Kentucky Storm & Severe Weather History
Since 1996, Kentucky has logged 51,017 severe-weather events — about 1,646 a year — with 392 direct deaths, 2,122 injuries and $2.9B in reported property damage.
By event type
Thunderstorm Wind16,78120 d$152.1M
Hail5,739—$612.5M
Flash Flood4,510106 d$284.5M
Flood3,71353 d$584.1M
Winter Weather3,1676 d$1.6M
Heavy Snow2,2627 d$11.5M
Winter Storm1,9885 d$16.4M
Dense Fog1,882—$70K
Strong Wind1,7054 d$4.4M
Frost/Freeze1,690——
Heat1,4607 d—
Tornado1,022137 d$745.9M
Drought1,021——
High Wind8345 d$173.4M
Heavy Rain7441 d$975K
Ice Storm6473 d$338.8M
Events by year
19962026
Notable events (310)
Events with deaths, major damage, or a strong tornado — deadliest first.
Tornado (EF4)December 10, 2021
Graves · 24 killed · 210 injured ·
Tornado (EF4)May 16, 2025
Laurel · 17 killed ·
Flash FloodJuly 27, 2022
Knott · 16 killed ·
Tornado (EF3)December 11, 2021
Warren · 16 killed · 63 injured ·
Tornado (EF4)December 10, 2021
Hopkins · 15 killed · 200 injured ·
Tornado (EF4)December 10, 2021
Muhlenberg · 11 killed · 25 injured ·
Flash FloodJuly 27, 2022
Breathitt · 10 killed ·
Tornado (EF3)March 2, 2012
Morgan · 6 killed · 80 injured · $75.0M damage
Tornado (EF2)March 2, 2012
Laurel · 6 killed · 40 injured · $5.0M damage
Flash FloodJuly 28, 2022
Perry · 6 killed ·
FloodMarch 1, 1997
Pendleton · 5 killed · $35.0M damage
FloodApril 29, 2020
Bath · 5 killed · $3K damage
Tornado (EF4)March 2, 2012
Kenton · 4 killed · 8 injured · $20.0M damage
Flash FloodJuly 13, 2015
Johnson · 4 killed · 15 injured · $3.5M damage
Tornado (EF3)February 6, 2008
Allen · 4 killed · 11 injured · $1.3M damage
Tornado (EF4)December 10, 2021
Caldwell · 4 killed · 11 injured ·
Flash FloodFebruary 24, 2011
Hickman · 4 killed ·
Flash FloodMay 27, 2004
Lewis · 4 killed ·
Tornado (EF3)February 5, 2008
Muhlenberg · 3 killed · 24 injured · $21.3M damage
FloodDecember 21, 2013
Nelson · 3 killed · 2 injured · $15K damage
Flash FloodFebruary 21, 2014
Whitley · 3 killed · $1K damage
Flash FloodJuly 28, 2022
Clay · 3 killed ·
Flash FloodJuly 28, 2022
Letcher · 3 killed ·
Tornado (EF3)March 2, 2012
Johnson · 2 killed · 7 injured · $10.0M damage
Tornado (F3)April 16, 1998
Barren · 2 killed · 9 injured · $10.0M damage
Flash FloodAugust 3, 2001
Pike · 2 killed · $6.0M damage
Flash FloodAugust 22, 2003
Franklin · 2 killed · $3.0M damage
Flash FloodMarch 1, 1997
Owen · 2 killed · $2.1M damage
Tornado (EF3)March 2, 2012
Lawrence · 2 killed · 6 injured · $2.0M damage
Tornado (EF3)March 2, 2012
Menifee · 2 killed · 30 injured · $2.0M damage
Tornado (F1)February 22, 2003
Breathitt · 2 killed · 7 injured · $300K damage
Thunderstorm WindJuly 8, 2001
Bracken · 2 killed · 3 injured · $100K damage
LightningAugust 24, 2000
Nelson · 2 killed · $25K damage
FloodFebruary 23, 2019
Leslie · 2 killed · $15K damage
Flash FloodFebruary 15, 2025
Hart · 2 killed · $10K damage
Heavy SnowFebruary 17, 2021
Boyd · 2 killed · 2 injured · $10K damage
Thunderstorm WindFebruary 21, 1997
Harlan · 2 killed · $10K damage
Strong WindJanuary 19, 2023
Hardin · 2 killed · 3 injured ·
Extreme Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 30, 2019
Boone · 2 killed ·
LightningAugust 21, 2013
Madison · 2 killed · 3 injured ·
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Counts are every logged event since 1996; the "notable" list is filtered to events with fatalities, major damage or a strong tornado. Damage is the reporting office's estimate. A record of past weather is not a forecast. See About the Data.