Elizabethtown, KY Tornado History — 82 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Elizabethtown, KY had?
Elizabethtown has had 82 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Elizabethtown?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Elizabethtown was an EF0 on December 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Elizabethtown?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Elizabethtown, with 21 on record. April through June account for 31 of the 82 tornadoes on record near Elizabethtown.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Elizabethtown
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 46 total, averaging 2.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Elizabethtown since December 29, 2025
These are 5 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 EF1 tornado occurred along Railroad Trestle Road... causing tree damage to the area. The tornado was on the ground for less than 1 minute. (LMK)
Refer to the public information statement about this short lived EF0 tornado that tracked along the Hardin LaRue County border area. (LMK)
A National Weather Service storm survey confirmed an EF0 tornado touched down near Millerstown in far northwestern Hart County during the early morning hours on April 2 (LMK)
Point where long track tornado entered Hardin County a second time. Refer to public information statement issued by the office for more details on this tornado. (LMK)
Point where long track tornado first entered Hardin County. Refer to public information statement issued by the office for more details on this tornado. (LMK)
Within 25 miles of Elizabethtown. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Elizabethtown
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Elizabethtown and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on December 18, 2025. They are already counted in the Elizabethtown totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An NWS damage survey determined that a brief EF-0 tornado touched down about 1.5 miles ENE of Buffalo. Peak winds were 85 mph with a path width of 20 yards and a two mi (LMK)
An NWS storm damage survey determined an EF1 tornado occurred in eastern Nelson County. The maximum estimated wind speed was 105 mph and the maximum width of the tornad (LMK)
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 Elizabethtown
5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Elizabethtown since 1950, across 3 events. 179 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record near Elizabethtown.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which caused 3 fatalities along a 37.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Elizabethtown
What the record shows near Elizabethtown
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Elizabethtown, with 20 of the 82 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 18 so far. The Elizabethtown record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Elizabethtown, 54 reached EF0 or EF1 and 28 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Elizabethtown is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Elizabethtown has averaged 2.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 46 in total. 2022 was the busiest of them with 7, and 3 of those years passed with none at all.