Western Kentucky Storms Accompanied By Surprise Earthquake

Last night, Western Kentucky experienced yet another eventful night of storms and heavy winds. I woke up to see this post warning Graves County to take cover.

A radar-indicated tornado was being tracked in that area, and folks were hunkered down in their closets and bathtubs. It may have felt like a rumble of thunder, but it was actually the rumble of an earthquake!

A little after 11:30 PM, the U.S. Geological Survey has now confirmed that a magnitude 2.3 earthquake occurred 13.9 kilometers below the Earth's surface. Located on the border of Illinois and Kentucky, in Paducah, KY. What an eventful night!

Luckily, there have been no deaths or injuries reported in the area, but there have definitely been reports of trees down, property damage, and thousands of folks without power this morning. According to WKU Public Radio, multiple school systems closed today because of the aftermath.

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Some parts saw major flash flooding, like the Carlisle County area, with over 5 inches of rainfall. Click here to read West Kentucky Star's hourly breakdown of the storm as it traveled from Missouri to Kentucky.

The National Weather Service will be surveying the area to determine whether a tornado actually touched down, but if it did, that means Western Kentucky got a crazy trifecta. As if the incredibly strong thunderstorm and potential tornado weren't enough, the earthquake makes for a wild "cherry on top" of that weather event sundae.

Have you ever experienced an earthquake before? Have you ever experienced an earthquake during a severe thunderstorm before? Chime in on the Facebook conversation or send us a message through the App Chat.