Tornadoes · United States · Kentucky · 2025

EF1 tornado, Rutland to Antioch Mills, Kentucky, April 2, 2025

From Rutland to Antioch Mills, this EF1 tornado ran 10.8 miles across Harrison County on April 2, 2025, touching down at 1:26 AM EDT and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. EF065 to 85 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. EF2111 to 135 mph

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. EF3136 to 165 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. EF5over 200 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
EF1
Date
April 2, 2025
Touchdown
1:26 AM EDT (05:26 UTC)
Lifted
1:35 AM EDT (05:35 UTC)
On the ground
9 minutes
Path length
10.8 miles (17.4 km)
Path width
50 yards (46 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Harrison County
Touchdown point
38.487, -84.466
Lift-off point
38.562, -84.292
Record number
2504022326-01

The damage survey

16 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS LMK, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 95 mph.

  • roofing debris scattered downwind

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

What the Weather Service recorded

On the night of April 2nd, 2025, a cold front approached the lower Ohio Valley. Along and ahead of the cold front, numerous supercells developed over southern Illinois and western Kentucky. These storms tracked eastward and occasionally grew upscale into a QLCS with bowing segments. Storms lasted all night and into the morning hours, as the cold front began to stall over the lower Ohio Valley. These storms left behind a wake of damage in many counties in central Kentucky. Over the next few days, waves of showers and storms rode along the cold front bringing lots of rain which lead to widespread flash and areal flooding. Showers and storms came through daily, until the evening of April 6th. Later, this flooding turned into historic and near-record breaking river flooding along many river basins.||Overall, 6 tornadoes touched down from late evening into the overnight on April 2nd and 3rd, including one EF-3, one EF-2's, and four EF-1's. Many additional pockets of wind damage occurred, as well as widespread areal and flash flooding through late week into the weekend. Some river crests were historic, including a new record crest at Camp Nelson on the Kentucky River and the #2 all time crest at Frankfort. The crest at McAlpine Upper on the Ohio River was #8 all time.

A storm damage team surveyed tornado damage in Harrison County, Kentucky near Berry and Antioch from the storms on April 3rd, 2025. Damage was first observed to a farm along Kentucky Highway 36 West near Casey Mill Road where a barn had some damage to the doors, roof and siding. The tornado continued along Casey Mill Road where a travel trailer was rolled upside down, but remained intact, and a residence had roof damage to one side of the home. Evidence of a tornadic circulation was noted here with boards impaled into the back side of the home from where the roof was torn off. The only possible explanation for this would be rotation, or if the boards came from a structure upstream. ||The storm continued near Berry where several trees were uprooted. The storm continued across Eureka and Petty Roads where a camper was flipped and a barn was leaning to one side after the wind occurred. Just to the west of US Highway 27, and south of Antioch, a barn was leveled from the tornado. The maximum wind along the |path of this tornado was between 95 and 100 mph.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

24 minutes of warning. NWS LMK issued a tornado warning for this county at 05:02 UTC, 24 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 05:30 UTC.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 04:39 UTC and running to 08:00 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
12:00 UTC05:00 UTCWind AdvisoryLMK
00:00 UTC12:00 UTCFlood WatchLMK
04:39 UTC08:00 UTCTornado WatchLMK
05:02 UTC05:30 UTCTornado WarningLMK
05:18 UTC05:45 UTCTornado WarningLMK
05:21 UTC06:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMK
05:59 UTC06:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMK

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Enhanced Risk, with a 0.10 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 00:55 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), 00:00Z

5.4 hours before the tornado, 112 km from the path. April 3, 2025.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 00:00Z on 2025-04-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 539 joules per kilogram, CIN -13, lifted condensation level 1448 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 00:00Z on 2025-04-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 199 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 44 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
539 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-13 J/kg
Surface CAPE
1153 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1448 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
199 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
397 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
8.0
0-3 km lapse rate
6.7 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), 12:00Z

6.6 hours after it, 112 km from the path. April 3, 2025.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2025-04-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 5 joules per kilogram, CIN -10, lifted condensation level 709 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2025-04-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 189 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 51 knots.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
5 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-10 J/kg
Surface CAPE
65 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
709 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
189 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
118 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
5.2 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Falmouth (K62), 20 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
03:35 UTC73.459190° 14 kt221008.5-RA
03:55 UTC71.660.8200° 13 kt261008.5-RA
04:15 UTC71.660.8190° 12 kt251008.5-RA
04:35 UTC69.862.6190° 9 kt231008.1-RA
04:55 UTC69.862.6240° 11 kt231009.8-RA
05:15 UTC6862.6290° 8 kt1010.5RA
05:35 UTC62.659280° 16 kt421012.2+RA

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 111 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 05:25 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
04:55 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Ese MelbourneCampbell, KYLarge hardwood tree downed across the road.
05:08 UTCTSTM WND GST 582 W FrankfortFranklin, KYKFFT ASOS reported a peak wind gust of 58 mph at 1:08 AM EDT.
05:08 UTCTSTM WND GST 582 Wsw FrankfortFranklin, KYMeasured 50 kt gust at Frankfort Capital City Airport.
05:22 UTCTSTM WND DMG7 N SadievilleHarrison, KYResident reported that 5 trees were downed on his property off Stringtown Road, just inside the Harrison/Grant county line.
05:27 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Wsw BerryHarrison, KYCorrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3 WSW Berry. Major structural damage to a home on 1500 block of Casey Mill Road. There are tree limbs and wood debris impaled into the ground and the side of the home.
05:27 UTCTORNADO4 Wsw BerryHarrison, KYAn NWS damage survey concluded that an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 100 mph touched down in northern Harrison county KY near Renaker, and then quickly moved northeast before lifting near Antioch. Along its path, the t
05:29 UTCTSTM WND DMGBerryHarrison, KYVery large trees down near the 100 block of Blake Lane.
05:30 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Sse BerryHarrison, KYRoof of a barn torn off and thrown 100 yards near the 3000 block of Robinson Renaker.
05:32 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Nnw KelatHarrison, KYCamper flipped over and barn roof damage on Petty Road.
05:34 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 N KelatHarrison, KYBarn collapsed on the 12700 block of US KY Highway 27.
05:35 UTCTSTM WND GST 484 Nw FalmouthPendleton, KYAWOS station KK62 Falmouth Gene Snyder Apt.
05:35 UTCTSTM WND GST 582 Se BerryHarrison, KYRecorded at the Kentucky Mesonet site.
05:52 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 S DoverMason, KYTrees downed as well as some siding blown onto road along KY 435. Time estimated by radar.
05:52 UTCTORNADO4 Ssw DoverMason, KYNWS damage survey confirmed an EF0 tornado in Mason County Kentucky. Maximum estimated winds of 85 mph with a path length of 1.8 miles.
05:57 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Nw MaysvilleMason, KYTree down. Time estimated from radar data.
06:00 UTCTSTM WND GST 541 N WashingtonMason, KYMesonet station WSHT Maysville 3 SW.
06:00 UTCNON-TSTM WND GST 541 N WashingtonMason, KYMesonet station WSHT Maysville 3 SW.
06:01 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Ese MaysvilleMason, KYTree down. Time estimated from radar data.
06:35 UTCHAIL 0.885 S LexingtonFayette, KYOnline report who also sent in an unspecified wind damage report for this location.
06:36 UTCHAIL 11 N LexingtonFayette, KY
06:37 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Wnw DalesburgFleming, KYFleming County 911 relayed a report of a down tree at the corner of Harn Road and Turner Road. Time estimated from radar.
06:38 UTCHAIL 14 Se LexingtonFayette, KYReport from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
07:09 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 S MyersNicholas, KYMultiple trees down on Dunn Road.
07:10 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Sw MyersNicholas, KYMultiple trees down on Scrubgrass Road.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2025 tornado in KentuckyEvery tornado in Kentucky since 1950Warnings in force in Kentucky nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of April 2, 2025

87 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 25:13 AM CDTEF1Osage, OK3.7250$10,000
April 26:37 AM CDTEF1Tulsa, OK10.7600$575,000
April 27:29 AM CDTEF2Vernon, MO6.5200$500,000
April 27:30 AM CDTEF1Vernon, MO16.6200$1.2 million
April 28:34 AM CDTEF2Cooper, MO6.1200$100,000
April 211:00 AM MSTUnratedMaricopa, AZ0.55
April 23:13 PM CDTEF3Crawford, MO21.9200$685,000
April 23:16 PM CDTEF1Howell, MO1.1350$10,000
April 23:40 PM CDTEF0Logan, IL12.730
April 24:21 PM CDTEF0Madison, TN1.9150$50,000
April 25:00 PM CDTEF1Iroquois, IL2.3400
April 25:05 PM CDTEF2Bond, IL22.82001$385,000
April 25:09 PM CDTEF0Iroquois, IL2.2300
April 25:32 PM CDTEF1Ripley, MO1.1125$185,000
April 25:56 PM CDTEF2Randolph, AR24.6500$250,000
April 25:56 PM CDTEF2Arkansas, AR8.3100
April 25:59 PM CDTEF1Poinsett, AR7.5400$50,000
April 26:08 PM CDTEF1Effingham, IL2.5125
April 26:13 PM CDTEF2Wayne, MO8.3175$630,000
April 26:21 PM CDTEF1Arkansas, AR0.950
April 26:23 PM CDTEF1Effingham, IL8.3100
April 26:26 PM CDTEF3Poinsett, AR24.21,5008$4.0 million
April 26:28 PM CDTEF2Craighead, AR14.4700$750,000
April 26:29 PM CDTEF0Cumberland, IL4.0150
April 26:32 PM CDTEF2Stoddard, MO14.7600$20 million
April 26:33 PM CDTEF2Cumberland, IL to IN48.91,200$200,000
April 26:36 PM CDTEF1Butler, MO13.4125$2.0 million
April 26:40 PM CDTEF0Poinsett, AR6.575$20,000
April 26:48 PM CDTEF1Lafayette, AR7.6250$135,000
April 27:52 PM EDTEF1Marshall, IN17.8175$610,000
April 26:56 PM CDTEF1Cape Girardeau, MO to IL8.0150$765,000
April 27:02 PM CDTEF1Clark, IL8.1200
April 27:08 PM CDTEF1Union, IL10.050$35,000
April 27:17 PM CDTEF1Lafayette, AR0.375$50,000
April 28:24 PM EDTEF1Parke, IN10.8120$200,000
April 27:25 PM CDTEF0Union, IL1.125$5,000
April 27:30 PM CDTEF1Scott, MO1.0250$600,000
April 27:35 PM CDTEF0Crittenden, AR3.175$30,000
April 27:35 PM CDTEF2Johnson, IL6.2250$525,000
April 27:46 PM CDTEF1Steuben, IN to MI10.8600$200,000
April 28:49 PM EDTEF1Branch, MI3.7125$50,000
April 27:51 PM CDTEF1Williamson, IL3.375$175,000
April 28:00 PM CDTEF2Carlisle, KY9.7200$180,000
April 29:05 PM EDTEF2Hendricks, IN13.02001$1.2 million
April 28:14 PM CDTEF1Saline, IL5.0300$85,000
April 29:15 PM EDTEF1Hendricks, IN1.5300$200,000
April 28:15 PM CDTEF1Dyer, TN4.7100$1.9 million
April 28:18 PM CDTEF2Ballard, KY18.21,0004$3.2 million
April 28:23 PM CDTEF1Gallatin, IL9.2100$170,000
April 29:28 PM EDTEF1Hamilton, IN6.6150$600,000
April 28:35 PM CDTEF1Obion, TN9.3350$325,000
April 29:43 PM EDTEF2Madison, IN to IL, KY2.1250$200,000
April 28:43 PM CDTEF2Livingston, IL to KY12.0150$235,000
April 29:46 PM EDTEF1Madison, IN11.6150$400,000
April 28:51 PM CDTEF2Vanderburgh, IN10.6150$3.4 million
April 28:52 PM CDTEF1Posey, IN1.175$1.2 million
April 29:52 PM EDTEF0Madison, IN4.9100$300,000
April 28:55 PM CDTEF1Vanderburgh, IN17.0230$1.2 million
April 29:57 PM EDTEF2Madison, IN15.2200$3.2 million
April 29:00 PM CDTEF2Weakley, TN6.4350$250,000

All 88 of them

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.