Tornadoes · United States · Kentucky · 2025
EF1 tornado, Greenbrier to Botland, Kentucky, April 2, 2025
From Greenbrier to Botland, this EF1 tornado ran 2.9 miles across Nelson County on April 2, 2025, touching down at 1:16 AM EDT and reaching 175 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.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
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.
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.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
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.
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
- 1:16 AM EDT (05:16 UTC)
- Lifted
- 1:19 AM EDT (05:19 UTC)
- On the ground
- 3 minutes
- Path length
- 2.9 miles (4.7 km)
- Path width
- 175 yards (160 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Nelson County
- Touchdown point
- 37.745, -85.438
- Lift-off point
- 37.761, -85.389
- Record number
- 2504022316-01
The damage survey
23 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 105 mph.
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.
An EF1 tornado, with maximum winds of 105 mph, tracked across an almost three mile stretch of eastern Nelson County during the early morning hours on Thursday, April 3rd. The tornado was on the ground for approximately three minutes and had a peak width of approximately 175 yards.||The tornado touched down along Roberts Road and did some damage to a residence and trees down within the Beech Fork basin. The tornado continued across Beech Fork near Turkey Ridge. Damage continued along a hilltop between Beech Fork and Pottershop Road, uprooting several trees. As the tornado approached Pottershop Road, significant damage was done to several barns and outbuildings, and large tree limbs were snapped. The most substantial damage that occurred in this area was to a small |outbuilding, where only one wall was left standing as debris from this building was thrown 100-200 yards downstream. An adjacent house only sustained minor fascia and soffit damage, although brick columns on one side of the house had slightly buckled due to the wind. Wind speeds in this area were estimated at 105 mph.||The tornado then crossed Pottershop Road and moved along Bear Creek Way for approximately three-quarters of a mile. Scattered instances of snapped or uprooted trees were observed along this stretch of the tornado s path, and several homes received minor roof damage. In addition, multiple barns and small outbuildings |received more significant damage, including one well- built barn which had its entire roof collapse. Damage in this area was consistent with EF1 tornado strength, generally between 90 and 100 mph.||The tornado continued to produce isolated to scattered tree damage between the end of Bear Creek Way and Manton Road as it continued to the east-northeast. Just past Manton Road, the tornado damaged multiple older barns, lean-tos and trees. Between |Manton Road and Borders Lane, the tornado lifted and no significant additional damage was found downstream. The damage at the end of the tornado s path was consistent with high-end EF0 and low-end EF1 levels, generally between 85 and 95 mph.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
13 minutes of warning. NWS LMK issued a tornado warning for this county at 05:03 UTC, 13 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 10:36 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 UTC | 05:00 UTC | Wind Advisory | LMK |
| 23:22 UTC | 04:39 UTC | Tornado Watch | LMK |
| 00:00 UTC | 12:00 UTC | Flood Watch | LMK |
| 04:39 UTC | 10:36 UTC | Tornado Watch | LMK |
| 04:41 UTC | 05:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK |
| 04:47 UTC | 05:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK |
| 05:01 UTC | 05:21 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK |
| 05:03 UTC | 05:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | LMK |
| 05:27 UTC | 05:44 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK |
| 06:06 UTC | 16:06 UTC | Flood Advisory | LMK |
| 07:23 UTC | 12:30 UTC | Flood Advisory | LMK |
| 12:33 UTC | 15:45 UTC | Flood Advisory | LMK |
| 15:57 UTC | 01:04 UTC | Flood Warning | LMK |
| 19:24 UTC | 01:30 UTC | Flash Flood Warning | LMK |
| 19:31 UTC | 22:08 UTC | Flash Flood Warning | LMK |
| 22:05 UTC | 10:00 UTC | Flash Flood Warning | LMK |
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.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Apr 3, 12:59 AM EDT, 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- * SIGNIFICANT SEVERE STORM THREAT THIS EVENING INTO TONIGHT * LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING POSSIBLE FROM TONIGHT INTO THE WEEKEND, WITH ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS LATER THIS WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 3, 12:59 AM EDT, 17 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Louisville KY
1259 AM EDT Thu Apr 3 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
* SIGNIFICANT SEVERE STORM THREAT THIS EVENING INTO TONIGHT
* LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING POSSIBLE FROM TONIGHT INTO THE WEEKEND,
WITH ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS LATER THIS
WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND.
&&
.MESOSCALE...
Issued at 1056 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025
Mature QLCS continues to push into the middle Ohio Valley.
Impressive bowing structures have developed with strong RIJs and
bookend vortices. Several strong circulations have developed in
areas of curling segments, cell mergers, and reflectivity tags,
leading to tornado warnings and reports of tornadoes and damage.
Tops have cooled over the last few hours as the convection continues
to deepen.
North domain of WoFS shows high probabilities of tornado activity
between now and 2am EDT along and northwest of a line from Hartford
to New Albany to Madison. Mesoanalysis shows tongue of SBCAPE ahead
of the storms co-located with eSRH of 500-700 m2/s2 and a 70kt 850mb
jet.
This line of powerful storms will continue to be capable of damaging
wind gusts and occasional tornadoes. The tornadoes will likely be
rain-wrapped, and of course will be occurring in the dark of night,
making this set-up especially dangerous.
Issued at 915 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025
Supercells this evening have moved from middle Tennessee into
southern Indiana but as the sun has set and CIN has increased the
storms have struggled under weak capping. A storm that slipped into
Simpson County developed an impressive wall cloud, but high LCLs may
have discouraged tornadogenesis.
Attention now turns to the approaching squall line extending from
Indiana to Arkansas. Those high LCLs have been lowering along and
just ahead of the line of storms. Low level jetting will increase
overhead this evening with increasing bulk shear. There is expected
to be a narrow corridor of SBCAPE along/ahead of the line, and the
last few hours of SDF ACARS soundings have shown increasingly
favorable hodograph traces and increasing low level SRH. The line is
expected to maintain good organization as it pushes east into the
middle Ohio Valley and attain bowing structures capable of enhanced
intense wind gusts, especially across southern Indiana and north
central Kentucky. Cell mergers continue to occur on the leading edge
of the line, and these cell mergers plus the expected bowing
segments will continue the tornado threat with eSRH around 400 m2/s2
possible. The most favorable synoptic set-up for tornado activity
appears to be over the southern half of Kentucky, but tornadoes will
be possible anywhere along the length of the QLCS.
Torrential downpours can also be expected with the line. Upstream
precipitable water values along the line have increased over the
course of the evening from 1.50" to 2". Values around 1.50-1.75" are
expected to continue as the line moves into the region. The line
should push through the region fairly cleanly, and models have
backed off some on laying the line out east-west, which is good for
reducing the likelihood of flooding. Nevertheless, flooding chances
will increase at least slightly between midnight and dawn,
especially over eastern and southern parts of central Kentucky.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 316 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025
****SIGNIFICANT SEVERE STORM THREAT THIS EVENING****
An occluded 988mb low pressure system is centered over IA as of
02/18Z with a warm front extending west through IL/IN/OH and a cold
front extending SW into TX. Current conditions attest to our area
being well situated within the warm sector as KY Mesonet shows
current temps in the upper 70s to low 80s and dew points in the low
to mid 60s. Strong LLJ is also evident on area radar VWPs with 65KT
noted at 6kft. Strong southerly winds will continue through the
afternoon with gusts in the 40 to 50 mph range possible. In fact,
peak winds of 52 mph have already been measured by KY Mesonet in
Nicholas and Clark counties, KY. With that said, the Wind Advisory
will continue through 03/05Z as planned.
Ahead of the main line of storms, some showers will likely push
through the area. ACARS soundings out SDF show a rather impressive
subsidence inversion at around 800mb, which will likely cap any
convective growth and thus limit any severe hazards this afternoon.
The line of strong to severe thunderstorms is currently advancing
across AR/MO and is expected to reach our westernmost counties by as
early as 7PM EDT this evening. Ample kinematic energy and
instability will result in an especially ripe environment for severe
weather, with all hazards in play: damaging winds, large hail, flash
flooding, and tornadoes. The severe threat should diminish as the
line pushes east of the I-65 corridor, and is expected to become
mostly non-severe by 03/08Z. The line is forecast to slow down once
entering the OH Valley with the frontal boundary eventually stalling
somewhere over central KY. At this point, the stalled boundary will
serve as the focus for continued rainfall as we transition from a
severe threat to more of a flood threat as embedded convection
trains along the boundary.
Hyetal pattern continues throughout Thursday as the stalled boundary
anchors over central KY. Light rain is expected for most of the area
with moderate rain possible at times. The flood threat will continue
as soils saturate and rivers become full. The ongoing Flood Watch
will continue as planned.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 316 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025
**** MAJOR FLOODING (POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING) EXPECTED****
Thursday Night and Friday...
Quasi-stationary boundary over central KY and southern IN will be
the main focus for our active weather Thursday night into Friday.
LLJ coming up from the south will help to enhance lift along and
north of the boundary. This will provide good moisture transport
increasing PWAT values between 1.50-1.75" along and just south of
the boundary through central KY into southern IN. Significant heavy
rainfall will be the main threat leading to significant flash
flooding across our area, especially where the heaviest corridor of
rain occurs. Forecast rainfall amounts range from between 1-2.5" in
the heaviest precipitation corridor, which currently looks to be
along and north of the Parkways into northern KY and southern IN but
will be dependent on where the boundary sets up. Model soundings
continue to show a limited severe threat with most convection being
mainly elevated. Even with this, any training elevated convection
could produce localized higher amounts of 3-4" of rainfall.
Rainfall and rain amounts will be determined by placement of the
meandering sfc boundary over the region. There is growing guidance
that the boundary will start to lift northward into central IN late
Friday into early Saturday as mid-level ridging increases over the
area. This may give us a slight break from the heavy rain with just
some scattered showers and storms mainly across southern IN/northern
KY late Friday into early Saturday.
Saturday and Sunday...
During the day on Saturday, the upper trough to our west finally
gets picked up by a northern stream disturbance and begins to eject
off to the northeast. This will push the sfc boundary back to the
south and east as a cold front leading to one final push of strong
storms and heavy rainfall Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning,
with the sfc front finally crossing through the area on Sunday.
Ahead of the front, moisture indices like PW and IVT once again
surge to near the maximum of climatology, with several more inches
of rain likely with this final wave. Rain should end from west to
east during the day on Sunday, with cooler air rushing in for the
end of the weekend and the start of next week.
Early Next Week...
Much quieter weather is expected during at least the first half of
next week, with a much-needed reprieve from heavy rainfall and
severe storm chances. The upper flow pattern over North America will
be rather amplified, but will take on an inverse phase with deep
ridging out west and troughing across the east. This should place
our region within a NW flow regime aloft, and sfc high pressure will
gradually sink into the region by the middle of next week. This flow
regime will be supportive of cold and dry air advection, with
ensemble mean PW and temperatures below climatological normals.
Light precipitation from transient clipper systems can't be ruled
out, and we'll have to watch for potential frost/freeze conditions;
nevertheless, this pattern shift will support a much calmer period
of weather.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1249 AM EDT Thu Apr 3 2025
A large and slow moving line of thunderstorms will blanket
central Kentucky through much of the TAF time period. TEMPOs for
KBWG, KSDF, and KLEX through 10Z will take into account strong
thunderstorms with heavy rains and gusty winds that could lower
surface visibilities to 2-4 SM. Cloud ceilings will fall
through the night to MVFR category by 09Z and fluctuating
between MVFR and IFR categories during the day and then becoming
likely IFR around 00Z. Winds should also diminish during the
night from 10-20 kts and occasional gusts over 30 kts with the
stronger thunderstorms to light and variable during the day on
Thursday.
&&
.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...Flood Watch through Sunday morning for KYZ023>043-045>049-
053>057-061>067-070>078-081-082.
Wind Advisory until 1 AM EDT /midnight CDT/ early this morning
for KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-070>078-081-082.
IN...Flood Watch through Sunday morning for INZ076>079-083-084-
089>092.
Wind Advisory until 1 AM EDT /midnight CDT/ early this morning
for INZ076>079-083-084-089>092.
&&
MESOSCALE...13
SHORT TERM...CG
LONG TERM...BTN
AVIATION...WFO DDCHazardous weather outlook, Apr 2, 3:20 PM EDT, 9 hours 56 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Louisville KY 320 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067- 070>078-081-082-031930- Orange-Washington IN-Scott IN-Jefferson IN-Dubois-Crawford-Perry- Harrison IN-Floyd-Clark IN-Hancock-Breckinridge-Meade-Ohio-Grayson- Hardin-Bullitt-Jefferson-Oldham-Trimble-Henry-Shelby-Franklin- Scott KY-Harrison KY-Spencer-Anderson-Woodford-Fayette-Bourbon- Nicholas-Nelson-Washington KY-Mercer-Jessamine-Clark KY-Larue-Marion- Boyle-Garrard-Madison-Butler-Edmonson-Hart-Green-Taylor-Casey- Lincoln-Logan-Warren-Simpson-Allen-Barren-Monroe-Metcalfe-Adair- Russell-Cumberland-Clinton- 320 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025 /220 PM CDT Wed Apr 2 2025/ ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT /MIDNIGHT CDT/ THURSDAY... ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Indiana and central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/louisville on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Flood Watch. Strong non-thunderstorm winds are expected today, with gusts of 40 to 50 mph expected. Severe storms are expected this evening through most of the overnight. Damaging winds, tornadoes, and hail are expected. Strong tornadoes are possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/louisville on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Additional showers and strong storms are expected to continue from Thursday into the weekend. There is considerable concern for a high-impact, major rainfall and flooding event across the lower Ohio and Tennessee Valleys from Wednesday night through the weekend. Widespread minor to moderate river flooding is expected, and major river flooding is possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed. GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY: Storms will move SW at 40 to 50 MPH Any users of this storm motion must be aware that thunderstorm activity can be erratic and constantly evolving. Please use this with caution and be prepared for changing conditions. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found, at weather.gov/louisville. CG/BTN
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 2, 11:20 PM EDT, 1 hour 56 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Louisville KY
1120 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1057 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Duff 38.30N 87.06W
04/02/2025 Dubois IN Public
One main tree branch, 4in diameter, covering
the eastbound lane.
&&
AR/SMRLocal storm report, Apr 2, 11:23 PM EDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Louisville KY
1123 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1110 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 ENE Jasper 38.41N 86.90W
04/02/2025 Dubois IN 911 Call Center
Tree on power line, 190N, just past Sultans
Run, tree is completely blocking roadway.
&&
AR/SMRLocal storm report, Apr 2, 11:24 PM EDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Louisville KY
1124 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1033 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 N Johnsburg 38.25N 86.95W
04/02/2025 M62 MPH Dubois IN ASOS
Corrects previous tstm wnd gst report from 3
N Johnsburg. Corrects previous tstm wnd gst
report from 3 N Johnsburg. Huntingburg
Airport reporting 62.1 mph wind gust.
&&
AR/SMRLocal storm report, Apr 2, 11:25 PM EDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Louisville KY
1125 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0945 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Saint Matthews 38.25N 85.64W
04/02/2025 Jefferson KY 911 Call Center
Corrects previous non-tstm wnd dmg report
from Saint Matthews. Trees down and blocking
the street.
&&
AR/SMRLocal storm report, Apr 2, 11:26 PM EDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Louisville KY
1126 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1057 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Duff 38.30N 87.06W
04/02/2025 Dubois IN 911 Call Center
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from
Duff. One main tree branch, 4in diameter,
covering the eastbound lane.
&&
AR/SMRLocal storm report, Apr 2, 11:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Louisville KY
1128 PM EDT Wed Apr 2 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1116 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NW Schnellville 38.34N 86.76W
04/02/2025 Dubois IN 911 Call Center
Power line blocking both lanes.
&&
AR/SMRThe 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.
Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), 00:00Z
5.3 hours before the tornado, 209 km from the path. April 3, 2025.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1447 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -13 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2008 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1501 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 31 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 29 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 202 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 418 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.2
- Supercell composite
- 15.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 7.8 K/km
The surface observations
Bardstown - Samuels Field (BRY), 10 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03:35 UTC | 78 | 65 | 200° 17 kt | 28 | 1007.5 | -RA |
| 03:55 UTC | 78.6 | 65 | 200° 16 kt | 31 | 1008.1 | -RA |
| 04:15 UTC | 78 | 65.3 | 200° 20 kt | 26 | 1008.1 | -RA |
| 04:35 UTC | 76 | 66.6 | 190° 18 kt | 26 | 1008.8 | -RA |
| 04:55 UTC | 72.3 | 67 | 300° 14 kt | 27 | 1010.8 | RA |
| 05:15 UTC | 66 | 66 | 280° 23 kt | 28 | 1012.5 | +RA BR |
| 05:35 UTC | 64.6 | 64.6 | 250° 9 kt | 1011.2 | -RA BR | |
| 05:55 UTC | 63.7 | 63.7 | 210° 5 kt | 18 | 1011.5 | -RA BR |
| 06:15 UTC | 63 | 63 | 290° 6 kt | 1010.8 | RA BR | |
| 06:35 UTC | 63.5 | 63.5 | 180° 9 kt | 1012.2 | RA BR | |
| 06:55 UTC | 63.7 | 63.7 | 220° 11 kt | 16 | 1012.5 | RA BR |
| 07:15 UTC | 64 | 64 | 200° 12 kt | 1012.2 | -RA BR |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Louisville radar (KLVX), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 05:18 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) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Ene West Point | Bullitt, KY | Power pole down near the 200 block of Skyview Road. |
| 04:12 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Sse Valley Station | Bullitt, KY | Tree over the 900 block of Bear Camp Road. |
| 04:19 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sse Brooks | Bullitt, KY | Tree down over the 1000 block of E Blue Lick Road. |
| 04:20 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ese Hillview | Bullitt, KY | Tree down over the 400 block of Old Preston Highway. |
| 04:23 UTC | TSTM WND GST 55 | Louisville Int'L Airpor | Jefferson, KY | Measured 55 mph gust. |
| 04:27 UTC | TSTM WND GST 48 | 2 Sw Saint Matthews | Jefferson, KY | Corrects previous tstm wnd gst report from 2 SW Saint Matthews. Measured 42 kt gust at Bowman Field. |
| 04:29 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 S Jeffersontown | Jefferson, KY | Trees down blocking the entire roadway. Browns Ln and Watterson Trail. Time estimated from radar. |
| 04:29 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Ssw Jeffersontown | Jefferson, KY | An EF3 tornado, with peak winds of 145 mph, was on the ground for 9.68 miles and approximately 10 minutes. Maximum path width was 350 yards. Refer to the Public Information Statement just issued for more details on this |
| 04:29 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Ssw Jeffersontown | Jefferson, KY | NWS storm survey team determined an EF3 tornado with 145 mph winds impacted portions of Jefferson County on April 3, 2025. The tornado was 9.68 miles in length and was on the ground for 10 minutes reaching 350 yards in m |
| 04:30 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 E Jeffersontown | Jefferson, KY | Partial building collapse on Ampere Drive. |
| 04:30 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 E Jeffersontown | Jefferson, KY | Structural damage to NW corner of roof at 2641 Technology Drive. |
| 04:30 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Se Jeffersontown | Jefferson, KY | Caller said tree crashed through window as it came down. |
| 04:33 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sse Middletown | Jefferson, KY | Multiple trees down along the ramp from Interstate 64 to Interstate 265. |
| 04:34 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Se Middletown | Jefferson, KY | Holes in the roof with water pouring in. Structural damage to home. Time estimated from radar. |
| 04:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 E Jeffersontown | Jefferson, KY | Trees snapped. |
| 04:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ese Middletown | Jefferson, KY | Multiple trees down, roof and window damage to homes in Beckley Hills subdivision. |
| 04:37 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 E Middletown | Jefferson, KY | Multiple trees down over Eastwood Cutoff Road and Eastwood Fisherville Road. |
| 04:38 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 E Jeffersontown | Jefferson, KY | Two buildings lost roofing at 11901 Plantside Drive. |
| 04:38 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ene Jeffersontown | Jefferson, KY | 75 yards of roof peeled up at 11851 Plantside Drive. |
| 05:16 UTC | TORNADO | 4 Ene Balltown | Nelson, KY | An NWS storm damage survey determined an EF1 tornado occurred in eastern Nelson County. The maximum estimated wind speed was 105 mph and the maximum width of the tornado was 175 yards. Please see the associated PNS for a |
| 05:18 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wnw Fredricktown | Nelson, KY | Multiple trees down and structural damage to homes and barns. |
| 06:24 UTC | HAIL 1 | 3 E Mcafee | Mercer, KY | Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). |
| 06:29 UTC | TORNADO | 5 Se Black Gnat | Taylor, KY | *** 1 INJ *** An NWS damage survey concluded that an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 110 mph touched down in far SW Taylor county, and then moved NE over 6 minutes toward and over Green River Lake at times. Along the way |
| 06:30 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 S Campbellsville | Taylor, KY | Strong winds moved through our neighborhood at this time. With sunrise saw lots of damage in area. |
| 06:31 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 S Campbellsville | Taylor, KY | *** 1 INJ *** Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 5 S Campbellsville. Several camping trailers blown over and roof blown off a business on Lone Valley Road. |
| 06:31 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 S Campbellsville | Taylor, KY | Several camping trailers blown over and roof blown off a business on Lone Valley 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.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2 | 5:13 AM CDT | EF1 | Osage, OK | 3.7 | 250 | $10,000 | ||
| April 2 | 6:37 AM CDT | EF1 | Tulsa, OK | 10.7 | 600 | $575,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:29 AM CDT | EF2 | Vernon, MO | 6.5 | 200 | $500,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:30 AM CDT | EF1 | Vernon, MO | 16.6 | 200 | $1.2 million | ||
| April 2 | 8:34 AM CDT | EF2 | Cooper, MO | 6.1 | 200 | $100,000 | ||
| April 2 | 11:00 AM MST | Unrated | Maricopa, AZ | 0.5 | 5 | |||
| April 2 | 3:13 PM CDT | EF3 | Crawford, MO | 21.9 | 200 | $685,000 | ||
| April 2 | 3:16 PM CDT | EF1 | Howell, MO | 1.1 | 350 | $10,000 | ||
| April 2 | 3:40 PM CDT | EF0 | Logan, IL | 12.7 | 30 | |||
| April 2 | 4:21 PM CDT | EF0 | Madison, TN | 1.9 | 150 | $50,000 | ||
| April 2 | 5:00 PM CDT | EF1 | Iroquois, IL | 2.3 | 400 | |||
| April 2 | 5:05 PM CDT | EF2 | Bond, IL | 22.8 | 200 | 1 | $385,000 | |
| April 2 | 5:09 PM CDT | EF0 | Iroquois, IL | 2.2 | 300 | |||
| April 2 | 5:32 PM CDT | EF1 | Ripley, MO | 1.1 | 125 | $185,000 | ||
| April 2 | 5:56 PM CDT | EF2 | Randolph, AR | 24.6 | 500 | $250,000 | ||
| April 2 | 5:56 PM CDT | EF2 | Arkansas, AR | 8.3 | 100 | |||
| April 2 | 5:59 PM CDT | EF1 | Poinsett, AR | 7.5 | 400 | $50,000 | ||
| April 2 | 6:08 PM CDT | EF1 | Effingham, IL | 2.5 | 125 | |||
| April 2 | 6:13 PM CDT | EF2 | Wayne, MO | 8.3 | 175 | $630,000 | ||
| April 2 | 6:21 PM CDT | EF1 | Arkansas, AR | 0.9 | 50 | |||
| April 2 | 6:23 PM CDT | EF1 | Effingham, IL | 8.3 | 100 | |||
| April 2 | 6:26 PM CDT | EF3 | Poinsett, AR | 24.2 | 1,500 | 8 | $4.0 million | |
| April 2 | 6:28 PM CDT | EF2 | Craighead, AR | 14.4 | 700 | $750,000 | ||
| April 2 | 6:29 PM CDT | EF0 | Cumberland, IL | 4.0 | 150 | |||
| April 2 | 6:32 PM CDT | EF2 | Stoddard, MO | 14.7 | 600 | $20 million | ||
| April 2 | 6:33 PM CDT | EF2 | Cumberland, IL to IN | 48.9 | 1,200 | $200,000 | ||
| April 2 | 6:36 PM CDT | EF1 | Butler, MO | 13.4 | 125 | $2.0 million | ||
| April 2 | 6:40 PM CDT | EF0 | Poinsett, AR | 6.5 | 75 | $20,000 | ||
| April 2 | 6:48 PM CDT | EF1 | Lafayette, AR | 7.6 | 250 | $135,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:52 PM EDT | EF1 | Marshall, IN | 17.8 | 175 | $610,000 | ||
| April 2 | 6:56 PM CDT | EF1 | Cape Girardeau, MO to IL | 8.0 | 150 | $765,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:02 PM CDT | EF1 | Clark, IL | 8.1 | 200 | |||
| April 2 | 7:08 PM CDT | EF1 | Union, IL | 10.0 | 50 | $35,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:17 PM CDT | EF1 | Lafayette, AR | 0.3 | 75 | $50,000 | ||
| April 2 | 8:24 PM EDT | EF1 | Parke, IN | 10.8 | 120 | $200,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:25 PM CDT | EF0 | Union, IL | 1.1 | 25 | $5,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:30 PM CDT | EF1 | Scott, MO | 1.0 | 250 | $600,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Crittenden, AR | 3.1 | 75 | $30,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:35 PM CDT | EF2 | Johnson, IL | 6.2 | 250 | $525,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:46 PM CDT | EF1 | Steuben, IN to MI | 10.8 | 600 | $200,000 | ||
| April 2 | 8:49 PM EDT | EF1 | Branch, MI | 3.7 | 125 | $50,000 | ||
| April 2 | 7:51 PM CDT | EF1 | Williamson, IL | 3.3 | 75 | $175,000 | ||
| April 2 | 8:00 PM CDT | EF2 | Carlisle, KY | 9.7 | 200 | $180,000 | ||
| April 2 | 9:05 PM EDT | EF2 | Hendricks, IN | 13.0 | 200 | 1 | $1.2 million | |
| April 2 | 8:14 PM CDT | EF1 | Saline, IL | 5.0 | 300 | $85,000 | ||
| April 2 | 9:15 PM EDT | EF1 | Hendricks, IN | 1.5 | 300 | $200,000 | ||
| April 2 | 8:15 PM CDT | EF1 | Dyer, TN | 4.7 | 100 | $1.9 million | ||
| April 2 | 8:18 PM CDT | EF2 | Ballard, KY | 18.2 | 1,000 | 4 | $3.2 million | |
| April 2 | 8:23 PM CDT | EF1 | Gallatin, IL | 9.2 | 100 | $170,000 | ||
| April 2 | 9:28 PM EDT | EF1 | Hamilton, IN | 6.6 | 150 | $600,000 | ||
| April 2 | 8:35 PM CDT | EF1 | Obion, TN | 9.3 | 350 | $325,000 | ||
| April 2 | 9:43 PM EDT | EF2 | Madison, IN to IL, KY | 2.1 | 250 | $200,000 | ||
| April 2 | 8:43 PM CDT | EF2 | Livingston, IL to KY | 12.0 | 150 | $235,000 | ||
| April 2 | 9:46 PM EDT | EF1 | Madison, IN | 11.6 | 150 | $400,000 | ||
| April 2 | 8:51 PM CDT | EF2 | Vanderburgh, IN | 10.6 | 150 | $3.4 million | ||
| April 2 | 8:52 PM CDT | EF1 | Posey, IN | 1.1 | 75 | $1.2 million | ||
| April 2 | 9:52 PM EDT | EF0 | Madison, IN | 4.9 | 100 | $300,000 | ||
| April 2 | 8:55 PM CDT | EF1 | Vanderburgh, IN | 17.0 | 230 | $1.2 million | ||
| April 2 | 9:57 PM EDT | EF2 | Madison, IN | 15.2 | 200 | $3.2 million | ||
| April 2 | 9:00 PM CDT | EF2 | Weakley, TN | 6.4 | 350 | $250,000 |
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.