Louisville, Kentucky tornadoes

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29confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Louisville since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: April 2, 2025, EF3.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Louisville

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The record

At a glance

Total29within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.4average since 1950
Peak monthApril9 of 29
StrongestF4Apr 3, 1974
Deaths3whole paths, see note
Injuries238whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Louisville.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

90 Jan: 3Feb: 0Mar: 3Apr: 9May: 5Jun: 5Jul: 2Aug: 0Sep: 0Oct: 2Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April is the peak month, with 9 of 29 tornadoes.

By time of day

80 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 1: 0: 09 AM: 1: 2: 112 PM: 0: 2: 13 PM: 4: 2: 16 PM: 2: 8: 19 PM: 1: 2: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 7:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

40 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 1: 0: 0: 1: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 11990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 1: 0: 2: 1: 02010: 0: 4: 3: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 1: 4: 1: 219501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
5
EF1
18
EF2
3
EF3
1
EF4
2

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.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

F4, April 3, 1974

3 deaths, 225 injuries Strongest

F4, April 3, 1974

18.5 mile path Longest path

38.4 miles, F2

March 25, 1964, whole path Widest

850 yards, F4

May 28, 1996
Every tornado

All 29 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Apr 2, 2025EF39.68 mi350 yd00
Mar 30, 2025EF15.43 mi30 yd01
Jul 4, 2024EF10.51 mi170 yd00
May 7, 2023EF14.45 mi200 yd00
Apr 5, 2023EF10.39 mi75 yd00
Apr 5, 2023EF10.89 mi100 yd00
Apr 5, 2023EF10.82 mi100 yd00
Apr 13, 2022EF17.2 mi175 yd00
Mar 23, 2012EF12.44 mi70 yd00
Jan 17, 2012EF10.5 mi90 yd00
Jan 17, 2012EF17.92 mi250 yd01
Jun 22, 2011EF13.5 mi60 yd00
Jun 22, 2011EF21.6 mi100 yd00
Jun 22, 2011EF11.9 mi150 yd00
Jun 22, 2011EF21.2 mi120 yd00
Jan 29, 2008EF116.38 mi100 yd00
Oct 18, 2007EF11.64 mi200 yd00
Oct 18, 2007EF00.04 mi10 yd00
Apr 22, 2005F00.3 mi50 yd00
May 30, 2004F00.3 mi30 yd00
May 30, 2004F12 mi10 yd00
Jul 27, 1997F00.5 mi73 yd00
May 28, 1996F430 mi850 yd010
Apr 3, 1989F00.2 mi40 yd00
May 29, 1974F10.1 mi10 yd00
Nearby

Louisville and its county

Louisville is in Jefferson County, where NOAA has recorded 33 tornadoes since 1950. A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.