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Tornado in Barren 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 Barren County, Kentucky, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
April is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 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 4.3 per 100 square miles compares with 3.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 3 at (E)F0, 10 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 3 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Kentucky
| Measure | Barren County | Kentucky | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 21 | 1,497 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.3 | 3.8 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 4.7 | 3.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 246 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
1Mar
3Apr
7May
3Jun
1Jul
0Aug
1Sep
0Oct
0Nov
0Dec
1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jan 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jan 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F2 | $1.4M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 16 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F3 | $10M | — | 2 | 9 | County |
| 24 Jan 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $1.8M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 28 May 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $15K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 20 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 3 | County |
| 31 Mar 1979 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 19 | County |
| 20 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 10 | County |
| 12 Mar 1975 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Barren 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 Barren County?
3 Apr 2025 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Barren County?
The tornado of 16 Apr 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $10M; 2 deaths recorded.
How does Barren County compare with Kentucky for tornado?
4.3 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.