Tornado History
Laurel Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Laurel, Kentucky. The records below identify 18 tornadoes from 1954 through 2025, including a highest listed rating of EF4 (Devastating damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $31.2M, with 23 deaths and 98 injuries recorded across the listed events.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Laurel, Kentucky
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.2 tornadoes per year (0.1/yr in last decade)
April is the peak tornado month with 5 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: EF4 in Laurel, Kentucky with 17 deaths
1974 was the most active year with 2 tornadoes
The 2000s had the most tornado activity (5 events)
Longest tornado: 20 miles in Laurel, Kentucky
Widest tornado: 1,700.0 yards in Laurel, Kentucky
Most tornadoes in one day: 2 on Apr 3, 1974
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Laurel, Kentucky, April is the most active month with 5 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1974 was the most active year with 2 recorded tornadoes.
Property Damage Trends
Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.
Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 2001 with at least $17.1M in NOAA-listed property damage.
Historical Track Sketch
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Laurel, Kentucky.
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Notable Tornado Records
The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.
| Date | Rating | Area | Length | Width | Deaths | Injuries | Min. property damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2025 | EF4 | Laurel, Kentucky | 20 mi | 1700 yd | 17 | 0 | N/A |
| April 3, 1974 | F3 | Laurel, Kentucky | 10.7 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
| June 29, 1973 | F3 | Laurel, Kentucky | 0.5 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K |
| June 2, 2001 | F2 | Laurel, Kentucky | 7 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 10 | $17.1M |
| March 2, 2012 | EF2 | Laurel, Kentucky | 7.15 mi | 310 yd | 6 | 40 | $5.0M |
| April 3, 1974 | F2 | Laurel, Kentucky | 17.5 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 22 | $2.5M |
| May 6, 1984 | F2 | Laurel, Kentucky | 5 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 8 | $2.5M |
| June 1, 1954 | F2 | Laurel, Kentucky | 16.4 mi | 67 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| October 1, 1977 | F2 | Laurel, Kentucky | 2 mi | 400 yd | 0 | 16 | $250K |
| April 8, 1980 | F1 | Laurel, Kentucky | 2.7 mi | 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| June 22, 1990 | F1 | Laurel, Kentucky | 12 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| April 3, 2007 | EF1 | Laurel, Kentucky | 1.8 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $150K |
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Source And Limits
Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.