Kentucky Storm Warnings Leave 50,000 Without Power Across Multiple Counties

Q: After dramatic footage emerged from Owen County, will investigators officially confirm a devastating tornado touchdown in the area?

Yes. Investigators did officially confirm that a tornado touched down in Owen County after the video emerged. News outlets initially described the footage from Owenton as showing a possible tornado, but the National Weather Service later said the tornado was confirmed using video and radar evidence. Local reports also said NWS survey crews, along with Owen County emergency management and the Red Cross, went into the area to assess the damage and determine the storm’s strength. That confirmation was later strengthened by the formal storm survey. The NWS ultimately rated the tornado that moved through Owen County as an EF1, with peak winds estimated around 110 mph. Survey findings said the tornado’s path stretched about 21.7 miles across parts of Carroll, Gallatin, Owen and Grant counties and remained on the ground for nearly 40 minutes. The damage in Owen County matched the seriousness seen in the footage. Reports said homes and other buildings were destroyed, a barn was leveled, an RV was flipped, and trees were knocked down. Owen County’s judge declared a local state of emergency because of the destruction. So the answer is not just that investigators were expected to confirm it—they did confirm a tornado touchdown in Owen County, and later classified it as an EF1.

3 articles · Updated · WKYT · Aug 11

More than 50,000 customers were without power across Kentucky as tornado warnings covered Bath, Montgomery, Elliott, Fleming, Morgan and Rowan counties until 5:30 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning remained in effect until 6 p.m. for parts of Clark, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Madison and Woodford counties, showing the storm threat had spread beyond the tornado zones.
National Weather Service watches also stayed active until 8 p.m. for Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Harrison, Nicholas and Scott counties, plus Bath, Fleming, Montgomery and Rowan.
Northern Kentucky near Cincinnati had the heaviest outages, while Harrison County alone reported more than 2,000 customers without electricity.