Paducah, KY Tornado History — 121 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Paducah, KY had?
Paducah has had 121 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 10 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Paducah?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Paducah was an EF2 on April 2, 2025.
When is tornado season in Paducah?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Paducah, with 32 on record. April through June account for 72 of the 121 tornadoes on record near Paducah.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Paducah
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 63 total, averaging 3.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Paducah since December 29, 2025
These are 4 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Evidence of an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 105 mph exists at the intersection of KY 408 and US 45 near the community of Viola. A large industrial metal building sys (PAH)
An EF-1 tornado touched down 1 mile northwest of Brookport along Strawberry Road. It snapped several tree trunks along with producing some damage to the front awning of (PAH)
Video documentation shows a brief tornado (waterspout) that touched down along the TN River about 2 miles east of Ledbetter. No damage was documented. Max winds are unk (PAH)
Survey finds an extremely narrow EF0 tornado with peak winds of 85 mph. Metal roof blown off a couple buildings... tree uprooted... doorbell video shows what appears to (PAH)
Within 25 miles of Paducah. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Paducah
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Paducah and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on April 2, 2025. They are already counted in the Paducah totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
vehicle turned over no injuries. (PAH)
*** 4 INJ *** multiple injuries reported... power poles and trees snapped. (PAH)
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 Paducah
64 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Paducah since 1950, across 5 events. 679 injuries have been reported across all events. 2021 was the deadliest year on record near Paducah.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on December 10, 2021, which caused 57 fatalities along a 168.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Paducah
What the record shows near Paducah
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Paducah, with 43 of the 121 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 19 so far. The Paducah record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Paducah, 87 reached EF0 or EF1 and 31 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Paducah is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 3 near Paducah are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Paducah has averaged 3.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 63 in total. 2019 was the busiest of them with 10, and 4 of those years passed with none at all.