Death toll rises to 4 after storms ravage parts of KY; state of emergency declared

UPDATE 11 a.m. - Waves of severe weather caused damage across Kentucky Sunday and early Monday and resulted in four deaths, state officials said at a Memorial Day news conference.

Gov. Andy Beshear said storm-related deaths occurred in Hardin, Jefferson, Hopkins and Mercer counties.

There also were reports of injuries, but in one case Beshear said a girl riding her bike escaped injury when high wind knocked a tree over on her as she was riding her bike.

“There’s a bit of a hand of God in that story,” Beshear said.

More than 174,000 people were still without power in the state Monday morning as crews worked to clear downed trees from power lines. Four nursing homes in Western Kentucky were running on generators, and power was out in several places to pumps that supply water systems.

Crews also were working to clear trees blocking roads, officials said.

In addition to a statewide emergency Beshear declared, he said 14 counties and five cities had declared emergencies.

Authorities have not released the names of those who died.

UPDATE 9:45 a.m. - Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency in the early morning hours of Memorial Day as a result of severe weather.

Around midnight, Beshear noted severe weather continued to move through the state, and issued the state of emergency so communities impacted could get the resources they needed to respond.

As of Monday morning, nearly 184,000 Kentuckians are without power, according to online data. Beshear is expected to give an update about the weekend’s severe weather at 11 a.m.

UPDATE 9 a.m. May 27 - Authorities confirmed a second storm-related death in Kentucky early on Monday, Memorial Day

Authorities in Mercer County said a woman died there as severe storms moved through the area.

Mercer County Coroner David Ransdell said a tree fell on a house, apparently as a result of high wind, causing the roof to collapse into a bedroom, killing a 67-year-old woman in bed.

Ransdell pronounced the woman dead at the scene at 1:15 a.m. Monday.

The woman’s husband was with her.

He was injured and was taken to the hospital but his injuries were not life-threatening, according to a release from Brad Cox, the county emergency manager.

Authorities have not released the names of the husband and wife.

UPDATE 10 p.m. May 26 - The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center posted a running list throughout Sunday of reports of storm damage across Kentucky. The list included incidents from more than 50 counties from the Mississippi River to far Eastern Kentucky as rough weather marched across the state.

Many of the reports, which were preliminary, were about downed trees and power lines, but at one point, the center listed a report that the hospital in Trigg County had no power and no generator.

Other reports included people potentially trapped in a house in Graves County; significant damage to a home in Taylor County; a possible tornado at Corbin; a non-life threatening injury to a person in Clay County when a tree fell on a shelter at a park; and an evacuation at an apartment building in Manchester after a tree hit it.

There were still about 139,000 customers in the state without power at 10 p.m. Sunday, according to poweroutage.us.

UPDATE 3:15 p.m. - At least five Kentucky counties have declared an emergency as a result of the first round of severe storms on Sunday afternoon, according to Governor Andy Beshear.

He warned Kentuckians in a video on social media to stay alert, as more severe weather is expected to continue through Sunday night.

The first round of storms brought one fatality in Louisville, and left nearly 213,000 Kentuckians without power.

Beshear noted many blocked and flooded roadways, downed power lines and broken trees.

“We have gotten through at least the first part of this event and we want to make sure we don’t lose anybody else,” he said.

UPDATE 2 p.m. - One fatality has been confirmed in Louisville as a result of severe weather, according to Mayor Craig Greenberg.

“Louisville, I’m sad to report we’ve had one fatality following the severe weather that just moved through the area and some structural damage reported,” Greenberg said on X. “Please join me in holding this family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time — may their memory be a blessing.”

UPDATE 1:51 p.m. - Power outages in Kentucky are climbing to almost 190,000 as of Sunday afternoon. A majority of the outages are located in Western Kentucky, according to online data.

The highest reported number of outages are in Trigg and Calloway counties, with more than 8,000 without power in each area.

Trigg County Emergency Management has opened a shelter at the courthouse at 38 Main Street, according to a post on Facebook. They are also reported multiple trees and down lines throughout the county.

In Ballard County, their emergency management is reporting flooded roads and downed lines with more than 2,000 customers without power.

“Crews are working to get the power restored. Please remain patient as there are thousands of outages across Western Kentucky,” the Ballard County EMA wrote on Facebook.

Impassable roads in Fulton County are being reported by the county’s EMA. In a Facebook post, the agency wrote state routes 2139 and 935 are impassable as a result of down trees and power lines.

UPDATE 1:45 p.m. - Storms are moving out of central Kentucky and into southern parts of the state on Sunday afternoon.

But the threat isn’t over.

Storms are expected to continue into Sunday evening, with the worst conditions expected after sunset, according to the National Weather Service.

According to WKYT Meteorologist Chris Bailey, additional severe storms are expected to develop into the night and could bring widespread damage with it.

Bailey’s predictions include hurricane force wind gusts are possible at some points along both of the main lines of severe storms. He noted a few tornadoes will also show up with the greatest threat across western and southern Kentucky.

Breakouts of hail have been reported in some regions in Kentucky, with large hail of greater than golf ball sized to be expected.

UPDATE 1:25 p.m. - Governor Andy Beshear confirmed in a tweet a tornado touched down in Western Kentucky, with severe weather systems to continue to move through the state.

As of Sunday afternoon, power outages are growing with more than 170,000 people without power, according to Beshear. There are no reported injuries at this time.

“Initial reports are the storms are causing property damage and significant power outages that now exceed 150,000,” Beshear said on X. “Thus far, we have no reports of serious injuries. Please stay weather aware as the next round late tonight could be powerful.

A large portion of the outages are located in Western Kentucky. The National Weather service is reporting wind gusts of up to 60 mph. Nickel-sized hail has been reported and the NWS said to expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Storm systems are moving through Madison County, causing damage to trees and blocking entrances to homes. The severe weather advisory is expected to continue until 2 p.m. Wind gusts were recorded at up to 70 mph.

11 a.m. - Severe weather on Sunday could bring a possibility of tornadoes throughout Kentucky into the Memorial Day holiday, according to the National Weather Service.

As of Sunday morning, the Louisville branch of the agency said a tornado watch has been issued for parts of Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee until 4 p.m. CST. It is possible the predicted evening weather could bring 75 mph winds, as well as two-inch sized hail, according to the NWS.

Multiple waves of strong to severe storms are possible Sunday into the evening with the greatest risk for severe weather and flooding after sunset, according to the weather service.

The area covered in the forecast included most of Kentucky and nearby areas in northern Tennessee, as well as parts of Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. A flood watch was already declared Sunday morning in Kentucky, and is expected to last throughout Monday.

South-central parts of the state are most likely to receive flash flooding from repeated, heavy rainfall, the weather service shared. In Western Kentucky, severe weather has left more than 100,000 customers without power, according to power outage data.

The weather service said a “major severe weather outbreak” is possible Sunday in Western Kentucky, with one round of storms in the morning and another in the afternoon and evening.

Governor Andy Beshear issued a series of posts on social media urging Kentuckians to take weather predictions seriously.

“Folks, forecasts are showing some severe storms across the commonwealth today.,” he said. “Damaging winds, hail, flash flooding and even tornadoes are possible. Be prepared. Make sure you have a plan for yourself and your loved ones and follow local weather for updates.”