709
NOUS43 KLMK 180352
PNSLMK
INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-
070>078-081-082-181600-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE, KY
1152 PM EDT TUE MAR 17 2026 /1052 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026/
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 3/15/26 TORNADO EVENT
BUTLER TORNADO
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 80 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 4.64 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 50 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 03/15/2026
START TIME: 10:59 PM EDT
START LOCATION: 1 NE TURNERTOWN / BUTLER COUNTY / KY
START LAT/LON: 37.0759 / -86.7391
END DATE: 03/15/2026
END TIME: 11:03 PM EDT
END LOCATION: 1 W NEEDMORE / BUTLER COUNTY / KY
END LAT/LON: 37.1098 / -86.6674
SURVEY SUMMARY:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONDUCTED A STORM SURVEY ON TUESDAY,
MARCH 17TH FOR THE STORMS THAT OCCURRED ON SUNDAY NIGHT, MARCH
15TH. A TORNADO WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE OCCURRED IN BUTLER COUNTY
WITH MAX WINDS OF 80 MPH (EF0).
DAMAGE WAS FIRST OBSERVED ALONG FLAT ROCK ROAD SOUTH OF DIMPLE
WHERE A ROOF WAS LIFTED OFF A STORAGE OUTBUILDING AND LOFTED INTO
NEARBY TREES. SOME TREE DAMAGE WAS ALSO OBSERVED AT THIS LOCATION
WITH SOME EVIDENCE OF BEING BROKEN AND TWISTED IN DIFFERENT
DIRECTIONS DUE TO THE TORNADO. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO THE
NORTHEAST ACROSS HIGHWAY 79 WHERE TREE DAMAGE WAS TWISTED BACKWARD
IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE STORM MOTION TO THE SOUTHWEST.
THE TORNADO CONTINUED ACROSS DIMPLE ROAD AND DAMAGED MOBILE HOMES
ALONG THE ROAD. ONE HOME HAD A SHED THAT WAS DESTROYED AND LOFTED
ABOVE THE HOMES AND PLACED IN A NEARBY FARM FIELD. ONE MOBILE HOME
WAS SHIFTED ON THE FOUNDATION, BUT DID NOT OVERTURN DUE TO PROPER
ANCHORING. TREE BRANCH DAMAGE IN THIS VICINITY SHOWED DIFFERENT
DIRECTIONS TO THE DAMAGE ALONG WITH TWISTING, WHICH WAS EVIDENCE
OF ROTATION. ROOF DAMAGE TO ANOTHER MOBILE HOME NEAR THIS LOCATION
WAS EVIDENT AND THE ROOF WAS LOFTED ABOUT A TENTH OF A MILE
DOWNSTREAM INTO A FARM FIELD.
THE NEXT DAMAGE WAS UPHILL AT A FARM, WHERE A STORAGE OUTBUILDING
HAD DAMAGE TO THE ROOF. THE ROOFTOP WAS LOFTED IN THE AIR OVER
SEVERAL PIECES OF FARM EQUIPMENT, SPLIT IN TWO, AND THE TWO PIECES
OF ROOFING MATERIAL LANDED IN TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS (ONE TO THE
EAST, AND THE OTHER IN A MORE SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION). SOME
DEBRIS WAS LOFTED DOWNSTREAM INTO NEARBY FIELDS ALONG BELCHER
ROAD, WHERE THERE WERE ISOLATED TREES UPROOTED AS WELL.
THE STORM THEN CROSSED LITTLE MUDDY CREEK TOWARD RICHLAND CHURCH
ROAD WHERE SEVERAL LARGE BRANCHES TO TREES ALONG THE ROAD WERE
SNAPPED. FROM THIS POINT, THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE
OBSERVED.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD LIKE TO THANK BUTLER
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THE ASSISTANCE COMPLETING THE
SURVEY, AS WELL AS THE HELPFUL HOMEOWNERS WHO GAVE ACCESS TO THEIR
PROPERTIES AND PROVIDED TESTIMONIALS 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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