The counties under alert include Johnson, Martin, Laurel, Mccreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Wayne, Whitley, Bell, Floyd, Knott, Letcher, Perry, Breathitt, Harlan, Knox, Magoffin, Pike, Clay, Jackson, Leslie and Owsley.
Residents in the counties under watch share pictures of the incoming storm, revealing a dark, ominous sky in the early morning.
Multiple schools at risk as imminent tornado sparks 'danger to life' alerts for millions More than 1.4 million Kentucky residents received alerts about an imminent tornado set to hit part of the state Thursday.
That shattered the prior record for the deadliest tornado in Kentucky history, set in 1890 when a twister killed 76 in the Louisville area, according to NWS records.
'At 10:36 AM EST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain gradually exiting off to the south of the warned area; however, excessive runoff from previous heavy rainfall will continue to cause flash flooding of small streams and creeks in low lying areas,' the NWS stated.
