Summary of severe thunderstorms on August 12, 2023

Tornadoes:

Tornado #1 - Hickman, Kentucky Fulton County Date August 12, 2023 Time (CDT) 8:56 - 8:58 AM CDT EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 105 mph Path Length 1.2 miles Max Width 350 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: EF-1 tornado began in the Terrace Drive and Sunset Street area of Hickman with damage to trees and power lines. This tornado tracked to the ESE with more tree damage on Bayou Street and Johnson Lane. A large tree fell onto a home on Myron Cory Drive. The tornado crossed KY-125 and proceeded to 7th Street where the most significant cluster of damage occurred with several trees uprooted, portions of a few trees snapped, and power line damage. One of the trees fell onto a car. The storm was at its peak width around KY-125 and 7th Street. Additional damage to trees occurred on Nelson Street and Harrison Street. The damage path ends at this point with the tornado lifting after moving into open areas east of Nelson Street. Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #2 - North of Fulton, Kentucky Hickman County Date August 12, 2023 Time (CDT) 9:13 - 9:16 AM CDT EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 105 mph Path Length 2.6 miles Max Width 275 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: EF-1 tornado began with a cluster of damage along KY-307 just south of Johnson Rd, including on Bizzle Road and Laine Road. Around two dozen trees were blown down and a grain bin was destroyed on Laine Road. This was the strongest and widest portion of the tornado track. The tornado proceeded northeastward, with damage to a portion of a tree line south of Johnson Road. Large branches and smaller limbs were found on Rushton Road and KY-1529. A large section of a tree fell onto a home on Wilson Road. The tornado appears to have lifted shortly after crossing Wilson Road. Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

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

Flooding

Rainfall amounts ranging from 1 to 3 inches occurred across portions of western Kentucky. This included Fulton, Hickman, Graves, and Calloway counties. Much of this rain fell within 30 minutes to 1 hour. Falling on already saturated soil, this led to flooding in the cities of Hickman, Fulton, Wingo, and Murray. The highest observed amount was just over 3" a few miles southeast of Murray.

Wingo, KY courtesy of Beau Dodson	Wingo, KY courtesy of Beau Dodson	Murray, KY courtesy of Dylan Phillips

Rare August Tornadoes

This graphic displays just how unusual August tornadoes are in our part of the country. Dating back to 1950, there have only been 20 documented tornadoes to have occurred in our 58 county forecast area and only 5 have been EF-1's.

Photos

Fulton County courtesy of Beau Dodson	City of Hickman, KY courtesy of Beau Dodson	Hwy 125 near Hickman courtesy of Ben Rudy	City of Hickman, KY courtesy of NWS Storm Survey

Radar

Here is a radar loop of the event from 5 AM through 11 AM on August 12th. 

Storm Reports

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

0751 AM     Hail             6 E Benton              37.10N 89.45W
08/12/2023  M0.75 inch       Scott              MO   Trained Spotter  

0850 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Portageville            36.43N 89.70W
08/12/2023                   New Madrid         MO   Emergency Mngr   

            Several trees down. 

0856 AM     Tornado          1 NW Hickman            36.57N 89.20W
08/12/2023                   Fulton             KY   NWS Storm Survey 

            Storm damage survey results confirm an EF-1 
            tornado began in the Terrace Drive and 
            Sunset Street area of Hickman with damage to 
            trees and power lines. This tornado tracked 
            to the ESE with more tree and power line 
            damage. A large tree fell onto a home on 
            Myron Cory Drive. The tornado was at its 
            widest when crossing KY-125 and 7th Street, 
            the latter of which had the most significant 
            cluster of damage with several trees 
            uprooted, portions of a few trees snapped, 
            and power line damage. One of the trees fell 
            onto a car. Nelson Street marked the last 
            damage points, with the tornado lifting to 
            the east. 

0904 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SW Cayce              36.54N 89.07W
08/12/2023                   Fulton             KY   Amateur Radio    

            Several trees down. 

0905 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ESE Hickman           36.56N 89.18W
08/12/2023                   Fulton             KY   Dept of Highways 

            Widespread trees and utility lines down in 
            Hickman and throughout Fulton County. Trees 
            were blocking sections of Hwy 125 and KY 
            Highway 166. 

0905 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Hickman                 36.56N 89.19W
08/12/2023                   Fulton             KY   Amateur Radio    

            Trees down in Hickman via ham radio 
            operator. Another ham indicated 60 mph winds 
            or more. 

0906 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Moscow                  36.61N 89.04W
08/12/2023                   Hickman            KY   Emergency Mngr   

            Quite a few trees down on Highway 239 near 
            the Fulton County line. 

0913 AM     Tornado          3 N Fulton              36.56N 88.87W
08/12/2023                   Hickman            KY   NWS Storm Survey 

            Storm damage survey results confirm an EF-1 
            tornado began with a cluster of damage along 
            KY-307 just south of Johnson Rd, including 
            on Bizzle Rd and Laine Rd. Around two dozen 
            trees were blown down and a grain bin was 
            destroyed on Laine Rd. This was the 
            strongest and widest portion of the 2.6 mile 
            long tornado track. The tornado proceeded 
            northeastward, with damage to a portion of a 
            tree line south of Johnson Rd. Isolated 
            large branch and small tree limb damage was 
            found further northeast. The last damage 
            point was a large section of a tree falling 
            onto a home on Wilson Rd. The tornado 
            appears to have lifted shortly after. 

0913 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Fulton                  36.51N 88.88W
08/12/2023                   Fulton             KY   Emergency Mngr   

            Widespread tree and power line damage 
            countywide. Trees on houses and roofs off 
            outbuildings. Cities of Fulton and Hickman 
            both with significant damage. 

0915 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 NE Crutchfield        36.62N 88.87W
08/12/2023                   Hickman            KY   Dept of Highways 

            Kentucky Transportation cabinet reports 
            numerous trees down across Hickman County. 
            Trees are down along KY 307, KY 58, KY 239, 
            KY 1529, and KY 1708. 

0915 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 WSW Fulton            36.50N 88.91W
08/12/2023                   Fulton             KY   Trained Spotter  

            Large tree down blocking Hwy 116 west of 
            Fulton. Also brought down some power lines. 

0920 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SW Water Valley       36.56N 88.82W
08/12/2023                   Hickman            KY   Emergency Mngr   

            Tree fell on a house along Hwy 1529. 

0920 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NNE Water Valley      36.61N 88.79W
08/12/2023                   Graves             KY   Dept of Highways 

            Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is reporting 
            numerous trees down along the Purchase 
            Parkway and areas along the Graves-Hickman 
            County line. 

0920 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NNW Water Valley      36.58N 88.82W
08/12/2023                   Graves             KY   Public           

            Several trees down on County line road just 
            northwest of Water Valley. 

0921 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Water Valley            36.57N 88.81W
08/12/2023                   Graves             KY   Public           

            Trees down on Highway 45. 

1000 AM     Flash Flood      Wingo                   36.64N 88.74W
08/12/2023                   Graves             KY   Trained Spotter  

            Water over roads in town. 

1020 AM     Rain             6 ENE Hazel             36.54N 88.23W
08/12/2023  M3.03 inch       Calloway           KY   Public           

            Personal weather station near intersection 
            of Shoemaker Road and New Providence Road. 
            This rain fell in just over 1 hour. 

1020 AM     Flash Flood      Murray                  36.61N 88.31W
08/12/2023                   Calloway           KY   Public           

            Street flooding along Main Street in Murray. 

1030 AM     Flash Flood      2 SE Murray             36.59N 88.29W
08/12/2023                   Calloway           KY   Public           

            Water over Hwy 121 near intersection with 
            Hwy 1497 southeast of Murray.