Laurel County tornado history

20 tornadoes touched Laurel County, Kentucky between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.3 a year. The strongest was rated EF4 (May 16, 2025). Tornadoes here killed 31 and injured 138 people.

20tornadoes since 1950

EF4strongest rating

31killed · 138 injured

60.1 milongest path · 2025

(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5· dots = start point only

By rating

(E)F03

(E)F17

(E)F27

(E)F32

(E)F41

(E)F50

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: April.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
May 16, 2025	EF4	60.1 mi	1,700 yd	0	18
Apr 3, 1974	F3	22.3 mi	10 yd	40	7
Jun 29, 1973	F3	0.5 mi	100 yd	2	0
Mar 2, 2012	EF2	7.2 mi	310 yd	40	6
Apr 3, 1974	F2	19.8 mi	10 yd	22	0
Jun 1, 1954	F2	16.4 mi	67 yd	0	0
Jun 2, 2001	F2	7 mi	100 yd	10	0
May 6, 1984	F2	5 mi	50 yd	8	0
May 18, 1995	F2	3 mi	300 yd	0	0
Oct 1, 1977	F2	2 mi	400 yd	16	0
Jul 4, 2001	F1	24 mi	75 yd	0	0
Jun 22, 1990	F1	12 mi	50 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
May 16, 2025	EF4	60.1 mi	1,700 yd	0	18
Mar 2, 2012	EF2	7.2 mi	310 yd	40	6
Nov 14, 2007	EF1	2 mi	200 yd	0	0
Apr 3, 2007	EF1	1.8 mi	50 yd	0	0
May 17, 2002	F0	0.6 mi	50 yd	0	0
Jul 4, 2001	F1	24 mi	75 yd	0	0
Jun 2, 2001	F2	7 mi	100 yd	10	0
Mar 28, 1997	F0	0.1 mi	20 yd	0	0
May 18, 1995	F2	3 mi	300 yd	0	0
Jun 4, 1993	F1	1 mi	30 yd	0	0
Jun 22, 1990	F1	12 mi	50 yd	0	0
May 6, 1984	F2	5 mi	50 yd	8	0

Deadliest: May 16, 2025, EF4, 18 killed.

Nearby counties

Rockcastle County, KY9 Jackson County, KY3 Knox County, KY3 Clay County, KY6 Whitley County, KY5 Pulaski County, KY27 Owsley County, KY3 McCreary County, KY10

Questions

How many tornadoes has Laurel County, Kentucky had?

20 tornadoes touched Laurel County, Kentucky between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.3 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Laurel County?

The strongest rating recorded was EF4 on May 16, 2025, with a 60.1-mile path and 18 deaths.

When is tornado season in Laurel County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in April (5 of 20). Tornadoes can occur in any month, so keep alerts on year-round.

Right now: live tornado warnings map · alerts for your location. Dates link to that day’s full storm reports where available.