Cincinnati, OH Tornado History — 86 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Cincinnati, OH had?
Cincinnati has had 86 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Cincinnati?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cincinnati was an EF0 on April 2, 2025.
When is tornado season in Cincinnati?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cincinnati, with 22 on record. April through June account for 46 of the 86 tornadoes on record near Cincinnati.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Cincinnati
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 31 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Cincinnati since December 29, 2025
These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
The first evidence of tornadic damage was observed at the Pierce Reserve & Trails on Pond Run Road... where numerous large tree limbs were knocked down. The tornado str (ILN)
An EF-2 tornado was confirmed in Franklin County... Indiana... crossing over into Butler County... Ohio. The maximum estimated winds for this tornado were around 125 MP (ILN)
An EF-1 Tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service starting in Boone County and ending in Kenton County... Kentucky. The tornado occurred in the early mornin (ILN)
Within 25 miles of Cincinnati. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Cincinnati
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Cincinnati and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on April 2, 2025. It is already counted in the Cincinnati totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
NWS damage survey confirmed an EF0 south of Morrow... Ohio. Estimated max winds of 80 mph... with a path length of 8.7 miles. (ILN)
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 Cincinnati
22 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Cincinnati since 1950, across 8 events. 872 injuries have been reported across all events. 2012 was the deadliest year on record near Cincinnati.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on March 2, 2012, which caused 4 fatalities along a 9.8-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Cincinnati
What the record shows near Cincinnati
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Cincinnati, with 19 of the 86 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Cincinnati record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Cincinnati, 63 reached EF0 or EF1 and 23 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Cincinnati is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Cincinnati has averaged 1.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 31 in total. 2020 was the busiest of them with 6, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.