Quad State Tornado: One Year Later

MAYFIELD, KY — On Friday evening, December 10, 2021, through the early morning hours of December 11, a violent severe weather outbreak occurred spawning 71 tornadoes across more than a dozen states.

Sadly, 89 people perished as a result of these catastrophic storms.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: More than 50 dead after tornado rips through southwest KY; governor declares state of emergency

One of the strongest storms that night traveled roughly 350 miles, lasting nearly eight hours from Arkansas to Kentucky.

One of the tornadoes that developed within this storm stayed on the ground for 165.7 miles, “the longest for a tornado in U.S. history,” according to the National Weather Service

Mayfield, Kentucky was the hardest hit, including a candle factory that collapsed killing 22 people inside.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Kentucky tornadoes: ‘We were just trying to stay calm,’ candle factory survivor says

A total 16 tornadoes also occurred across Middle Tennessee, the National Weather Service said.

Many of those counties had never recorded a tornado in the month of December.

Several sections of the Nashville Metro area were also hit hard as numerous buildings suffered roof damage and dozens of trees were blown down, according to the National Weather Service.

A wind gust of 78 m.p.h. was measured at Nashville International Airport, the third highest wind gust every recorded at the airport.

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Kentucky tornadoes A resident surveys the damage from a tornado that hit downtown Mayfield, Kentucky, on Friday night. (Mark Humphrey/Associated Press )

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