VORTEX
TORNADO HISTORY
← All Cities

Frankfort, KY Tornado History — 83 Tornadoes Since 1950

Kentucky · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Frankfort, KY had?

Frankfort has had 83 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Frankfort?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Frankfort was an EF0 on May 3, 2025.

When is tornado season in Frankfort?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Frankfort, with 21 on record. April through June account for 47 of the 83 tornadoes on record near Frankfort.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
83
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
5
6.0% of total
Peak Month
April
21 on record
Per Year Avg
1.1
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Frankfort

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 27 total, averaging 1.4 per year over this window.

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

What storm spotters reported near Frankfort

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Frankfort and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 3, 2025 and the most recent on May 3, 2025. It is already counted in the Frankfort totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

EF0° May 3, 2025
5 WNW Switzer, Franklin County, KY
A non supercell EF0 tornado with estimated winds of 80 mph and width of 30 yards occurred near Peaks Mill. The tornado was on the ground 1.04 miles and for 4 minutes. (LMK)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 6
1970s 12
1980s 10
1990s 19
2000s 10
2010s 11
2020s 13

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 23
EF1 37
EF2 18
EF3 3
EF4 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 2
Feb 5
Mar 9
Apr 21
May 12
Jun 14
Jul 6
Aug 0
Sep 1
Oct 5
Nov 6
Dec 2

Casualties on Record Near Frankfort

4 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Frankfort since 1950, across 1 event. 236 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record near Frankfort.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which caused 4 fatalities along a 79.4-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Frankfort

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 3, 1974 — 4 fatalities, 79.4 mi path, 10 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F2 on March 10, 1986 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F4 on May 28, 1996 — 850 yards wide.
Longest Path
F4 on April 3, 1974 — 79.4 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on May 3, 2025.

What the record shows near Frankfort

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Frankfort, with 19 of the 83 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 13 so far. The Frankfort record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Frankfort, 60 reached EF0 or EF1 and 23 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Frankfort is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Frankfort has averaged 1.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 27 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 4, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Frankfort, KY had?
Since 1950, 83 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Frankfort. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Frankfort?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Frankfort was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which caused 4 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Frankfort?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Frankfort, with 21 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.
Has Frankfort been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Frankfort, there have been 0 EF5 and 2 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Frankfort?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Frankfort was an EF0 on May 3, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Frankfort?
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

More Cities in Kentucky