National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Surveys conducted by NWS Jackson, KY revealed four separate tornadoes affecting parts of nine different counties and causing widespread destruction to the towns of West Liberty and Salyersville. An EF2 tornado touched down and affected Martin County, becoming the first tornado ever recorded in Martin County. In addition, an EF2 tornado also affected portions of Menifee, Magoffin, and Johnson Counties. This was the first time EF2 or greater damage had been sustained in these counties. The path length and width of the West Liberty tornado is especially noteworthy. This tornado had a continuous path reaching an astonishing 86 miles in length through east Kentucky and western West Virginia, and a consistent path width of one mile across most of Morgan County, including through the downtown section of West Liberty. The path of the Salyersville tornado also extended an amazing 49 miles in Kentucky and West Virginia. In addition, this event featured the first EF3 or greater tornado in the Jackson, KY forecast area since the Middlesboro tornado of May 1988.  More information on these tornadoes can be accessed from the links below.

...TORNADO CONFIRMED IN MENIFEE...MORGAN AND EXTREME NORTHWEST
JOHNSON COUNTIES...

...TORNADO REACHED EF3 INTENSITY IN MENIFEE AND MORGAN COUNTIES AND
EF1 INTENSITY IN JOHNSON COUNTY...


A STORM DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN JACKSON KENTUCKY HAS CONFIRMED AN EF-3 TORNADO IN MENIFEE AND
MORGAN COUNTIES...AND AN EF1 TORNADO IN JOHNSON COUNTY ON MARCH 2
2012. TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARIBA IN
MENIFEE COUNTY AT 539 PM EST. THE TORNADO MOVED EAST...AND HIT WEST
LIBERTY AT ABOUT 558 PM EST...CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE
DOWNTOWN AREA. THE TORNADO CONTINUED EAST FROM WEST LIBERTY THROUGH
THE REMAINDER OF MORGAN COUNTY WITH A CONSISTENT DAMAGE PATH OF
APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE IN WIDTH. THE TORNADO THEN CROSSED INTO
LAWRENCE COUNTY AT 610 PM EST APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE EAST OF THE MOON
COMMUNITY BEFORE ENTERING THE EXTREME NORTHWEST TIP OF JOHNSON
COUNTY 1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE KEATON AREA AROUND 613 PM EST. THE
TORNADO STRADDLED THE JOHNSON/LAWRENCE COUNTY LINE UNTIL PASSING
ENTIRELY BACK INTO LAWRENCE COUNTY 2 1/2 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE
KEATON AREA AT APPROXIMATELY 618 PM EST. DAMAGE IN EXTREME NORTHWEST
JOHNSON COUNTY WAS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF1 TORNADO. THIS TORNADO
CONTINUED THROUGH LAWRENCE COUNTY AND INTO WAYNE AND LINCOLN
COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA.

EVENT DATE: MARCH 2 2012
EVENT TYPE: EF-3
TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS: 140 MPH
FATALITIES: 2 FATALITIES IN MENIFEE COUNTY AND 6 FATALITIES
IN MORGAN COUNTY
EVENT START TIME/LOCATION: 539 PM EST AT 37.905022N/83.614639W
EVENT END TIME/LOCATION*: 618 PM EST AT 37.9921N/82.9198W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH: 36 MILES IN MENIFEE...MORGAN & JOHNSON COUNTIES
                    60 MILES IN KENTUCKY
                    APPROX 86 MILES TOTAL
DAMAGE WIDTH: MAXIMUM 1 MILE WIDTH

* THIS IS THE EVENT END TIME IN THE NWS JACKSON KY FORECAST AREA.

Menifee & Morgan County Tornado Path (click on image to enlarge)

 

Pictures from Damage Location #1 - along Hwy 746

 

Pictures from Damage Location #2 - Opossum Hollow Road

 

Pictures from Damage Location #3 - West Liberty

above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling

 

 
Photo from Damage Location #4
Photos from Damage Location #5

 

Photo from Damage Location #6
Photos from Damage Location #7

 

Photos from Damage Location #8

...TORNADO CONFIRMED IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST WOLFE...MAGOFFIN...JOHNSON
AND MARTIN COUNTIES...

...TORNADO REACHED EF3 INTENSITY IN MAGOFFIN AND JOHNSON COUNTIES...
EF2 INTENSITY IN MARTIN COUNTY AND EF1 INTENSITY IN WOLFE COUNTY...


A STORM DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN JACKSON KENTUCKY HAS CONFIRMED A LONG TRACKED TORNADO MOVED FROM
EXTREME SOUTHEAST WOLFE COUNTY...ACROSS MAGOFFIN...JOHNSON AND
MARTIN COUNTIES ON MARCH 2 2012. THE TORNADO WAS RATED EF3 INTENSITY
IN MAGOFFIN AND JOHNSON COUNTIES...EF2 IN MARTIN COUNTY AND EF1 IN
WOLFE COUNTY. THIS TORNADO CROSSED THE TUG FORK RIVER NEAR BEAUTY
KENTUCKY AND MOVED INTO WEST VIRGINIA APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE BEFORE
ENDING. TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED ALONG HWY 1094 JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE
COMMUNITY OF BURKHART IN WOLFE COUNTY AROUND 650 PM EST. THE TORNADO
MOVED EAST-NORTHEAST...AND HIT SALYERSVILLE AT EF3 STRENGTH AROUND
703 PM EST...CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE TORNADO THEN MOVED EAST
NORTHEAST MAINTAINING EF3 INTENSITY...AND LIKELY REACHED ITS MAXIMUM
WIND SPEED OF 160 MPH IN JOHNSON COUNTY. THE TORNADO BECAME WEAKER
AS IT MOVED INTO AND ACROSS MARTIN COUNTY...WITH MAXIMUM INTENSITY
IN MARTIN COUNTY AT EF2. THE TORNADO EXITED KENTUCKY AROUND 738 PM
EST.

EVENT DATE: MARCH 2 2012
EVENT TYPE: EF-3
TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS: 160 MPH
FATALITIES: 2 FATALITIES IN JOHNSON COUNTY
EVENT START TIME/LOCATION: 650 EST AT 37.703883N/83.2728W
EVENT END TIME/LOCATION*: 738 PM EST AT 37.832617N/82.403883W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH: 48 MILES IN KENTUCKY
                    49 MILES TOTAL
DAMAGE WIDTH: MAXIMUM WIDTH 0.75 MILES

* THIS IS THE EVENT END TIME IN THE NWS JACKSON KY FORECAST AREA.

 

 

Magoffin to Johnson to Martin County Tornado Path

 

Photos from Damage Location #1 - Salyersville

above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling

 

Photos from Damage Location #2 - along Hwy 825

 

Photos for Damage Location #3 - Hagerhill

 

Photos from Damage Location #4 - along Hwy 3

 

Photos for Damage Location #5 - Beauty

 

Photos for Damage Location #6 - Lovely

...EF2 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN LAUREL COUNTY KENTUCKY...

A STORM DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN JACKSON KENTUCKY HAS CONFIRMED AN EF-2 TORNADO IN LAUREL COUNTY ON
MARCH 2 2012. TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED ABOUT 5.2 MILES WEST OF EAST
BERNSTADT AND THE TORNADO LIFTED ABOUT 3.6 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF
EAST BERNSTADT. WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO HAVE REACHED 125 MPH. THIS
TORNADO DAMAGED OR DESTROYED SEVERAL RESIDENCES AND CAUSED 6
FATALITIES.

EVENT DATE: MARCH 2 2012
EVENT TYPE: EF-2 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS: 125 MPH
FATALITIES: 6 FATALITIES
EVENT START TIME/LOCATION: 704 PM EST AT 37.197228N/84.194806W
EVENT END TIME/LOCATION: 712 PM EST AT 37.235781N/84.091847W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH: 7 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: 310 YARDS

 

 

Laurel County Tornado Path

 

Photos of Damage Location #1

above photo courtesy of Ofc. J. Michael Holliday London City Police Dept. above photo courtesy of Ofc. J. Michael Holliday London City Police Dept.

 

Aerial Photos of Damage Location #2

 

Photos of Damage Location #3

...EF1 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN BATH COUNTY KENTUCKY...

A STORM DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN JACKSON KENTUCKY HAS CONFIRMED AN EF-1 TORNADO IN BATH COUNTY ON
MARCH 2 2012. TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED NEAR THE BATH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
NEAR OWINGSVILLE AT 608 PM EST. THE TORNADO HAD AN INTERMITTENT PATH
TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST OF APPROXIMATELY 7 1/2 MILES...CROSSING I-64
AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO NUMEROUS TREES...BARN ROOFS AND RESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURES ALONG THE WAY. THE TORNADO LIFTED FOR THE FINAL TIME
APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 MILES NORTHWEST OF SALT LICK KENTUCKY.

EVENT DATE: MARCH 2 2012
EVENT TYPE: EF-1
TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS: 100 MPH
INJURIES/FATALITIES: NONE
EVENT START TIME/LOCATION: 608 PM EST AT 38.1367N/83.7781W
EVENT END TIME/LOCATION: 613 PM EST AT 38.1483N/83.6427W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH: 7 1/2 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: MAXIMUM OF 250 YARDS

 

Bath County Tornado Path

 

Photos from Damage Location #1

 

Photos from Damage Location #2

 

Photos from Damage Location #3

 

Photos from Damage Location #4

Additional Storm Damage Reports:

 

Hail Damage Photos from Campton, KY (Wolfe County)

 

Wind Damage Photos from near Morehead (Rowan County)

 

 

7:53 AM
03/02/2012
0.75 in. Hail
Island City
Owsley, KY
DIME SIZED HAIL COVERING THE GROUND.
From: CO-OP OBSERVER
8:30 AM
03/02/2012
0.50 in. Hail
3 N Manchester
Clay, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
1:00 PM
03/02/2012
Flood
1 SE Calvin
Bell, KY
TWO FEET OF FLOWING WATER OF HWY 1344.
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
1:00 PM
03/02/2012
Flood
Middlesboro
Bell, KY
HWY 25E UNDER 6 INCHES OF WATER COMING INTO MIDDLESBORO.
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
5:20 PM
03/02/2012
1.25 in. Hail
Clay City
Powell, KY
HAIL RANGING FROM DIME TO HALF DOLLAR SIZE COVERING THE GROUND, APPROXIMATELY 2.5 MILES NORHT ON ROUTE 11 TOWARDS MT STERLING.
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
5:20 PM
03/02/2012
1.25 in. Hail
2 N Clay City
Powell, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
5:21 PM
03/02/2012
2.75 in. Hail
1 S Levee
Montgomery, KY
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL ALONG HIGHWAY 11 BETWEEN LEVEE AND POWELL COUNTY LINE.
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
5:25 PM
03/02/2012
2.75 in. Hail
Jeffersonville
Montgomery, KY
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
5:28 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
2 SE Mount Sterling
Montgomery, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
5:30 PM
03/02/2012
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
1 W Morehead
Rowan, KY
LARGE TREES DOWN...GUTTERS RIPPED AWAY FROM HOUSES...FENCE LAID OVER AND ALSO A PORCH DAMAGED ON A HOUSE.
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
5:30 PM
03/02/2012
0.75 in. Hail
Hollyhill
Mccreary, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
5:32 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Means
Menifee, KY
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
5:35 PM
03/02/2012
1.25 in. Hail
2 E Jeffersonville
Montgomery, KY
HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED.
From: PUBLIC
5:40 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Frenchburg
Menifee, KY
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED.
From: 911 CALL CENTER
5:40 PM
03/02/2012
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
Triplett
Rowan, KY
BARN DESTROYED FROM WIND DAMAGE.
From: 911 CALL CENTER
5:40 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Sharpsburg
Bath, KY
GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED NEAR OLYMPIA...BETHEL AND SHARPSBURG.
From: 911 CALL CENTER
5:41 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Frenchburg
Menifee, KY
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
5:43 PM
03/02/2012
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
Marshes Siding
Mccreary, KY
TREES WIRE LINES DOWN IN STREARNS, 65 MPH GUST AT MARSHES SIDING.
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
5:43 PM
03/02/2012
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
Stearns
Mccreary, KY
TREES AND LINES DOWN WITH WIND ESTIMATED AT 65 MPH
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
5:48 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Wellington
Menifee, KY
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
5:55 PM
03/02/2012
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
Judy
Montgomery, KY
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IN THE JUDY AREA.
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
5:59 PM
03/02/2012
70 mph Thunderstorm Wind Gust
5 N Mount Sterling
Montgomery, KY
From: AMATEUR RADIO
5:59 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
5 N Mount Sterling
Montgomery, KY
From: AMATEUR RADIO
6:00 PM
03/02/2012
2.50 in. Hail
3 WNW West Liberty
Morgan, KY
From: NWS EMPLOYEE
6:10 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
West Liberty
Morgan, KY
EVENT OCCURRED BETWEEN 555 PM AND 610 PM.
From: PUBLIC
6:10 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
2 S Cains Store
Pulaski, KY
From: AMATEUR RADIO
6:10 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
1 S Combs
Estill, KY
From: PUBLIC
6:20 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
Frakes
Bell, KY
SPOTTER REPORTS 1 INCH HAIL.
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
6:21 PM
03/02/2012
60 mph Thunderstorm Wind Gust
4 W Morehead
Rowan, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
6:26 PM
03/02/2012
2.75 in. Hail
4 N Sandy Hook
Elliott, KY
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
6:35 PM
03/02/2012
3.00 in. Hail
Campton
Wolfe, KY
From: NWS STORM SURVEY
6:40 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Science Hill
Pulaski, KY
From: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
6:42 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
Blackmont
Bell, KY
From: PUBLIC
6:45 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Pulaski
Pulaski, KY
From: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
6:45 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
2 S Cannel City
Morgan, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
6:45 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
1 W Insull
Bell, KY
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
6:50 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
Wallins Creek
Harlan, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
6:56 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Wallins Creek
Harlan, KY
From: PUBLIC
6:57 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
Pongo
Rockcastle, KY
From: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
7:00 PM
03/02/2012
2 in. Hail
Grays Knob
Harlan, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
7:00 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
3 SSE Harlan
Harlan, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
7:00 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Harlan
Harlan, KY
STATE POLICE REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL IN THE CITY OF HARLAN.
From: LAW ENFORCEMENT
7:03 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
Oil Springs
Johnson, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
7:03 PM
03/02/2012
Funnel Cloud
Ferguson
Pulaski, KY
From: CO-OP OBSERVER
7:03 PM
03/02/2012
58 mph Thunderstorm Wind Gust
2 N Monticello
Wayne, KY
From: AWOS
7:04 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Oil Springs
Johnson, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
7:05 PM
03/02/2012
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
Putney
Harlan, KY
TREES DOWN ON HWY 522.
From: 911 CALL CENTER
7:05 PM
03/02/2012
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
Pittsburg
Laurel, KY
POWER POLES DOWN AT HWY 80 AND I-75 INTERCHANGE.
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
7:10 PM
03/02/2012
Funnel Cloud
Wood Creek Lake
Laurel, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
7:15 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Paintsville
Johnson, KY
From: AMATEUR RADIO
7:15 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
Noetown
Bell, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
7:17 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Thelma
Johnson, KY
HAIL UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE OCCURRED AND HAIL COVERED THE GROUND TO A DEPTH OF ABOUT TWO INCHES.
From: PUBLIC
7:17 PM
03/02/2012
2.75 in. Hail
Lenarve
Harlan, KY
From: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
7:23 PM
03/02/2012
2 in. Hail
Grays Knob
Harlan, KY
EVENT OCCURRED BETWEEN 708 AND 723 PM.
From: PUBLIC
7:26 PM
03/02/2012
1.75 in. Hail
Paintsville
Johnson, KY
From: AMATEUR RADIO
7:38 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
Inez
Martin, KY
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
7:39 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
Inez
Martin, KY
DISPATCH REPORTED QUARTER SIZED HAIL AND STRONG WINDS.
From: 911 CALL CENTER
8:00 PM
03/02/2012
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
Arjay
Bell, KY
TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN ARJAY.
 From: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
8:25 PM
03/02/2012
1 in. Hail
Middlesboro
Bell, KY
QUARTER SIZED HAIL REPORTED WAS REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC
From: PUBLIC
8:40 PM
03/02/2012
1.25 in. Hail
Middlesboro
Bell, KY
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
8:55 PM
03/02/2012
Flood
3 N Paintsville
Johnson, KY
AN AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED SEVERAL PEOPLE TRAPPED BY FLOOD WATERS AT BROWN BRANCH.
From: AMATEUR RADIO
9:00 PM
03/02/2012
Flood
Stacy Fork
Morgan, KY
KENTUCKY HIGHWAY 844 WAS COVERED BY FLOOD WATERS AND IMPASSABLE.
From: NWS EMPLOYEE
9:30 PM
03/02/2012
Flood
Tomahawk
Martin, KY
A MOBILE HOME WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FLOOD WATERS FROM AN AREA CREEK WITH OTHER HOMES IN THE AREA THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS ALONG KY HIGHWAY 40.
From: PUBLIC

A FAST MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DUMPED SNOW ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY
DURING THE OVERNIGHT AND MORNING HOURS. THE GREATEST AMOUNTS WERE MOSTLY 
CONCENTRATED IN THE NORTHERN COAL FIELDS...WITH SIX AND AHALF INCHES 
MEASURED AT THE COOPERATIVE WEATHER STATION NEAR FARMERSIN ROWAN COUNTY.

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED BY AMOUNT AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION. A BIG THANKS GO OUT TO TRAINED SPOTTERS
AND COOPERATIVE WEATHER OBSERVERS FOR THEIR TIMELY REPORTS....

***********************SNOWFALL REPORTS***********************

 INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
  6.5    1 S FARMERS              KY  ROWAN            0800 AM
  5.4    ROGERS                   KY  WOLFE            0600 AM
  5.2    HOWARDS MILL             KY  MONTGOMERY       0800 AM
  5.0    1 N COON                 KY  MAGOFFIN         0740 AM
  5.0    5 N MOUNT STERLING       KY  MONTGOMERY       0700 AM
  4.8    3 NW WEST LIBERTY        KY  MORGAN           0700 AM
  4.7    2 WSW KERZ               KY  JOHNSON          0755 AM
  4.5    FORAKER                  KY  MAGOFFIN         1017 AM
  4.5    HILLSBORO                KY  FLEMING          0800 AM
  4.4    4 NE JACKSON             KY  BREATHITT        0700 AM
  4.0    RELIEF                   KY  MORGAN           0630 AM
  3.9    4 NE JACKSON             KY  BREATHITT        0600 AM
  3.5    4 N BEATTYVILLE          KY  LEE              0800 AM
  3.2    BEATTYVILLE              KY  LEE              0745 AM
  3.0    SALYERSVILLE             KY  MAGOFFIN         1017 AM
  3.0    INEZ                     KY  MARTIN           0900 AM
  3.0    CRESSY                   KY  ESTILL           0800 AM
  3.0    4 NE SLADE               KY  POWELL           0800 AM
  3.0    2 E INEZ                 KY  MARTIN           0700 AM
  2.6    2 W STANTON              KY  POWELL           0800 AM
  2.5    4 WSW PRESTONSBURG       KY  FLOYD            0700 AM
  2.0    ROUSSEAU                 KY  BREATHITT        1017 AM
  1.0    1 SSE NED                KY  PERRY            0910 AM
  0.3    2 ESE TALBERT            KY  BREATHITT        0640 AM