Deadly Tornado's Impact on Kentucky So Big It's Visible From Space
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The path of a recent tornado that tore across the state of Kentucky has been photographed from above, revealing the massive scar it left across the land.
On May 16, a deadly tornado ravaged three counties in Kentucky, taking 20 lives, destroying hundreds of houses and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake just over 55 miles long and up to a mile wide.
The image of the devastation was captured the Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) instrument aboard NASA's Landsat 9 Earth-imaging satellite.
The track of the twister was made particularly clear in the images as it passed through the Daniel Boone National Forest, where it ripped up trees in its path.
The tornado's track, taking by the NASA Earth Observatory using Landsat data from the US Geological Survey.
The tornado's track, taking by the NASA Earth Observatory using Landsat data from the US Geological Survey.
Wanmei Liang/NASA Earth Observatory/ Landsat
According to NASA and the National Weather Service (NWS), the tornado was one of the strongest ever recorded in the area, peaking at a four on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale.
This is the second-highest ranking on the scale, with three-second gusts between 166 to 200 miles per hour. In fact, the tornado in question was estimated to have reached speeds as high as 170 miles per hour.
The Kentucky tornado was part of a severe weather outbreak over several days which hit multiple states, including Alabama, Kansas, Missouri and Virginia.
At least 20 people were killed in Kentucky alone, with the office of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reporting that 17 people died in Laurel County, one in McCracken County, one in Pulaski County and one in Russell County.
Read more
Violent tornadoes leave at least 27 dead in multiple states: What to know
Violent tornadoes leave at least 27 dead in multiple states: What to know
"I promise that we will be there for our people until every home and every life is rebuilt. And I want to thank all our heroic first responders for the work they've done over the past few days," Beshear said in a statement.
"This is another incredibly tough time for Kentucky. And it's another reminder that life is short and it's our duty to be kind and do good. As always—we will get through this together."
A 2024 study on the National Land Cover Database (which is based on Landsat observations) has found that tornado damage to forests in the southeastern U.S. is on the rise, despite a slight decrease in tornado activity across the states as a whole.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about tornados? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Reference
Munro, H. L., Loehle, C., Bullock, B. P., Johnson, D. M., Vogt, J. T., & Gandhi, K. J. K. (2024). Tornado damage in forest ecosystems of the United States. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2024.109987
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Newsweek
People Urged to Keep Windows Closed Overnight Wednesday in One State
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Canadian wildfire smoke has returned to Minnesota, prompting state officials to issue an air quality alert urging residents across the state to keep their windows closed overnight on Wednesday. "The upper-level pattern is certainly keeping it in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest," National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center senior meteorologist Brian Hurley told Newsweek. Why It Matters Over the past few weeks, wildfire smoke from Canada has descended into the U.S. and worsened the air quality in some states. Among them, Minnesota has been on high alert, with residents advised to monitor themselves for symptoms such as coughs if they are exposed to the polluted air. Much of the smoke moved out of the region on Tuesday, but is now returning to the area behind a cold front. What To Know People in central, southern, southwestern, north-central and west-central Minnesota are affected by the alert. The presence of smoke could affect sensitive populations such as children, older adults, those with lung disease, asthma and heart disease. People in those risk categories are urged to limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Officials also asked those in the affected areas to keep their windows closed overnight Wednesday to help prevent smoke from entering homes. A stock photo shows closed windows. A stock photo shows closed windows. brizmaker/Getty Environmental officials also asked people across Minnesota to reduce or eliminate activities that could worsen the ongoing air pollution, like outdoor burning. "Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible," the alert also said. As of Wednesday evening, air quality alerts also were issued in Montana, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. What People Are Saying Hurley also told Newsweek: "[The air quality alert in Minnesota] is only going through midnight Thursday, but I do wonder if they are going to see it go on a little longer." An air quality alert issued for Minnesota: "Smoke from wildfires in northwest Canada has moved into west central Minnesota behind a cold front. This smoke is beginning to mix to the ground and fine particle levels have climbed into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI category across central and southern Minnesota. This smoke will linger along a frontal boundary that will stall over the southern part of the state. Rainfall is expected across this same region through Thursday and this may help reduce smoke levels in some areas. However, it's possible this smoke may linger through the end of the day on Thursday." What Happens Next Smoke could persist through Friday. It's also possible the smoke will continue worsening air quality for the immediate future depending on weather patterns, wind direction and how long the fires burn.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Missed the Strawberry Moon last night? Here's where, when to see it tonight in Illinois
Many people across the country photographed the Strawberry Moon this morning, watching as the moon reached its peak at 2:44 a.m. CT. But don't worry if you missed it – the phenomenon will still be partially visible tonight. Avid skywatchers can also spot the Milky Way, the "bright central bulge of our galaxy," writes NASA, which should be visible through August. Here's what stargazers in Illinois should know. Tuesday, June 10, 2025, into Wednesday early morning hours is when the sweet Strawberry Moon was at its fullest, but it'll still appear mostly full Wednesday night. The moon's phases in June are: 🌓 First Quarter: June 3 🌕 Full Moon: June 11 🌗 Last Quarter: June 18 🌑 New Moon: June 25 June's Strawberry moon will be the lowest full moon in roughly 20 years, so look closer toward the horizon. Experts say the moon's low arc should give it a more yellowish or orange tint. Story continues after photo gallery. The reason the moon will appear lower is because the Earth is in the midst of "a major lunar standstill," writes EarthSky, which has to do with the moon's orbit around the Earth. "It's all about the inclination of the moon's orbit, which undergoes an 18.6-year cycle," writes EarthSky's John Jardine Goss. "The cycle happens because the moon's orbit is being slowly dragged around — mostly due to the pull of the sun — every 18.6 years." The last major lunar standstill occurred in 2006. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Peoria area will happen by roughly 9:28 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, crossing the meridian at 12:52 a.m. before setting at 5:12 a.m. Thursday. You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online. Skies in central Illinois are expected to be partly cloudy Wednesday night, June 11, with a low of around 64 and winds around 7 mph, according to an advanced forecast from the National Weather Service. Similar to the Pink Moon, June's Strawberry Moon takes its name from seasonal plant growth, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Many ripening berries were ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States. Other names for June's full moon from Native American tribes include the Birth Moon, Hot Moon, Blooming Moon, and the Green Corn Moon. The Milky Way can best be viewed somewhere far away from bright city lights. Find a dark, safe spot out in the country where you can see more stars in the sky. State parks and campgrounds are your best bet for clear stargazing, in locations such as Campsite 26 at Apple River Canyon State Park and the Area 4 Parking Lot at Iroquois County State Wildlife Area. A full list of the best stargazing spots in Illinois can be found on the Department of Natural Resources website. For those in Chicago, stars will be more visible on the city lakefront, the Palos Preserves in Willow Springs and the 606 Trail at 1801 N. Ridgeway, according to a list compiled by the Adler Planetarium. If you plan on observing the night sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for June 2025: June 16, 17 – Mars & Regulus – Mars passes closer to the bright bluish-white star Regulus, known as the "heart" of the lion constellation, Leo. They will appear about as far apart as the width of the full moon, and should be easy to spot with binoculars or a small telescope. June 19 – Moon & Saturn – The third-quarter moon appears right next to Saturn on Thursday morning in the hours before dawn, according to NASA. They rise in the east together at around 1:30 a.m. June 20 – June Solstice – The summer solstice is on June 20 in the northern hemisphere, tilting its maximum toward the Sun. This means the Sun will travel its longest, highest arc across the sky all year, writes NASA, resulting in the longest period of daylight for those north of the equator. June 21-30 – Mercury becomes visible – For those with a clear view to the western horizon, Mercury becomes visible for a brief period each evening at the end of June. Look for it to appear low in the sky starting 30 to 45 minutes after the Sun sets. June 22 – Moon & Venus – Venus rises this morning next to a slender and elegant crescent moon. Look for them in the east between about 3 a.m. and sunrise. All month – Mars: The Red Planet can be observed for a couple of hours after dark all month. It is noticeably dimmer than it appeared in early May, as Earth speeds away in its orbit, putting greater distance between the two worlds. All month – Milky Way core: The bright central bulge of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is visible all night through August. It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south. The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations. SkyView Lite for iPhone | Google Play Star Walk 2 for iPhone | Google Play Star Chart for iPhone | Google Play for iPhone | Google Play The full Buck Moon should reach peak illumination by Thursday, July 10, 2025. Julia Gomez contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Strawberry Moon 2025: weather forecast, moonrise time, spots to see Milky Way
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Newsweek
Map Shows Where Smoke Could Obscure Sky This Summer
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of Americans across the northern U.S. were expected to experience frequent episodes of hazy, milky skies throughout the summer of 2025 as smoke plumes drift south from Canadian wildfires, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. Why It Matters Areas under the thickest smoke risk periods of reduced air quality, AccuWeather said. According to research published by the National Library of Medicine, consistent evidence links wildfire smoke exposure to acute respiratory issues, including infections and flare-ups of existing asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. What To Know Areas from Washington, Idaho, and Montana, extending eastward into North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, were identified as likely to face high frequencies of wildfire smoke. The area experiencing a moderate frequency of wildfire smoke encompassed the northern U.S. border and reached into the Great Lakes region, including Chicago. AccuWeather's forecast map showed that even states as far south as Texas and New Mexico would experience occasional wildfire smoke impacts from June through August. A forecast map from AccuWeather shows which states are likely to see wildfire smoke impacts this summer. A forecast map from AccuWeather shows which states are likely to see wildfire smoke impacts this summer. AccuWeather In the east, states including Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, New Jersey, and New York could also see occasional impacts. AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham explained that on sunny days—particularly during stretches of calm, clear weather—sunlight can break down smoke and haze in the atmosphere, causing it to sink towards the surface and increasing the likelihood of ozone action days or air quality alerts. This forecast map from AccuWeather shows which states could see episodes of haze or smoke this summer. This forecast map from AccuWeather shows which states could see episodes of haze or smoke this summer. AccuWeather What People Are Saying AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said, in an advisory shared with Newsweek: "Another southward press of Canadian wildfire smoke is underway, blanketing the sky with hazy conditions across the northern Plains, Midwest and Northeast once again this week. "Some good news is on the way later this week in Canada, where a majority of the active fires are burning, as a storm is expected to sweep through and bring beneficial rain across the western and central provinces between Friday and Sunday. The return of rain across the region can temporarily slow the rate of wildfire spread in the region and, in some cases, may be able to put some fires out. "The pattern change this week may be able to temporarily mitigate the concerns for expansive wildfire smoke intrusions heading into the latter half of June, but above-average warmth and a general continuation of below-average rainfall is expected this summer, which will further increase the risk for a smoke and haze filled sky at times throughout the summer season in the northern and eastern United States." What Happens Next According to AccuWeather experts, clear, hazeless blue skies may remain uncommon across the Midwest and Northeast until mid-summer, as Canadian wildfires continue to burn. The outlet predicts that this year in the U.S., between seven million and nine million acres of land will burn, which would be above the historical average.
