Franklin, IN Tornado History — 127 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Franklin, IN had?
Franklin has had 127 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 15 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Franklin?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Franklin was an EF2 on May 16, 2025.
When is tornado season in Franklin?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Franklin, with 28 on record. April through June account for 63 of the 127 tornadoes on record near Franklin.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Franklin
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 31 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Franklin since December 29, 2025
These are 4 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
A brief EF-0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 76 mph uprooted or snapped multiples trees. A few structures also sustained minor siding damage and a truck trailer wa (IND)
A EF0 tornado with estimated peak wind 85 mph... 0.49 miles path length... and path width of 85 yards. The tornado began east of US 31 and continued northeast through a (IND)
An EF-1 tornado with path length of 4.26 miles and a path width of 50 yards began at this location. The tornado had a peak wind of 90 mph with impacts to several farms (IND)
An EF-0 tornado with path length of 0.84 miles and path width of 50 yards began at this location. The peak winds were 85 mph with most damage associated with tree damag (IND)
Within 25 miles of Franklin. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Franklin
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Franklin and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 16, 2025 and the most recent on May 16, 2025. It is already counted in the Franklin totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
CONE SHAPED TORNADO VISIBLE FROM SOUTH SIDE OF COLUMBUS. (IND)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Franklin
5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Franklin since 1950, across 4 events. 335 injuries have been reported across all events. 1954 was the deadliest year on record near Franklin.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on October 11, 1954, which caused 2 fatalities along a 4.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Franklin
What the record shows near Franklin
The 1970s were the busiest decade near Franklin, with 24 of the 127 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 15 so far. The Franklin record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Franklin, 75 reached EF0 or EF1 and 52 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Franklin is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Franklin has averaged 1.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 31 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 4, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.