A University of Kentucky student was knocked down while walking to class during a tornado warning on Tuesday. Most of Kentucky was under a tornado watch as severe storms struck the region, with the threat of wind gusts reaching 40 miles per hour and penny-sized hail. The National Weather Service office in Louisville oversees the Lexington area, where the incident occurred. A video shared on social media shows the student being blown over by the strong winds and temporarily going airborne before crashing to the ground. The severe storms caused significant damage across Kentucky, knocking down trees, power lines, and damaging homes and businesses.
The University of Kentucky canceled all in-person classes due to the weather. A university webpage about severe weather protocols explained that classes and work schedules are rarely altered by severe weather, but the president and executive vice president for finance and administration would make the final decision in such cases. Delay and cancellation decisions would be made after reviewing information about road conditions, weather reports, local transit service, and area business and industry response. The severe weather conditions in Kentucky were part of a major storm system that gripped the Midwest, bringing threats of floods and severe thunderstorms to several states. A flood watch had been issued for Pittsburgh, which could receive a month’s worth of rain in only two days.
The video that captured the student being knocked down by the severe winds was shared on social media and attracted attention online. The student could be seen struggling against the powerful winds before being blown over and falling to the ground. Reports indicated that winds in the area were gusting up to 70-100 mph, causing widespread damage in the region. The University of Kentucky responded to the severe weather by canceling all in-person classes at or after 12:30 p.m. local time for the safety of students and faculty.
The situation in Kentucky was part of a larger storm system affecting the Midwest, bringing severe weather conditions to several states. The severe storms in Louisville and Lexington caused significant damage, including downed trees, power lines, and flipped cars. The National Weather Service warned of more dangerous weather passing through the region later in the day, with an increased threat of strong to intense, long-track tornadoes in the Ohio River and Tennessee Valley regions. The University of Kentucky took precautions by canceling classes and allowing on-campus employees to leave early, except for designated staff.
The University of Kentucky’s response to the severe weather conditions reflected a commitment to ensuring the safety of its community. The decision to cancel classes and dismiss employees early was made in consultation with senior staff to assess the risks posed by the severe storms. The university’s severe weather protocols emphasized the importance of reviewing information about road conditions, weather reports, local transit service, and area business and industry response before making delay and cancellation decisions. The severe weather conditions in Kentucky were part of a larger storm system affecting the Midwest, bringing floods and severe thunderstorms to several states, including Pittsburgh.
In conclusion, the University of Kentucky student’s experience of being knocked down by severe winds during a tornado warning highlighted the dangerous weather conditions gripping the region. The university responded by canceling all in-person classes and allowing on-campus employees to leave early, prioritizing the safety of its community. The severe storms in Kentucky were part of a major storm system affecting the Midwest, bringing threats of floods and severe thunderstorms to several states. The National Weather Service warned of additional dangerous weather passing through the region later in the day, with an increased threat of strong tornadoes in the Ohio River and Tennessee Valley regions. The university’s severe weather protocols emphasized the importance of assessing various factors before making delay and cancellation decisions, reflecting a commitment to ensuring the safety of students and faculty.
