Gov. Andy Beshear says the death toll is expected to rise as more information comes in following storms that struck Kentucky.

The office in Jackson, Kentucky, which was responsible for the area around London, Kentucky, had a March 2025 vacancy rate of 25%; the Louisville, Kentucky, weather service staff

"A severe, significant tornado" caused devastating destruction in Laurel and Pulaski counties in southeastern Kentucky.

A series of severe storms moved through the Midwest Friday night killing over two dozen people, including a firefighter from Laurel County Kentucky.

A powerful nighttime tornado tore through Laurel County, Kentucky , leaving behind widespread destruction with homes leveled and vehicles The twister was believed to be at least an EF3 with winds over 136 mph.

Severe storms in Kentucky claimed 18 lives, with 17 fatalities in Laurel County alone from a tornado Friday night.

You could literally hear just things ripping in the distance, glass shattering everywhere, just roaring like a freight train."

Kentucky authorities said there were also severe injuries when a twister tore across Laurel County late Friday.