Covington, KY Tornado History — 87 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Covington, KY had?
Covington has had 87 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 13 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Covington?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Covington was an EF0 on April 3, 2025.
When is tornado season in Covington?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Covington, with 21 on record. April through June account for 46 of the 87 tornadoes on record near Covington.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Covington
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 29 total, averaging 1.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Covington since December 29, 2025
These are 2 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
The first evidence of tornadic damage was observed at the Pierce Reserve & Trails on Pond Run Road... where numerous large tree limbs were knocked down. The tornado str (ILN)
An EF-1 Tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service starting in Boone County and ending in Kenton County... Kentucky. The tornado occurred in the early mornin (ILN)
Within 25 miles of Covington. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Covington
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Covington and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on April 2, 2025. It is already counted in the Covington totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
NWS damage survey confirmed an EF0 south of Morrow... Ohio. Estimated max winds of 80 mph... with a path length of 8.7 miles. (ILN)
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 Covington
23 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Covington since 1950, across 9 events. 867 injuries have been reported across all events. 2012 was the deadliest year on record near Covington.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on March 2, 2012, which caused 4 fatalities along a 9.8-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Covington
What the record shows near Covington
The 1970s were the busiest decade near Covington, with 18 of the 87 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 14 so far. The Covington record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Covington, 63 reached EF0 or EF1 and 24 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Covington is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Covington has averaged 1.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 29 in total. 2020 was the busiest of them with 5, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.