Winchester, KY Tornado History — 61 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Winchester, KY had?
Winchester has had 61 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Winchester?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Winchester was an EF1 on October 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in Winchester?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Winchester, with 15 on record. April through June account for 29 of the 61 tornadoes on record near Winchester.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Winchester
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 23 total, averaging 1.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Winchester since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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)
Within 25 miles of Winchester. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Winchester
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Winchester 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 Winchester 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 Winchester
9 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Winchester since 1950, across 2 events. 92 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record near Winchester.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which caused 7 fatalities along a 31.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Winchester
What the record shows near Winchester
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Winchester, with 11 of the 61 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Winchester record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Winchester, 47 reached EF0 or EF1 and 14 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Winchester is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Winchester has averaged 1.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 23 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 5, and 7 of those years passed with none at all.