Paducah, KY – A record-setting tornado season has gripped the region in 2025, with the National Weather Service in Paducah confirming that 59 tornadoes have touched down across its 58-county forecast area.
According to the National Weather Service, the 59 tornadoes match the 2024 total, making it the second-highest annual count on record—trailing only 2011, which recorded 79 tornadoes. The tornadoes this year have already left 567 miles of tracks, surpassing the previous record of 449.8 miles set in 2011.
Missouri has seen the highest number of tornadoes among the affected states, with 24 reported so far in 2025. Illinois has experienced 16, Kentucky 12, and Indiana 9. Two tornadoes crossed into multiple states during their paths, according to officials.
Significantly, nine of this year’s tornadoes have been rated EF-3 or higher, marking the most high-intensity twisters in a single year since 1957. For comparison, the region recorded only four EF-3+ tornadoes between 2014 and 2023, highlighting the unusual strength and frequency of recent storms. In the past 13 months alone, there have been 13 such powerful tornadoes, including four in 2024.
The breakdown of tornado strength for 2025 so far includes 5 EF-0, 28 EF-1, 17 EF-2, 7 EF-3, and 2 EF-4 tornadoes. Many of the storms have tracked through counties across southern Missouri, western Kentucky, and southern Illinois, prompting continued alerts and preparedness messaging from local weather authorities.
The Paducah office urges residents to remain alert as peak tornado season continues into the summer months.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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