{
  "id": "2024-04-02-university-of-kentucky-severe-storms",
  "slug": "university-of-kentucky-severe-storms-2024-04-02",
  "institution": {
    "name": "University of Kentucky",
    "shortName": "UK",
    "state": "KY",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "UK Alert",
    "enrollment": 33000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2024-04-02",
    "type": "severe-storm",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "confirmed-threat",
    "headline": "Winds over 70 mph and tornado warnings prompt a campus shelter-in-place",
    "headlinePublic": "Winds over 70 mph and tornado warnings prompt a campus shelter-in-place",
    "summary": "On April 2, 2024, a severe storm system brought tornado warnings and winds exceeding 70 mph to the [University of Kentucky campus in Lexington](https://kykernel.com/101367/news/severe-weather-causes-damage-across-lexington/), knocking down trees, damaging cars, and downing power lines. UK Police sent a campus-wide email directing the community to shelter in place, and [viral video captured a student being knocked off her feet](https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/watch-wind-knocks-kentucky-student-down) by the extreme gusts as she walked across campus.",
    "outcome": "No serious injuries were reported on campus. Downed trees and power lines required cleanup across the University of Kentucky grounds. The National Weather Service confirmed EF1 tornadoes in nearby Nelson, Jessamine, and Anderson counties. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency for the broader region."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "advisory",
      "timestamp": "2024-04-02T08:49:16-04:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "If you are on campus or around Lexington today, please stay weather aware.\n\nOur severe weather procedures can be found at http://go.uky.edu/severeweather.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "characterCount": 154,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/universityofky/status/1775143463564267682",
      "sourceDescription": "@universityofky on X (verbatim)",
      "annotations": [
        "Cascade expansion via fxtwitter"
      ]
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2024-04-02T09:35:07-04:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "URGENT: The National Weather Service has issued a TORNADO WARNING for the Lexington area until 10:00 AM. Seek shelter immediately. http://www.uky.edu/alerts",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/universityofky/status/1775154998784958871",
      "sourceDescription": "@universityofky on X (verbatim raw t.co)",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact text from University of Kentucky official X account."
      ],
      "characterCount": 156
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "timestamp": "2024-04-02T10:00:02-04:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "The emergency condition has passed and you may safely resume your regularly scheduled activity. More information at http://www.uky.edu/alerts",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/universityofky/status/1775161268833276228",
      "sourceDescription": "@universityofky on X (verbatim raw t.co)",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact text from University of Kentucky official X account."
      ],
      "characterCount": 141
    },
    {
      "sequence": 4,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2024-04-02T11:18:54-04:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "In an email to campus, @UKPolice alerted students, faculty and staff that more severe weather is on the horizon for the Lexington area this afternoon and evening. Expect strong winds, large hail and potential tornadoes until 10 p.m. (1/3)",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/universityofky/status/1775181118733766834",
      "sourceDescription": "@universityofky on X (verbatim raw t.co)",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact text from University of Kentucky official X account."
      ],
      "characterCount": 238
    },
    {
      "sequence": 5,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2024-04-02T11:18:55-04:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "Please stay weather-aware and know what to do in an emergency. The campus community should be flexible and prioritize safety to accommodate students and employees traveling to and around campus today. (2/3)",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/universityofky/status/1775181120537260511",
      "sourceDescription": "@universityofky on X (official, verbatim)",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact text from University of Kentucky official X account."
      ],
      "characterCount": 206
    },
    {
      "sequence": 6,
      "type": "follow-up",
      "timestamp": "2024-04-02T11:18:55-04:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "The university's severe weather procedures can be found at http://go.uky.edu/severeweather. (3/3)",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/universityofky/status/1775181122097537252",
      "sourceDescription": "@universityofky on X (verbatim raw t.co)",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact text from University of Kentucky official X account."
      ],
      "characterCount": 97
    },
    {
      "sequence": 7,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2024-04-02T12:03:31-04:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "URGENT: In-person classes at or after 12:30 are canceled. On-campus employees dismissed at 12:30 except designated Plan B. For UKHC info go to http://www.uky.edu/alert",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/universityofky/status/1775192347128590732",
      "sourceDescription": "@universityofky on X (verbatim raw t.co)",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact text from University of Kentucky official X account."
      ],
      "characterCount": 167
    }
  ],
  "context": "On April 2, 2024, a powerful storm system swept through central Kentucky, bringing tornado warnings and destructive straight-line winds to the [University of Kentucky campus in Lexington](https://kykernel.com/101367/news/severe-weather-causes-damage-across-lexington/). Winds exceeded 70 mph, knocking down trees and power lines across campus and damaging parked vehicles. UK Police sent a campus-wide email directing the community to shelter in place in the nearest building, and at 12:04 PM EDT, UK Alert announced cancellation of all in-person classes at or after 12:30 PM EDT. A [viral video captured a UK student being knocked completely off her feet](https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/watch-wind-knocks-kentucky-student-down) by the extreme gusts as she walked across campus, which was widely shared on social media. The National Weather Service [confirmed EF1 tornadoes in Nelson, Jessamine, and Anderson counties](https://www.weather.gov/lmk/2024-04-02-SevereWeather) as part of the broader outbreak. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency for the region. The severe weather event was part of a larger outbreak that impacted Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio on the same day.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "UK Police issued a shelter-in-place email and UK Alert canceled afternoon classes within minutes of each other",
    "Winds exceeding 70 mph caused significant tree and power line damage across the Lexington campus",
    "The viral video of a UK student being knocked off her feet by wind gusts illustrated the intensity of the storm",
    "EF1 tornadoes were confirmed in three counties near Lexington during the same outbreak"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Severe weather causes damage across Lexington (Kentucky Kernel)",
      "url": "https://kykernel.com/101367/news/severe-weather-causes-damage-across-lexington/",
      "type": "student-newspaper"
    },
    {
      "title": "Wild video shows University of Kentucky student knocked off feet by severe storm's wind (Fox Weather)",
      "url": "https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/watch-wind-knocks-kentucky-student-down",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "April 2, 2024 Severe Weather Event (NWS Louisville)",
      "url": "https://www.weather.gov/lmk/2024-04-02-SevereWeather",
      "type": "other"
    },
    {
      "title": "Damage in Kentucky, Indiana after severe storms Tuesday (WHAS11)",
      "url": "https://www.whas11.com/article/weather/severe-weather/photos-kentucky-indiana-storm-damage-april-2-2024-weather-radar/417-1f97fca7-5665-46f9-8dd7-fdc6ca3a6b09",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "@universityofky X — tornado warning Apr 2 2024",
      "url": "https://x.com/universityofky/status/1775154998784958871",
      "type": "official-social"
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    {
      "title": "@universityofky X — class cancellation Apr 2 2024",
      "url": "https://x.com/universityofky/status/1775192347128590732",
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      "dateAccessed": "2026-07-18"
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  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "severe-storm",
    "tornado-warning",
    "shelter-in-place",
    "kentucky",
    "campus-damage",
    "class-cancellation",
    "viral-video",
    "wind-damage"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-03",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-19",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}