Richmond, KY Tornado History — 71 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Richmond, KY had?
Richmond has had 71 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Richmond?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Richmond was an EF1 on October 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in Richmond?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Richmond, with 22 on record. April through June account for 38 of the 71 tornadoes on record near Richmond.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Richmond
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 27 total, averaging 1.4 per year over this window.
What storm spotters reported near Richmond
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond
10 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Richmond since 1950, across 3 events. 219 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record near Richmond.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which caused 7 fatalities along a 31.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Richmond
What the record shows near Richmond
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Richmond, with 17 of the 71 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Richmond record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Richmond, 54 reached EF0 or EF1 and 17 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Richmond is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Richmond has averaged 1.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 27 in total. 2021 was the busiest of them with 6, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.