EF-1 Tornado Confirmed After Weekend Storm Damage

National Weather Service surveys find 100 mph winds in parts of Kentucky

Mar. 17, 2026 at 9:39pm

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The National Weather Service in Louisville announced Tuesday morning that an EF-1 tornado with winds of 100 miles per hour caused damage across parts of Grayson, Hardin and Meade Counties in Kentucky on Sunday night. There was also damage from straight-line winds that survey teams are still reviewing, though no injuries were reported.

Why it matters

Severe weather events like tornadoes can cause significant property damage and disrupt communities, so it's important for the National Weather Service to quickly assess the extent of the damage and determine the exact nature of the storm to help with recovery efforts and inform future preparedness.

The details

The National Weather Service damage survey teams were dispatched on Monday to Grayson, Hardin and Meade Counties to review the damage caused by the Sunday night storms. The Kentucky Mesonet station near Leitchfield measured a peak wind gust of 62 miles per hour, while the Hardin County station reported a 57 mph gust.

  • The storms swept through the area on Sunday night.
  • The National Weather Service damage survey teams were scheduled to be in the affected counties on Monday.
  • The National Weather Service announced the EF-1 tornado confirmation on Tuesday morning.

The players

National Weather Service

The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting and issuing severe weather warnings.

Kentucky Mesonet

A network of weather stations across Kentucky that provide real-time weather data.

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The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of the National Weather Service's rapid damage assessment capabilities to help communities recover from severe weather events and inform future preparedness efforts.