Louisville, KY

Weather Forecast Office

April 2-6, 2025 Severe Weather and Flooding

Overview

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 southern Indiana and 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, 8 tornadoes touched down from late evening into the overnight on April 2nd and 3rd, including one EF-3, two EF-2's, and 5 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 Summary of Tornado Tracks from the April 2-3 Event

Tornado Timeline from the April 2-3 Event


A destroyed business from the Jeffersontown EF-3 tornado.	A mobile home was thrown and completely destroyed in the Washington county IN EF-2 tornado.	NWS Louisville drone picture of heavy roof damage scattered downwind during the Barren county KY EF-2.

Tornado
Photos
Flooding
Storm Reports
Rainfall
Environment

Tornadoes

Tornado - East Louisville
Jefferson County, KY

Date	4/3/25
Time (Local)	12:29 - 12:39 AM EDT
EF Rating	EF-3
Est. Peak Winds	145 MPH
Path Length	9.68 Miles
Max Width	350 Yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A tornado touched down, beginning along Watterson Trail and Rivanna Dr, continuing into a heavily industrial section west of Blankenbaker Dr, crossing near the cloverleaf of I-265 and I-64, and then continuing into some residential areas along Beckley Station Road, crossing Shelbyville Rd, and then lifting near Long Run Rd and Pope Dale Rd. It was on the ground for just under 10 miles and lasted 10 minutes. Its widest point is estimated at 350 yards and peak winds of 145 mph, or an EF3 tornado. More...

Track Map

EF-Scale

Downloadable KMZ File


12:31 AM EDT: Tornado warned storm with a notable rotation couplet quickly moving toward the I-64 & I-265 interchange. Tornado is on the ground at this point.	12:34 AM EDT: Radar signatures now presenting with a TDS (Tornado Debris Signature) as the rotation crossed over the I-64 & I-265 interchange. This signature prompted the radar operator to go with a "Radar Confirmed" tag on the warning.	12:37 AM EDT: Tornadic storm has quickly moved NE and is now crossing US 60 just east of Valhalla Golf Club. TDS signature is even more pronounced as smaller debris continues to be lofted. The lower right panel depicts Correlation Coefficient, and lower values indicated returns of various sizes. In this case, debris.	12:40 AM EDT: The tornado has now lifted in far NE Jefferson county, however you can still see debris suspended in the air from the lower right Correlation Coefficient panel.

Tornado - Shorts Corner/New Salem
Washington/Scott County, IN

Date	4/2/25
Time (Local)	11:20 - 11:33 PM EDT
EF Rating	EF-2
Est. Peak Winds	115 MPH
Path Length	15.76 miles
Max Width	600 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An EF2 tornado, with peak winds of 115 mph, tracked across a little over a 15-mile stretch of southern and eastern Washington County late Wednesday night. It likely dissipated over the heavily forested area along the Washington/Scott county border. It was on the ground for 13 minutes and had a peak width of 600 yards. More...

Track Map

EF-Scale

Downloadable KMZ File


1120 PM EDT: Tornado has just touched down west of Highway 135 near Shorts Corner. Radar velocity data actually shows three separate circulations embedded within the line, prompting a larger tornado warning than typical.	1125 PM EDT: The next three images show the classic evolution of a line break mesovortex tornado associated with a Rear Inflow Jet (RIJ). The dry slot just NW of New Pekin is associated with the RIJ, and is pushing into the back side of the storm. This surge cause a "line break" in reflectivity.	1126 PM EDT: The line break is complete and an increasingly strong mesovortex has developed on the tip of the trailing reflectivity hook. We are now seeing gate to gate shear on the Storm Relative Velocity Product.	1130 PM EDT: Very strong rotational velocity at this point close to where the tornado was producing EF-2 damage. You'll also notice that there is now a TDS signature showing up in the Correlation Coefficient product on the lower right panel.

Tornado - Griderville
Barren County, KY

Date	4/3/25
Time (Local)	1:04 - 1:09 AM CDT
EF Rating	EF-2
Est. Peak Winds	120 mph
Path Length	4.89 miles
Max Width	400 yards
Injuries/Deaths	1/0
Summary: A tornado tracked across northern Barren County during the early morning hours on Thursday, April 3rd. The tornado was on the ground for just under five miles and about five minutes, tracking from the southwest to the northeast. The tornado peaked at EF2 intensity with maximum winds of 120 mph and had a maximum width of approximately 400 yards. More...

Track Map

EF-Scale

Downloadable KMZ File


202 AM EDT: Another classic QLCS mesovortex evolution. This radar image is 2 minutes before tornado touchdown, and you can clearly see a Rear Inflow Jet (RIJ) pushing into the back of the storm, and causing it to bow out. This is one of three ingredients we look for when tornado warning on mesovortices. The other two ingredients were also met by this time, but aren't easily seen with these images. Since these evolve so quickly, meteorologists must anticipate using radar signatures, trends, and environment to get lead time on these types of tornadoes.	204 AM EDT: The EF-2 tornado is touching down around this time ESE of Cave City. One of the confidence builders for tornadogenesis is a "front end nub", or hook; which you can clearly see in conjunction with the rotational couplet that is tightening.	206 AM EDT: The tornado continues on to the NE toward Griderville across NE Barren county. It continues to keep it's tornadic signatures and appearance.	208 AM EDT: This is the last radar image just before the tornado lifted.

Tornado - Rowland to Preachersville
Lincoln/Garrard County, KY

Date	4/3/25
Time (Local)	3:07 - 3:15 AM EDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	95 mph
Path Length	8.99 miles
Max Width	90 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A storm damage team surveyed EF1 tornado damage with a max wind speed around 95 mph and a max width of 90 yards in Lincoln and Garrard Counties. The tornado touched down near the intersection of US Highway 27 South and KY Highway 698, where it collapsed a barn and topped some softwood trees. The tornado then continued south of Rowland where some more trees were topped. More...

Track Map

EF-Scale

Downloadable KMZ File


259 AM EDT: Here is a longer and more spread out view of a tornadic mesovortex evolution. Here you see the storm across western Lincoln county 8 minutes before tornado touchdown. Tornado warning is already out given that the storm has a rear inflow jet, and is starting to develop a front inflow notch as well. It is beginning to display the same signs of tornadic potential as previous storms.	305 AM EDT: This is an image of the storm 2 minutes before tornado touchdown and the rotational couplet has tightened just south of Stanford.	308 AM EDT: Here is the storm 1 minute after tornado touchdown with an impressive velocity couplet and even "gate to gate" shear.	314 AM EDT: Here is the storm 1 minute before the tornado ends. You can see the rotational couplet is cross into Garrard county, and has weakened somewhat since the previous radar image.

Tornado - Southeast of Bardstown
Nelson County, KY

Date	4/3/25
Time (Local)	1:16 AM - 1:19 AM EDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	105 mph
Path Length	1.97 miles
Max Width	175 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An EF1 tornado, with maximum winds of 105 mph, tracked across a two 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. More...

Track Map

EF-Scale

Downloadable KMZ File


114 AM EDT: 2 minutes before tornado touchdown, a notable reflectivity hook and developing velocity couplet can be seen just east of Balltown.	116 AM EDT: Tornado is touching down around this time. A strong rotational couplet is now evident on radar, including gate to gate shear.	118 AM EDT: The tornado is continuing ENE toward US 150, with a notable velocity couplet still intact. Tornado is likely rain-wrapped at this point based on reflectivity hook becoming less apparent.	119 AM EDT: Tornado is lifting by this time with the notable features from earlier displaying a weakening trend.

Tornado - New Albany
Floyd County, IN

Date	4/2/25
Time (Local)	11:53 - 11:56 PM EDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	100 mph
Path Length	2.24 miles
Max Width	500 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: The National Weather Service conducted an initial storm survey of the New Albany area Monday, finding evidence of very sporadic straight-line wind damage of 70-75 mph along a path from Quarry Rd to Green Valley road near the Green Valley Elementary School. The survey team criss- crossed the roads looking for damage along the expected path, but thanks to reports submitted and archived by multiple sources, including TV media reports, we noticed that the worst damage was a little left (north) of the expected path. Cataloging those damage points, and noting the direction the trees/power poles fell, we have concluded that an EF1 tornado did touch down along a little more than 2-mile path in New Albany. Peak winds were near 100 mph with a width of 500 yards. Damage was not consistent along the entire width of the tornado. More...

Track Map

EF-Scale

Downloadable KMZ File


1150 PM EDT: The New Albany tornado was spawned from a supercell rather than the QLCS storm mode for the other tornadoes. This image is 3 minutes before touchdown, showing a classic hook echo and correlated velocity couplet.	1152 PM EDT: This image is 1 minute before touchdown as the supercell tracks ENE into New Albany.	1154 PM EDT: EF-1 damage is occurring in New Albany as the tornadic signature continues to lift ENE.	1157 PM EDT: The tornado has lifted however the storm is still producing severe winds as the RFD (Rear Flank Downdraft) surges into the back side.

Tornado - Burdick
Taylor County, KY

Date	4/3/25
Time (Local)	2:29 AM EDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	110 MPH
Path Length	6.96 Miles
Max Width	125 Yards
Injuries/Deaths	1/0
Summary: A storm damage team surveyed EF1 tornado damage with a max wind speed around 110 mph and a max width of 125 yards in Taylor county Kentucky. The tornado touched down southwest of Burdick along Milder Creek Road and Lemon Bend Road where cedar tree damage occurred. The tornado then continued between Joe Kerr Road and Gilpin Road, twisting trees and damaging a roof structure. The tornado then continued to Joe Kerr Road and Milder Creek Road, where it took a roof off a garage barn and did damage to several trees. More...

Track Map

EF-Scale

Downloadable KMZ File


225 AM EDT: This image is 4 minutes before tornado touchdown, and shows a QLCS line segment moving from eastern Green into Taylor county. Nothing immediately tornadic about this, although there is a reflectivity "tag" moving south to north up the line, and can be a confidence builder for tornado potential at times.	227 AM EDT: As the reflectivity tag moves north up the line, you'll see a rapidly developing hook and front inflow notch, along with a tightening velocity couplet. These signatures evolve quickly and must be anticipated to get much, if any, lead time in a QLCS environment.	229 AM EDT: The evolution continues. Tornado is touching down now.	2:31 AM EDT: Reflectivity hook is fully developed now, along with gate to gate shear on the velocity couplet. The tornado will continue ENE for another 4 or 5 minutes toward Green River Lake.

Tornado - Renaker
Harrison, KY

Date	4/3/25
Time (Local)	1:27 AM EDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	100 MPH
Path Length	9.55 Miles
Max Width	50 Yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: 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 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. More...

Track Map

EF-Scale

Downloadable KMZ File


125 AM EDT: Another QLCS storm mode with rear inflow jet surging into the strorm and creating a mesovortex tornado. This is image is 2 minutes before touchdown.	127 AM EDT: Tornado touching down around this time.	129 AM EDT: Tornado continues ENE toward Berry and Antioch.	131 AM EDT: Tornado lifts near US 27 just south of Antioch, KY

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Damage Photos:


Jeffersontown EF3 Damage	Jeffersontown EF3 Damage	Harrison County EF1 Damage	Lincoln County EF1 Damage


Taylor County EF1 Damage	Washington County EF2 Damage	Washington County EF2 Damage	Barren County EF2 Damage

Flooding

A separate page will be made for the areal and river flooding from this event.

Storm Reports

The Summary LSR can be found here.

Rain Reports

6 Day Storm Total Rainfall

Environment

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 southern Indiana and 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. Here is the storm summary for this event.


Figure 1: Surface analysis from the evening of April 2nd into the 3rd showed a strong area of low pressure in the upper Midwest to the Great Lakes region. Southern Indiana and central Kentucky were situated in a broad "warm sector" between the retreating warm front well to our north, and an approaching cold front from the west. Warm, moist, and breezy conditions on April 2 ahead of the event resulted from this setup.	Figure 2: 850 mb analysis on the evening of April 2nd into the 3rd revealed strong low level moisture transport associated with a 50-75 knot low level jet. These strong low level winds and deep Gulf moisture moving into our area provided the ingredients for strengthening and turning winds with height, as well as added heavy rain potential. Overall, the shear profile strengthened considerably from this feature, and allowed for rotating storms.	Figure 3: 500 mb analysis on the evening of April 2nd into the 3rd revealed an intense mid to upper level jet stream from the southern Plains up into the Great Lakes region. This feature provided strong "forcing" or broad lift over the warm and moist sector, which helped spark severe thunderstorms. The upper jet stream also added to the overall strength of the wind shear profile. Storm motions were ranging between 60 and 70 mph due to the speed of the winds through the atmospheric column!

Near-storm environment summary:


Figure 4: Surface Based CAPE, or fuel for thunderstorms, ranged in the 1000 to 1500 J/KG range through much of the event. Given the time of year this level of instability would be characterized as moderate instability. However, given the amount of wind shear it was more than sufficient for strong and rotating updrafts.	Figure 5: Effective Storm Relative Helicity tells how much wind shear the storm is able to ingest. Any of these values over 150-200 M2/S2 are supportive of tornado potential. On this evening, values ranged between 500 and 700 M2/S2!	Figure 6: The Significant Tornado Parameter is a composite parameter that pairs and highlights where instability and shear overlap. Where those two ingredient overlap is where tornado potential can maximize. On this evening, you can see a strong axis of Significant Tornado Parameters nosing into southern Indiana and central Kentucky. Any of these values over .25 are notable, and our values were mostly in the 1 to 3 range through the evening which is more than sufficient for a significant tornado (EF-2 or greater).


Figure 7: LCL Height tells the height of the cloud base when an air parcel is forced to rise. Over the southwestern Indiana and central Kentucky LCL heights were near 750 meters, which is conducive for tornadogensis.	Figure 8: 0-3 km Bulk Shear shows the amount of rotation of the winds that helps storms become organized. Over the western portion of the area, Bulk Shear was 50-60kts, which is more than enough support for strong, organized supercells.

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