EF2 Tornado — Barren, Kentucky
2025-04-03 · near Griderville, Barren, Kentucky
Event narrative
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.
The tornado first touched down along Jack Turner Road, approximately three and a half miles east-southeast of Cave City. An older wooden barn was completely destroyed; given the construction of the barn, a more conservative wind estimate of 105 mph was given for this damage. The tornado then tracked over open farmland for about one mile before causing damage to several structures along Spillman Road. Parts of the roof were taken off of several barns, and additional damage to a mobile home was noted. Winds in this area were estimated at EF1 strength, between 90 and 95 mph.
As the tornado moved across US Route 31E, more significant damage was observed with a roof being blown off a single story home. Damage from this house was thrown a quarter of a mile downstream, with winds in this area being estimated at 120 mph, or EF2 strength. About 400 yards downstream, several barns and other outbuildings were impacted by the tornado, with damage ranging from minor peeling of roofing material to complete destruction of a shed.
The intensity of the tornado was difficult to assess over the next one and a quarter miles as it once again passed over mainly open farmland. Another area of significant structural damage occurred along Hiseville Bear Wallow Road, where substantial losses of roofing material was observed at one residence, and the entire roof was taken off another residence. The damage in this area was consistent with wind speeds of 115 to
120 mph, or EF2 strength. Scattered snapped and uprooted trees were also observed in this area.
Damage intensity lessened considerably beyond this point, with minor tree damage noted just west of Rock Springs Church Road, indicative of EF0 strength with 80 mph winds. The tornado lifted near Rock Springs Church Road, about 0.6 miles south of the Hart County line.
Wider weather episode
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.
View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.1219, -85.8939)
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1258705. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.