National Weather Service Raw Text Product

899 
NOUS43 KJKL 181343
PNSJKL
KYZ109-190145-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Jackson KY
943 AM EDT Thu May 18 2023

...NWS Damage Survey for May 16, 2023 Tornado Event...

.Magoffin County Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind:    100 mph
Path Length /statute/:  0.67 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   150 yards 
Fatalities:             0 
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/16/2023
Start Time:             04:46 PM EDT
Start Location:         0.64 miles NE Foraker / Magoffin County / KY
Start Lat/Lon:          37.6650 /-83.1230

End Date:               05/16/2023
End Time:               04:48 PM EDT
End Location:           1.3 miles NE Foraker / Magoffin County / KY
End Lat/Lon:            37.6715 / -83.1141

An NWS Survey Team, in conjunction with Magoffin County Emergency
Management, confirmed that a tornado touched down on a hillside 
southwest of Board Tree Rd. Initially, it snapped a few hardwood 
trees as it descended the slope and crossed Board Tree Fork and 
Board Tree Road and then proceeded to move up the hollow near 
Williams Arnett Cemetery Road. Three structures, including a home 
under construction, as well as a medium-sized pine tree at the 
mouth of the hollow, immediately to the northeast of Board Tree 
Road, sustained no visible damage. The tornado apparently remained
mostly elevated over the mouth of the hollow. However, some 
roofing material was removed from a barn located adjacent to the 
intersection of Williams Arnett Cemetery Road and Board Tree Road.

A swath of snapped and uprooted trees were noted at elevations of
approximately 20 to 50 feet above the mouth of the hollow, 
initially starting along the slope on the southeast side of the 
mouth of the hollow. About 100 yards east northeast of the intersection
of Board Tree Road and Williams Arnett Cemetery Road, and just beyond
the third structure, debris was laying in a convergent pattern. 
Immediately up the hollow, there is evidence the tornado reached all
the way to the bottom of the hollow and several dozen trees were 
uprooted or snapped, including some across Williams Arnett Cemetery
Road. A second barn on the left side of the hollow sustained minor
roof damage. 

The damage path was approximately the width of the hollow from 
about halfway up the northwest slope of the hollow to halfway up 
on the southeast slope. The tornado peaked in intensity along 
Williams Arnett Cemetery Road prior to where the road bears to the
left. The tornado appeared to weaken with less visible damage as 
it approached the ridgeline, moving north, and then likely turned 
northeast, passing about 200 yards to the south and southeast of a
communication tower on the crest of the ridge.

The tornado then weakened and continued for a short distance to 
the east northeast weakening to EF-0 intensity before dissipating.

Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 100 mph. The path 
length was around 0.67 miles with a path width of up to 150 yards. 

The NWS extends a special thanks to the Magoffin County Emergency
Management for their assistance. 

&&

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

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

$$

GEERTSON/JP