Bath County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21011 · population 12,731 · 278 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 435 records for Bath County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 260 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (207 records). The deadliest single record is the April 29, 2020 flood: 5 deaths and $3,421 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 29 declarations naming the county since 1978, 27 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 435on 260 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 75 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $30Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 9strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 29latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Bath County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 207 since 1970. 41% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1970 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Kentucky's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 207 | 108 | 1970-2025 | 0 | 1 | $1.6M | 45 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 70 | 57 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 4 | $18M | 45 of 118 |
| Floods | 63 | 39 | 1996-2021 | 6 | 0 | $7.8M | 61 of 118 |
| Hail | 47 | 35 | 1968-2022 | 0 | 0 | $144K | 51 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 16 | 14 | 2001-2024 | 0 | 0 | $75K | 39 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 12 | 12 | 2007-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 7 | 1956-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 74 of 118 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 3 | 2003-2019 | 0 | 0 | $12K | 32 of 118 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 of 118 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 64 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2009-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 69 of 118 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2023-2023 | 1 | 0 | – | 64 of 118 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Bath County had?
NOAA records 9 tornadoes in Bath County from 1956 to 2024, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 10 tornadoes whose track touched Bath County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 9: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Bath County (9)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-02 | Reynoldsville, Bath County | EF0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $38K |
| 2024-04-02 | Sharpsburg, Bath County | EF0 0.36 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $198K |
| 2014-10-07 | Olympia, Bath County | EF1 0.3 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-10-07 | Sharpsburg, Bath County | EF1 0.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-03-02 | Owingsville, Bath County | EF1 7.4 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $996K |
| 2008-02-06 | Kendall Spgs, Bath County | EF1 8.73 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $343K |
| 2007-11-05 | Kendall Spgs, Bath County | EF0 1.52 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $71K |
| 1997-08-17 | Owingsville, Bath County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 1956-07-13 | Bath County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Bath County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 29, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($4,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindPreston, Bath County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindKendall Spgs, Bath County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2025-01-10 | Heavy SnowBath County · forecast zone Bath | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-05 | Heavy SnowBath County · forecast zone Bath | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindBethel, Bath County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindBethel, Bath County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $56K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindPolksville, Bath County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindPolksville, Bath County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindPolksville, Bath County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindPolksville, Bath County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindPolksville, Bath County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindPeasticks, Bath County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $9K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-29 | FloodMoores Ferry, Bath County A low lying road near Peasticks and Salt Lick in Bath County, Adams Road, saw water levels gradually come up and produce a steady stream of flowing water as daily rainfall amounts topped out at 1-1.5 inches. An Amish family, initially attempting to cross this, decided to turn around. However, their horse lost its ... | 5 | 0 | $3K | |
| 2023-08-25 | LightningPebble, Bath County A 39-year old male was struck and killed by lightning just south of Sherburne. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1998-01-07 | Flash FloodOwingsville, Bath County Heavy rain of up to 6 inches resulted in flash flooding in areas from Somerset to Flemingsburg. In many areas streams were out of their banks and numerous roads were flooded. In Pulaski County, near Bronston, a car was swept away by flood waters and several houses were surrounded by water. In Bath County, a 62 year ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2014-01-02 | Winter WeatherBath County · forecast zone Bath Several accidents occurred along I-64 in Bath county. One accident involved an injury and blocked the eastbound lanes of the interstate for 6 hours. A couple of injury accidents occurred on secondary roads. | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2000-07-10 | Thunderstorm WindZilpo, Bath County Tree fell on a woman and cars were damaged by downed trees at the Zilpo Campground. | 0 | 1 | $5K | |
| 1998-02-03 | Heavy SnowBath County · forecast zone Bath A major snowstorm affected eastern Kentucky from the evening of February 3 into the morning of February 6. Snowfall totals for the storm ranged from around 4 inches in valley locations near the Virginia border to as much as 2 feet in areas from Whitley City to Flemingsburg. The greatest snowfalls during the storm ... | 0 | 1 | $18M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-02-03 | Heavy SnowBath County · forecast zone Bath | 0 | 1 | $18M | |
| 1997-03-01 | FloodBath County · forecast zone Bath | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | |
| 2012-03-02 | TornadoOwingsville, Bath County | EF1 7.4 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $996K |
| 2024-04-02 | TornadoSharpsburg, Bath County | EF0 0.36 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $198K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindKendall Spgs, Bath County | 83 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $198K |
| 1993-02-21 | HailBath County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindSlate Vly, Bath County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $76K |
| 2007-11-05 | TornadoKendall Spgs, Bath County | EF0 1.52 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $71K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 13, 1956 (tornado, Bath County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Bath County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 45 | 74 | 71 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 20 | 32 | 15 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 15 | 33 | 9 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 19 | 4 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
41% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1970 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 30 · Feb 41 · Mar 29 · Apr 69 · May 27 · Jun 47 · Jul 66 · Aug 37 · Sep 25 · Oct 27 · Nov 12 · Dec 25 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Bath County
FEMA's register lists 29 declarations that include Bath County: 22 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (13) and flood (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3633 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-03 | EM-3626 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2025-02-16 | EM-3624 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2024-11-26 | DR-4848 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| 2021-03-31 | DR-4592 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4497 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3469 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015-05-12 | DR-4218 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-01 | DR-4217 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2012-03-06 | DR-4057 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| 2011-05-04 | DR-1976 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2010-05-11 | DR-1912 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes |
| 2009-02-05 | DR-1818 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2009-01-28 | EM-3302 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-02-21 | DR-1746 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3231 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004-06-10 | DR-1523 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1454 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and |
| 2002-04-04 | DR-1407 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-08-15 | DR-1388 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1320 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1998-03-03 | DR-1207 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1997-03-04 | DR-1163 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1089 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1995-06-13 | DR-1055 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Severe Winds, Hail |
| 1994-03-16 | DR-1018 | Snowstorm | Severe Weather, Freezing Rain, Sleet, Snw |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3104 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1989-02-24 | DR-821 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-12-12 | DR-568 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Bath County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 63 flood or flash flood records for Bath County from 1996 to 2021, on 39 days, with 6 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Bath County ranks 1304th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.4 million on 100 claims filed in Bath County; the most in one year was 22 in 2018. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 6 · 1981: 13 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 2 · 1994: 1 · 1997: 5 · 2002: 4 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 15 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 1 · 2010: 17 · 2012: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2018: 22 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Bath County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Bath County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.9 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $491K | 51 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $43K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $341K | 5 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $517K | once in about 10 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $627 | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $90K | once in about 531 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $136K | 2.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $3.0M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Bath County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in KentuckyEvery Kentucky tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in KentuckyThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Kentucky recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Bath CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Bath County's FEMA declarations (CSV)29 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis