Lawrence, IN Tornado History — 155 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lawrence, IN had?
Lawrence has had 155 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 18 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Lawrence?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lawrence was an EF2 on April 2, 2025.
When is tornado season in Lawrence?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lawrence, with 32 on record. April through June account for 78 of the 155 tornadoes on record near Lawrence.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Lawrence
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 39 total, averaging 1.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Lawrence since December 29, 2025
These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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)
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 Lawrence. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Lawrence
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Lawrence and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on April 2, 2025. They are already counted in the Lawrence totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 110 mph and a path length of 11.57 miles tracked in an overall northeasterly direction from where it likely started in a field north (IND)
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 105 mph and a path length of 6.60 miles tracked in an east-northeasterly direction through mainly southeastern portions of the Carmel (IND)
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 100 mph and a path length of 1.53 miles was a secondary tornado that tracked north of the main tornado...from west of CR 1000 East to (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 Lawrence
32 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Lawrence since 1950, across 4 events. 469 injuries have been reported across all events. 1965 was the deadliest year on record near Lawrence.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which caused 28 fatalities along a 45.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lawrence
What the record shows near Lawrence
The 1970s were the busiest decade near Lawrence, with 29 of the 155 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 12 so far. The Lawrence record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Lawrence, 97 reached EF0 or EF1 and 58 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lawrence is rated EF4, of which 5 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Lawrence has averaged 1.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 39 in total. 2016 was the busiest of them with 7, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.