Kentucky Severe Thunderstorm Strikes Bowling Green and Franklin With Quarter-Sized Hail and 50-60 MPH Wind Gusts
KENTUCKY — A rowdy and dangerous severe thunderstorm was battering communities across south-central Kentucky at 8:25 PM Eastern Thursday, producing 50 to 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-sized hail as it tracked through the Bowling Green and Franklin corridor. Forecasters warned residents in the storm’s path to brace for impactful conditions as the powerful storm moved through Warren and Simpson counties Thursday evening.
Radar imagery showed an intense line of storms with extremely high reflectivity values pushing through the region, with the warning polygon highlighted in yellow covering Bowling Green, Woodburn, Plano, Franklin, and Scottsville as the core of the storm’s most dangerous activity moved across the area.
Bowling Green and Franklin Taking the Brunt
The storm was specifically called out as particularly intense between Bowling Green and Franklin, with meteorologists describing it as a rowdy thunderstorm capable of causing significant damage across both communities. Wind gusts between 50 and 60 mph are strong enough to snap tree branches, down power lines, send unsecured outdoor objects airborne, and cause damage to rooftops and siding across affected neighborhoods.
Quarter-sized hail measuring approximately one inch in diameter accompanied the storm as it pushed through the region, posing a direct risk of vehicle damage, broken windows, and injury to anyone caught outdoors during the storm’s passage through Warren and Simpson counties.
Communities in the Warning Zone
The severe thunderstorm warning polygon captured a corridor of south-central Kentucky communities stretching from Bowling Green southward through Woodburn, Plano, and Franklin toward the Tennessee border. Additional communities including Scottsville to the east and Mitchellville and Portland further south were also positioned within or immediately adjacent to the active warning zone.
Residents in Morgantown to the north and communities along the storm’s northward track were also monitoring conditions closely as the intense line of storms continued producing severe weather across the region.
Safety During a Fast-Moving Severe Thunderstorm
With wind gusts reaching 50 to 60 mph and hail accompanying the storm, residents in and around Bowling Green and Franklin were urged to move indoors immediately and away from windows. Vehicles should be moved under covered shelter where possible to protect against hail damage, and residents should avoid any outdoor activity until the storm fully clears.
Downed power lines following the storm should be treated as energized and extremely dangerous. Residents should report outages and downed lines to their utility provider immediately and keep a safe distance of at least 30 feet from any fallen lines encountered after the storm passes.
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