Russell County tornado history

9 tornadoes touched Russell County, Kentucky between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.1 a year. The strongest was rated EF4 (May 16, 2025). Tornadoes here killed 20 and injured 74 people.

9tornadoes since 1950
EF4strongest rating
20killed · 74 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)F01
(E)F13
(E)F22
(E)F31
(E)F42
(E)F50

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: April.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

DateRatingPathWidthInjuredKilled
May 16, 2025EF460.1 mi1,700 yd018
Apr 27, 1971F413 mi100 yd722
Apr 3, 1974F328.8 mi10 yd00
Feb 29, 2012EF27.2 mi150 yd00
Mar 29, 1974F21 mi100 yd10
May 6, 1984F13 mi20 yd00
Jun 25, 2023EF10.7 mi300 yd00
Apr 2, 1983F10.2 mi17 yd10
Mar 28, 1997F010 mi50 yd00

Most recent tornadoes

DateRatingPathWidthInjuredKilled
May 16, 2025EF460.1 mi1,700 yd018
Jun 25, 2023EF10.7 mi300 yd00
Feb 29, 2012EF27.2 mi150 yd00
Mar 28, 1997F010 mi50 yd00
May 6, 1984F13 mi20 yd00
Apr 2, 1983F10.2 mi17 yd10
Apr 3, 1974F328.8 mi10 yd00
Mar 29, 1974F21 mi100 yd10
Apr 27, 1971F413 mi100 yd722

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

Nearby counties

Adair County, KY13Wayne County, KY9Clinton County, KY17Cumberland County, KY12Casey County, KY7Pulaski County, KY27Pickett County, TN7Taylor County, KY13

Questions

How many tornadoes has Russell County, Kentucky had?

9 tornadoes touched Russell County, Kentucky between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.1 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Russell 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 Russell County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in April (3 of 9). 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).