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Tornado in Simpson County, Kentucky
17 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.
Simpson County, Kentucky, has 17 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 15 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 5 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 7 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 1,497 tornado events recorded in Kentucky; its 7.3 per 100 square miles compares with 3.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 8 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 | Simpson County | Kentucky | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 17 | 1,497 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.3 | 3.8 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 8.6 | 3.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 246 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
2Mar
0Apr
2May
5Jun
2Jul
2Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
2Dec
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 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Feb 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $2K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F2 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Nov 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 22 May 1989 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 12 | County |
| 22 Jul 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Simpson County had?
17 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 Simpson County?
15 Feb 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Simpson County?
The tornado of 24 May 1971, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Simpson County compare with Kentucky for tornado?
7.3 events per 100 square miles against 3.8 statewide; the county holds 17 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.