Nelson County tornado history

12 tornadoes touched Nelson County, Kentucky between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.2 a year. The strongest was rated F4 (Apr 3, 1974). Tornadoes here killed 3 and injured 85 people.

12tornadoes since 1950

F4strongest rating

3killed · 85 injured

37.9 milongest path · 1974

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

By rating

(E)F01

(E)F18

(E)F22

(E)F30

(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
Apr 3, 1974	F4	37.9 mi	10 yd	81	3
Feb 5, 2008	EF2	1.3 mi	300 yd	0	0
Feb 5, 2008	EF2	0.8 mi	300 yd	2	0
Apr 2, 2024	EF1	5 mi	125 yd	0	0
Apr 8, 2020	EF1	4 mi	45 yd	0	0
Apr 2, 2025	EF1	2.9 mi	175 yd	0	0
Apr 14, 1972	F1	2 mi	100 yd	0	0
Mar 12, 1986	F1	0.5 mi	1,500 yd	2	0
Aug 25, 1972	F1	0.3 mi	10 yd	0	0
May 8, 1969	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Mar 10, 1986	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Mar 28, 1997	F0	0.5 mi	50 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Apr 2, 2025	EF1	2.9 mi	175 yd	0	0
Apr 2, 2024	EF1	5 mi	125 yd	0	0
Apr 8, 2020	EF1	4 mi	45 yd	0	0
Feb 5, 2008	EF2	1.3 mi	300 yd	0	0
Feb 5, 2008	EF2	0.8 mi	300 yd	2	0
Mar 28, 1997	F0	0.5 mi	50 yd	0	0
Mar 12, 1986	F1	0.5 mi	1,500 yd	2	0
Mar 10, 1986	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Apr 3, 1974	F4	37.9 mi	10 yd	81	3
Aug 25, 1972	F1	0.3 mi	10 yd	0	0
Apr 14, 1972	F1	2 mi	100 yd	0	0
May 8, 1969	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0

Deadliest: Apr 3, 1974, F4, 3 killed.

Nearby counties

Washington County, KY10 Bullitt County, KY12 Spencer County, KY11 Marion County, KY12 Larue County, KY14 Hardin County, KY30 Jefferson County, KY33 Anderson County, KY10

Questions

How many tornadoes has Nelson County, Kentucky had?

12 tornadoes touched Nelson County, Kentucky between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.2 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Nelson County?

The strongest rating recorded was F4 on Apr 3, 1974, with a 37.9-mile path and 3 deaths.

When is tornado season in Nelson County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in April (5 of 12). 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 (2004 onward).