Draft:2025 Somerset–London tornado
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|
| EF4 tornado | |
|---|---|
 03:25Z KJKL radar scan of the tornado | |
| Formed | May 16, 2025, 10:33 p.m. EDT (UTC–04:00) |
| Duration | 1 hour 23 minutes |
| Dissipated | May 16, 2025, 11:56 p.m. EDT (UTC-04:00) |
| Highest winds |
|
| Max. rating1 | EF4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 1 hour 23 minutes |
| Fatalities | 19 fatalities, 10 injuries |
| Areas affected | Eastern Kentucky, United States |
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
During the evening hours of May 16, 2025, a long-tracked tornado moved across Eastern Kentucky, producing severe damage in numerous towns, including London and Somerset. As of the morning of May 17, 16 people have been confirmed dead in London, and 1 person in Somerset has also been confirmed dead.[1]
Meteorological synopsis
[edit]On May 8, 2025, The Storm Prediction Center outlined a moderate (4/5) risk over much of the middle Mississippi and lower Ohio Valleys on May 16, with the greatest risk over southeastern Missouri, far northeastern Arkansas, northwestern Tennessee, southern Illinois and Indiana, far southeastern Ohio, and much of Kentucky. At 3:00 p.m. CST (21:00 UTC), the SPC issued a tornado watch across the highest-risk area: Central and Southern Illinois, Central and Southern Indiana, Western and Central Kentucky, and Southeast Missouri.[2]
London
[edit]The tornado also impacted the London-Corbin Airport, where significant damage occurred. Several hangers as well as aircraft, including a medical helicopter were completely destroyed.[3][4]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Powell, Curadhan (May 17, 2025). "Tornado in Somerset leaves at least 1 dead, destroys buildings". WLKY. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ^ Rich Thompson (May 18, 2025). "Tornado Watch 552". Storm Prediction Center. Archived from the original on May 18, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ^ Staff, WKYT News (May 17, 2025). "WATCH: WKYT viewer captures deadly tornado on camera". WKYT. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ^ "AERIALS: Damage at London, KY airport; planes, medical helicopter destroyed". WLKY. May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.