Recent federal cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) have raised some concerns from the public over whether the organization's office in Jackson was able to issue warnings with enough time for residents to act.

Due to staffing shortages, the National Weather Service in Jackson no longer has overnight staff. But NWS and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear say the office was staffed Friday night and early Saturday.

After a deadly tornado Sunday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the National Weather Service hadn’t hampered his state’s ability to notify residents about the storm — but he expressed worries about the days ahead.

Meteorologists with the NWS Paducah office have also confirmed several tornadoes in its region the afternoon and evening of May 16. Three tornadoes impacted western Kentucky, including an EF-3 tornado in Morganfield with winds of 155 mph, an EF-2 tornado in Allegre and an EF-2 tornado in Casky.

A tornado outbreak swept across the Ohio Valley Friday night, leaving at least 27 people dead. Advertisement. About Our Ads