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NOUS43 KLMK 231926
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INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-
070>078-081-082-240730-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE, KY
326 PM EDT SAT MAY 23 2026 /226 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2026/
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 05/22/2026 TORNADO EVENT
MORGANTOWN TORNADO
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 85 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.32 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 30 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/22/2026
START TIME: 08:02 PM EDT
START LOCATION: 1 N YOUNGTOWN / BUTLER COUNTY / KY
START LAT/LON: 37.2026 / -86.7131
END DATE: 05/22/2026
END TIME: 08:03 PM EDT
END LOCATION: 2 NNE YOUNGTOWN / BUTLER COUNTY / KY
END LAT/LON: 37.2049 / -86.7084
SURVEY SUMMARY:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONDUCTED A STORM SURVEY AND
DETERMINED THAT AN EF0 85 MPH TORNADO OCCURRED IN SOUTHWEST
MORGANTOWN THE EVENING OF FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026.
TREE DAMAGE WAS FIRST OBSERVED AT A FARM AT THE END OF VILES
CEMETERY ROAD, WHERE SEVERAL TREETOPS WERE DAMAGED AND POINTING IN
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS RANGING FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST
CONSISTENT WITH A CONVERGENT PATTERN FROM THE SMALL TORNADO. THE
DAMAGE CONTINUED TO THE EAST TOWARD VILES CEMETERY WHERE SOME
LARGE BRANCHES WERE ON THE GROUND. NEARBY VILES CEMETERY ROAD, A
FIELD OF TALL GRASSES WERE BENT AND LAYING SOUTH IN THE DIRECTION
OF THE TORNADO INFLOW.
THE TORNADO CONTINUED ACROSS GARDNER LANE WHERE FINAL FINISH
REPAIR SHOP SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE ROOF DAMAGE. THE ROOF WAS PEELED
BACK TO THE NORTHWEST DIRECTION, WHILE A LOT OF INSULATION WAS
CARRIED EASTWARD INTO NEARBY TREES AND POWER LINES. RIGHT TO THE
EAST OF FINAL FINISH REPAIR SHOP, THE TORNADO LIFTED WITH NO
ADDITIONAL GROUND DAMAGE. HOWEVER, INSULATION FROM FINAL FINISH
REPAIR SHOP WAS LOFTED INTO NEARBY FIELDS, ACROSS THE NATCHER
PARKWAY (I-165) AND IN NEARBY TREES AT THE BUTLER COUNTY HIGH
SCHOOL FOOTBALL STADIUM. IN TOTAL THE SHORT LIVED TORNADO WAS 0.32
MILES LONG, ALTHOUGH INSULATION FROM THE FINAL FINISH REPAIR SHOP
WAS OBSERVED AT LEAST ANOTHER THIRD OF A MILE FROM THE END OF THE
TORNADO AS IT WAS CARRIED BY THE THUNDERSTORM.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD LIKE TO THANK BUTLER COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THE ASSISTANCE WITH THE STORM SURVEY. THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE MANY
INDIVIDUALS WHO SENT HELPFUL PICTURES AND VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE
TORNADO.
EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
EF0.....65 TO 85 MPH
EF1.....86 TO 110 MPH
EF2.....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3.....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4.....166 TO 200 MPH
EF5.....>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.
MK
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