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Tornado in Webster County, Kentucky
22 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 22 tornado events in Webster County, Kentucky, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
April is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 9 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.5% of the 1,497 tornado events recorded in Kentucky; its 6.6 per 100 square miles compares with 3.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 6 at (E)F0, 6 at (E)F1, 7 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 | Webster County | Kentucky | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 22 | 1,497 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.6 | 3.8 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 17.2 | 3.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 246 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
1Mar
4Apr
6May
5Jun
1Jul
1Aug
0Sep
1Oct
1Nov
1Dec
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 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Feb 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $500K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2007 | Tornado | EF2 | $2.5M | — | — | 5 | County |
| 22 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F2 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | $1.0M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2002 | Tornado | F3 | $15M | — | — | 26 | County |
| 3 Jan 2000 | Tornado | F3 | $2.4M | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1989 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 11 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 3 Apr 1956 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | 1 | 2 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Webster County had?
22 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 Webster County?
14 Mar 2019 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Webster County?
The tornado of 28 Apr 2002, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $15M.
How does Webster County compare with Kentucky for tornado?
6.6 events per 100 square miles against 3.8 statewide; the county holds 22 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.