Kentucky, National Weather Service and tornado
Digest more
Storms and tornadoes continue to ravage central US
Digest more
The Jackson, Kentucky office is one of a growing number of forecast offices unable to cover an overnight shift since the Trump administration cut staffing levels through buyouts and firings.
Preliminary storm surveys from the National Weather Service have confirmed significant tornado damage across multiple Kentucky counties following the recent severe weather outbreak.
Aerial video footage from areas in the South and Midwest, including Kentucky, show a trail of destruction left by devastating storms and tornadoes.
The office in Jackson, Ky., is one of several left without an overnight forecaster after hundreds of jobs were recently cut from the National Weather Service.
First Alert 6 has been asking Flood’s office since May 8th why improved data collection has been delayed at the National Weather Service. Flood’s office said that there would be two weather balloon launches a day starting April 28th.
At least three emergency orders were issued in 2024; three were also issued in 2023, five in 2022, two in 2021 and one in 2020. A violent wave of Friday storms and a tornado has killed at least 19 people in Southern Kentucky.