Farmington, KY Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Farmington is much higher than Kentucky average and is about the same as the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Farmington is much higher than Kentucky average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #19
| Farmington, KY | 1.81 |
| Kentucky | 0.24 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Farmington, KY | 0.0000 |
| Kentucky | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #210
| Farmington, KY | 216.14 |
| Kentucky | 136.89 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 3,506 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Farmington, KY were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 0 | Cold: | 27 | Dense Fog: | 22 | Drought: | 44 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 518 | Hail: | 814 | Heat: | 40 | Heavy Snow: | 43 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 15 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 51 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 1,601 | Tropical Storm: | 1 | Wildfire: | 3 | Winter Storm: | 45 | Winter Weather: | 40 |
| Other: | 242 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Farmington, KY.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 5 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Farmington, KY.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 22.9 | 1968-11-09 | 5.3 | N/A | 37 | -88.5 |
| 47.5 | 1965-08-14 | 5 | N/A | 37.1 | -89.2 |
| 38.1 | 1972-06-19 | 4.5 | 13 | 37 | -89.08 |
| 45.5 | 1984-02-14 | 3.8 | 2 | 37.21 | -89 |
| 27.3 | 1963-08-03 | 3.6 | 18 | 37 | -88.8 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 91 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Farmington, KY.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 7.3 | 1964-03-04 | 4 | 36°42'N / 88°27'W | 36°45'N / 88°23'W | 4.90 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Calloway |
| 9.3 | 2001-11-24 | 2 | 36°30'N / 88°27'W | 36°39'N / 88°22'W | 11.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 4 | 750K | 80K | Calloway |
| Brief Description: A total of 45 to 50 structures were damaged or destroyed. The tornado, which tore through rural farm country, first touched down about one quarter mile inside the Tennessee state line. It moved north-northeast, directly impacting the small community of Harris Grove. The damage path ended 2 miles east of Stella, just after the tornado crossed Kentucky Highway 121. Maximum winds in the tornado were estimated at 130 MPH. The breakdown of structural damage included: Two destroyed houses, two destroyed mobile homes, two destroyed car garages, ten destroyed barns, twelve damaged homes, seven damaged mobile homes, and fourteen damaged barns. A tobacco barn, still containing its crop, was blown onto Kentucky Highway 94 west of Murray. Two of the most seriously injured, who required hospitalization for cuts and bruises, were in mobile homes. The other two injured persons were treated and released. Four mobile home residents were trapped by fallen trees and were rescued by emergency personnel. | |||||||||||
| 14.0 | 2000-05-26 | 2 | 36°33'N / 88°19'W | 36°34'N / 88°19'W | 1.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Calloway |
| Brief Description: The peak intensity of the tornado was rated F-2, with estimated maximum winds near 125 MPH. Although the tornado was only on the ground for a mile or two, it struck the small community of Midway directly, causing extensive damage. Two mobile homes housing migrant workers were destroyed. One of the persons in a mobile home was seriously injured. Three others sustained relatively minor injuries. A used car dealership and a grocery store sustained major damage to roofs and walls. Several additional homes, mobile homes, and barns received moderate to major damage. Numerous trees in the area were downed or uprooted. U.S. Highway 641 was closed for about 18 hours south of Murray due to debris and power lines across the road. The owner of the grocery and an attached home estimated his losses at just under 100,000 dollars. | |||||||||||
| 15.0 | 1968-04-03 | 4 | 36°38'N / 88°18'W | 36°45'N / 88°13'W | 9.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 15 | 2.5M | 0 | Calloway |
| 15.2 | 1961-05-07 | 2 | 36°42'N / 89°00'W | 36°42'N / 88°36'W | 22.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Hickman |
| 16.1 | 2005-11-15 | 3 | 36°45'N / 88°28'W | 36°56'N / 88°12'W | 19.50 Miles | 500 Yards | 1 | 20 | 8.0M | 0 | Marshall |
| Brief Description: The long-track tornado entered Marshall County from extreme northwest Calloway County. As the tornado moved quickly northeast across Marshall County, it reached its peak intensity of 200 MPH as it approached the Kentucky Lake resort campgrounds and boatyards. Until the tornado reached U.S. Highway 641 south of Benton, mostly F-1 damage occurred. Garages and barns sustained varying degrees of damage, and numerous trees were down. The most serious damage, ranging up to F-3 intensity, occurred from Big Bear Highway to Moor's Resort on Kentucky Lake. The occupant of a destroyed mobile home was killed in this area. The mobile home was thrown 40 feet and overturned before catching fire. At Moor's Resort, a year-round camping area was struck directly. A total of 115 RV's were destroyed, and the campground was devastated. A dock was demolished, taking a number of boats with it. Although the harbor and campground were destroyed, cabins and other lodging facilities outside of the tornado path were untouched. The average path width of this tornado was 275 yards, but it grew to a maximum of 500 yards in Marshall County. In Marshall County, approximately 19 homes were destroyed, 36 suffered major damage, and 65 received minor damage. The tornado then moved over Kentucky Lake and crossed into Lyon County. M63MH The total path length of the tornado across Graves, Calloway, Marshall, and Lyon Counties was 44 miles. Estimated time on the ground was 65 minutes. | |||||||||||
| 16.6 | 1964-03-04 | 4 | 36°45'N / 88°23'W | 36°53'N / 88°12'W | 13.60 Miles | 250 Yards | 3 | 16 | 250K | 0 | Marshall |
| 16.9 | 2003-05-04 | 2 | 36°41'N / 88°14'W | 36°42'N / 88°13'W | 1.80 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 350K | 0 | Calloway |
| Brief Description: The tornado began along Highway 732 about one quarter mile east of Highway 94. It then moved northeast, roughly parallel to Highway 94, for almost two miles. Six homes received minor to moderate damage. Numerous trees were down, two barns were destroyed, and several others were damaged. Peak winds were estimated near 120 MPH. A supercell thunderstorm moved northeast from Tennessee, producing straight-line wind damage from the southeast corner of Graves County to Murray. The storm then spawned a tornado northeast of Murray. | |||||||||||
| 17.4 | 1964-03-04 | 3 | 36°40'N / 88°54'W | 36°43'N / 88°47'W | 7.20 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Logan |
| 17.4 | 1971-12-15 | 2 | 36°53'N / 88°33'W | 36°57'N / 88°23'W | 10.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Graves |
| 19.5 | 1973-04-19 | 2 | 36°33'N / 89°11'W | 36°41'N / 88°34'W | 35.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Fulton |
| 20.7 | 1968-04-04 | 4 | 36°45'N / 88°13'W | 36°47'N / 88°08'W | 5.10 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 5 | 0K | 0 | Marshall |
| 21.1 | 2010-05-02 | 2 | 36°35'N / 88°56'W | 36°37'N / 88°52'W | 5.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0K | Hickman |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado crossed into Hickman County from Fulton County on U.S. Highway 51 just north of Crutchfield. Peak winds in this area were estimated near 115 mph. The EF-2 tornado damaged or destroyed several pole barns along U.S. Highway 51. One barn was over 100 feet long and was anchored by telephone poles set in concrete. Most of the poles were snapped. A few poles were pulled up, with one thrown about 50 yards. A section of U.S. 51 was closed due to downed power poles and debris. Large trees were uprooted or snapped. There was minor house damage. As the tornado continued northeast across Kentucky Highway 1070 and a nearby road, three homes were damaged. One of the houses sustained damage to an outside wall, which was pushed in about three inches. The carport attached to that wall was blown away. A two-story garage was destroyed, along with other sheds and another carport. The other two houses sustained damage to garages and siding. Windows were blown out, and a section of roof was blown off one house. The maximum path width of about 600 yards was in this area. The average path width was closer to 300 yards. The tornado then weakened significantly and produced only minor tree damage until it dissipated about a mile southwest of Fulgham. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A surface cold front extended from the Chicago area southwestward across the eastern fringes of the St. Louis metro area to a weak low pressure center over southeast Missouri. The low ejected northeast across southern and eastern Illinois, with the trailing cold front moving east across the Lower Ohio Valley. A broken cluster of severe thunderstorms, with embedded supercells and small bow echoes, moved east-northeastward across western Kentucky. Increasing south-southwesterly low level winds brought plenty of moisture northward into the Lower Ohio Valley, aiding in sufficient destabilization for supercells. The two primary supercells of the night followed similar paths across southern parts of the Purchase area, the Lakes region, and the southern Pennyrile region. Heavy rainfall with the storms, in combination with saturated ground from the May 1 storms, produced localized flash flooding. | |||||||||||
| 21.1 | 1966-06-06 | 2 | 36°58'N / 88°37'W | 36°59'N / 88°29'W | 7.40 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Mccracken |
| 21.8 | 1967-12-11 | 2 | 36°30'N / 88°54'W | 36°38'N / 88°54'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Clay | ||
| 22.0 | 1967-12-11 | 2 | 36°29'N / 88°54'W | 36°38'N / 88°54'W | 10.30 Miles | 7 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Obion |
| 23.7 | 1966-06-06 | 2 | 36°59'N / 88°29'W | 37°00'N / 88°17'W | 11.10 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Madison |
| 24.2 | 1971-12-15 | 2 | 36°59'N / 88°42'W | 37°01'N / 88°39'W | 3.60 Miles | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mccracken |
| 24.6 | 1973-04-19 | 2 | 37°02'N / 88°37'W | 37°01'N / 88°27'W | 9.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mccracken |
| 25.4 | 1981-05-18 | 2 | 36°43'N / 88°59'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hickman | |||
| 25.4 | 2005-11-15 | 2 | 36°15'N / 88°23'W | 36°29'N / 88°09'W | 20.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 13 | 6.5M | 0 | Henry |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down southwest of Paris and moved northeast skirting by the northern edge of Paris. Thirty homes were destroyed and several manufacturing plants were demolished. Over 100 homes were damaged. | |||||||||||
| 26.0 | 1971-07-15 | 2 | 36°23'N / 88°26'W | 36°17'N / 88°12'W | 14.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Henry |
| 26.3 | 1951-11-13 | 3 | 37°01'N / 88°20'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 1 | 11 | 250K | 0 | Marshall | |
| 26.7 | 1953-03-14 | 2 | 36°20'N / 88°46'W | 0.30 Mile | 600 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Weakley | |
| 28.3 | 1970-04-24 | 3 | 37°02'N / 88°20'W | 37°03'N / 88°18'W | 1.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Marshall |
| 28.4 | 2003-05-04 | 2 | 36°21'N / 88°51'W | 36°21'N / 88°51'W | 4.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 750K | 0 | Weakley |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched on the south side of the city of Martin and tracked northeast. One business was destroyed. At Martin Westview High School, two storage buildings were blown away. At Martin Middle School, the gymnasium roof was ripped off. At Martin Elementary School, part of the roof was blown off. Many trees and power lines were knocked down. | |||||||||||
| 29.3 | 1957-07-04 | 2 | 36°20'N / 88°51'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weakley | |
| 30.2 | 1957-07-04 | 2 | 36°19'N / 88°51'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weakley | |
| 30.3 | 1969-01-23 | 2 | 36°29'N / 88°02'W | 0.10 Mile | 7 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Stewart | |
| 30.6 | 1984-05-07 | 3 | 36°17'N / 88°21'W | 36°15'N / 88°15'W | 6.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 36 | 2.5M | 0 | Henry |
| 31.0 | 1970-04-24 | 3 | 37°03'N / 88°18'W | 37°05'N / 88°14'W | 4.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 5 | 0K | 0 | Livingston |
| 31.3 | 2003-05-04 | 2 | 36°13'N / 88°25'W | 36°18'N / 88°10'W | 17.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3.0M | 0 | Henry |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down southwest of Paris and moved northeast through the south side of the city. Five homes were destroyed and over 150 other homes were damaged. Three commercial building were destroyed and nineteen others including a school were damaged. | |||||||||||
| 32.0 | 2001-11-26 | 3 | 36°15'N / 88°15'W | 36°17'N / 88°14'W | 5.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 2 | 12 | 1.5M | 0 | Henry |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched downed southeast of Paris and moved northeast. Ten homes and buildings were completely destroyed and 46 others were damaged. Two persons were killed when their mobile home was destroyed by the tornado. Numerous trees were knocked down. F32MH, M3MH | |||||||||||
| 32.3 | 1982-04-02 | 2 | 36°18'N / 88°58'W | 36°22'N / 88°54'W | 5.50 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Weakley |
| 32.8 | 2005-11-15 | 2 | 36°56'N / 88°11'W | 37°03'N / 88°00'W | 14.50 Miles | 275 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Lyon |
| Brief Description: The tornado entered Lyon County from Marshall County as it crossed Kentucky Lake. The tornado reached the lakeshore at Hillman Ferry campground, within the Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area. The tornado then moved east-northeast across the forests of LBL, producing a narrow swath of downed trees. After exiting LBL and crossing Lake Barkley, the tornado struck a subdivision on the east side of the lake. Damage to the well-constructed homes in this subdivision was estimated to be the result of F-2 winds. The tornado proceeded east-northeast across Interstate 24, passing near the 46-mile marker, before lifting at the community of Saratoga. The total path length of the tornado across Graves, Calloway, Marshall, and Lyon Counties was 44 miles. Estimated time on the ground was 65 minutes. | |||||||||||
| 33.4 | 1954-05-03 | 2 | 36°24'N / 89°04'W | 36°26'N / 89°01'W | 3.60 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Obion |
| 34.2 | 1968-04-04 | 4 | 36°47'N / 88°08'W | 36°58'N / 87°48'W | 22.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Trigg |
| 35.0 | 2003-05-06 | 2 | 37°01'N / 89°09'W | 36°58'N / 88°53'W | 15.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Ballard |
| Brief Description: The tornado crossed into Ballard County between Wickliffe and the U.S. Route 60/62 bridge over the Ohio River. The tornado was rated F-2 in a forested area along the Mississippi River just north of Wickliffe, where intense tree damage was observed. Along the rest of its path through Ballard County, it was rated F-1 or F-0 (winds below 113 MPH). Where the tornado passed through the northeast outskirts of Wickliffe, there were a few homes with mainly minor damage. Roads were blocked by large fallen trees, including a 300-year-old white oak tree. The tornado moved east-southeast across rural Ballard County, where there was considerable roof damage to a home, and a garage door was blown out. Large trees were uprooted. At least one house was struck by falling trees. There was slight structural damage to the roof and attic portion of a home. The most prolific tornado-producing storm of the night entered western Kentucky near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and moved east, passing between Paducah and Mayfield. The storm continued to spawn tornadoes, mostly of weak to moderate intensity, until it reached Kentucky Lake. Elsewhere, severe thunderstorms moved northeast across northwest Kentucky, producing sporadic wind damage and a tornado. Sporadic wind damage occurred in Livingston, Crittenden, Webster, and Daviess Counties, with a tornado in Union and Henderson Counties. | |||||||||||
| 35.4 | 1973-05-23 | 2 | 36°20'N / 89°07'W | 36°26'N / 89°00'W | 9.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Obion |
| 37.2 | 1957-05-22 | 2 | 36°39'N / 89°12'W | 0.40 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mississippi | |
| 37.8 | 1973-11-26 | 2 | 36°10'N / 88°48'W | 0.50 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weakley | |
| 38.3 | 1970-04-24 | 3 | 37°05'N / 88°14'W | 37°10'N / 88°02'W | 12.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 5 | 0K | 0 | Lyon |
| 38.7 | 1958-06-12 | 3 | 37°05'N / 89°00'W | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Ballard | |||
| 39.2 | 1982-04-02 | 2 | 36°13'N / 89°04'W | 36°18'N / 88°58'W | 6.00 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Obion |
| 39.3 | 2006-04-02 | 3 | 36°06'N / 88°44'W | 36°07'N / 88°34'W | 5.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 500K | 0 | Weakley |
| Brief Description: The tornado tracked east out of Gibson County into Weakley County. The most affected area was between Pillowville and Staffords Store. Four homes were destroyed and twenty-eight homes were damaged. At least two barns were leveled. Two people were seriously injured when their mobile home was destroyed. The tornado then continued further east into northern Carroll County. | |||||||||||
| 39.3 | 1971-07-15 | 2 | 36°36'N / 89°14'W | 0.20 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mississippi | |
| 40.5 | 1970-04-01 | 2 | 36°41'N / 89°18'W | 36°43'N / 89°13'W | 5.10 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Mississippi |
| 40.7 | 2006-09-22 | 3 | 37°12'N / 88°48'W | 37°14'N / 88°48'W | 3.50 Miles | 125 Yards | 0 | 2 | 500K | 0 | Massac |
| Brief Description: This tornado, which contained peak winds near 160 MPH, struck between Joppa and the Metropolis airport. The damage path started about a mile from the Ohio River, where F-1 winds uprooted numerous trees. As the tornado crossed U.S. Highway 45 near Joppa Road, a barn was destroyed. The tornado then strengthened to F-3 intensity, destroying a log home. The roof and an exterior wall of the well-constructed log home were blown about one-half mile. Another house nearby sustained major damage. Four mobile homes were destroyed, along with garages and outbuildings. Part of a double wide mobile home blew into a church sanctuary. Six vehicles were tossed up to 100 yards. At least one of the vehicles landed in a pond. The only two persons injured were residents of a destroyed mobile home. The worst of the injuries was a broken arm. Hundreds of trees were broken or uprooted, and numerous trees fell on cars. Numerous power poles were downed. A seriously injured dog was found in a ditch one quarter mile away. The most intense damage, where vehicles were tossed, occurred about two-thirds of the way along the damage path near Red Oak Road. The tornado was witnessed by the general public. The average path width was 100 yards. | |||||||||||
| 41.1 | 2008-02-05 | 2 | 36°15'N / 88°00'W | 36°18'N / 87°57'W | 4.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 10.0M | 0K | Benton |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado came out of northern Benton County and caused damage in Houston County. Trees were uprooted and snapped, and homes were damaged along Highway 147 from the Tennessee River to just west-northwest of McKinnon. There were 20 power poles down on Danville Rd. Worst damage was from Big Sandy to Faxon to Grannys Branch. Fourteen homes were destroyed, and one other had major damage. About half of these homes were mobile homes. EPISODE NARRATIVE: The Super Severe Weather Outbreak on Feb. 5, 2008 produced supercelluar thunderstorms, well in advance of a multicell line of thunderstorms. The whole episode lasted about 6 hours. This occurred ironically while many states, including Tennessee, were participating in the Super Tuesday Primary Election. Fortunately, polls had already closed in the mid state when these tornadoes struck. | |||||||||||
| 41.1 | 1991-03-22 | 2 | 36°14'N / 88°05'W | 36°14'N / 87°58'W | 7.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Benton |
| 41.3 | 1973-11-24 | 2 | 36°50'N / 89°20'W | 36°54'N / 89°08'W | 11.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mississippi |
| 41.4 | 2008-02-05 | 2 | 36°18'N / 87°57'W | 36°19'N / 87°55'W | 2.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0K | Houston |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Trees were down. Homes were damaged. TEMA reported 10 homes had major damage, 2 mobile homes were destroyed and 20 mobile homes had major damage. EPISODE NARRATIVE: The Super Severe Weather Outbreak on Feb. 5, 2008 produced supercelluar thunderstorms, well in advance of a multicell line of thunderstorms. The whole episode lasted about 6 hours. This occurred ironically while many states, including Tennessee, were participating in the Super Tuesday Primary Election. Fortunately, polls had already closed in the mid state when these tornadoes struck. | |||||||||||
| 41.6 | 1978-05-12 | 2 | 36°41'N / 87°54'W | 36°49'N / 87°40'W | 15.80 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Trigg |
| 41.9 | 2003-05-06 | 2 | 37°14'N / 88°50'W | 37°15'N / 88°44'W | 4.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 80K | 0 | Massac |
| Brief Description: The roofs of several houses were severely damaged or blown off. One business was destroyed. Several barns and outbuildings were destroyed. Numerous large trees were blown down, along with seven power poles. Peak winds were estimated near 125 MPH. The damage path began due north of Metropolis and crossed Illinois Route 145 about 7 miles north-northeast of Metropolis. Route 145 and several smaller roads were closed due to large trees blown across them. This damage was located in nearly the exact location where damaging thunderstorm winds occurred about 48 hours earlier, on the evening of May 4. The deadliest and most destructive storm of the night tracked within 10 miles of the Ohio River across extreme southern Illinois. The storm produced a 33-mile long tornado that killed two and injured about 33. A small but very damaging downburst occurred several miles south of the tornado track. A swath of large hail occurred north of the tornado track. Hailstones up to 2 inches in diameter were reported at and near the intersection of Highways 145 and 147, near the community of Glendale in Pope County. | |||||||||||
| 42.0 | 1972-04-21 | 2 | 37°15'N / 88°26'W | 37°16'N / 88°15'W | 10.10 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Livingston |
| 42.0 | 2007-10-18 | 2 | 36°43'N / 87°51'W | 36°46'N / 87°42'W | 9.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 120K | 0K | Trigg |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Numerous trees were uprooted and blown down. Metal debris was embedded in several trees. Two barns were destroyed. One large garage was destroyed. Debris from the garage was blown up to three quarters of a mile, and projectiles were embedded in the ground up to 200 yards away. Four power poles were snapped. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. EPISODE NARRATIVE: The second and more significant severe weather outbreak of the day occurred as a cold front swept east across the Mississippi Valley. Scattered thunderstorms developed along and ahead of the front late in the afternoon. The storms organized into supercells and short lines during the evening. Over a dozen tornadoes occurred in western Kentucky. | |||||||||||
| 42.2 | 2006-04-02 | 3 | 36°03'N / 88°37'W | 36°04'N / 88°29'W | 9.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | Carroll |
| Brief Description: The tornado tracked east out of Weakley County into Carroll County. The tornado eventually lifted five miles south southeast of McKenzie. The area just south of McKenzie experienced the worst damage. Thirty-four homes, two apartments, one shop building, and nine farm buildings were damaged. Pilgrim's Rest Church, located near Christmasville, was destroyed. Grain silos were destroyed and numerous trees and power lines were downed. The tornado produce primarily F1 type damage in Carroll County. | |||||||||||
| 42.9 | 1997-03-01 | 2 | 35°58'N / 88°40'W | 36°08'N / 88°31'W | 10.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.0M | 0 | Carroll |
| Brief Description: A tornado developed in Crockett County near the town of Alamo. A long porch from a brick house was ripped off. The tornado continued northeast into Gibson county. Several business were damaged and a storage shed was destroyed as the tornado moved through the county. The tornado then reached Carroll county where it reached its peak intensity. Significant damage occurred in the town of McKenzie. Sixty-seven homes and ten businesses were damaged or destroyed. Four people were injured as well. | |||||||||||
| 43.4 | 1967-06-21 | 2 | 37°06'N / 89°06'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Pulaski | |||
| 43.8 | 1962-02-08 | 2 | 36°43'N / 89°19'W | 0.10 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mississippi | |
| 43.8 | 1971-05-07 | 4 | 36°04'N / 88°47'W | 36°03'N / 88°42'W | 4.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Gibson |
| 44.0 | 1999-01-22 | 3 | 36°03'N / 88°10'W | 36°14'N / 88°00'W | 15.00 Miles | 220 Yards | 1 | 5 | 1.0M | 0 | Benton |
| Brief Description: This tornado resulted in the only fatality in Middle Tennessee from the severe weather outbreak of January 22,1999. The tornado killed a 50 year old woman who left her shelter in a brick ranch home located on Cedar Grove Road. She went outside to get her dogs inside her home, and that's when the tornado struck and killed her. Her husband remained inside the home and survived. There were 5 injuries from the tornado. A 1600 square foot frame home was moved 10 to 12 feet from its foundation. 12 homes were destroyed, 33 homes sustained damage and 5 businesses were damaged. Power lines and trees were blown down. The winds picked up a 7500 pound Cadillac, and hurled its engine 300-400 yards into a field. The chassis, its empty metal skin, was hurled even further. F50OU | |||||||||||
| 44.2 | 2006-04-02 | 3 | 36°11'N / 89°03'W | 36°08'N / 88°58'W | 8.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 2 | 6 | 15.0M | 0 | Gibson |
| Brief Description: This tornado was the second of two F3 tornadoes that affected Gibson County on April 2nd. The tornado touched down just south of the Obion and Gibson County line and tracked southeast. The tornado lifted just east of Rutherford near the intersection of China Grove Rd and Highway 105. Two fatalities occurred as a result of this tornado along with six injuries. Approximately two hundred fifty homes were damaged and six were destroyed. Cars were tossed into open fields. F57PH, F44PH | |||||||||||
| 44.3 | 2005-11-15 | 2 | 36°08'N / 88°06'W | 36°09'N / 88°03'W | 1.20 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 400K | 0 | Benton |
| Brief Description: Home destroyed. Roof was gone and walls left standing on a home on French Store Rd. Residents and businesses who suffered damage from the tornadoes on Novemeber 15, 2005 are eligible for low interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Counties declared eligible for the loans are: Benton, Henry, Montgomery, Carroll, Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Robertson, Stewart, and Weakley. The SBA offer loans to renters and home owners to repair or replace personal property, such as furniture or clothing, damaged by the storms. Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair damage to their primary residence. Loans of $1.5 million are available for businesses and non-profit organizations to repair damage to real estate, machinery or equipment, and inventory. Economic Disaster Loans are also available for small businesses that are unable to pay their bills or meet operating expenses. | |||||||||||
| 44.4 | 1957-04-03 | 2 | 37°00'N / 89°12'W | 37°04'N / 89°11'W | 4.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Alexander |
| 44.4 | 1995-05-13 | 2 | 37°11'N / 88°08'W | 37°12'N / 87°59'W | 3.00 Miles | 75 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 50K | Crittenden |
| 44.5 | 2006-04-02 | 3 | 36°04'N / 89°02'W | 36°07'N / 88°44'W | 17.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 6 | 42 | 25.0M | 0 | Gibson |
| Brief Description: This tornado was also spawned by the same supercell that produced the killer Dyer County tornado. The F3 tornado tracked east across Gibson County. The tornado then continued east into Weakley County. The hardest hit area was the city of Bradford. There were six fatalities in Bradford along with forty-four injuries. Approximately two hundred fifty homes were damaged and seventy-five homes were destroyed. The Bradford Police Department was completely destroyed. Other businesses were also severely damaged. F61MH, F53PH, M28PH, F29PH, M5PH, M3PH | |||||||||||
| 44.7 | 1999-01-22 | 2 | 37°19'N / 88°31'W | 37°19'N / 88°29'W | 1.50 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 800K | 0 | Pope |
| Brief Description: A tornado with top winds estimated near 125 MPH struck a development of cabins and small summer homes in the Shawnee National Forest, at a place called Ropers Landing. The tornado damaged or destroyed about 30 of these structures and caused extensive tree damage. About six cabins were completely demolished. The homes were unhabited in the middle of winter. Ropers Landing is located at the base of a bluff along the Ohio River. The tornado lifted as it crossed the Ohio River. | |||||||||||
| 44.7 | 2003-05-06 | 4 | 37°14'N / 88°56'W | 37°19'N / 88°42'W | 14.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 1 | 20 | 10.0M | 0 | Massac |
| Brief Description: The tornado was near its maximum F-4 intensity as it crossed the Pulaski County line into western Massac County near the community of Hillerman. Estimated winds of 210 MPH disintegrated mobile homes and levelled several modern frame homes. One frame house was swept clean off its foundation, with only the roof left intact in a creek about 200 yards away. Many vehicles were lifted, rolled, or thrown up to 100 yards or more. Numerous cases of missiling were observed, including glass embedded in trees. Tree destruction in forested areas was nearly complete, and a few trees were debarked. The only fatality in Massac County was a 65-year-old female who was killed when her mobile home disintegrated. The official cause of death was blunt trauma to the head. She was found in a water-filled ravine about 100 yards from the former site of her mobile home. The frame of the mobile home was wrapped around the trunks of two trees that were stripped of all their limbs. Most of the levelled frame homes were concentrated on Boaz Road and Rolling Hills Road, in or near Hillerman. After passing through Hillerman, the tornado overturned dozens of railroad cars of a train just west of the Mermet Lake Conservation Area, which is off U.S. Route 45. The Mermet Lake Conservation Area was extensively damaged. An estimated 300 acres of forest were destroyed, boat docks were destroyed, and bathing facilities were destroyed. Dozens of waterfowl were found dead. After destroying additional residences and high tension power lines, the tornado crossed Interstate 24 near mile marker 28, about a mile south of the New Columbia exit. Tractor-trailer rigs and a tour bus were overturned on the interstate, injuring the drivers. The interstate was closed due to grain bins, tree limbs, and some building debris on the highway. Additional residences were destroyed between the interstate and the Pope County line. The tornado crossed into Pope County near where Illinois Route 145 crosses the county line. In Massac County, a total of 15 single-family houses and 13 mobile homes were destroyed. About 20 other single-family houses and 15 mobile homes received major damage. Several dozen other residences had some type of minor damage. Numerous vehicles and farming implements were destroyed, including combines. About 20 persons were injured in Massac County, but only one or two were hospitalized in serious or critical condition. Most of the injuries involved lacerations, bruises, broken bones, and internal injuries. Near Hillerman, a deputy sheriff escaped unhurt after his patrol car was thrown about 50 yards and struck by a flying tree and telephone pole. F65MH The deadliest and most destructive storm of the night tracked within 10 miles of the Ohio River across extreme southern Illinois. The storm produced a 33-mile long tornado that killed two and injured about 33. A small but very damaging downburst occurred several miles south of the tornado track. A swath of large hail occurred north of the tornado track. Hailstones up to 2 inches in diameter were reported at and near the intersection of Highways 145 and 147, near the community of Glendale in Pope County. | |||||||||||
| 45.7 | 2003-05-06 | 2 | 37°05'N / 89°18'W | 36°58'N / 89°09'W | 7.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Mississippi |
| Brief Description: This tornado formed on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, crossed the river into Missouri at the Interstate 57 bridge, then crossed the river into Kentucky. On the Interstate 57 bridge over the Mississippi River, three 18-wheelers were flipped over, closing the bridge for several hours. The Missouri portion of the track was mainly across undeveloped river bottomland, used mainly for planting crops. | |||||||||||
| 45.7 | 1978-05-12 | 3 | 36°49'N / 87°45'W | 36°50'N / 87°42'W | 3.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Trigg |
| 45.8 | 1995-05-18 | 2 | 36°26'N / 89°28'W | 36°33'N / 89°11'W | 15.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0.1M | 5K | Lake |
| Brief Description: The tornado first tocuhed down about seven miles north of Tiptonville and continued to move northeast through the Reelfoot Lake area. The tornado then moved into Obion County near the town of Walnut Log and eventually moved into Fulton County, Kentucky. Two horses were killed when they were picked up by the tornado. One house had part of its roof torn off, lost part of his carport and had several windows broken. Another house lost part of its siding. Several boats and boat trailers were destroyed. A barn and six grain silos were destroyed. Some cotton trailers were blown over. Several trees and power lines were knocked down. Some crops were damaged as well. | |||||||||||
| 45.8 | 1971-05-07 | 4 | 36°03'N / 88°42'W | 35°58'N / 88°12'W | 28.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 3 | 137 | 2.5M | 0 | Carroll |
| 46.0 | 1955-03-20 | 3 | 36°45'N / 89°22'W | 36°48'N / 89°20'W | 3.60 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 17 | 250K | 0 | Mississippi |
| 46.1 | 1957-04-03 | 2 | 37°04'N / 89°11'W | 37°06'N / 89°11'W | 2.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Pulaski |
| 46.3 | 1952-03-21 | 3 | 36°01'N / 88°16'W | 36°04'N / 88°12'W | 5.10 Miles | 177 Yards | 0 | 19 | 250K | 0 | Carroll |
| 46.4 | 2000-05-27 | 3 | 36°19'N / 87°58'W | 36°19'N / 87°40'W | 17.20 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.3M | 0 | Houston |
| Brief Description: The storm complex that produced a tornado in Benton county moved into Houston county and generated a tornado that hit Tennessee Ridge and Erin. The Houston county executive estimated 1.3 million dollars worth of damage. Roofs and walls of some well constructed homes were torn off. Many trees were snapped and blown down along with power lines. The Betty Ligon Pavillion in Erin was flattened. 50 people required shelter at Erin. A storage trailer was moved 50 feet at Tennessee Ridge. | |||||||||||
| 46.5 | 2003-05-06 | 3 | 37°18'N / 88°41'W | 37°23'N / 88°29'W | 13.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Pope |
| Brief Description: The tornado entered Pope County near where Illinois Route 145 crosses the Massac County line. The tornado passed near the communities of Temple Hill, Homberg, and Brownfield. In Pope County, three mobile homes and four permanent homes were destroyed, along with numerous barns and outbuildings. An additional nine single-family homes and two mobile homes received major damage. Dozens of other residences received minor to moderate damage. Some vehicles were rolled or moved. The tornado passed just west and northwest of Golconda before ending about a mile north of town. Just west of Golconda, the roof was blown off the county elementary school's gymnasium. Despite the seven destroyed residences, not one injury was reported. The maximum intensity of the tornado was rated F-3 in Pope County, and F-4 in Massac and Pulaski Counties. The slightly lower intensity of the tornado, combined with the fact it narrowly missed the center of several Pope County communities, may partly explain the lack of injuries. When the tornado ended just north of Golconda, it had been on the ground for 33 miles and an hour and ten minutes. Where the track of the tornado ended near Golconda, the Ohio River and Kentucky state line were less than a mile away. The deadliest and most destructive storm of the night tracked within 10 miles of the Ohio River across extreme southern Illinois. The storm produced a 33-mile long tornado that killed two and injured about 33. A small but very damaging downburst occurred several miles south of the tornado track. A swath of large hail occurred north of the tornado track. Hailstones up to 2 inches in diameter were reported at and near the intersection of Highways 145 and 147, near the community of Glendale in Pope County. | |||||||||||
| 46.8 | 1970-04-24 | 3 | 37°10'N / 88°02'W | 37°12'N / 87°55'W | 6.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 3 | 0K | 0 | Caldwell |
| 47.1 | 1971-07-15 | 2 | 36°51'N / 89°21'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 6 | 25K | 0 | Mississippi | |
| 47.6 | 2003-05-06 | 2 | 37°03'N / 89°21'W | 37°00'N / 89°11'W | 3.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 1 | 300K | 0 | Alexander |
| Brief Description: The tornado formed northwest of Cairo near the Mississippi River. Three tractor-trailer rigs were overturned on the Interstate 57 bridge over the Mississippi River. The tornado tracked through Cairo, damaging dozens of homes and several businesses. One single-family home was destroyed, injuring a child who was cut by flying debris. Of the damaged homes, about four sustained major damage, and the rest had mainly minor damage. | |||||||||||
| 48.2 | 1997-03-01 | 4 | 36°06'N / 89°10'W | 36°08'N / 88°57'W | 10.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0 | Gibson |
| Brief Description: A tornado developed in Mississippi county Arkansas near the town of Lennie. Three mobile homes were damaged or destroyed and a cotton trailer was over turned. The tornado touched down again in Dyer county in Tennessee. The most severe damage with the tornado occurred in Dyer county. A thirteen-year-old girl was killed at her home which was destroyed by the tornado in the town of Finley. One hundred ninety building were damaged or destroyed in Dyer county including Dyer County High School. The tornado then continued into Gibson county where eight homes were damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down as well. | |||||||||||
| 48.3 | 1973-11-24 | 2 | 36°47'N / 89°26'W | 36°50'N / 89°20'W | 6.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mississippi |
| 48.3 | 2003-05-06 | 4 | 37°16'N / 89°02'W | 37°16'N / 88°56'W | 6.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 1 | 13 | 3.5M | 0 | Pulaski |
| Brief Description: This violent tornado began near Grand Chain and reached its maximum intensity of 210 MPH as it neared the Massac County line. A 53-year-old man was killed when the chimney of his house collapsed on him. The man, who was in his basement, was protecting his son by lying on top of him when the collapse occurred. The son received broken bones. Their house was impaled by some nearby large trees that prevented it from being swept farther away. Along the Pulaski County portion of the tornado path, six single family homes and ten mobile homes were destroyed. Another ten single family homes and a mobile home had major damage. A few dozen other residences received some type of minor damage. A few dozen outbuildings, two businesses, and a campground were destroyed or had major damage. Approximately 13 persons were injured, but only a few of those required hospitalization. All roads in the damage area were impassable due to large numbers of trees and building debris on them. Many of the tornado victims in this county had no insurance on their residences. The area of most intense destruction was along Tick Ridge Road, a state road that follows a ridge above the Ohio River. M53PH The deadliest and most destructive storm of the night tracked within 10 miles of the Ohio River across extreme southern Illinois. The storm produced a 33-mile long tornado that killed two and injured about 33. A small but very damaging downburst occurred several miles south of the tornado track. A swath of large hail occurred north of the tornado track. Hailstones up to 2 inches in diameter were reported at and near the intersection of Highways 145 and 147, near the community of Glendale in Pope County. | |||||||||||
| 48.3 | 2002-04-28 | 3 | 37°21'N / 88°43'W | 37°23'N / 88°28'W | 12.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 400K | 0 | Pope |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down near Dixon Springs and tracked east, parallel and very close to Illinois Route 146. The path was through rural farm country and the Shawnee National Forest. A couple of farm buildings were damaged near the beginning of the track. Where the tornado crossed Route 146, a mobile home was destroyed, injuring one person. On the north side of Golconda, one brick home was destroyed and a couple of nearby homes were damaged. The tornado then crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky. | |||||||||||
| 48.5 | 1957-12-18 | 2 | 37°18'N / 88°55'W | 0.10 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Johnson | |
| 48.7 | 1955-04-22 | 3 | 36°40'N / 89°31'W | 36°43'N / 89°18'W | 12.40 Miles | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | New Madrid |
| 48.8 | 2002-04-28 | 2 | 37°23'N / 88°28'W | 37°21'N / 88°18'W | 10.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 40K | 0 | Livingston |
| Brief Description: This tornado crossed the Ohio River just upriver from Golconda, Illinois. It tracked eastward across northern Livingston County, over rural wooded and farm country. Many thousands of trees were blown down. Few structures were in the path of the tornado. A mobile home was destroyed, and at least a couple of farm buildings were damaged. | |||||||||||
| 49.5 | 1968-04-04 | 4 | 36°58'N / 87°48'W | 37°05'N / 87°42'W | 9.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 5 | 0K | 0 | Caldwell |
| 49.7 | 2007-10-18 | 2 | 37°01'N / 87°50'W | 37°04'N / 87°41'W | 9.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0K | Caldwell |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. Trees landed across roads. At least a half dozen small barns were destroyed. Several roofs were lifted and torn off houses. Major structural damage was reported to seven homes. Windows were broken in houses. Peak winds were estimated near 110 mph. The damage path ended very close to the boundary of the Pennyrile State Forest. EPISODE NARRATIVE: The second and more significant severe weather outbreak of the day occurred as a cold front swept east across the Mississippi Valley. Scattered thunderstorms developed along and ahead of the front late in the afternoon. The storms organized into supercells and short lines during the evening. Over a dozen tornadoes occurred in western Kentucky. | |||||||||||
| 50.0 | 1979-04-11 | 2 | 37°09'N / 88°11'W | 37°23'N / 87°51'W | 24.40 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Crittenden |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.