BOARD TREE – The National Weather Service in Jackson released their findings from surveying damage in Magoffin County, confirming an EF-1 tornado did touch down briefly in the Board Tree area during the severe weather event that occurred on Tuesday, May 16.
The NWS Survey Team, in conjunction with Magoffin County Emergency Management, were able to confirm that a tornado touched down on a hillside southwest of Board Tree Road, according to the report.
The NWS report stated the following: “Initially, it snapped a few hardwood trees as it descended the slope and crossed Board Tree Fork and Board Tree Road and then proceeded to move up the hollow near Williams Arnett Cemetery Road. Three structures, including a home under construction, as well as a medium-sized pine tree at the mouth of the hollow, immediately to the northeast of Board Tree Road, sustained no visible damage. The tornado apparently remained mostly elevated over the mouth of the hollow. However, some roofing material was removed from a barn located adjacent to the intersection of Williams Arnett Cemetery Road and Board Tree Road. A swath of snapped and uprooted trees were noted at elevations of approximately 20 to 50 feet above the mouth of the hollow, initially starting along the slope on the southeast side of the mouth of the hollow. About 100 yards east/northeast of the intersection of Board Tree Road and Williams Arnett Cemetery Road, and just beyond the third structure, debris was lying in a convergent pattern. Immediately up the hollow, there is evidence the tornado reached all the way to the bottom of the hollow and several dozen trees were uprooted or snapped, including some across Williams Arnett Cemetery Road. A second barn on the left side of the hollow sustained minor roof damage. The damage path was approximately the width of the hollow from about halfway up the northwest slope of the hollow to halfway up on the southeast slope. The tornado peaked in intensity along Williams Arnett Cemetery Road prior to where the road bears to the left. The tornado appeared to weaken with less visible damage as it approached the ridgeline, moving north, and then likely turned northeast, passing about 200 yards to the south and southeast of a communication tower on the crest of the ridge. The tornado then weakened and continued for a short distance to the east/northeast weakening to EF-0 intensity before dissipating. Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 100 mph. The path length was around 0.67 miles with a path width of up to 150 yards.”
The NWS also extended a special thanks to the Magoffin County Emergency Management for their assistance.
The report had 17 different findings, describing trees snapped in half and uprooted, downed branches, and roofing damages to a couple barns.
The NWS surveyor noted in the findings that at least 12 trees in one small area were snapped or uprooted in a “convergent pattern,” indicative of a tornado.
Local residents told the surveyor cell phone service was unaffected by the storm, with people in the area able to keep service during the tornado and thunderstorms.
