2023 Tornadoes

The map on the right shows all of the tornado events that occurred in the NWS Paducah, KY County Warning Area for the entire year of 2023. Our area includes 58 counties across portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. Scroll down to view all of the tornado events or click on the dates above to jump to a particular tornado event.

Total number of tornadoes: 23 EF-0: 6 EF-1: 13 EF-2: 4 Tornadoes by State: Kentucky: 15 Indiana: 4 Missouri: 3 Illinois: 2 (One tornado crossed over into Illinois from Kentucky) Tornadoes by Date: January 3rd: 1 January 12th: 1 March 3rd: 8 April 5th: 5 July 1st: 1 July 18th: 2 July 24th: 1 August 5th: 1 August 12th: 2 December 9th: 1   KML Link  for all listed tornadoes NOTE: The tornado information provided is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data. Do you have additional information about a tornado? If so, please send us an email at: w-pah.webmaster@noaa.gov. Click  here , to view previous year's tornado summaries back to 2016.

The EF (Enhanced Fujita) Scale is used to assign a tornado a rating based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. Weak: EF0 65-85 mph | EF1 86-110 mph Strong: EF2 111-135 mph | EF3 136-165 mph Violent:  EF4 166-200 mph | EF5 >200 mph

 Event summary webpage   Storm Prediction Center Event Overview 

Christian County Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-0
• Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mph
• Path Length: 1.2 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 50 yards
• Start Time: 4:35 am CST
• End Time: 4:36 am CST
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: A brief EF-0 tornado struck the southwest side of Hopkinsville during the predawn hours. Most of the damage was in the form of several large snapped tree limbs. A cinder block garage lost its roof, and an adjacent portion of a house sustained roof damage. A large carport was lifted and tossed into a wooded area.

 Event summary webpage   Storm Prediction Center Event Overview 

Ballard and McCracken County, KY to Massac County, IL Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph
• Path Length: 6.7 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 200 yards
• Start Time: 2:03 am CST
• Start Lat/Lon: 37.18 / -88.99
• End Time: 2:10 am CST
• End Lat/Lon: 37.22 / -88.91
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: Tornado began several miles northwest of Kevil, KY. A few homes were damaged, including roof and siding damage. Many trees were snapped and/or uprooted. Multiple metal roof panels were blown off two large barns. The top half of a clay tile silo was destroyed. The tornado ended in western Massac County near Hillerman.

 Event summary webpage   Storm Prediction Center Event Overview 

McCracken County, Kentucky Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-2
• Estimated Peak Wind: 125 mph
• Path Length: 1.5 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 175 yards
• Start Time: 11:08 am CST
• End Time: 11:10 am CST
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: An EF-2 tornado began at 11:08 AM CST just west of the intersection of Old Mayfield Road and McNeil Road. Traveling NNE, the tornado paralleled Old Mayfield Road, doing significant roof, siding, and fascia damage to roughly two dozen homes and businesses. A few homes had most of their roofing structures completely removed. Several outbuildings were completely destroyed. Numerous wooden power poles were snapped or tilted by tornadic winds. After crossing Hardmoney Road, the tornado did damage to homes, trees, and outbuildings along Michael Drive West before dissipating around 11:10 AM CST. Dozens of trees were uprooted or snapped, and dozens more suffered major tree limb damage. Additionally, strong straight-line inflow winds of 80 to 90 mph caused tree damage and minor structural damage along Michael Drive East.

Union County, Kentucky Tornado #1

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph
• Path Length: 7.1 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 100 yards
• Start Time: 12:00 pm CST
• End Time: 12:06 pm CST
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: An EF-1 tornado began just southeast of the Sturgis Municipal Airport in Union County, KY. Traveling NNE, the tornado partially demolished three separate large barns along its path. The tornado also snapped or uprooted several trees and downed dozens of large tree limbs. The tornado roughly paralleled Poplar Ridge Road initially. After crossing Kentucky Highway 270, the tornado then passed along Kentucky Highway 1177 before disappearing near the intersection of Kentucky Highways 1177 and 758, just northwest of the community of Pride, KY.

Union County, Kentucky Tornado #2

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph
• Path Length: 1.3 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 100 yards
• Start Time: 12:02 pm CST
• End Time: 12:03 pm CST
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: An EF-1 tornado struck far western Union County. Moving NNE, the tornado began near the intersection of IV Runyon Road and Geiger Lake Road. The tornado damaged several trees in this area as well as producing minor roof and fascia damage to a couple of homes. When the tornado reached the intersection of Kentucky Highways 56 and 109, it removed a portion of the roof from a large outbuilding and parts of roofing and fascia from a small convenience store. Just north of the Highway 56, the tornado snapped approximately five large hardwood trees and downed several large tree limbs before dissipating.

Union County, Kentucky Tornado #3

• EF-Scale: EF-0
• Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph
• Path Length: 4.2 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 25 yards
• Start Time: 12:04 pm CST
• End Time: 12:08 pm CST
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: A weak EF-0 tornado traversed the Ohio River bottomlands in far western Union County, KY. The damage was limited to downed large tree limbs scattered along a path from Goose Pond Road, extending north along Kentucky Highway 871, ending just to the northeast of the community of Raleigh, KY.

Henderson County, Kentucky Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph
• Path Length: 2.2 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 125 yards
• Start Time: 12:17 pm CST
• End Time: 12:19 pm CST
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: An EF-1 tornado passed just to the west of the Smith Mills, KY, community in Henderson County. The tornado developed along JJ Utley Road. Traveling NNE along Greenlick Baptist Church Road, the tornado destroyed a farm outbuilding. The tornado crossed Kentucky Highway 359 just south of Smith Mills where several trees suffered extensive large limb damage. Continuing NNE, the tornado passed through a cemetery along Grandpa Jones Road where several large trees were snapped. The tornado diminished as it reached Kentucky Highway 136 just west of Smith Mills.

Vanderburgh County, IN Tornado #1

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph
• Path Length: 2.4 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 100 yards
• Start Time: 12:38 pm CST
• End Time: 12:40 pm CST
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: An EF-1 tornado began northwest of Kasson, IN, in western Vanderburgh County. Moving NNE, the tornado did tree and minor roof damage along Happe Road and Henze Road. The tornado widened as it crossed Plainview Drive, Goebel Lane, and St. Paul’s Drive, just south of the community of St. Joseph, where it continued to produce tree damage and minor structural damage to roofs and fascia of homes. In St. Joseph, the tornado did its most significant damage when it removed the roof of St. Joseph Catholic Church. A gathering of people inside the church for a funeral received warning of the tornado and safely sheltered in the church’s basement as the tornado passed. In addition to the damage to the church, several homes received minor roof and fascia damage, and dozens of trees suffered major limb damage or were uprooted or snapped at the base.

Vanderburgh County, Indiana Tornado #2

• EF-Scale: EF-0
• Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph
• Path Length: 1.9 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 50 yards
• Start Time: 12:45 pm CST
• End Time: 12:47 pm CST
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: An EF-0 tornado began just north of the community of Darmstadt, IN, in northern Vanderburgh County. Moving NNE, the tornado produced several downed large tree limbs and minor roof and fascia damage to a few homes along Darmstadt Road and Old Princeton Road.

Spencer County, Indiana Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph
• Path Length: 5.6 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 100 yards
• Start Time: 1:07 pm CST
• End Time: 1:12 pm CST
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: An EF-1 tornado began just northeast of the community of Dale, IN, in northern Spencer County. Near the intersection of Spencer County Roads 2100 North and 500 East, a large barn had about half of its roof removed. A nearby house had its west facing windows blown in, suffered shingle and fascia damage, and an adjacent TV antenna was bent at its base parallel to the ground. Crossing Interstate 64, the tornado overturned a semitrailer about one mile east of the interchange with US 231. Along the Spencer-Dubois County line, several large trees were snapped at the base or uprooted. Additionally, a couple of homes received minor roof and fascia damage. In Dubois County, the tornado passed just northeast of the community of Johnsburg, downing several large tree limbs and damaging a metal farm building before dissipating.

 Event summary webpage   Storm Prediction Center Event Overview 

Bollinger County, Missouri Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-2
• Estimated Peak Wind: 130 mph
• Path Length: 22.3 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 150 yards
• Start Time: 3:30 am CDT
• End Time: 3:57 am CDT
• Fatalities: 5
• Injuries: 4
• Survey Summary: Tracked from 2 miles southwest of Grassy to 3 miles west of Millersville. Several manufactured homes totally destroyed. Numerous homes suffered major structural damage, including roof damage, broken windows, and collapse of walls. The most severe damage occurred in Glenallen, where several fatalities and injuries occurred. Severe tree damage occurred in the vicinity of Glenallen, where hundreds of trees were snapped at the base. Dozens of farm outbuildings sustained major damage along the path of the tornado.

Wayne & Carter Counties, Missouri Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph
• Path Length: 6.5 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 300 yards
• Start Time: 2:48 am CDT
• End Time: 2:56 am CDT
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: An EF-1 tornado touched down in extreme northeast Carter County before moving into southwest Wayne County in the early morning hours of April 5th. Several hundred trees were snapped or uprooted along Highway A and Highway 49. One garage suffered minor roof damaged by a falling tree. The tornado caused shingle damage to a house located along Highway A. 

Ballard County, Kentucky Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph
• Path Length: 0.5 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 25 yards
• Start Time: 1:26 pm CDT
• End Time: 1:27 pm CDT
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: A short-lived EF-1 tornado occurred along Highway 286 in Ballard County during the afternoon of April 5. The most severe damage was to a residence located along Highway 286 about ten miles east of Wickliffe, which suffered significant shingle, gutter, and fascia damage as well as damage to an air conditioning unit and an attached porch. Several large tree limbs were also downed by the tornado in the vicinity of the residence.

Calloway County, Kentucky Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-0
• Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mph
• Path Length: 5.3 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 50 yards
• Start Time: 2:02 pm CDT
• End Time: 2:07 pm CDT
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: Several homes with shingle damage. One garage slid off its foundation. Several trees were snapped or uprooted. Roof damage and windows blown in at a commercial site. The most significant damage occurred along Poor Farm Road.

Spencer County, Indiana Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-0
• Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mph
• Path Length: 3.5 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 25 yards
• Start Time: 2:42 pm CDT
• End Time: 2:46 pm CDT
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: An EF-0 tornado impacted portions of rural Spencer County during the afternoon hours of April 5. The damage occurred southwest of Chrisney. The primary damage caused by the tornado was downing several large tree limbs as well as snapping or uprooting a few trees. The tornado knocked down the walls of a barn near the intersection of County Road 700 North and Old US Highway 231.

 Event summary webpage   Storm Prediction Center Event Overview 

Graves, Marshall, and Lyon Counties, Kentucky Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph
• Path Length: 27.3 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 100 yards
• Start Time: 6:30 pm CDT
• End Time: 7:01 pm CDT
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: The tornado did mainly minor tree damage along a broken 27 mile path from near Hickory, KY, to the north end of The Trace in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, southeast of Grand Rivers, KY. Near Hickory, some structural damage occurred to agricultural buildings. The maximum damage width was 100 yards, but often times less. 

 Storm Prediction Center Event Overview 

Ballard County, Kentucky Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph
• Path Length: 0.6 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 60 yards
• Start Time: 12:43 pm CDT
• End Time: 12:44 pm CDT
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary:

Caldwell County, Kentucky Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph
• Path Length: 0.4 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 125 yards
• Start Time: 2:04 pm CDT
• End Time: 2:05 pm CDT
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary:

 Storm Prediction Center Event Overview 

Scott County, Missouri Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-2
• Estimated Peak Wind: 115 mph
• Path Length: 0.3 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 25 yards
• Start Time: 2:10 pm CDT
• End Time: 2:12 pm CDT
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 2
• Survey Summary: A brief EF-2 tornado struck a homestead near the community of Bertrand in Scott County, MO. The tornado started on County Highway 532 just west of the intersection of Highway O. The tornado shifted and damaged several grain bins and destroyed two barns. A person in a truck nearby had their vehicle partially lifted briefly by the tornado. After crossing Highway O, the tornado severely damaged a house and adjacent auxiliary home, removing the roofs and collapsing some exterior walls of both buildings. Two people suffered minor injuries in the primary residence when they were cut by flying debris. After damaging some trees behind the buildings, the tornado dissipated as it moved into an agricultural field east of the residences.

 Storm Prediction Center Event Overview 

Jackson County, Illinois Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-0
• Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mph
• Path Length: 0.5 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 25 yards
• Start Time: 5:15 pm CDT
• End Time: 5:16 pm CDT
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in a field about 2.5 miles northeast of Grand Tower. No damage occurred. Eye witnesses observed the tornado briefly touching down in a farm field east of Hwy 3. Path length was estimated to be 1/4 mile with peak width of 25 yards.

 Event summary webpage   Storm Prediction Center Event Overview 

Fulton County, Kentucky Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph
• Path Length: 1.25 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 350 yards
• Start Time: 8:56 am CDT
• End Time: 8:58 am CDT
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: EF-1 tornado began in the Terrace Drive and Sunset Street area of Hickman with damage to trees and power lines. This tornado tracked to the ESE with more tree damage on Bayou Street and Johnson Lane. A large tree fell onto a home on Myron Cory Drive. The tornado crossed KY-125 and proceeded to 7th Street where the most significant cluster of damage occurred with several trees uprooted, portions of a few trees snapped, and power line damage. One of the trees fell onto a car. The storm was at its peak width around KY-125 and 7th Street. Additional damage to trees occurred on Nelson Street and Harrison Street. The damage path ends at this point with the tornado lifting after moving into open areas east of Nelson Street.

Hickman County, Kentucky Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-1
• Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph
• Path Length: 2.5 miles
• Maximum Path Width: 275 yards
• Start Time: 9:13 am CDT
• End Time: 9:16 am CDT
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 0
• Survey Summary: EF-1 tornado began with a cluster of damage along KY-307 just south of Johnson Rd, including on Bizzle Road and Laine Road. Around two dozen trees were blown down and a grain bin was destroyed on Laine Road. This was the strongest and widest portion of the tornado track. The tornado proceeded northeastward, with damage to a portion of a tree line south of Johnson Road. Large branches and smaller limbs were found on Rushton Road and KY-1529. A large section of a tree fell onto a home on Wilson Road. The tornado appears to have lifted shortly after crossing Wilson Road.

 Event summary webpage   Storm Prediction Center Event Overview 

Todd County, Kentucky Tornado

• EF-Scale: EF-3 (EF-2 in Todd County)
• Estimated Peak Wind: 150 mph (125 mph in Todd County)
• Path Length: 47.75 miles (13.7 miles in Todd County)
• Maximum Path Width: 500 yards (440 yards in Todd County)
• Start Time: 1:41 pm CST
• End Time: 2:49 pm CST
• Fatalities: 4
• Injuries: 62
• Survey Summary: Within Todd County there were hundreds of trees snapped or uprooted. At least a dozen outbuildings destroyed, including barns, sheds and garages. Many homes suffered minor damages to roofs, siding, and gutters. Several homes had parts of roofs removed. Several broken power poles. The tornado started outside of our area in Tennessee. EF-3 damage was observed in the Clarksville, TN area.