A strong storm system moved from the Midwest into the lower Ohio Valley on April 8, 2020. Isolated storms developed ahead of a sinking cold front during the afternoon across portions of southern Indiana and central Kentucky. These storms dropped large hail and produced damaging winds. Later that evening, a line of severe thunderstorms moved in from the northwest and produced widespread damaging winds and small hail. An EF-1 tornado spun up along the front edge of the line of severe storms and tracked for several miles across Nelson County. Storms pushed east of the region during the early morning hours of April 9, 2020.

Thunderstorm Wind in OLDHAM, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 21:32:00 to 08-APR-20 21:48:00 (EST-5)
Location: HARMONY VLG
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An NWS Storm Survey confirmed straight line winds ranging from 70 mph to 90 mph wind damage across portions of Oldham County, KY stretching from near Goshen to La Grange. Multiple trees were downed, along with roof damage to many homes and a large outbuilding at the Oldham County Fairgrounds .

Hail in LINCOLN, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 23:30:00 to 08-APR-20 23:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRAB ORCHARD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Broadcast media relayed a public picture of quarter sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 22:39:00 to 08-APR-20 22:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: PULLIAM
Magnitude: 53.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

There was structural and tree damage along Brush Grove Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in WARREN, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 21:00:00 to 08-APR-20 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOWLING GREEN
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station 0683W 1.0 NW Bowling Green.

Hail in HART, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 16:14:00 to 08-APR-20 16:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: VENTO
Magnitude: 1.75 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in HART, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 16:15:00 to 08-APR-20 16:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: VENTO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

One inch hail was reported by a former NWS employee.

Hail in MEADE, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 21:55:00 to 08-APR-20 21:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: CONCORDIA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Thunderstorm Wind in HARDIN, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 22:00:00 to 08-APR-20 22:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: (FTK)GODMAN AAF FT K
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

There were reports of trees down on cars and houses including some damage to hanger buildings.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHELBY, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 22:00:00 to 08-APR-20 22:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CROPPER
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 55 knot gust was recorded at the Kentucky Mesonet site in northern Shelby County.

Thunderstorm Wind in LINCOLN, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 23:33:00 to 08-APR-20 23:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: TURKEYTOWN
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A roof was torn off of a double-wide mobile home and thrown southeast. The resident stated winds lasted for 2 to 3 minutes. NWS remote survey estimated winds at 90 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in LINCOLN, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 23:32:00 to 08-APR-20 23:33:00 (EST-5)
Location: TURKEYTOWN
Magnitude: 83.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A porch and part of a roof was torn off of a home. An outbuilding was flattened, and a cattle trailer was overturned. Fifteen to twenty trees were downed along a quarter mile stretch of Edwards Road. Winds were estimated at 90 to 95 mph by a NWS remote survey.

Thunderstorm Wind in LINCOLN, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 23:23:00 to 08-APR-20 23:23:00 (EST-5)
Location: MAYWOOD
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The northwest side of a home had its roof peeled off. A NWS remote survey estimated winds at 75 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in BOYLE, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 23:11:00 to 08-APR-20 23:11:00 (EST-5)
Location: DANVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Broadcast media relayed a video of a tree down near Danville.

Tornado in NELSON, KENTUCKY
From 08-APR-20 22:20:00 to 08-APR-20 22:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: FAIRFIELD
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado initially touched down on the northwest side of a large family home and farm on Fairfield Road. The upper part of the roof of a two story home was lifted off and thrown in various directions. Several large 2x10s and 2x8s were impaled in the ground about 50 yards from the barn. Two trees on the property sustained extensive twisting and several large section of the trees were snapped. The tornado at this point was only 35 yards wide with wind speeds of 95 mph. The owner of the house was upstairs sleeping, when he heard his ears popping, then a large roar of wind on top of the house and bricks fell on his bed. Surprisingly he sustained no injuries. The tornado then moved across a mixture of open farm fields and scattered forest. There is a significant swath of tree damage between Fairfield Road and Murrays Run Road, with trees uprooted, snapped, and twisted. Thanks to a nelson county drone you could clearly see trees laying in multiple directions.
The tornado hit a property on Murrays Run Road ripping off the sides of a large well-built barn. The back part of the barn was thrown to the west while a wagon in the trailer was pushed out through the barn. A 72' x 12' shed next to the barn was destroyed. Parts of that barn were impaled into the ground 75 to 80 yards down wind. The tornado was at its widest at 45 yards here with 95 mph winds. Another remarkable thing is the family house was only 60 yards from the damage path, and did not lose even a shingle on the house. Across the street the tornado did extensive roof damage to a family house and barn, uplifting several large parts of it. Debris from the barn was thrown up to 300 yards downwind and in many different directions. The family said that they heard all the doors in the house shut tightly and heard a distinct roar. The tornado produced sporadic damage across farmland mainly in terms of trees, with more concentrated damage along Plum Run Road. Cedar tree damage was rather extensive with many cedars being snapped and twisted. Winds were around 90 mph here with a width of 40 yards. The tornado destroyed an old barn on Chester Hahn Road but weakened to an EF-0 of 80 mph and ended with a few snapped trees before Dugan Lane.