A Pacific storm is bringing areas of low elevation rain, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and high winds to the Northwest. Strong Santa Ana winds and very dry conditions are producing elevated to critical fire weather conditions in southern California. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through early Wednesday morning across parts of northeast Texas into western Tennessee. Read More >
Surveys conducted by NWS Jackson, KY revealed four separate tornadoes affecting parts of nine different counties and causing widespread destruction to the towns of West Liberty and Salyersville. An EF2 tornado touched down and affected Martin County, becoming the first tornado ever recorded in Martin County. In addition, an EF2 tornado also affected portions of Menifee, Magoffin, and Johnson Counties. This was the first time EF2 or greater damage had been sustained in these counties. The path length and width of the West Liberty tornado is especially noteworthy. This tornado had a continuous path reaching an astonishing 86 miles in length through east Kentucky and western West Virginia, and a consistent path width of one mile across most of Morgan County, including through the downtown section of West Liberty. The path of the Salyersville tornado also extended an amazing 49 miles in Kentucky and West Virginia. In addition, this event featured the first EF3 or greater tornado in the Jackson, KY forecast area since the Middlesboro tornado of May 1988. More information on these tornadoes can be accessed from the links below.
...TORNADO CONFIRMED IN MENIFEE...MORGAN AND EXTREME NORTHWEST
JOHNSON COUNTIES...
...TORNADO REACHED EF3 INTENSITY IN MENIFEE AND MORGAN COUNTIES AND
EF1 INTENSITY IN JOHNSON COUNTY...
A STORM DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN JACKSON KENTUCKY HAS CONFIRMED AN EF-3 TORNADO IN MENIFEE AND
MORGAN COUNTIES...AND AN EF1 TORNADO IN JOHNSON COUNTY ON MARCH 2
2012. TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARIBA IN
MENIFEE COUNTY AT 539 PM EST. THE TORNADO MOVED EAST...AND HIT WEST
LIBERTY AT ABOUT 558 PM EST...CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE
DOWNTOWN AREA. THE TORNADO CONTINUED EAST FROM WEST LIBERTY THROUGH
THE REMAINDER OF MORGAN COUNTY WITH A CONSISTENT DAMAGE PATH OF
APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE IN WIDTH. THE TORNADO THEN CROSSED INTO
LAWRENCE COUNTY AT 610 PM EST APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE EAST OF THE MOON
COMMUNITY BEFORE ENTERING THE EXTREME NORTHWEST TIP OF JOHNSON
COUNTY 1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE KEATON AREA AROUND 613 PM EST. THE
TORNADO STRADDLED THE JOHNSON/LAWRENCE COUNTY LINE UNTIL PASSING
ENTIRELY BACK INTO LAWRENCE COUNTY 2 1/2 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE
KEATON AREA AT APPROXIMATELY 618 PM EST. DAMAGE IN EXTREME NORTHWEST
JOHNSON COUNTY WAS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF1 TORNADO. THIS TORNADO
CONTINUED THROUGH LAWRENCE COUNTY AND INTO WAYNE AND LINCOLN
COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA.
EVENT DATE: MARCH 2 2012
EVENT TYPE: EF-3
TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS: 140 MPH
FATALITIES: 2 FATALITIES IN MENIFEE COUNTY AND 6 FATALITIES
IN MORGAN COUNTY
EVENT START TIME/LOCATION: 539 PM EST AT 37.905022N/83.614639W
EVENT END TIME/LOCATION*: 618 PM EST AT 37.9921N/82.9198W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH: 36 MILES IN MENIFEE...MORGAN & JOHNSON COUNTIES
60 MILES IN KENTUCKY
APPROX 86 MILES TOTAL
DAMAGE WIDTH: MAXIMUM 1 MILE WIDTH
* THIS IS THE EVENT END TIME IN THE NWS JACKSON KY FORECAST AREA.
above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling | above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling | above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling |
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...TORNADO CONFIRMED IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST WOLFE...MAGOFFIN...JOHNSON
AND MARTIN COUNTIES...
...TORNADO REACHED EF3 INTENSITY IN MAGOFFIN AND JOHNSON COUNTIES...
EF2 INTENSITY IN MARTIN COUNTY AND EF1 INTENSITY IN WOLFE COUNTY...
A STORM DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN JACKSON KENTUCKY HAS CONFIRMED A LONG TRACKED TORNADO MOVED FROM
EXTREME SOUTHEAST WOLFE COUNTY...ACROSS MAGOFFIN...JOHNSON AND
MARTIN COUNTIES ON MARCH 2 2012. THE TORNADO WAS RATED EF3 INTENSITY
IN MAGOFFIN AND JOHNSON COUNTIES...EF2 IN MARTIN COUNTY AND EF1 IN
WOLFE COUNTY. THIS TORNADO CROSSED THE TUG FORK RIVER NEAR BEAUTY
KENTUCKY AND MOVED INTO WEST VIRGINIA APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE BEFORE
ENDING. TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED ALONG HWY 1094 JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE
COMMUNITY OF BURKHART IN WOLFE COUNTY AROUND 650 PM EST. THE TORNADO
MOVED EAST-NORTHEAST...AND HIT SALYERSVILLE AT EF3 STRENGTH AROUND
703 PM EST...CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE TORNADO THEN MOVED EAST
NORTHEAST MAINTAINING EF3 INTENSITY...AND LIKELY REACHED ITS MAXIMUM
WIND SPEED OF 160 MPH IN JOHNSON COUNTY. THE TORNADO BECAME WEAKER
AS IT MOVED INTO AND ACROSS MARTIN COUNTY...WITH MAXIMUM INTENSITY
IN MARTIN COUNTY AT EF2. THE TORNADO EXITED KENTUCKY AROUND 738 PM
EST.
EVENT DATE: MARCH 2 2012
EVENT TYPE: EF-3
TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS: 160 MPH
FATALITIES: 2 FATALITIES IN JOHNSON COUNTY
EVENT START TIME/LOCATION: 650 EST AT 37.703883N/83.2728W
EVENT END TIME/LOCATION*: 738 PM EST AT 37.832617N/82.403883W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH: 48 MILES IN KENTUCKY
49 MILES TOTAL
DAMAGE WIDTH: MAXIMUM WIDTH 0.75 MILES
* THIS IS THE EVENT END TIME IN THE NWS JACKSON KY FORECAST AREA.
above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling | above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling | above photo courtesy of Allen Bolling |
...EF2 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN LAUREL COUNTY KENTUCKY...
A STORM DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN JACKSON KENTUCKY HAS CONFIRMED AN EF-2 TORNADO IN LAUREL COUNTY ON
MARCH 2 2012. TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED ABOUT 5.2 MILES WEST OF EAST
BERNSTADT AND THE TORNADO LIFTED ABOUT 3.6 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF
EAST BERNSTADT. WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO HAVE REACHED 125 MPH. THIS
TORNADO DAMAGED OR DESTROYED SEVERAL RESIDENCES AND CAUSED 6
FATALITIES.
EVENT DATE: MARCH 2 2012
EVENT TYPE: EF-2 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS: 125 MPH
FATALITIES: 6 FATALITIES
EVENT START TIME/LOCATION: 704 PM EST AT 37.197228N/84.194806W
EVENT END TIME/LOCATION: 712 PM EST AT 37.235781N/84.091847W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH: 7 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: 310 YARDS
above photo courtesy of Ofc. J. Michael Holliday London City Police Dept. | above photo courtesy of Ofc. J. Michael Holliday London City Police Dept. |
...EF1 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN BATH COUNTY KENTUCKY...
A STORM DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN JACKSON KENTUCKY HAS CONFIRMED AN EF-1 TORNADO IN BATH COUNTY ON
MARCH 2 2012. TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED NEAR THE BATH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
NEAR OWINGSVILLE AT 608 PM EST. THE TORNADO HAD AN INTERMITTENT PATH
TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST OF APPROXIMATELY 7 1/2 MILES...CROSSING I-64
AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO NUMEROUS TREES...BARN ROOFS AND RESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURES ALONG THE WAY. THE TORNADO LIFTED FOR THE FINAL TIME
APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 MILES NORTHWEST OF SALT LICK KENTUCKY.
EVENT DATE: MARCH 2 2012
EVENT TYPE: EF-1
TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS: 100 MPH
INJURIES/FATALITIES: NONE
EVENT START TIME/LOCATION: 608 PM EST AT 38.1367N/83.7781W
EVENT END TIME/LOCATION: 613 PM EST AT 38.1483N/83.6427W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH: 7 1/2 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: MAXIMUM OF 250 YARDS
Additional Storm Damage Reports:
7:53 AM
03/02/2012 |
0.75 in. Hail
|
Island City
|
Owsley, KY
|
DIME SIZED HAIL COVERING THE GROUND.
From: CO-OP OBSERVER |
8:30 AM
03/02/2012 |
0.50 in. Hail
|
3 N Manchester
|
Clay, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
1:00 PM
03/02/2012 |
Flood
|
1 SE Calvin
|
Bell, KY
|
TWO FEET OF FLOWING WATER OF HWY 1344.
From: EMERGENCY MNGR |
1:00 PM
03/02/2012 |
Flood
|
Middlesboro
|
Bell, KY
|
HWY 25E UNDER 6 INCHES OF WATER COMING INTO MIDDLESBORO.
From: EMERGENCY MNGR |
5:20 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.25 in. Hail
|
Clay City
|
Powell, KY
|
HAIL RANGING FROM DIME TO HALF DOLLAR SIZE COVERING THE GROUND, APPROXIMATELY 2.5 MILES NORHT ON ROUTE 11 TOWARDS MT STERLING.
From: TRAINED SPOTTER |
5:20 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.25 in. Hail
|
2 N Clay City
|
Powell, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
5:21 PM
03/02/2012 |
2.75 in. Hail
|
1 S Levee
|
Montgomery, KY
|
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL ALONG HIGHWAY 11 BETWEEN LEVEE AND POWELL COUNTY LINE.
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
|
5:25 PM
03/02/2012 |
2.75 in. Hail
|
Jeffersonville
|
Montgomery, KY
|
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
|
5:28 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
2 SE Mount Sterling
|
Montgomery, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
5:30 PM
03/02/2012 |
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
|
1 W Morehead
|
Rowan, KY
|
LARGE TREES DOWN...GUTTERS RIPPED AWAY FROM HOUSES...FENCE LAID OVER AND ALSO A PORCH DAMAGED ON A HOUSE.
From: TRAINED SPOTTER |
5:30 PM
03/02/2012 |
0.75 in. Hail
|
Hollyhill
|
Mccreary, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
5:32 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Means
|
Menifee, KY
|
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
|
5:35 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.25 in. Hail
|
2 E Jeffersonville
|
Montgomery, KY
|
HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED.
From: PUBLIC |
5:40 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Frenchburg
|
Menifee, KY
|
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED.
From: 911 CALL CENTER |
5:40 PM
03/02/2012 |
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
|
Triplett
|
Rowan, KY
|
BARN DESTROYED FROM WIND DAMAGE.
From: 911 CALL CENTER |
5:40 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Sharpsburg
|
Bath, KY
|
GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED NEAR OLYMPIA...BETHEL AND SHARPSBURG.
From: 911 CALL CENTER |
5:41 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Frenchburg
|
Menifee, KY
|
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND
From: TRAINED SPOTTER |
5:43 PM
03/02/2012 |
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
|
Marshes Siding
|
Mccreary, KY
|
TREES WIRE LINES DOWN IN STREARNS, 65 MPH GUST AT MARSHES SIDING.
From: TRAINED SPOTTER |
5:43 PM
03/02/2012 |
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
|
Stearns
|
Mccreary, KY
|
TREES AND LINES DOWN WITH WIND ESTIMATED AT 65 MPH
From: TRAINED SPOTTER |
5:48 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Wellington
|
Menifee, KY
|
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
|
5:55 PM
03/02/2012 |
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
|
Judy
|
Montgomery, KY
|
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IN THE JUDY AREA.
From: EMERGENCY MNGR |
5:59 PM
03/02/2012 |
70 mph Thunderstorm Wind Gust
|
5 N Mount Sterling
|
Montgomery, KY
|
From: AMATEUR RADIO
|
5:59 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
5 N Mount Sterling
|
Montgomery, KY
|
From: AMATEUR RADIO
|
6:00 PM
03/02/2012 |
2.50 in. Hail
|
3 WNW West Liberty
|
Morgan, KY
|
From: NWS EMPLOYEE
|
6:10 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
West Liberty
|
Morgan, KY
|
EVENT OCCURRED BETWEEN 555 PM AND 610 PM.
From: PUBLIC |
6:10 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
2 S Cains Store
|
Pulaski, KY
|
From: AMATEUR RADIO
|
6:10 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
1 S Combs
|
Estill, KY
|
From: PUBLIC
|
6:20 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
Frakes
|
Bell, KY
|
SPOTTER REPORTS 1 INCH HAIL.
From: TRAINED SPOTTER |
6:21 PM
03/02/2012 |
60 mph Thunderstorm Wind Gust
|
4 W Morehead
|
Rowan, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
6:26 PM
03/02/2012 |
2.75 in. Hail
|
4 N Sandy Hook
|
Elliott, KY
|
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
|
6:35 PM
03/02/2012 |
3.00 in. Hail
|
Campton
|
Wolfe, KY
|
From: NWS STORM SURVEY
|
6:40 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Science Hill
|
Pulaski, KY
|
From: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
|
6:42 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
Blackmont
|
Bell, KY
|
From: PUBLIC
|
6:45 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Pulaski
|
Pulaski, KY
|
From: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
|
6:45 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
2 S Cannel City
|
Morgan, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
6:45 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
1 W Insull
|
Bell, KY
|
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
|
6:50 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
Wallins Creek
|
Harlan, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
6:56 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Wallins Creek
|
Harlan, KY
|
From: PUBLIC
|
6:57 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
Pongo
|
Rockcastle, KY
|
From: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
|
7:00 PM
03/02/2012 |
2 in. Hail
|
Grays Knob
|
Harlan, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
7:00 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
3 SSE Harlan
|
Harlan, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
7:00 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Harlan
|
Harlan, KY
|
STATE POLICE REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL IN THE CITY OF HARLAN.
From: LAW ENFORCEMENT |
7:03 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
Oil Springs
|
Johnson, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
7:03 PM
03/02/2012 |
Funnel Cloud
|
Ferguson
|
Pulaski, KY
|
From: CO-OP OBSERVER
|
7:03 PM
03/02/2012 |
58 mph Thunderstorm Wind Gust
|
2 N Monticello
|
Wayne, KY
|
From: AWOS
|
7:04 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Oil Springs
|
Johnson, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
7:05 PM
03/02/2012 |
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
|
Putney
|
Harlan, KY
|
TREES DOWN ON HWY 522.
From: 911 CALL CENTER |
7:05 PM
03/02/2012 |
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
|
Pittsburg
|
Laurel, KY
|
POWER POLES DOWN AT HWY 80 AND I-75 INTERCHANGE.
From: TRAINED SPOTTER |
7:10 PM
03/02/2012 |
Funnel Cloud
|
Wood Creek Lake
|
Laurel, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
7:15 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Paintsville
|
Johnson, KY
|
From: AMATEUR RADIO
|
7:15 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
Noetown
|
Bell, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
7:17 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Thelma
|
Johnson, KY
|
HAIL UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE OCCURRED AND HAIL COVERED THE GROUND TO A DEPTH OF ABOUT TWO INCHES.
From: PUBLIC |
7:17 PM
03/02/2012 |
2.75 in. Hail
|
Lenarve
|
Harlan, KY
|
From: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
|
7:23 PM
03/02/2012 |
2 in. Hail
|
Grays Knob
|
Harlan, KY
|
EVENT OCCURRED BETWEEN 708 AND 723 PM.
From: PUBLIC |
7:26 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.75 in. Hail
|
Paintsville
|
Johnson, KY
|
From: AMATEUR RADIO
|
7:38 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
Inez
|
Martin, KY
|
From: EMERGENCY MNGR
|
7:39 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
Inez
|
Martin, KY
|
DISPATCH REPORTED QUARTER SIZED HAIL AND STRONG WINDS.
From: 911 CALL CENTER |
8:00 PM
03/02/2012 |
Thunderstorm Wind Damage
|
Arjay
|
Bell, KY
|
TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN ARJAY. From: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS |
8:25 PM
03/02/2012 |
1 in. Hail
|
Middlesboro
|
Bell, KY
|
QUARTER SIZED HAIL REPORTED WAS REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC
From: PUBLIC |
8:40 PM
03/02/2012 |
1.25 in. Hail
|
Middlesboro
|
Bell, KY
|
From: TRAINED SPOTTER
|
8:55 PM
03/02/2012 |
Flood
|
3 N Paintsville
|
Johnson, KY
|
AN AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED SEVERAL PEOPLE TRAPPED BY FLOOD WATERS AT BROWN BRANCH.
From: AMATEUR RADIO |
9:00 PM
03/02/2012 |
Flood
|
Stacy Fork
|
Morgan, KY
|
KENTUCKY HIGHWAY 844 WAS COVERED BY FLOOD WATERS AND IMPASSABLE.
From: NWS EMPLOYEE |
9:30 PM
03/02/2012 |
Flood
|
Tomahawk
|
Martin, KY
|
A MOBILE HOME WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FLOOD WATERS FROM AN AREA CREEK WITH OTHER HOMES IN THE AREA THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS ALONG KY HIGHWAY 40.
From: PUBLIC |
A FAST MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DUMPED SNOW ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY DURING THE OVERNIGHT AND MORNING HOURS. THE GREATEST AMOUNTS WERE MOSTLY CONCENTRATED IN THE NORTHERN COAL FIELDS...WITH SIX AND AHALF INCHES MEASURED AT THE COOPERATIVE WEATHER STATION NEAR FARMERSIN ROWAN COUNTY. THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED BY AMOUNT AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION. A BIG THANKS GO OUT TO TRAINED SPOTTERS AND COOPERATIVE WEATHER OBSERVERS FOR THEIR TIMELY REPORTS.... ***********************SNOWFALL REPORTS*********************** INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME ------ ----------------------- -- -------------- ------- 6.5 1 S FARMERS KY ROWAN 0800 AM 5.4 ROGERS KY WOLFE 0600 AM 5.2 HOWARDS MILL KY MONTGOMERY 0800 AM 5.0 1 N COON KY MAGOFFIN 0740 AM 5.0 5 N MOUNT STERLING KY MONTGOMERY 0700 AM 4.8 3 NW WEST LIBERTY KY MORGAN 0700 AM 4.7 2 WSW KERZ KY JOHNSON 0755 AM 4.5 FORAKER KY MAGOFFIN 1017 AM 4.5 HILLSBORO KY FLEMING 0800 AM 4.4 4 NE JACKSON KY BREATHITT 0700 AM 4.0 RELIEF KY MORGAN 0630 AM 3.9 4 NE JACKSON KY BREATHITT 0600 AM 3.5 4 N BEATTYVILLE KY LEE 0800 AM 3.2 BEATTYVILLE KY LEE 0745 AM 3.0 SALYERSVILLE KY MAGOFFIN 1017 AM 3.0 INEZ KY MARTIN 0900 AM 3.0 CRESSY KY ESTILL 0800 AM 3.0 4 NE SLADE KY POWELL 0800 AM 3.0 2 E INEZ KY MARTIN 0700 AM 2.6 2 W STANTON KY POWELL 0800 AM 2.5 4 WSW PRESTONSBURG KY FLOYD 0700 AM 2.0 ROUSSEAU KY BREATHITT 1017 AM 1.0 1 SSE NED KY PERRY 0910 AM 0.3 2 ESE TALBERT KY BREATHITT 0640 AM