Live updates: Mayfield tornado was at least an EF3, NWS says at Sunday afternoon update

More than a day after a deadly weather system spawned tornadoes in Kentucky, the commonwealth is still waiting to know the full extent of the storm's damage.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has said more than 100 Kentuckians likely died in connection with the tornadoes, primarily in Western Kentucky. And in Louisville, many groups were working to raise funds and collect donations to help their displaced neighbors in Mayfield, Bowling Green and beyond.

Here are the latest updates from Sunday:

Monday live updates: Kentucky prepares for a week of tornado recovery with death toll in flux

This article has been made available for free as a public service so all readers can access this information. Please consider subscribing to support our work.

10:30 p.m.: Power outages largely resolved in Louisville

Less than 100 LG&E customers were without power in Jefferson County by about 10 p.m. Sunday, according to the power company's outage map.

Statewide, about 8,800 LG&E customers were still without power by that time, the map showed.

Those figures are down from Friday night and Saturday, though Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday earlier outages persisted in Western Kentucky communities served by smaller energy companies and cooperatives.

9:30 p.m.: Louisville basketball collects water donations

Louisville women's basketball put its rivalry with Kentucky to good use Sunday as it hosted a water donation drive outside the Yum Center during this year's in-state clash.

Held in partnership with the Yum Center and Kroger, the event collected 68 pallets of water to send to tornado-ravaged communities in Western Kentucky and across the commonwealth.

Read more about how the event (and the game) went here.

9 p.m.: State Senate Republicans cancel retreat

The Senate Majority Caucus has canceled its traditional retreat, state Senate President Robert Stivers said in a statement, in light of storm damage across Kentucky.

The event, during which Senate Republicans plan for the upcoming legislative session, was set to take place in Bowling Green, one of many cities damaged by tornadoes.

A "truncated" retreat will be held at a later date, the statement said.

7 p.m.: Many Mayfield factory employees found alive, company spokesman says

On Sunday a spokesman for the candle factory destroyed in Mayfield said of the 110 people in the factory when the tornado struck, eight are confirmed dead and eight remain unaccounted for.

The rest have been reached and are alive, said Bob Ferguson with Hawks Bill Group LLC. "We've had a very productive day" getting in touch with employees, adding most of the survivors are in shelters where they could charge their devices so they could answer calls from the company, he said.

State officials said at a Sunday afternoon press conference they were looking into information provided by MCP, with Beshear saying it "may be a better situation and the miracle we were hoping for." But the governor did not provide details on what the information is.

"The company right now says it has different information but until we can verify it, we're still where we were (Saturday)."

Beshear spokeswoman Crystal Staley referred a Courier Journal reporter seeking clarification on the state's position back to the the governor's press conference.

A spokeswoman for state emergency management referred questions back to the governor's office.

5 p.m.: Mayfield tornado was at least an EF3, NWS says at update

Gov. Andy Beshear and other state, local and federal officials gave an update on the casualty estimates, the situation at a Mayfield candle factory and more late Sunday afternoon.

Beshear said the officially confirmed number of fatalities is still about 50, but he reiterated that number will likely grow as crews continue to search through rubble across Western Kentucky.

When asked for updates on the situation at the Mayfield candle factory, where about 110 people were reportedly working when the tornado hit, Beshear said no one has been found alive since about 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

He did add the state is looking into information from the factory owner that "may be a better situation and the miracle we were hoping for," but he did not provide specifics.

Officials from the National Weather Service office in Paducah said they are still evaluating the storm but that the tornado that hit Mayfield is so far being considered an EF3. That rating could change, they cautioned.

Watches, warnings, the EF scale and risk: How the National Weather Service talks tornadoes

Officials also thanked folks from Kentucky and around the nation for contributing more than $2 million to a state-managed recovery fund announced Saturday. The first grants from that money will go towards assisting families with funeral expenses.

4:30 p.m.: Bowling Green-area shelter moved

A Bowling Green-area American Red Cross shelter is moving, Bowling Green Police confirmed on social media.

The shelter, which had been located at South Warren Middle School, moved to Jennings Creek Elementary on Sunday. Jennings Creek Elementary is located at 2617 Russellville Road.

Cots are set up in the school gymnasium, and there is also a staging area for first responders. People who need to pick up supplies such as food and toiletries can get them at Henry F. Moss Middle School, and anyone looking to drop off donations can do so at Cumberland Trace Elementary.

4 p.m.: More Kentucky school districts announce storm-related closures

Students in multiple districts across Kentucky will be out of school due to the weekend's storms.

Both school districts in hard-hit Hopkins County — Hopkins County Schools and Dawson Springs Independent — announced closures Sunday.

Hopkins County Schools will be closed through the end of the district's scheduled winter break, Superintendent Amy Smith said in a letter to families shared to the district's social media. The district's winter break is scheduled to end Monday, Jan. 3, according to the district's website.

"Our Central Office will be open and we will be in touch if volunteers are needed after we receive information from our Judge Executive," Smith wrote.

Western Kentucky tornado: How many advance tornado warnings did Western Kentucky residents receive Friday?

Dawson Springs students will be out of the classroom until at least Jan. 4, Superintendent Leonard Whalen said on social media. School buildings are open to provide shelter, food, clothes and toiletries, he added.

Bowling Green Independent Schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday, the district confirmed to The Courier Journal.

And Christian County Public Schools' Pembroke Elementary will be closed through Friday, the district's superintendent said on social media, due to storm damage to the school building.

"CCPS will begin providing support, supplies, and meals to anyone affected by the severe weather in Christian County as soon as possible!" Chris Bentzel said in his post.

Warren County schools announced previously classes are canceled for Monday and Tuesday.

2 p.m.: Sen. Rand Paul lauds 'people coming together' amid tragedy

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a Bowling Green resident, spoke alongside Warren County officials Sunday afternoon as the area continues to recover from tornado damage.

Paul said "in the midst of tragedy," he was proud to see "the sense of people coming together to try to help each other," also describing how he and his family were trying to check in with neighbors Friday as the storm approached and hit the area.

Kentucky's junior senator also said "the federal government is prepared" to help and "hopefully this is a time when politics don't come into it."

"We do have much more in common than what divides us," Paul said.

He said his office and the United Way of Southern Kentucky's website have links and resources for those looking to support recovery efforts.

‘I found myself in the backyard’: Bowling Green reflects on devastating, deadly tornado

12 p.m.: KSP directs family members of the missing to this Mayfield building

Kentucky State Police request any family members of missing loved ones to go to the His House Ministries office building, 1250 Ky. 303, in Mayfield between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST Sunday "to provide a reference standard for identification purposes."

Family members of missing loved ones who need assistance in getting to His House Ministries can call 859-267-7775, according to state police.

9:15 a.m.: Beshear 'not sure' of more rescues from Mayfield candle factory

Beshear has said at least a dozen workers at a Mayfield candle factory were feared dead after a roof collapse Friday night, and rescue teams were continuing to search the rubble for bodies and any survivors.

During a Sunday morning interview on CNN, the governor said 40 of the 110 workers had been rescued from the factory.

'We were trapped': Kentucky candle factory survivors recount escape from deadly tornado

"I'm not sure that we're gonna see another rescue," Beshear told CNN's Jake Tapper during the "State of the Union" show. "I pray for it."

Beshear also told Tapper the statewide death toll from the storm is "going to exceed" 100.

Beshear said Saturday the candle factory incident "may end up being the largest loss of life in any tornado event in a single location in the state's history," with about 110 people inside the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory when it collapsed and the 40 workers rescued early Saturday morning.

For the statewide deaths, the governor said a 5-year-old in Muhlenberg County and a 3-year-old in Graves County are among the dead.

Kentucky tornado death toll: 45 people have been confirmed dead after storms by officials

8:45 a.m.: Homeland Security security, FEMA leader to visit Mayfield

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Emergency Management Agency Regional Administrator Gracia Szczech will join Beshear and Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett in Mayfield for an update on the response to tornado damage across the commonwealth.

The Sunday news conference is set for 3:15 p.m. CST at the Graves County Emergency Operations Center in Mayfield, according to the governor's office.

6 a.m.: State police urge citizens to avoid travel in areas of storm damage

As rescue and recovery operations continue Sunday in numerous western counties, Kentucky State Police said "citizens who are not actively involved in rescue operations or emergency services are encouraged to avoid travel to and around the affected areas."

"With widespread power outages, traffic control devices are not operational and there is no available lighting at many intersections throughout the area creating a serious hazard," a state police news release said.

KSP Post 1, which serves several of the Western Kentucky counties hit hardest by the tornadoes, also reminded citizens a curfew is in place for the city of Mayfield and other areas of Graves County that sustained severe damage.

Where did Kentucky tornadoes hit? See damage by county

As an example of the dangerous conditions on some roads, the post said its collision reconstruction team was investigating a "serious injury" crash involving three vehicles that occurred about 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of U.S. Highway 641 and Kentucky Route 80 in Calloway County

"While Calloway County did not see as severe storm damage as neighboring Graves and Marshall Counties saw, the widespread power outage is a concern," the state police post said.

The post said it is also "receiving an overwhelming number of calls from citizens wishing to help.

"Those wishing to volunteer are asked to call (270) 331-1979," the KSP post said. "Those wishing to offer donations are asked to call (270) 297-7772 or (270) 331-0945. Please reserve Kentucky State Police, Post 1 phone lines and 911 lines for those needing assistance."

On Sunday, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman will join local officials in Muhlenberg and Ohio counties at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively, to survey storm damage and speak with reporters.

How to get help, and how to help Kentucky communities

Numerous resources are available for those impacted by the tornadoes. See this story to learn more.

Tornado recovery: Was your home damaged in the Kentucky tornadoes? Here's how to get help

And handfuls of nonprofits, relief funds and community members have started collecting donations for Kentuckians who have lost their homes and so much more in the storms.

Check out this story to find ways you can help.

More: Want to help Kentucky communities affected by the tornadoes? Here's how

As of Sunday morning, Beshear said a state relief fund has received 7,479 donations totaling $829,085.

What happened Saturday?

The quartet of tornadoes that tore through Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky from late Friday into early Saturday left a devastating path of destruction.

Gov. Andy Beshear said over 70 people in Kentucky have likely died, with the governor adding the death toll could possibly end up exceeding 100. That would be the deadliest tornado event in the state's history.

The storm leveled much of Mayfield, destroyed part of Dawson Springs and wiped out buildings in Bowling Green and other towns, with deaths reported in those communities and at least a dozen fatalities also reported in the small Muhlenberg County town of Bremen.

Mayfield candle plant collapse: What to know about the Kentucky plant that a tornado decimated with workers inside

In Graves County, Beshear said at least a dozen workers at a Mayfield candle factory were feared dead after a roof collapse Friday night, and rescue teams were continuing to search the rubble for bodies and any survivors.

Beshear said "it may end up being the largest loss of life in any tornado event in a single location in the state's history," with about 110 people inside the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory when it collapsed and about 40 rescued early Saturday.

President Joe Biden also approved Beshear's request for an emergency disaster declaration, with Biden ordering federal assistance to supplement state and local responses to the severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding and tornadoes.

What was the size of the biggest Kentucky tornado? How long was its path?

For the category of the biggest tornado, the National Weather Service office in Paducah tweeted Saturday it would likely "take some time to make a determination on intensity / rating."

But the weather service said damage appeared to be consistent with an F3 tornado capable of producing winds as strong as 206 mph.

The Paducah office also said an aerial assessment of damage appeared to show an "historic long track tornado" that was at least three-quarters of a mile wide in Kentucky as it went from southwest of Cayce in Fulton County to at least Beaver Dam in Ohio County.

The storm traveled over 220 miles from Arkansas into Kentucky, also causing damage in Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky tornado damages, aftermath day 2 live updates