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Tornado in Jefferson County, Kentucky
34 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 34 tornado events in Jefferson County, Kentucky, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 20 years.
April is the busiest month, with 9 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 22 events against 6 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.3% of the 1,497 tornado events recorded in Kentucky; its 8.9 per 100 square miles compares with 3.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 7 at (E)F0, 20 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Kentucky
| Measure | Jefferson County | Kentucky | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 34 | 1,497 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 8.9 | 3.8 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.4 | 3.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 246 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
5Feb
1Mar
5Apr
9May
4Jun
6Jul
2Aug
0Sep
0Oct
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 34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 4 Jul 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | 22 | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 17 Jan 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $175K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $3.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jan 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2005 | Tornado | F0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 2002 | Tornado | F1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1996 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1977 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F4 | — | — | 3 | 225 | County |
| 1 Apr 1970 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Mar 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Mar 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Jefferson County had?
34 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 Jefferson County?
2 Apr 2025 (Tornado, EF3). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Jefferson County?
The tornado of 29 Jan 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $3.0M.
How does Jefferson County compare with Kentucky for tornado?
8.9 events per 100 square miles against 3.8 statewide; the county holds 34 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.