National Storms

Kentucky tornado history

From 1950 through 2025, 1,285 tornadoes touched Kentucky, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, the 23rd most of the 48 contiguous states and DC. The National Weather Service rated 25 of them F4/EF4 or stronger (2 F5/EF5); along their paths they killed 320 people and injured 4,570. The deadliest, on December 10, 2021, was rated EF4 and killed 57 along a path through TN and KY. From 2016 to 2025, Kentucky averaged 33 tornadoes a year. SPC has logged 40 preliminary tornado reports in Kentucky in 2026 (latest August 19, 2026).

1,285tornadoes since 1950
3302016–2025
108F3/EF3 or stronger
320deaths
4,570injuries
Dec 18, 2025latest in final record

Map of every Kentucky tornado path since 1950

Rating: 012345 unknown or preliminaryLines run from the start to the end point of each path; dots mark where each tornado touched down.

All 1,285 paths plus 40 preliminary 2026 reports (gray dots). Zoom in to your county; click a path for its date and rating.

1950: 1 F11950: 1 F21951: 1 F21951: 1 F31952: 2 F31954: 2 F11954: 2 F21955: 1 F11955: 1 F21955: 1 F31956: 2 F01956: 4 F11956: 2 F21956: 1 F31957: 3 F11957: 1 F21958: 5 F11958: 2 F21958: 1 F31959: 1 F11959: 2 F31960: 1 F31961: 2 F21961: 2 F31962: 1 F01962: 2 F11963: 5 F11963: 3 F21963: 1 F31964: 7 F11964: 3 F21964: 1 F31964: 1 F41965: 2 F11965: 4 F21965: 1 F31966: 1 F11966: 2 F21967: 2 F01967: 5 F11967: 7 F21967: 3 F31968: 3 F21968: 1 F31968: 2 F41969: 4 F11969: 1 F31970: 4 F11970: 1 F21970: 2 F31971: 2 F01971: 5 F11971: 5 F21971: 2 F31971: 2 F41972: 5 F11972: 5 F21972: 2 F31973: 15 F11973: 5 F21973: 1 F31974: 6 F11974: 9 F21974: 9 F31974: 10 F41974: 2 F51975: 1 F01975: 1 F11976: 5 F11977: 1 F01977: 7 F11977: 4 F21978: 1 F11978: 2 F21978: 1 F31979: 5 F11979: 2 F21979: 1 F31980: 1 F01980: 8 F11980: 3 F21981: 1 F11981: 3 F21982: 3 F11982: 7 F21983: 3 F01983: 6 F11984: 5 F01984: 4 F11984: 2 F21985: 5 F01986: 1 F01986: 7 F11986: 2 F21986: 1 F31987: 5 F01987: 2 F11988: 2 F01988: 1 F11988: 1 F31989: 5 F01989: 7 F11989: 7 F21990: 6 F01990: 9 F11990: 2 F21990: 2 F31991: 1 F01991: 4 F11991: 3 F21992: 6 F01992: 4 F11992: 1 F41993: 9 F01993: 3 F11994: 10 F01994: 3 F11995: 7 F01995: 9 F11995: 15 F21996: 12 F01996: 9 F11996: 5 F21996: 1 F41997: 20 F01997: 9 F11997: 8 F21997: 3 F31998: 5 F01998: 3 F11998: 3 F21998: 2 F31999: 2 F01999: 5 F11999: 1 F22000: 8 F02000: 11 F12000: 1 F22000: 3 F32001: 3 F02001: 1 F12001: 2 F22002: 5 F02002: 7 F12002: 2 F22002: 2 F32003: 6 F02003: 22 F12003: 7 F22003: 2 F32003: 1 F42004: 12 F02004: 7 F12004: 3 F22004: 1 F32005: 6 F02005: 5 F12005: 2 F22005: 3 F32005: 1 F42006: 4 F02006: 11 F12006: 4 F22006: 1 F32007: 8 EF02007: 13 EF12007: 8 EF22007: 1 EF32008: 6 EF02008: 17 EF12008: 10 EF22008: 3 EF32009: 13 EF02009: 14 EF12009: 2 EF22009: 3 EF32010: 11 EF02010: 6 EF12010: 3 EF22011: 18 EF02011: 32 EF12011: 13 EF22011: 2 EF32012: 10 EF02012: 15 EF12012: 14 EF22012: 4 EF32012: 2 EF42013: 14 EF02013: 15 EF12013: 6 EF22013: 3 EF32014: 6 EF02014: 20 EF12014: 2 EF22015: 11 EF02015: 5 EF12015: 1 EF22016: 13 EF02016: 7 EF12016: 3 EF22016: 1 EF32017: 4 EF02017: 19 EF12017: 3 EF22018: 12 EF02018: 20 EF12018: 4 EF22019: 6 EF02019: 18 EF12019: 1 EF22020: 5 EF02020: 13 EF12020: 3 EF22020: 1 unknown rating2021: 7 EF02021: 22 EF12021: 5 EF22021: 4 EF32021: 1 EF42022: 15 EF02022: 16 EF12022: 1 EF22023: 7 EF02023: 27 EF12023: 2 EF22023: 1 EF32024: 9 EF02024: 32 EF12024: 6 EF22024: 1 EF32024: 2 unknown rating2025: 6 EF02025: 22 EF12025: 8 EF22025: 2 EF32025: 1 EF419501957196419711978198519921999200620132020max 65
Tornadoes per year in Kentucky by rating, 1950–2025. Colors: F/EF0 (yellow) to F/EF5 (black); gray = unknown rating.

Source: National Storms (nationalstorms.com), CC BY 4.0, data from NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports.

Most recent tornadoes in Kentucky

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Dec 18, 2025EF02.0 mi0 / 0Larue County, KY
Nov 21, 2025EF11.6 mi0 / 0Todd County, KY
Nov 18, 2025EF15.6 mi0 / 0Fulton County, KY
Oct 19, 2025EF10.7 mi0 / 0Jessamine County, KY
Sep 22, 2025EF04.1 mi0 / 0Bracken County, KY
Jun 7, 2025EF02.1 mi0 / 0Daviess County, KY
May 29, 2025EF11.5 mi0 / 0Mercer County, KY
May 29, 2025EF25.5 mi1 / 14Washington County, KY
May 16, 2025EF12.6 mi0 / 0Logan County, KY
May 16, 2025EF460.1 mi18 / 0Russell County, KY
May 16, 2025EF210.0 mi0 / 0Christian County, KY
May 16, 2025EF39.9 mi0 / 4Union County, KY
May 16, 2025EF26.0 mi0 / 0Christian County, KY
May 16, 2025EF10.8 mi0 / 0Lyon County, KY
May 3, 2025EF01.0 mi0 / 0Franklin County, KY
Apr 3, 2025EF08.9 mi0 / 0Calloway County, KY
Apr 2, 2025EF18.7 mi0 / 0Lincoln County, KY
Apr 2, 2025EF17.0 mi0 / 2Taylor County, KY
Apr 2, 2025EF24.9 mi0 / 1Barren County, KY
Apr 2, 2025EF01.8 mi0 / 0Mason County, KY
Apr 2, 2025EF110.8 mi0 / 0Harrison County, KY
Apr 2, 2025EF12.9 mi0 / 0Nelson County, KY
Apr 2, 2025EF39.7 mi0 / 0Jefferson County, KY
Apr 2, 2025EF29.1 mi0 / 0McLean County, KY
Apr 2, 2025EF112.2 mi0 / 0Hopkins County, KY

2026 preliminary tornado reports in Kentucky

Reports from SPC's daily logs. A tornado often draws several reports; NOAA publishes confirmed tornadoes, paths and ratings with its final data.

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Aug 19, 2026Prelim. report––Graves County, KY
Aug 19, 2026Prelim. report––Graves County, KY
Aug 19, 2026Prelim. report––Carlisle County, KY
Jul 21, 2026Prelim. report––Metcalfe County, KY
Jul 21, 2026Prelim. report––Grayson County, KY
Jul 21, 2026Prelim. report––Metcalfe County, KY
Jul 21, 2026Prelim. report––Hart County, KY
Jul 21, 2026Prelim. report––Casey County, KY
Jul 21, 2026Prelim. report––Grayson County, KY
Jul 21, 2026Prelim. report––Bourbon County, KY
Jul 21, 2026Prelim. report––Hardin County, KY
Jul 21, 2026Prelim. report––Carroll County, KY
Jul 9, 2026Prelim. report––Butler County, KY
Jun 27, 2026Prelim. report––Livingston County, KY
Jun 21, 2026Prelim. report––Hancock County, KY

Deadliest tornadoes in Kentucky

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Dec 10, 2021EF4168.5 mi57 / 515Obion County, TN → KY
Apr 3, 1974F532.0 mi31 / 270Breckinridge County, KY → IN
Nov 5, 2005F341.3 mi24 / 238Henderson County, KY → IN
Feb 5, 2008EF350.3 mi22 / 63Sumner County, TN → KY
May 16, 2025EF460.1 mi18 / 0Russell County, KY
Dec 10, 2021EF329.3 mi16 / 63Warren County, KY
Mar 2, 2012EF446.6 mi11 / 0Washington County, IN → KY
Mar 2, 2012EF385.0 mi10 / 118Menifee County, KY → WV
Apr 3, 1974F438.4 mi10 / 113Cumberland County, KY
Apr 3, 1974F322.3 mi7 / 40Pulaski County, KY

F4, EF4, F5 and EF5 tornadoes in Kentucky

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Apr 3, 1974F520.8 mi3 / 210Ohio County, IN → KY → OH
Apr 3, 1974F532.0 mi31 / 270Breckinridge County, KY → IN
May 16, 2025EF460.1 mi18 / 0Russell County, KY
Dec 10, 2021EF4168.5 mi57 / 515Obion County, TN → KY
Mar 2, 2012EF49.8 mi4 / 8Grant County, KY
Mar 2, 2012EF446.6 mi11 / 0Washington County, IN → KY
Nov 15, 2005F415.0 mi0 / 40Hopkins County, KY
May 6, 2003F433.0 mi2 / 33Pulaski County, IL → KY
May 28, 1996F430.0 mi0 / 10Jefferson County, KY
Nov 22, 1992F426.7 mi1 / 10Owen County, KY → IN
Apr 3, 1974F416.1 mi0 / 0Wayne County, KY
Apr 3, 1974F411.0 mi5 / 6Pickett County, TN → KY
Apr 3, 1974F431.9 mi7 / 28Garrard County, KY
Apr 3, 1974F438.4 mi10 / 113Cumberland County, KY
Apr 3, 1974F479.4 mi4 / 122Anderson County, KY
Apr 3, 1974F420.2 mi0 / 56Green County, KY
Apr 3, 1974F437.9 mi3 / 81Hardin County, KY
Apr 3, 1974F418.5 mi3 / 225Jefferson County, KY
Apr 3, 1974F414.0 mi0 / 2Grayson County, KY
Apr 3, 1974F427.1 mi0 / 104Jefferson County, IN → KY
Apr 27, 1971F413.0 mi2 / 72Russell County, KY
Apr 27, 1971F414.1 mi6 / 58Green County, KY
Apr 23, 1968F478.7 mi6 / 364Pendleton County, KY → OH
Apr 3, 1968F450.6 mi2 / 30Calloway County, KY
Mar 4, 1964F418.5 mi3 / 24Calloway County, KY

The 50 strongest Kentucky tornadoes, ranked by rating, deaths and path length: Strongest tornadoes in Kentucky history

Longest tornado paths in Kentucky

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Dec 10, 2021EF4168.5 mi57 / 515Obion County, TN → KY
Dec 10, 2021EF3122.6 mi0 / 38Dyer County, TN → KY
Mar 2, 2012EF385.0 mi10 / 118Menifee County, KY → WV
Apr 3, 1974F479.4 mi4 / 122Anderson County, KY
Apr 23, 1968F478.7 mi6 / 364Pendleton County, KY → OH
May 16, 2025EF460.1 mi18 / 0Russell County, KY
May 7, 1961F358.0 mi0 / 3Hopkins County, KY
Apr 3, 1968F450.6 mi2 / 30Calloway County, KY
Feb 5, 2008EF350.3 mi22 / 63Sumner County, TN → KY
Jun 15, 1964F249.3 mi0 / 1Scott County, KY

For tornadoes that crossed into another state, the path length, deaths and injuries are for the whole path.

Tornadoes by county

CountyTornadoes since 19502016–2025StrongestDeaths along pathsMost recent
Christian County6127F4/EF459May 16, 2025
Calloway County4813F4/EF46Apr 3, 2025
Graves County4319F4/EF458Apr 2, 2025
Warren County359F3/EF323May 26, 2024
Jefferson County3512F4/EF43Apr 2, 2025
Daviess County3410F3/EF30Jun 7, 2025
Marshall County3311F4/EF464Jul 1, 2023
McCracken County339F3/EF33Apr 2, 2025
Hardin County327F4/EF43Mar 30, 2025
Trigg County3113F4/EF42May 26, 2024
Union County3012F3/EF30May 16, 2025
Henderson County286F3/EF325Mar 3, 2023
Pulaski County272F4/EF429May 16, 2025
Ballard County279F3/EF30Apr 2, 2025
Muhlenberg County267F4/EF461May 26, 2024
Webster County243F3/EF31Mar 14, 2019
Todd County249F3/EF35Nov 21, 2025
Logan County247F3/EF38May 16, 2025
Metcalfe County226F3/EF35Jul 9, 2024
Hopkins County225F4/EF458Apr 2, 2025
Shelby County215F2/EF20May 7, 2023
Caldwell County215F4/EF460May 26, 2024
Barren County216F3/EF36Apr 2, 2025
Madison County204F4/EF49Jan 12, 2023
Laurel County201F4/EF431May 16, 2025
Henry County205F3/EF31Apr 2, 2024
Simpson County194F3/EF37Feb 15, 2025
Oldham County195F4/EF43Apr 2, 2024
Breckinridge County195F5/EF589Mar 30, 2025
Meade County185F5/EF532Mar 30, 2025
Hart County185F3/EF31Feb 5, 2025
Fulton County187F4/EF457Nov 18, 2025
Boone County182F5/EF54Mar 19, 2025
Scott County171F4/EF44Dec 5, 2021
Livingston County176F4/EF45Apr 2, 2025
Hickman County177F4/EF457Aug 12, 2023
Clinton County174F4/EF411May 26, 2024
Lyon County168F4/EF462May 16, 2025
Larue County165F3/EF31Dec 18, 2025
Grayson County163F4/EF460Dec 10, 2021
Garrard County165F4/EF410Apr 2, 2025
Mercer County152F2/EF21May 29, 2025
Adair County151F4/EF47Nov 5, 2018
Mason County145F4/EF46Apr 2, 2025
Marion County146F3/EF31Jul 18, 2023
Lincoln County142F3/EF31Apr 2, 2025
Kenton County141F4/EF44Apr 8, 2020
Crittenden County140F3/EF30Sep 22, 2006
Taylor County135F4/EF41Apr 2, 2025
Ohio County135F4/EF460Dec 10, 2021
Monroe County134F3/EF326May 26, 2024
Bullitt County132F4/EF43Mar 30, 2025
Trimble County122F4/EF411Mar 14, 2024
Russell County122F4/EF420May 16, 2025
Nelson County123F4/EF43Apr 2, 2025
Green County123F4/EF46Dec 10, 2021
Franklin County122F4/EF44May 3, 2025
Cumberland County124F4/EF432Jul 9, 2024
Butler County123F3/EF31May 26, 2024
Boyle County127F3/EF32May 29, 2025
Spencer County114F4/EF43Mar 30, 2025
Rockcastle County112F3/EF37Feb 6, 2025
McCreary County111F4/EF42Mar 12, 2020
Washington County102F2/EF21May 29, 2025
Hancock County101F3/EF30Sep 8, 2018
Fleming County101F2/EF20Aug 9, 2023
Edmonson County104F3/EF316Dec 10, 2021
Bath County102F1/EF10Apr 2, 2024
Anderson County102F4/EF44Apr 2, 2024
Wayne County91F4/EF417Feb 28, 2021
Pendleton County91F4/EF49Apr 8, 2020
McLean County92F4/EF40Apr 2, 2025
Lewis County91F3/EF30Jun 11, 2021
Harrison County91F3/EF30Apr 2, 2025
Grant County93F4/EF45Jan 12, 2023
Fayette County90F3/EF30May 27, 2004
Carroll County91F4/EF41Mar 14, 2024
Bracken County92F4/EF46Sep 22, 2025
Allen County93F3/EF36Mar 2, 2020
Greenup County82F3/EF30Apr 2, 2024
Estill County81F3/EF31Jan 1, 2022
Casey County81F3/EF31Jul 2, 2023
Carlisle County84F2/EF20Apr 2, 2025
Bourbon County81F2/EF20Apr 2, 2024
Woodford County71F2/EF20Apr 2, 2024
Powell County70F2/EF20May 30, 2004
Owen County70F4/EF41Oct 7, 2014
Jessamine County73F2/EF20Oct 19, 2025
Clark County72F4/EF47Apr 2, 2024
Boyd County72F3/EF30Apr 2, 2024
Bell County70F3/EF31Oct 26, 2010
Menifee County60F3/EF310Mar 2, 2012
Lawrence County62F3/EF312Aug 7, 2023
Clay County60F2/EF20Jun 2, 2001
Whitley County50F3/EF30Apr 4, 2011
Morgan County50F3/EF310Mar 2, 2012
Breathitt County50F2/EF22May 30, 2004
Wolfe County40F3/EF32Mar 2, 2012
Montgomery County40F3/EF30Mar 1, 1997
Leslie County40F1/EF10Jul 27, 2014
Johnson County40F3/EF312Jun 9, 2013
Gallatin County41F4/EF41Apr 8, 2020
Robertson County31F3/EF30Apr 8, 2020
Pike County30F1/EF10Oct 7, 2014
Owsley County31F2/EF20Feb 6, 2025
Nicholas County30F2/EF20Mar 11, 1986
Magoffin County31F3/EF32May 16, 2023
Lee County30F3/EF31Aug 27, 1987
Knox County31F1/EF10May 26, 2024
Jackson County30F2/EF20May 30, 2004
Carter County30F1/EF10May 11, 2008
Rowan County20F2/EF20May 18, 1995
Perry County20F2/EF20May 18, 1995
Letcher County20F1/EF10Jun 3, 1983
Harlan County20F0/EF00Apr 3, 2007
Floyd County20F1/EF10Apr 4, 2011
Campbell County20F3/EF33Mar 2, 2012
Martin County10F3/EF32Mar 2, 2012
Knott County10F2/EF20May 18, 1995
Elliott County10F1/EF10Apr 1, 1974

Cities with 5 or more tornadoes within 10 miles

Alexandria Anchorage Ashland Bardstown Beaver Dam Bellevue Benton Berea Bowling Green Brandenburg Cadiz Calvert City Campbellsville Carrollton Central City Cold Spring Columbia Corbin Covington Crescent Springs Crestview Hills Crestwood Crittenden Cynthiana Danville Dayton Douglass Hills Edgewood Elizabethtown Elsmere Eminence Erlanger Flatwoods Flemingsburg Florence Fort Mitchell Fort Thomas Fort Wright Frankfort Franklin Georgetown Glasgow Graymoor-Devondale Greenville Harrodsburg Hartford Henderson Highland Heights Hillview Hodgenville Hopkinsville Hurstbourne Independence Indian Hills Jeffersontown La Grange Lakeside Park Lancaster Lawrenceburg Lebanon Leitchfield Lexington-Fayette London Louisville/Jefferson County Ludlow Lyndon Madisonville Marion Mayfield Maysville Middlesborough Middletown Monticello Morganfield Morgantown Mount Sterling Mount Washington Murray Newport Nicholasville Oak Grove Owensboro Paducah Paris Park Hills Pioneer Village Princeton Prospect Providence Radcliff Richmond Russell Russell Springs Russellville Scottsville Shelbyville Shepherdsville Shively Simpsonville Somerset Southgate Springfield St. Matthews Stanford Stanton Taylor Mill Union Versailles Villa Hills Vine Grove Walton Wilder Williamstown Wilmore Winchester

Tornadoes in Kentucky by year

YearTornadoesF/EF012345UnknownDeathsInjuries
202640 preliminary tornado reports so far (not a tornado count; ratings come with NOAA's final data)
202539622821001927
20245093261002157
20233772721000462
20223215161000002
2021397225410074651
2020225133000102
2019256181000002
201836122040000110
2017264193000002
20162413731000015
2015171151000003
2014286202000002
201338141563000342
201245101514420036231
2011651832132000014
2010201163000000
200932131423000221
20083661710300029105
20073081381000019
20062041141000034
200517652310025303
20042312731000012
20033862272100577
2002165722000146
200163120000014
20002381113000047
199982510000010
199813533200039
19974020983000336
19962712950100058
1995317915000008
1994131030000000
199312930000000
1992116400100110
199181430000115
1990196922000011
198919577000005
198842101000115
19877520000000
1986111721000028
19855500000000
1984115420000010
19839360000007
1982100370000022
198140130000010
1980121830000216
197980521000133
197840121000017
1977121740000023
197650500000111
19752110000000
19743606991020801,606
19732101551000015
1972120552000010
19711625522009130
197070412000015
196950401000015
1968600312008402
196717257300008
19663012000002
196570241000114
1964120731100335
19639053100007
19623120000000
196140022000166
196010001000012
19593010200036
195880521000012
19574031000000
195692421000116
195530111000013
19544022000000
195220002000021
195120011000111
19502011000000

More for Kentucky: strongest tornadoes · damaging wind history · hail history · all states

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Severe Weather Database (SVRGIS) tornado file, 1950–2025, and SPC preliminary storm reports for 2026 (data through November 6, 2026). Ratings are the ones the National Weather Service assigned: Fujita (F) scale before Feb 1, 2007, Enhanced Fujita (EF) after. Paths are drawn as straight lines from the start to the end point SPC records; real paths curve. City and county boundaries: US Census Bureau.