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Bowling Green, KY Tornado History — 82 Tornadoes Since 1950

Kentucky · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Bowling Green, KY had?

Bowling Green has had 82 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Bowling Green?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bowling Green was an EF1 on May 16, 2025.

When is tornado season in Bowling Green?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bowling Green, with 17 on record. April through June account for 40 of the 82 tornadoes on record near Bowling Green.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
82
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
8
9.8% of total
Peak Month
April
17 on record
Per Year Avg
1.1
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Bowling Green

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 35 total, averaging 1.8 per year over this window.

2026 0+4 prelim
2025 2
2024 1
2023 2
2022 1
2021 4
2020 1
2019 2
2018 5
2017 1
2016 0
2015 1
2014 0
2013 5
2012 3
2011 2
2010 2
2009 2
2008 1
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Bowling Green 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary EF1° July 10, 2026
6 S Welchs Creek, Butler County, KY
EF1 tornado on the ground approximated 2.1 miles with a maximum width of 40 yards. Caused carport and tree damage as well as heavy damage to a couple of barns along the (LMK)
Preliminary EF0° May 23, 2026
1 SSW Morgantown, Butler County, KY
NWS Storm Survey confirmed EF0 85 mph peak wind tornado occurred with a width of 30 yards and length of 0.32 miles. (LMK)
Preliminary March 16, 2026
2 SW Riverside, Warren County, KY
The National Weather Service conducted a storm survey on Wednesday... March 18th for the storms that occurred on Sunday night... March 15th. A tornado was determined to (LMK)
Preliminary EF0° March 15, 2026
4 W Sugar Grove, Butler County, KY
NWS STORM DAMAGE SURVEY DETERMINED THAT AN EF0 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 1 NE OF TURNERTOWN IN BUTLER COUNTY... KY AT APPROXIMATELY 10:59 PM ON SUNDAY MARCH 15... 2026. THE (LMK)

Within 25 miles of Bowling Green. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

What storm spotters reported near Bowling Green

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Bowling Green 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 Bowling Green totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

EF1° May 17, 2025
2 NNW Russellville, Logan County, KY
NWS storm survey team determined an EF1 tornado with 100 mph winds impacted Logan County on May 16... 2025. The tornado was on the ground for 2.62 miles... reaching a m (LMK)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 5
1960s 3
1970s 10
1980s 7
1990s 15
2000s 10
2010s 21
2020s 11

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.

EF0 15
EF1 40
EF2 19
EF3 8

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 8
Feb 5
Mar 8
Apr 17
May 16
Jun 7
Jul 4
Aug 1
Sep 0
Oct 1
Nov 8
Dec 7

Casualties on Record Near Bowling Green

28 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Bowling Green since 1950, across 7 events. 240 injuries have been reported across all events. 2021 was the deadliest year on record near Bowling Green.

The deadliest single event was an EF3 on December 11, 2021, which caused 16 fatalities along a 29.3-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Bowling Green

Deadliest Tornado
EF3 on December 11, 2021 — 16 fatalities, 29.3 mi path, 440 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF3 on December 9, 2023 — $20.8M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF3 on December 11, 2021 — 1,400 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on April 16, 1998 — 48.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on May 16, 2025.

What the record shows near Bowling Green

The 2010s were the busiest decade near Bowling Green, with 21 of the 82 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 11 so far. The Bowling Green record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Bowling Green, 55 reached EF0 or EF1 and 27 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Bowling Green is rated EF3, of which 8 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Bowling Green has averaged 1.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 35 in total. 2013 was the busiest of them with 5, and 4 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Bowling Green, KY had?
Since 1950, 82 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Bowling Green. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Bowling Green?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Bowling Green was an EF3 on December 11, 2021, which caused 16 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Bowling Green?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bowling Green, with 17 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Bowling Green?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bowling Green was an EF1 on May 16, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Bowling Green?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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