Severe Thunderstorm and Flash Flooding Potential Returns Tuesday Afternoon and Evening

Thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening could produce damaging winds and hail, particularly with a line that moves southeast ahead of an advancing cold front. A tornado or two, as well as Localized flash flooding, are also possible. There is a slight to enhanced Risk for Severe Storms, and a Slight Risk for Flash Flooding. Please keep updated on the forecast and have ways to receive warnings. Read More >

Louisa, Kentucky (Lawrence County) EF-2 Tornado
July 4th, 2016

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-2
Estimated Maximum Wind:	120 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	5 Injuries / 0 fatalities
Damage Path Length:	2.5 miles
Maximum Path Width:	70 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	38.1021/-82.6289 at 3:44 pm
Approximate End Point/Time:	38.1016/-82.5853 at 3:49 pm

A warm front lifted north through northeast Kentucky during the morning hours into central Ohio and northern West Virginia. A round of predawn showers associated with the front deposited around a half inch of rain across the region. In the warm and muggy air, and with an increasing wind flow aloft fast-moving round of thunderstorms moved through during the afternoon. One dominant thunderstorm in this broken line produced damage around Louisa.

The tornado did extensive damage to the Louisa Walmart and the Brown Food Service Warehouse. Cars and shipping containers were overturned and moved up to 30 yards in the Walmart parking lot. Structural damage to the Walmart and the Brown Food Service warehouse occurred. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado crossed the Tug Fork into West Virginia before dissipating. Maximum wind gusts were estimated at 120 mph. There were 5 minor injuries at the Walmart.

Damage Survey Maps


Contoured damage map of the Louisa tornado on 7/4/16. Colors represent approximate damage intensity levels. Click to enlarge.	Zoomed in image of the area around the Louisa Walmart (left) and the Brown Food Service Warehouse (right) showing approximate damage intensity. Click to enlarge.

Radar Data


*0.5 degree reflectivity and storm relative velocity data from KRLX at 3:43 pm. This is the start* location of damage from the surveyed tornado. Click to enlarge.**	*0.5 degree reflectivity and storm relative velocity data from KRLX at 3:49 pm. This is the end* location of damage from the surveyed tornado. Click to enlarge.**