT ESTIMATED.

0610 PM     TORNADO          MORGANFIELD             37.68N 87.91W
05/10/2016                   UNION              KY   PUBLIC         

0610 PM     TORNADO          W MORGANFIELD           37.68N 87.91W
05/10/2016                   UNION              KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 1/2 MILE WEST OF MORGANFIELD

0624 PM     HAIL             4 N CADIZ               36.93N 87.82W
05/10/2016  M0.75 INCH       TRIGG              KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0628 PM     HAIL             TOLU                    37.43N 88.25W
05/10/2016  M1.00 INCH       CRITTENDEN         KY   EMERGENCY MNGR 

            UP TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL.

0633 PM     HAIL             FARMERSVILLE            37.20N 87.91W
05/10/2016  E1.00 INCH       CALDWELL           KY   PUBLIC         

0638 PM     HAIL             2 NE COBB               37.04N 87.73W
05/10/2016  M1.50 INCH       CALDWELL           KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0641 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 E COBB                37.02N 87.74W
05/10/2016                   CALDWELL           KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0645 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 N MARION              37.35N 88.08W
05/10/2016                   CRITTENDEN         KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ROTATING WALL CLOUD SIGHTED.

0700 PM     HAIL             CERULEAN                36.96N 87.71W
05/10/2016  M1.00 INCH       TRIGG              KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SEVEN MINUTES.

0703 PM     HAIL             CERULEAN                36.96N 87.71W
05/10/2016  M0.75 INCH       TRIGG              KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0705 PM     HAIL             CERULEAN                36.96N 87.71W
05/10/2016  M2.50 INCH       TRIGG              KY   PUBLIC         

0710 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     CERULEAN                36.96N 87.71W
05/10/2016                   TRIGG              KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0716 PM     TORNADO          2 SSE CERULEAN          36.93N 87.70W
05/10/2016                   TRIGG              KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            STRUCTURAL DAMAGE ALONG KY HIGHWAY 126 JUST NORTH OF
            HIGHWAY 128.

0722 PM     TORNADO          BUFFALO                 36.92N 87.69W
05/10/2016                   TRIGG              KY   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TORNADO SIGHTED SOUTH OF CERULEAN IN THE BUFFALO AREA.

0724 PM     TORNADO          1 SE CERULEAN           36.95N 87.70W
05/10/2016                   TRIGG              KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0725 PM     TORNADO          4 SSE CERULEAN          36.91N 87.68W
05/10/2016                   TRIGG              KY   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TROOPER SIGHTED TORNADO NEAR BUFFALO ROAD AND HIGHWAY
            128. DAMAGE TO HOUSE REPORTED...OCCUPANTS FLED.

0727 PM     TORNADO          CERULEAN                36.96N 87.71W
05/10/2016                   TRIGG              KY   EMERGENCY MNGR 

            DEBRIS SEEN ON GROUND.

0747 PM     TORNADO          3 N HOPKINSVILLE        36.90N 87.49W
05/10/2016                   CHRISTIAN          KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO SIGHTED AT LAKE BLYTHE.

0803 PM     TORNADO          5 NE HOPKINSVILLE       36.91N 87.43W
05/10/2016                   CHRISTIAN          KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORTED AT JOHNSON ROAD AND PILOT ROCK ROAD.

0837 PM     HAIL             HOPKINSVILLE            36.85N 87.49W
05/10/2016  M1.00 INCH       CHRISTIAN          KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

0841 PM     HAIL             2 NE HOPKINSVILLE       36.87N 87.47W
05/10/2016  M1.00 INCH       CHRISTIAN          KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

Environment

The environment became supportive of supercells during the afternoon. With daytime heating, surface-based cape increased to nearly 3000 j/kg in the southwest corner of Kentucky by 21z. Deep-layer wind shear was sufficient for the initiation of supercells.

Figure 1: Surface-based cape 21z	Figure 2: 0-6 km bulk shear 21z	Figure 3: Significant Tor Parameter 21z

Surface map and upper-air maps

Figure 4: Surface map 21z	Figure 5: 850 mb analysis 00z	Figure 6: 500 mb analysis 00z