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Tornado in Ballard County, Kentucky
21 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 21 tornado events in Ballard County, Kentucky, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 12 years.
April is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 13 events against 7 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.4% of the 1,497 tornado events recorded in Kentucky; its 8.5 per 100 square miles compares with 3.8 statewide.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Kentucky
| Measure | Ballard County | Kentucky | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 21 | 1,497 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 8.5 | 3.8 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 27.3 | 3.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 246 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
1Mar
1Apr
6May
4Jun
2Jul
2Aug
0Sep
1Oct
2Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 21 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2019 | Tornado | EF2 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2016 | Tornado | EF1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Feb 2012 | Tornado | EF2 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $700K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 23 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $200K | — | — | 6 | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Tornado | F1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1958 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 3 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Ballard County had?
21 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Ballard County?
18 Jul 2023 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Ballard County?
The tornado of 4 Apr 2011, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $700K.
How does Ballard County compare with Kentucky for tornado?
8.5 events per 100 square miles against 3.8 statewide; the county holds 21 of the state's 1,497 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.