Kentucky tornadoes

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1,259 confirmed tornadoes since 1950. Most recent: December 18, 2025, EF0. 2026 so far: 40 preliminary reports preliminary

Counties with the most tornadoes

CountyTornadoes since 1950Per 1,000 sq mi
Christian County5779
Calloway County45117
Graves County4276
Daviess County3372
Jefferson County3387
Warren County3259
Hardin County3048
McCracken County29117
Union County2985
Marshall County2893
Trigg County2863
Henderson County2762
Pulaski County2741
Logan County2443
Muhlenberg County2451

When tornadoes hit here

By month

3000 Jan: 69Feb: 84Mar: 137Apr: 300May: 225Jun: 139Jul: 78Aug: 28Sep: 23Oct: 66Nov: 62Dec: 48JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April is the peak month, with 300 of 1259 tornadoes.

By time of day

1270 12 AM: 36: 20: 203 AM: 35: 30: 216 AM: 17: 27: 319 AM: 17: 25: 3612 PM: 52: 64: 813 PM: 108: 104: 926 PM: 127: 101: 819 PM: 44: 54: 3612 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 6:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

620 1950: 2: 2: 2: 0: 3: 3: 9: 4: 8: 31960: 1: 4: 3: 9: 12: 7: 3: 16: 6: 51970: 7: 16: 12: 19: 34: 1: 5: 12: 4: 81980: 12: 4: 10: 9: 11: 5: 10: 7: 4: 181990: 19: 8: 11: 11: 13: 30: 25: 39: 13: 62000: 23: 6: 15: 35: 22: 17: 20: 30: 36: 322010: 20: 62: 44: 37: 28: 17: 24: 26: 36: 252020: 22: 39: 32: 37: 50: 3919501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones. This year so far: 40 preliminary reports.

By rating

EF0
337
EF1
578
EF2
236
EF3
82
EF4
21
EF5
2
Unknown
3

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

EF4, December 10, 2021

57 deaths Longest path

168.53 miles, EF4

December 10, 2021

Most recent tornadoes

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Dec 18, 2025EF01.98 mi20 yd00
Nov 22, 2025EF11.64 mi75 yd00
Nov 18, 2025EF15.64 mi30 yd00
Oct 19, 2025EF10.65 mi20 yd00
Sep 22, 2025EF04.1 mi500 yd00
Jun 7, 2025EF02.13 mi25 yd00
May 30, 2025EF11.47 mi50 yd00
May 30, 2025EF25.51 mi450 yd114
May 16, 2025EF12.57 mi75 yd00
May 16, 2025EF460.08 mi1,700 yd180
May 16, 2025EF210.03 mi225 yd00
May 16, 2025EF39.88 mi500 yd04
May 16, 2025EF25.99 mi200 yd00
May 16, 2025EF10.83 mi210 yd00
May 3, 2025EF01 mi30 yd00
Apr 3, 2025EF08.92 mi100 yd00
Apr 3, 2025EF18.72 mi90 yd00
Apr 3, 2025EF16.97 mi125 yd02
Apr 3, 2025EF24.89 mi400 yd01
Apr 2, 2025EF01.79 mi150 yd00

Every Kentucky county

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. A tornado that crossed a state line counts in each state it touched.