Tornadoes hit in and near Kentucky in February. How common is it?

Over the weekend, an EF-1 tornado touched down in Southern Indiana, near Louisville, and another in Henry and Trimble Counties, impacting the Port Royal community, the National Weather Service confirmed.

According to the Courier Journal, the tornado hit Underwood, Indiana, at about 4:45 a.m. on Saturday, with estimated peak winds of 90 mph. Its unexpected arrival put parts of Indiana and Kentucky under a Hazardous Weather Outlook, the NWS stated at 9:36 a.m.

Winter tornado: EF-1 tornado with 90 mph winds confirmed in Southern Indiana

How common are tornadoes in Kentucky?

According to the U.S. News & World Report, only 1.7% of tornadoes nationally since 1950 have taken place in Kentucky. Compared to other states, it isn’t as heavily impacted, ranking 25^th for total number of tornadoes in 2021, and 23^rd historically.

The states with the greatest number of tornadoes include Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

How common are tornadoes in February?

According to Fox Weather, an average of 44 tornadoes take place in the U.S. each February, the second-least-active month after December. On average, December sees an average of 32 tornadoes. During February, the general risk stretches from southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois and the western half of Kentucky and southward to the Gulf Coast and portions of the Southeast, including cities like Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, Memphis and Tampa.

According to an email from Brian Miller of the National Weather Service Office in Paducah to the Courier Journal, the most active months for severe weather in the state are the spring, March, April and May. He also provided a list of tornado statistics in Kentucky during February over the last ten years, excluding 2024, and the list is as follows:

• 2013: 0
• 2014: 2
• 2015: 0
• 2016: 0
• 2017: 4
• 2018: 7
• 2019: 1
• 2020: 0
• 2021: 0
• 2022: 1
• 2023: 0

What to know: Tornado damage reported in Kentucky.

How do you stay safe during a tornado?

The following recommendations are from the National Weather Service:

• Get as low as you can to the ground. A basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a building offers the greatest safety. Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible. Avoid windows.
• Tornadoes could be obscured by rainfall or come at nighttime. Do not wait until you see or hear the tornado, it may be too late.
• Do not waste time opening or closing windows and doors. Use those valuable seconds to find a place of safety.
• In homes or public buildings: go to the basement or a small interior room, such as a closet, bathroom or an interior hall on the lowest level. Close all doors to the hallway for greater protection. If possible, get under something sturdy like a heavy table. Protect yourself from flying debris with pillows, heavy coats, blankets or quilts. Use bicycle or motorcycle helmets to protect your head.
• In mobile homes: leave well in advance of the approaching severe weather and go to a strong building. If there is no shelter nearby, get into the nearest ditch, low spot or underground culvert. Lie flat, covering your head with your hands for protection.
• In vehicles or outdoors: when tornadoes are possible, limit your outdoor plans or finish them early. Stay close to a sturdy shelter. If caught outside, find shelter in a ditch or remain in your vehicle and cover your head for protection. Do not take shelter under a highway overpass, where wind speeds can increase due to a tunneling effect. It is best to not put yourself or others in a situation where no sturdy shelter is available.
• Remember, stay away from doors, windows, outside walls and protect your head.