‘It looks like a bomb went off’: Tornado leaves trail of devastation in Bluegrass State

LONDON, Ky. – A important tornado tore done Laurel County, Kentucky, during the nighttime hours connected Saturday morning, leaving down wide devastation that residents picture arsenic resembling a warfare zone.

"I americium connected the crushed successful Laurel County and this country connected the confederate broadside of London is wholly destroyed," Jordan Smith, a section nonmigratory and meteorologist, stated. "It looks similar a weaponry has went off. Complete and utter devastation each around. It’s truthful heartbreaking."

The harm appeared to beryllium extensive, with homes flattened, vehicles mangled and debris scattered arsenic acold arsenic the oculus could see.

According to the governor’s office, National Weather Service meteorologists are inactive moving to find however galore tornadoes impacted the commonwealth, but the strongest appeared to beryllium astatine slightest an EF3 with winds greater than 136 mph.

DEADLY TORNADO OUTBREAK LEAVES AT LEAST 21 DEAD ACROSS KENTUCKY, MISSOURI

Leslie White, a Laurel County resident, recounted the terrifying moments arsenic the tornado struck. 

"We got scared, truthful we went into the hallway due to the fact that that’s the closest country we had," White stated. "Then my hubby and my lad came moving successful and beauteous overmuch jumped connected apical of her due to the fact that you could consciousness the air…"

White described the dependable of the tempest arsenic akin to a freight bid and, earlier she knew it, astir of the location was gone.

Once the tempest cleared, White said her household scrambled to find shoes and find the keys to the vehicle.

"My family’s okay, but I don’t cognize astir everybody else," said White.

Local authorities said they were inactive conducting harm assessments but were alert of astatine slightest 17 deaths successful the county, including a firefighter who was killed portion responding to damage.

Enhanced Fujita Scale

(FOX Weather)

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The tornado was portion of an outbreak of terrible weather that swept crossed parts of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys.

May is historically 1 of the astir progressive months for tornadoes successful the U.S., and this twelvemonth has proven to beryllium nary exception. 

Residents successful Kentucky and surrounding states stay connected precocious alert arsenic the FOX Forecast Center warns that more storms volition interaction the portion during the workweek.

Severe Weather Outlook May 17-20

(FOX Weather)