Tornado touchdown in southeast Jefferson County - wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather & Sports

Tornado touchdown in southeast Jefferson County

Posted: Updated:
By Joey Brown - email
By Charles Gazaway - email
A badly damaged home in the Fern Creek area as shot by Air 3. A badly damaged home in the Fern Creek area as shot by Air 3.
A home badly damaged by Friday's storm in the Fern Creek area. (Source: Ted Werbin, 84WHAS) A home badly damaged by Friday's storm in the Fern Creek area. (Source: Ted Werbin, 84WHAS)
Ominous clouds at Billtown Road and the Gene Snyder Freeway (Source: John Turner) Ominous clouds at Billtown Road and the Gene Snyder Freeway (Source: John Turner)

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A tornado touched down briefly in southeastern Jefferson County Friday afternoon, causing extensive damage to an isolated area.

A survey team from the National Weather Service has confirmed a 50-yard wide tornado touched down in the Heritage Creek area. A final determination on the strength of the twister has not yet been made, but it thought it was at least an EF1.

[SLIDESHOW: Tornado damage in Jefferson County]

A home at 10600 Brookchase Court in the Fern Creek area was destroyed. It appeared as though it was blown off its foundation. Siding was ripped off several homes and insulation was scattered throughout the neighborhood.

Damage was also reported nearby at 8323 Independence School Road.

The storms caused JCPS to hold all middle and high school buses at the schools until the threat of severe weather passed. All buses were cleared and schools were dismissed at 2:45 p.m. Elementary students who ride buses were expected to get home late because of the late dismissal.

Six JCPS schools reported no electricity, but they were not damaged: Moore, Smyrna, Bates, Carrithers, Wilt and Laukhauf.

Shelby County schools released all elementary students and buses around 3:00 p.m. Middle and high schools in the district were to dismiss when buses returned around 3:45 p.m.

Students in the Spencer County School District were held 15 to 20 minutes longer than usual until they got the "all clear." Middle and high schools in Spencer County usually dismiss at 2:40 p.m. On Friday, they dismissed at 3 p.m. Spencer County elementary schools usually dismiss at 3:40 p.m. Grade school students who ride buses may be 15 to 20 minutes late because of the buses being late.

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