Lexington-Fayette, KY Tornado History — 72 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lexington-Fayette, KY had?
Lexington-Fayette has had 72 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Lexington-Fayette?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lexington-Fayette was an EF1 on October 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in Lexington-Fayette?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lexington-Fayette, with 20 on record. April through June account for 40 of the 72 tornadoes on record near Lexington-Fayette.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Lexington-Fayette
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 24 total, averaging 1.2 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Lexington-Fayette 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
NWS Storm Survey and video evidence found EF-0 tornado damage from a brief touchdown in southeast Bourbon County off Oldson Road. (LMK)
A brief EF-0 tornado with peak winds of 85 mph occurred early in the morning on June 18th 2026. The tornado was on the ground for less than 1 mile and on the ground for (LMK)
Within 25 miles of Lexington-Fayette. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Lexington-Fayette
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Lexington-Fayette and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on October 19, 2025 and the most recent on October 19, 2025. It is already counted in the Lexington-Fayette totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
An EF 1 tornado touched down briefly west of Nicholasville. It was 20 yards wide with a max wind speed of 90 mph and a length of 0.65 miles. (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 Lexington-Fayette
12 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Lexington-Fayette since 1950, across 3 events. 284 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record near Lexington-Fayette.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which caused 7 fatalities along a 31.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lexington-Fayette
What the record shows near Lexington-Fayette
The 1970s were the busiest decade near Lexington-Fayette, with 12 of the 72 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 11 so far. The Lexington-Fayette record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Lexington-Fayette, 47 reached EF0 or EF1 and 25 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lexington-Fayette is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Lexington-Fayette has averaged 1.2 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 24 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 4, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.