Preliminary investigation shows possible EF3 tornado tore through Laurel County, NWS says

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- According to a preliminary investigation, the National Weather Service believes the tornado that ripped through London, Kentucky, could've been an EF3.

NWS Jackson surveyed the damage Sunday that tore through Laurel County Friday night. They believe the tornado could've started in Russell County and ended near Leslie County.

IMAGES | Aftermath damage from preliminary EF-3 tornado in London, Kentucky

An EF3 tornado can produce wind speeds between 136 and 165 MPH.

In Kentucky, some 19 people were killed by severe weather, and the death toll is likely to rise, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.

A family said the tornado sounded like a freight train. When they figured out what was happening, they came into the bathroom, the most interior room in their house.

Now, it's the only room left standing and the only room where the ceiling didn't cave in.

"I said, 'What in the world just happened' right then and we opened the door and there was no roof and so we come out and half the house is gone and someone's yelling for help," Vanessa Mullins said.

Mullins said she isn't focused too far into the future and is just cleaning everything up.

The NWS will be surveying the damage for several more days but there's a threat for more storms in the coming days.

The NWS also confirmed a preliminary EF2, possibly low end EF3 tornado hit near the Russell County and Pulaski County border.

Beshear said 17 people were killed in Laurel County, while one person died in Pulaski County and Russell County. There are also 10 people from Laurel County who sustained critical injuries.

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IMAGES | Damage after severe weather moves through Kentuckiana