India, May 17 -- A powerful tornado tore through parts of Kentucky's Pulaski and Laurel counties late Friday night, leaving a trail of destruction.

In Somerset, US Route 27 saw the most damage, with the well-known Baxter's Coffee shop and a nearby Lutheran church sustaining visible damage. Around 11 p.m., the Somerset Fire Department responded to reports of destruction at Stoplight 22 and the Parker's Mill Road area, just as the tornado began touching down in Pulaski County.

Meteorologists monitoring the storm confirmed that a tornado had formed and was racing northeast toward London, Kentucky, at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. By 11:30 p.m., the storm's path was clearly heading into Laurel County.

Forecasters warned residents in m...