NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Dawson Springs, KY
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
3 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Dawson Springs, Kentucky since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Olga in 2019. Since 1950, 99 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 18 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 3
- Tornadoes
- 99
- EF3 or stronger
- 18
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
68 deaths in all
What the records show for Dawson Springs
None of the 3 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Dawson Springs; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, a tropical storm with 56 mph winds when its centre passed 36 miles away. The record near Dawson Springs begins with an unnamed storm in 1888; the most recent system was Olga in 2019, a tropical storm 68 miles away. Of the 281 Kentucky cities on this site, 73% have more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than Dawson Springs. The highest rating among the 99 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4 or EF4, reached 3 times; the most recent, on December 10, 2021, came within 5 miles. Of the 99, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 81 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 28. The most recent tornado was on May 16, 2025. Dawson Springs has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 80% of the 281 Kentucky cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 37 times since 1964, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 281 Kentucky cities, 82% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Dawson Springs.
Compare Dawson Springs's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Dawson Springs
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 20 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 21 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Dawson Springs: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Dawson Springs
By decade
- 2020s12(2 EF3+)
- 2010s36(2 EF3+)
- 2000s33(8 EF3+)
- 1990s5
- 1980s1
- 1970s3(2 EF3+)
- 1960s6(3 EF3+)
- 1950s3(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 2021 | EF4 | 5 mi | 168.53 mi | 57 / 515 |
| Apr 3, 1968 | F4 | 5 mi | 50.6 mi | 2 / 30 |
| Nov 15, 2005 | F4 | 10 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 40 |
| Nov 17, 2013 | EF3 | 24 mi | 42.5 mi | 3 / 34 |
| Feb 5, 2008 | EF3 | 25 mi | 18.05 mi | 3 / 24 |
| May 26, 2024 | EF3 | 2 mi | 34.14 mi | 1 / 21 |
| Nov 15, 2005 | F3 | 20 mi | 44 mi | 1 / 20 |
| Apr 3, 1956 | F3 | 23 mi | 22.9 mi | 1 / 2 |
| Nov 17, 2013 | EF3 | 11 mi | 8.23 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF3 | 12 mi | 2.02 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Apr 2, 2006 | F3 | 20 mi | 29.7 mi | 0 / 28 |
| Nov 6, 2005 | F3 | 23 mi | 11.2 mi | 0 / 5 |
The strongest 12 of 99, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Dawson Springs
The Storm Prediction Center has 37 hail reports within 10 miles of Dawson Springs since 1964, made on 30 separate days. Of these, 21 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on May 19, 2005. The most recent report is from September 19, 2025. April has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Dawson Springs
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Princeton 1 SE, KY, 11 miles west of Dawson Springs at 497 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 68°F; January is the coolest, at 46°F and 27°F. April is the wettest at 5.1 inches of precipitation on average and September the driest at 3.3 inches; the year adds up to 51.1 inches over 79 days with at least a tenth of an inch. Highs reach 90°F on about 49 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 78 nights a year. Snowfall averages 8.5 inches a year, most of it in February. That 51.1 inches is more than at 51 of the 93 Kentucky stations used on this site (55%). Nortonville, 12 miles east, has its own station (Madisonville, KY): 52.2 inches a year, 1.1 more than here, and the same July average high, 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46 | 27 | 3.7 | 6 | 2.6 |
| Feb | 51 | 30 | 4.1 | 6 | 2.7 |
| Mar | 61 | 38 | 4.8 | 8 | 1.4 |
| Apr | 72 | 47 | 5.1 | 8 | 0.0 |
| May | 79 | 56 | 4.8 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 86 | 64 | 4.5 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 89 | 68 | 4.5 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 89 | 66 | 3.5 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 83 | 59 | 3.3 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 73 | 47 | 4.1 | 6 | 0.1 |
| Nov | 60 | 37 | 4.1 | 7 | 0.1 |
| Dec | 49 | 30 | 4.6 | 7 | 1.6 |
| Year | 70 | 47 | 51.1 | 79 | 8.5 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Princeton 1 SE, KY (497 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Dawson Springs
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 37 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Dawson Springs: 25 thunderstorm wind reports, 6 floods, 5 flash floods and 1 heavy rain event. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $1.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 96 mph, on July 19, 2012. July has had the most flash floods, 2 of 5. Of the 281 Kentucky cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 1 have had fewer than Dawson Springs.
June 24, 2013: flash flood 8 miles from the centre of Dawson Springs — $500,000 damage.
July 19, 2012: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Dawson Springs — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “A microburst containing winds estimated near 95 mph struck Lake Beshear. The damage area was 500 yards wide and one-half mile long.”
February 23, 2018: flood 3 miles from the centre of Dawson Springs — $200,000 damage.
NWS: “S. Highway 62 was restricted to one lane due to a landslide near the Hopkins County line.”
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Hopkins County, which includes Dawson Springs, has been named in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 23 of them major disasters (by incident: 17 severe storms, 3 tornadoes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, on April 24, 2025. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Hopkins County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for strong wind; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail and lightning; Relatively Low for inland flooding and heat waves; Very Low for hurricanes. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $25.6 million a year, the 22nd highest of 120 Kentucky counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $9.4 million (37%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Dawson Springs in the notable storm records: The December 10, 2021 EF4 Tornado in Tennessee, near Mayfield, KY
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Dawson Springs
- Princeton, KY11 mi
- Nortonville, KY12 mi
- Madisonville, KY14 mi
- Crofton, KY15 mi
- Providence, KY15 mi
- Hanson, KY20 mi
- Eddyville, KY21 mi
- Clay, KY22 mi
- Dixon, KY23 mi
- Marion, KY24 mi
- Hopkinsville, KY25 mi
- Cadiz, KY25 mi
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