Cynthiana, KY Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Cynthiana is about the same as Kentucky average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Cynthiana is higher than Kentucky average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #323
| Cynthiana, KY | 0.10 |
| Kentucky | 0.24 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Cynthiana, KY | 0.0000 |
| Kentucky | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #524
| Cynthiana, KY | 162.60 |
| Kentucky | 136.89 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 4,110 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Cynthiana, KY were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 0 | Cold: | 30 | Dense Fog: | 37 | Drought: | 18 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 816 | Hail: | 705 | Heat: | 32 | Heavy Snow: | 37 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 18 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 40 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,220 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 1 | Winter Storm: | 40 | Winter Weather: | 35 |
| Other: | 81 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Cynthiana, KY.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 1 historical earthquake event that had a recorded magnitude of 3.5 or above found in or near Cynthiana, KY.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 25.8 | 1980-07-27 | 5.1 | 8 | 38.17 | -83.91 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 67 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Cynthiana, KY.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 1.8 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 38°20'N / 84°26'W | 38°29'N / 84°11'W | 17.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 27 | 25K | 0 | Harrison |
| 2.7 | 2008-02-06 | 2 | 38°21'N / 84°22'W | 38°22'N / 84°19'W | 3.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 1 | 500K | 200K | Harrison |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado touched down near 812 Mt. Vernon Road, damaging a home and a barn at that location. Along Connersville Road, the tornado lifted the roofs off three homes and damaged three others. It also destroyed several barns and outbuildings, and snapped numerous hardwood trees. It damaged a few more barns and trees before lifting about a half mile southwest of Cynthiana. Several businesses in the city of Cynthiana had sign damage from 70 mph straight line winds. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A cold front along with a strong upper level low produced a squall line that crossed central Kentucky. This set off widespread severe weather, and spawned several tornadoes. | |||||||||||
| 4.3 | 1964-06-15 | 2 | 38°20'N / 84°31'W | 38°24'N / 83°56'W | 31.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Scott |
| 4.5 | 1979-06-29 | 2 | 38°17'N / 84°27'W | 38°24'N / 84°17'W | 12.10 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Harrison |
| 10.9 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 38°29'N / 84°11'W | 38°31'N / 84°09'W | 2.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Robertson |
| 15.5 | 1964-06-15 | 2 | 38°18'N / 84°38'W | 38°20'N / 84°31'W | 6.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Scott |
| 16.4 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 38°14'N / 84°39'W | 38°18'N / 84°29'W | 10.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 20 | 2.5M | 0 | Scott |
| 17.6 | 1979-06-29 | 2 | 38°15'N / 84°44'W | 38°17'N / 84°27'W | 15.50 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 7 | 25K | 0 | Scott |
| 19.3 | 1986-07-12 | 2 | 38°35'N / 84°33'W | 0.10 Mile | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Preble | |
| 19.8 | 1970-04-23 | 3 | 38°13'N / 84°36'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Scott | |
| 20.7 | 1968-04-23 | 4 | 38°40'N / 84°22'W | 38°42'N / 84°13'W | 8.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 4 | 350 | 25.0M | 0 | Pendleton |
| 23.7 | 2004-05-27 | 3 | 38°05'N / 84°32'W | 38°05'N / 84°30'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 6 | 7.5M | 0 | Fayette |
| Brief Description: The tornado first touched down just east of Masterson Station Park on the subdivision road of Buck Lane. It continued east through the subdivision, causing F2 damage. The tornado then crossed an open field and creek, entering another subdivision. It appeared that the tornado reached its maximum F3 intensity in this section of the path. The tornado was on the ground intermittently as it moved to the east northeast. It struck a single house on State Road 1978, doing F2 damage. It crossed Georgetown Road and struck another subdivision near Citation Boulevard, doing F1 to F2 damage. It continued for a short distance into a field, and then lifted. There was straight line wind damage to the south of the tornado path, and additional straight line wind damage to the east after the tornado lifted. The tornado damaged 15 homes to some degree, and at least 50 home received moderate to severe damage. The hardest hit area was the Masterson Station subdivision. | |||||||||||
| 25.3 | 1956-07-19 | 2 | 38°42'N / 84°16'W | 38°42'N / 83°52'W | 21.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Pendleton |
| 25.4 | 1986-03-10 | 2 | 38°02'N / 84°30'W | 38°03'N / 84°27'W | 3.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 20 | 25.0M | 0 | Fayette |
| 25.4 | 1964-06-15 | 2 | 38°24'N / 83°56'W | 38°25'N / 83°44'W | 10.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Fleming |
| 26.1 | 1982-06-16 | 2 | 37°59'N / 84°14'W | 38°04'N / 84°04'W | 12.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Clark |
| 26.8 | 1968-04-23 | 4 | 38°42'N / 84°13'W | 38°45'N / 83°55'W | 16.40 Miles | 300 Yards | 1 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Bracken |
| 27.9 | 1996-05-08 | 2 | 38°47'N / 84°22'W | 38°47'N / 84°22'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 75K | 0 | Pendleton |
| Brief Description: Tornado hit just south of Butler, near US 27 ripping apart a two story brick home and destroying two barns. A car was severely damaged and numerous trees and utility lines were downed. | |||||||||||
| 27.9 | 1979-06-29 | 2 | 38°16'N / 84°51'W | 38°15'N / 84°44'W | 6.20 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Franklin |
| 28.2 | 1968-04-23 | 2 | 38°43'N / 84°00'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Bracken | |||
| 28.6 | 1963-04-21 | 2 | 38°05'N / 84°40'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Woodford | |
| 30.2 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 37°53'N / 84°16'W | 38°02'N / 84°04'W | 15.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 8 | 0K | 0 | Clark |
| 31.2 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 38°07'N / 84°57'W | 38°20'N / 84°44'W | 18.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 4 | 85 | 250K | 0 | Franklin |
| 32.0 | 1982-06-16 | 2 | 38°24'N / 83°48'W | 38°30'N / 83°38'W | 10.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Fleming |
| 32.5 | 1997-07-02 | 3 | 38°51'N / 84°11'W | 38°49'N / 84°04'W | 12.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.0M | 0 | Clermont |
| Brief Description: A multiple vortex tornado tracked across the southern part of the county. The tornado damaged or destroyed 56 mobile homes and 27 single family homes. Several barns and sheds were destroyed and numerous trees were downed. No serious injuries or deaths occurred with this tornado. A low pressure system with an unusually strong mid and upper level jet streak was moving across the Great Lakes with an associated cold front moving across the upper Ohio valley. Thunderstorms developed across Indiana and moved into West-Central Ohio around mid-afternoon with a distinct bow echo causing wind damage from near to Lima to southeast of Columbus. On the southern edge of the first line of storms, a supercell developed over Central Indiana. This storm evolved into a bow echo and swept across the Dayton metro area causing extensive wind damage and a brief tornado in Greene county. Another supercell developed near Cincinnati and moved southeastward along the Ohio River. This storm produced the F3 tornado in Clermont county. | |||||||||||
| 33.5 | 1981-06-09 | 2 | 38°37'N / 83°48'W | 38°37'N / 83°43'W | 4.10 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 7 | 2.5M | 0 | Mason |
| 34.1 | 1968-04-23 | 4 | 38°45'N / 83°55'W | 38°46'N / 83°52'W | 2.70 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Edmonson |
| 35.6 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 37°59'N / 83°53'W | 38°02'N / 83°49'W | 4.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Montgomery |
| 35.8 | 1967-05-07 | 3 | 38°36'N / 83°42'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mason | |
| 35.9 | 1990-06-02 | 2 | 38°52'N / 84°11'W | 38°55'N / 84°09'W | 4.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Clermont |
| 35.9 | 1956-07-13 | 2 | 38°50'N / 84°38'W | 1.00 Mile | 433 Yards | 0 | 12 | 2.5M | 0 | Boone | |
| 36.6 | 1982-03-16 | 2 | 37°54'N / 84°05'W | 37°53'N / 84°01'W | 4.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Clark |
| 36.6 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 37°50'N / 84°26'W | 37°53'N / 84°22'W | 4.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Madison |
| 37.1 | 1982-03-20 | 2 | 38°09'N / 85°01'W | 38°12'N / 84°51'W | 10.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Franklin |
| 37.2 | 1968-04-23 | 2 | 37°52'N / 84°35'W | 37°54'N / 84°32'W | 3.30 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Jessamine |
| 37.5 | 2003-05-10 | 3 | 38°37'N / 83°43'W | 38°37'N / 83°38'W | 4.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Mason |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down to the southeast of Maysville, continuing east-southeast into Lewis County. The greatest damage occurred in the Heron Hill area in western Lewis County. Seventeen people were injured in Lewis County. 21 homes were destroyed, 10 homes sustained major damage and 17 homes received minor damage. Numerous barns, buildings and garages were also damaged or destroyed. The tornado appeared to skip across parts of Mason and Lewis Counties. Tornado damage ended four miles to the southeast of Vanceburg. A warm front stalled along the Ohio River, providing the focus for several clusters of thunderstorms to move across northern Kentucky during the early morning, lasting into the afternoon. Rainfall amounts from the thunderstorms generally ranged from three to five inches. The copious amounts of rain caused creeks and streams to rise out of their banks, and many roads were flooded and impassible. | |||||||||||
| 38.2 | 1986-03-10 | 2 | 38°44'N / 83°50'W | 38°48'N / 83°45'W | 6.00 Miles | 143 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Brown |
| 38.6 | 1982-03-16 | 2 | 37°53'N / 84°01'W | 37°53'N / 83°57'W | 4.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Powell |
| 38.6 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 38°14'N / 84°44'W | 37°30'N / 84°25'W | 53.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 37 | 250K | 0 | Scott |
| 39.3 | 1968-04-23 | 4 | 38°46'N / 83°52'W | 38°48'N / 83°42'W | 9.10 Miles | 550 Yards | 1 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Brown |
| 39.7 | 1965-11-26 | 2 | 38°02'N / 84°55'W | 38°03'N / 84°52'W | 2.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 8 | 2.5M | 0 | Anderson |
| 39.9 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 37°44'N / 84°29'W | 37°53'N / 84°16'W | 15.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 7 | 20 | 0K | 0 | Madison |
| 40.4 | 1974-03-29 | 2 | 38°02'N / 84°54'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Anderson | |
| 41.3 | 1951-02-20 | 2 | 38°16'N / 85°03'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Shelby | |||
| 41.5 | 1959-02-10 | 3 | 38°38'N / 85°00'W | 1.50 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Carroll | |
| 42.5 | 1971-07-18 | 2 | 38°20'N / 85°05'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Henry | |||
| 42.9 | 1992-11-22 | 4 | 38°36'N / 85°04'W | 38°47'N / 84°55'W | 16.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 1 | 9 | 2.5M | 0 | Carroll |
| 43.5 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 38°03'N / 85°04'W | 38°07'N / 84°57'W | 7.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Anderson |
| 43.7 | 1990-05-21 | 2 | 37°45'N / 84°18'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25.0M | 0 | Madison | |
| 43.8 | 1980-04-08 | 2 | 38°57'N / 84°40'W | 1.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Boone | |
| 43.9 | 1992-11-22 | 4 | 38°47'N / 84°55'W | 38°53'N / 84°50'W | 9.70 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Switzerland |
| 44.4 | 1996-05-28 | 2 | 37°59'N / 84°58'W | 37°58'N / 84°54'W | 8.00 Miles | 575 Yards | 0 | 1 | 1.0M | 0 | Anderson |
| Brief Description: Another tornado, from the supercell that caused extensive damage across Bullitt county, was formed near Fox Creek. It moved south of Lawrenceburg. Along Route 513 near the intersection of the Blue Grass Parkway and Route 127, 13 homes and several barns were damaged. 4 homes were destroyed. The worst damage was in the Gilbert's Creek road area 5 miles south of Lawrenceburg. A number of trees were snapped off. Damage was also noted near a car dealership in the same area. One women was injured by flying glass. The storm was an F2 on the Fujita scale. The tornado continued into Woodford county but weakened to an F0 as it did some damage to trees and limbs along Lillards Ferry Road. The tornado then lifted. | |||||||||||
| 45.2 | 1992-11-22 | 4 | 38°53'N / 84°50'W | 38°55'N / 84°48'W | 1.00 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Boone |
| 46.0 | 1978-08-30 | 2 | 37°52'N / 83°49'W | 37°52'N / 83°43'W | 5.20 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Powell |
| 46.0 | 2008-02-06 | 2 | 38°16'N / 85°12'W | 38°18'N / 85°05'W | 7.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 175K | 0K | Shelby |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Most of the damage caused by this tornado was concentrated in the Flood Road area, as it intensified while moving to the northeast. The tornado destroyed a large, well built barn, and threw the structure 50 yards. It moved an 18 thousand pound trailer four feet, and flipped it. Another barn was destroyed, and every shingle was blown off a well constructed roof top. Several other homes suffered some degree of roof damage. Besides the structural damage, around 40 large hardwood trees were uprooted along the path. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A cold front along with a strong upper level low produced a squall line that crossed central Kentucky. This set off widespread severe weather, and spawned several tornadoes. | |||||||||||
| 46.1 | 1972-04-21 | 2 | 37°54'N / 84°57'W | 37°56'N / 84°52'W | 5.10 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mercer |
| 46.6 | 1982-03-20 | 2 | 38°07'N / 85°11'W | 38°09'N / 85°01'W | 10.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Shelby |
| 46.6 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 37°43'N / 84°30'W | 37°44'N / 84°29'W | 1.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Garrard |
| 46.8 | 2004-05-27 | 2 | 38°23'N / 85°14'W | 38°24'N / 85°06'W | 7.80 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Henry |
| Brief Description: The tornado first touched down IN an open area east of Smithfield in southwest Henry County. It then moved east and crossed highway 55 north of Eminence. The tornado reached its maximum intensity as it moved between U.S. 421 and the Eminence-Point Pleasant Road. The tornado finally crossed Sweeney Lane and weakened or lifted. South of the tornado path, straight line winds caused some structural damage along with widespread tree damage. Twenty-five homes were destroyed in the storm, and 326 others received some degree of damage. | |||||||||||
| 47.2 | 2009-05-08 | 3 | 37°39'N / 84°27'W | 37°45'N / 84°06'W | 20.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 2 | 15 | 0K | 0K | Madison |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado first touched down in the Nina Ridge Road area three miles ESE of McCreary in Garrard County. The tornado caused EF-1 damage at this location before strengthening to EF-2 just before entering Madison County. Near the intersection of Highways 1295 and 52 in Madison County, the tornado reached EF-3 intensity. Near this intersection, two adults were killed when the mobile home they were in was picked up and thrown by the tornado. The bodies were recovered from a nearby pond. Five other occupants of the mobile home, including three children, were injured. A female relative in a brick home just yards away from the mobile home received only minor injuries despite being pinned under a collapsed wall in the house. The tornado weakened and lifted at times as it continued east across the county, but still caused significant damage. It tore much of the roof off a fire station on the south side of Richmond before moving over the Bluegrass Army Depot toward the community of Waco in the eastern part of the county. After doing extensive damage to mainly roofs in a subdivision of brick homes near Waco, the tornado destroyed a mobile home in the area, carrying two teenage male occupants of the home through the air before dropping them near an elementary school 300 yards away. The teens miraculously received only minor injuries. The tornado weakened significantly from this point on, doing only minor roof damage and downing trees as it continued eastward before lifting near the end of Drowning Creek Road. The tornado was up to 150 yards wide with maximum estimated wind speeds up to 140 mph. Approximately 150 homes received damage, the most severe being several brick homes where only interior walls remained standing in the wake of the tornado. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A long-lived bow echo that had produced widespread wind damage over southern Illinois moved east into Kentucky during the late morning hours. As it moved east, the system encountered a strengthening low-level jet across the Ohio Valley, which helped modify the motion of the line, resulting in training storms of extremely heavy rain that caused flash flooding. Individual storms developing ahead of the line continued to produce damaging winds, with two storms producing tornadoes, before the main area of convection moved through. NWS damage surveys determined the tornado in south-central Kentucky to be EF-1 in intensity, while the east-central Kentucky was ranked as a strong EF-3. The EF-3 tornado resulted in two fatalities and numerous injuries. | |||||||||||
| 47.7 | 1973-09-29 | 2 | 39°00'N / 84°42'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Boone | |
| 47.9 | 1955-03-04 | 3 | 37°43'N / 84°27'W | 37°40'N / 84°18'W | 8.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Madison |
| 48.4 | 1967-03-12 | 2 | 37°41'N / 84°22'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mccreary | |||
| 49.6 | 2003-05-11 | 2 | 37°48'N / 84°54'W | 37°49'N / 84°48'W | 7.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 1 | 8 | 15.0M | 0 | Mercer |
| Brief Description: The tornado formed northwest of Harrodsburg as an F1 tornado. It moved east northeast and strengthened to an F2 as it moved to near Bohon Road. Between Bohon Road and US 127, high F1 to low F2 damage was observed. The tornado lifted east of highway 127 with no additional damage. A 29 year old female drowned when her mobile home on Bohon Road was blown about one hundred yards toward the Salt River. Forty homes in the area were damaged, and of these, 12 were destroyed. F29MH | |||||||||||
| 49.9 | 1974-04-01 | 3 | 38°30'N / 85°14'W | 38°32'N / 85°11'W | 3.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 1 | 20 | 2.5M | 0 | Henry |
| 49.9 | 1958-07-11 | 2 | 39°05'N / 84°32'W | 39°05'N / 84°32'W | 0 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Campbell | ||
| 49.9 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 37°42'N / 84°52'W | 37°51'N / 84°44'W | 12.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mercer |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.