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Nicholasville, KY Tornado History — 83 Tornadoes Since 1950

Kentucky · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Nicholasville, KY had?

Nicholasville has had 83 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Nicholasville?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Nicholasville was an EF1 on October 19, 2025.

When is tornado season in Nicholasville?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Nicholasville, with 27 on record. April through June account for 47 of the 83 tornadoes on record near Nicholasville.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
83
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
6
7.2% of total
Peak Month
April
27 on record
Per Year Avg
1.1
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Nicholasville

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

2026 0
2025 3
2024 5
2023 4
2022 1
2021 7
2020 0
2019 0
2018 2
2017 0
2016 0
2015 1
2014 0
2013 0
2012 1
2011 0
2010 1
2009 1
2008 1
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Nicholasville

2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Nicholasville and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 29, 2025 and the most recent on October 19, 2025. They are already counted in the Nicholasville totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.

EF1° October 19, 2025
2 W Nicholasville, Jessamine County, KY
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)
May 30, 2025
1 N Burgin, Mercer County, KY
Corrects previous tornado report from 1 N Burgin for time. NWS Storm Survey found an EF1 tornado with max winds of 100 mph occurred east of Harrodsburg KY near Burgin. (LMK)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 4
1960s 7
1970s 13
1980s 10
1990s 16
2000s 8
2010s 5
2020s 20

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 14
EF1 44
EF2 19
EF3 5
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 5
Feb 2
Mar 5
Apr 27
May 15
Jun 5
Jul 7
Aug 2
Sep 0
Oct 3
Nov 5
Dec 7

Casualties on Record Near Nicholasville

11 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Nicholasville since 1950, across 4 events. 266 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record near Nicholasville.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which caused 7 fatalities along a 31.9-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Nicholasville

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 3, 1974 — 7 fatalities, 31.9 mi path, 10 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F2 on May 21, 1990 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF1 on December 11, 2021 — 950 yards wide.
Longest Path
F4 on April 3, 1974 — 31.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on October 19, 2025.

What the record shows near Nicholasville

The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Nicholasville, with 20 of the 83 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Nicholasville record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Nicholasville, 58 reached EF0 or EF1 and 25 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Nicholasville is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Nicholasville has averaged 1.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 27 in total. 2021 was the busiest of them with 7, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Nicholasville, KY had?
Since 1950, 83 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Nicholasville. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Nicholasville?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Nicholasville was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which caused 7 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Nicholasville?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Nicholasville, with 27 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 Nicholasville been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Nicholasville, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado 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 Nicholasville?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Nicholasville was an EF1 on October 19, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Nicholasville?
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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