The National Weather Service (NWS) in Louisville issued its initial tornado warning for (far western) Grayson County at approximately 8:08 Thursday night.
The warning expired at 8:45 without any apparent damage. Then, at 9:12 Thursday night, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the county, and within minutes reports of downed trees (and a blown transformer) began popping up in Leitchfield and four miles southeast of Clarkson on Millerstown Road.
At 9:22, a second tornado warning was issued by the NWS for the county.
Outside of Clarkson, just after 9:00, reports were received concerning a possible tornado causing extensive damage to at least two homes, completely destroying two outbuildings adjacent to the homes (one of the outbuildings contained a vehicle), and causing a transformer about 75 yards north of one of the damaged residences to blow.
Responding to the carnage were the Clarkson Fire and Police Departments, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office (including Sheriff Norman Chaffins), Grayson County Emergency Management Director Tony Willen, and Warren RECC workers.
Two homes, both in the 3800 block of Millerstown Road at the intersection of Keller School Road, suffered moderate to severe damage, with one home having almost all the windows blown out, including a large picture window. The residence’s porch was also removed by what was apparently a tornado.
The other home, across the street and about 150 yards northwest, had a utility pole pierce the structure, along with damage to the roof and windows.
One witness who lives in the area said it “sounded like a train for about 25 seconds” and then “it was gone.”
Debris was strewn over a wide area (several hundred yards), including pieces of siding in trees and hung up high on utility poles.
WRECC workers arrived and worked to restore power to nearly 600 customers who lost electricity when the transformer blew.
Millerstown Road was relegated to one lane for several hours before re-opening to normal traffic flow at 1:30 Friday morning.
In Leitchfield, trees were down in the 900 block of Brandenburg Road, blocking the roadway and causing one driver to flip his vehicle as he attempted to avoid a large branch across the roadway (read K105’s story on the accident by clicking here).
Additionally, trees fell on two homes, one in the 700 block of Brandenburg Road, the other a huge tree that was uprooted and fell onto a residence in the 100 block of Goff Drive. Both of those homes were damaged, but the significance of the damage was difficult to ascertain in the dark and without the trees being removed.
The Leitchfield Fire Department responded to both reports of trees down on homes.
Finally, at least part of a tree also fell across one lane of Brandenburg Road at the intersection of Embry Brothers Drive.
There were reports of trees down around the county, but the major damage, at this point, appears to be relegated to the Brandenburg Road corridor in Leitchfield and the 3900 block of Millerstown Road.
NWS personnel are expected to be on the ground in Grayson County on Friday to assess the damage and determine if a tornado, straight line winds or possibly both are responsible for the damage.
No injuries have been reported.
(Headline photo: Tree down on home in the 700 block of Brandenburg Road)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
