NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — A batch of strong and severe thunderstorms tore through Kentucky Tuesday, causing power outages and damage. The National Weather Service confirmed EF1 tornado damage in Nelson, Anderson and Jessamine counties.  

What You Need To Know

  • Multiple businesses in Nicholasville in Jessamine County reported storm damage Tuesday morning, where the National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado hit the area

  • The storms ripped open roofs and caved in walls

  • No injuries were reported from the first round of storms, according to police

  • Businesses are working to recover

In Nicholasville, the storms left behind major damage to an industrial park off Park Central Avenue and Lexington Road.

Ryan Adams owns DetailTech, a car window tinting and paint protection business in the area. He witnessed the storm tear through firsthand Tuesday morning.

Damage in Nicholasville, Kentucky, in the wake of a line of severe storms that passed through Kentucky on April 2, 2024. (Spectrum News 1/Austin Schick)

“We saw cars moving, a box truck flipped over across the street, roofs collapsed, gas lines spraying gas everywhere, pretty destructive (for) maybe four or five minutes," Adams said.

Adams said Tuesday was a wild day at work. He and his coworkers took shelter inside an interior room of their business as soon as the weather picked up.

“Within in an instant, the sound changed a lot, and it sounded like a freight train rolling through our building," Adams said.

Adams said his business did not sustain any major damage; however, his thoughts are with many of his neighboring businesses, which saw roofs and walls caved in because of high winds. Cars at a nearby Kia dealership were also overturned.

Damage in Nicholasville, Kentucky, in the wake of a line of severe storms that passed through Kentucky on April 2, 2024. (Spectrum News 1/Austin Schick)

“It was incredible," Adams said. "The destruction was a lot worse than I thought, honestly. It seemed like just some rain and some wind."

Matt Marshall, assistant chief of the Nicholasville Police Department, said no injuries have been reported so far after the storms.

“Even though this isn’t a residential area, this is a busy area, especially on a Tuesday," Marshall said. "Our priorities here are move as fast as we can and make sure everyone is out of these buildings."

Marshall said right now, the department and other first responders have called it a "significant weather event."

“We’re waiting on the National Weather Service to come out and perform their services to determine if it was a tornado or just high-straight level winds," Marshall said.

Adams said it’s an event that puts into perspective the danger storms can bring. 

“We have a lot of super cars and crazy stuff in my shop, but once you start thinking about your neighbors and their incomes, friends and families, you don’t care about that stuff so much anymore," Adams said.

Nicholasville Police said they're also ready to respond to any incidents that result from future storms. 

Related Stories