Boyd County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21019 · population 48,202 · 160 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 453 records for Boyd County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 358 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (120 records). The deadliest single record is the February 17, 2021 heavy snow, filed for the forecast zone Boyd, which covers the county: 2 deaths, 2 injuries and $11,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 33 declarations naming the county since 1967, 31 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
- 453on 358 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 471 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $35Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 5strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 33latest 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 Boyd County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 120 since 1966. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1966 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 | 120 | 91 | 1966-2026 | 0 | 1 | $2.7M | 14 of 118 |
| Floods | 102 | 88 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $17M | 2 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 58 | 58 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 2 | $1.0M | 13 of 118 |
| Hail | 51 | 34 | 1979-2017 | 0 | 0 | $91K | 10 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 30 | 30 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $881K | 13 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 28 | 28 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 2 | $279K | 16 of 118 |
| Heat | 22 | 22 | 1997-2017 | 1 | 66 | – | 21 of 118 |
| Drought | 20 | 20 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 12 | 12 | 1998-2020 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 2 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 4 | 1965-2024 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 75 of 118 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2011-2015 | 0 | 0 | $26K | 6 of 118 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2008-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 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 Boyd County had?
NOAA records 5 tornadoes in Boyd County from 1965 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Boyd County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 5, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-04-08 20:30, as SPC files it | Catlettsburg to CeredoCrossed KY, WV | F3 | 6.9 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Boyd County (5)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-02 | Ironville, Boyd County | EF1 1.1 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $94K |
| 2024-04-02 | Garner, Boyd County | EF2 1.14 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 0 | $188K |
| 1980-07-12 | Boyd County | F2 6.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1980-07-08 | Boyd County | F1 0.1 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1965-04-08 | Boyd County | F3 3.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K 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 Boyd County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,500 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindWinslow, Boyd County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-16 | Strong WindBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 36 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 46 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-03-02 | Winter WeatherBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-20 | Strong WindBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-20 | Cold/Wind ChillBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-29 | Strong WindBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 42 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-12-19 | Strong WindBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 37 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-12-13 | Winter WeatherBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-08 | Winter WeatherBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 0 | 0 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-02-17 | Heavy SnowBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd The third significant winter storm in a week moved into the area during the late evening hours of February 17th. What began as snow, transitioned to a wintry mix in some areas as the night progressed. The highest snow totals were generally in northeastern Kentucky through northern West Virginia. The local public and ... | 2 | 2 | $11K | |
| 2017-07-22 | HeatBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd A 71 year old male was doing yard work. He began working around 9 am EST and collapsed due to heat around noon EST. The gentleman had previous heart conditions and suffered a heart attach, however heat was a contributing factor. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2004-03-05 | FloodBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd Rains of 1.5 to 2.5 inches fell in an interval of 12 hours or less. Several streams overflowed onto roads. Homes in the Westwood area of Boyd County had some basement flooding from Hoods Creek. Otherwise, there was a minimum of property damage. A fatal accident occurred earlier in the evening in northern Carter ... | 1 | 0 | $8K | |
| 2000-09-09 | HeatBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd During a band festival at the Boyd County High School, 65 people were overcome by the heat and humidity of a late summer afternoon. The temperature was in the lower 80s, with the dew point in the 70 to 72 degree range. The sun was shining. Many of the affected band members had black uniforms and were wearing hats. Of ... | 0 | 65 | – | |
| 2017-11-18 | Strong WindBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd A strong cold front moved through the middle Ohio River Valley on the evening of the 18th. Ahead of the front, in unseasonably warm air, a strong low level jet resulted in gusty winds during the late morning and afternoon. Additional strong wind gusts occurred in showers along and just ahead of the cold front. Many ... | 35 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $24K |
| 1987-04-27 | Thunderstorm WindBoyd County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-07-31 | Flash FloodCountywide, Boyd County | 0 | 0 | $5.6M | |
| 1997-03-02 | FloodBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2002-03-20 | FloodBoyd County · forecast zone Boyd | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2011-05-10 | Flash FloodWestwood, Boyd County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 1997-03-01 | Flash FloodCountywide, Boyd County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindSummit, Boyd County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 2000-02-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Boyd County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2010-05-02 | FloodAshland, Boyd County | 0 | 0 | $677K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 12, 1980 (tornado, Boyd 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 Boyd 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 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 45 | 21 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 10 | 29 | 32 | 31 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 11 | 19 | 22 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 23 | 0 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 11 | 10 | 7 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 5 | 8 | 14 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1966 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 53 · Feb 59 · Mar 49 · Apr 39 · May 50 · Jun 67 · Jul 39 · Aug 26 · Sep 23 · Oct 11 · Nov 14 · Dec 23 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Boyd County
FEMA's register lists 33 declarations that include Boyd County: 26 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (16) and flood (6).
| 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 |
| 2025-02-24 | DR-4860 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2025-02-16 | EM-3624 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2024-05-22 | DR-4782 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2022-02-27 | DR-4643 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides |
| 2021-04-23 | DR-4595 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2021-03-31 | DR-4592 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-24 | DR-4540 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4497 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3469 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-04-17 | DR-4428 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2018-04-26 | DR-4361 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-12 | DR-4218 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-04-30 | DR-4216 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3231 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004-06-10 | DR-1523 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2003-07-02 | DR-1475 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes |
| 2003-06-03 | DR-1471 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1320 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3104 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1991-01-29 | DR-893 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1989-02-24 | DR-821 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1967-03-27 | DR-226 | 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 Boyd County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 102 flood or flash flood records for Boyd County from 1996 to 2025, on 88 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Boyd County ranks 539th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $7.1 million on 462 claims filed in Boyd County; the most in one year was 59 in 2002. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 14 · 1979: 12 · 1980: 4 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 5 · 1987: 1 · 1989: 6 · 1990: 14 · 1991: 3 · 1992: 2 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 5 · 1997: 46 · 1998: 9 · 2000: 23 · 2001: 15 · 2002: 59 · 2003: 11 · 2004: 35 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 7 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 34 · 2010: 44 · 2011: 33 · 2012: 5 · 2013: 4 · 2014: 12 · 2015: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 14 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 1; 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 Boyd County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Boyd County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $29.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | $7.4M | 4.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $19M | 2.8 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $258K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $84K | 8.6 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $264K | 49 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $21K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $136K | once in about 663 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $298K | 3.1 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 Boyd 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 Boyd CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Boyd County's FEMA declarations (CSV)33 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis