The National Weather Service has confirmed at least six tornadoes in the local area following Sunday’s severe weather outbreak, with the strongest rated an EF-3 tornado near Dix in Jefferson County.
According to weather officials, the EF-3 tornado tracked approximately 15.3 miles and was the most powerful tornado reported locally. Two EF-2 tornadoes were also confirmed near Newton, with one traveling 3.7 miles south of the city and another tracking 2.7 miles east of Newton.
Three additional tornadoes were rated EF-1, including a tornado near Louisville that traveled 4.6 miles. In Wayne County, EF-1 tornadoes were confirmed near Geff, with a path length of 3.8 miles, and near Sims, which traveled 1.5 miles.
The National Weather Service office in Paducah reported that at least 15 tornadoes were confirmed across its 58-county coverage area. That surpasses the previous June record of 13 tornadoes set in 2019.
Weather officials also noted that the EF-3 tornado in Jefferson County was the strongest June tornado in the Paducah forecast area since the devastating June 2, 1990 tornado outbreak that struck portions of Southern Illinois and surrounding states.