Kentucky Tornado Outbreak

Overview

On the evening of December 10, 2021, a historic tornado outbreak struck the central and southern United States, producing multiple violent tornadoes across eight states. The most destructive was a long-track EF4 tornado that traveled approximately 165 miles across western Kentucky, one of the longest continuous tornado tracks in US history. The city of Mayfield, Kentucky was particularly devastated, with its downtown largely destroyed including a candle factory where workers were trapped. Nearly 80 people were killed in Kentucky, with additional fatalities in other states. An Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois collapsed, killing six workers. The outbreak was remarkable for occurring in December, a month historically associated with fewer tornadoes. President Biden declared a major disaster for Kentucky.