Carroll County, Kentucky

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21041 · population 10,774 · 129 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 253 records for Carroll County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 200 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (91 records). The deadliest single record is the November 22, 1992 tornado: 1 death and 9 injuries. FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1978, 20 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
253on 200 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
118 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$38Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
11strongest F4
FEMA declarations
22latest 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 Carroll County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 91 since 1964. 43% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1964 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.

Carroll County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 91 75 1964-2026 0 3 $833K 13 of 118
Floods 56 44 1996-2026 0 0 $1.4M 9 of 118
Winter storms 47 46 1996-2026 0 0 $376K 14 of 118
Hail 28 22 1964-2023 0 0 $6K 19 of 118
Tornadoes 11 10 1957-2026 1 15 $33M 3 of 118
Heat 7 7 1999-2023 0 0 – 25 of 118
High wind and dust storms 7 7 2000-2024 0 0 $1.7M 34 of 118
Extreme cold 3 3 1996-2022 0 0 $699K 71 of 118
Heavy rain 3 1 2013-2013 0 0 – 67 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 Carroll County had?

NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Carroll County from 1957 to 2026, the strongest rated F4, with 1 death and 15 injuries recorded in the county. That is 3rd of 118 Kentucky counties and 119th of 3,080 U.S. counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 9 tornadoes whose track touched Carroll County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Carroll County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1992-11-22 14:52, as SPC files itWarsawCrossed IN, KYF426.7 mi1
1959-02-10 08:30, as SPC files itSandersF31.5 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.

Every tornado record filed for Carroll County (11)
Every tornado recorded in Carroll County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-18 Prestonville, Carroll County EF1 8.73 mi x 750 yd 0 0 $100K
2024-03-14 Prestonville, Carroll County EF0 0.44 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $19K
2024-03-14 Locust, Carroll County EF2 5.51 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $47K
2012-03-02 Locust, Carroll County EF1 2.4 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $1.6M
1992-11-22 Carroll County F4 16 mi x 60 yd 1 9 $2.5M step
1991-08-08 Carroll County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $3K step
1988-07-20 Carroll County F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $25K step
1976-09-26 Carroll County F1 0.2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K step
1967-03-04 Carroll County 0 0 –
1959-02-10 Carroll County F3 1.5 mi x 440 yd 0 6 $2.5M step
1957-05-22 Carroll County F2 0.8 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $25K 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 Carroll County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 tornado ($100,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The tornado developed at 0245EST in Switzerland County, Indiana, two miles north of Carrollton. The tornado moved southeast and entered Carroll County at 0246EST about 2 miles east-northeast of Carrollton. Along U.S. Route 42 near the Ohio River, several wooden electrical power lines were downed and extensive tree damage occurred. Just to the west of Tom Harris Road, a hillside had extensive tree damage as well. The tornado continued across rural areas east of Carrollton where additional damage occurred along State Route 36. Here, several power lines were downed along with extensive tree damage. The tornado continued near the Easterday community near Boone Road and State Route 36. Several tree lines and residences sustained damage. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1340875)
The 12 most recent records kept for Carroll County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-18 TornadoPrestonville, Carroll County EF1 8.73 mi x 750 yd 0 0 $100K
2026-05-16 Thunderstorm WindPrestonville, Carroll County 50 kt wind 0 0 $3K
2026-04-29 Thunderstorm WindEagle Station, Carroll County 50 kt wind 0 0 $7K
2026-04-27 Thunderstorm WindCarrollton, Carroll County 50 kt wind 0 0 $4K
2026-04-27 Thunderstorm WindLocust, Carroll County 50 kt wind 0 0 $4K
2026-04-27 FloodCarrollton, Carroll County 0 0 –
2026-02-03 Winter WeatherCarroll County · forecast zone Carroll 0 0 –
2026-01-24 Winter StormCarroll County · forecast zone Carroll 0 0 –
2025-12-13 Winter WeatherCarroll County · forecast zone Carroll 0 0 –
2025-12-01 Winter StormCarroll County · forecast zone Carroll 0 0 –
2025-06-18 Thunderstorm WindCarrollton, Carroll County 50 kt wind 0 0 $15K
2025-06-18 Thunderstorm WindPrestonville, Carroll County 50 kt wind 0 0 $20K

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

Records with deaths or injuries in Carroll County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1992-11-22 TornadoCarroll County F4 16 mi x 60 yd 1 9 $2.5M step
1959-02-10 TornadoCarroll County F3 1.5 mi x 440 yd 0 6 $2.5M step
1990-06-02 Thunderstorm WindCarroll County 0 2 –
2012-07-01 Thunderstorm WindLocust, Carroll County Multiple trees were reported down in the area. One tree fell on a car, injuring one person. 50 kt wind 0 1 $13K

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.

The costliest records in Carroll County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2008-09-14 High WindCarroll County · forecast zone Carroll 55 kt wind 0 0 $1.6M
2012-03-02 TornadoLocust, Carroll County EF1 2.4 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $1.6M
2017-03-01 Thunderstorm WindCarrollton, Carroll County 70 kt wind 0 0 $241K
2026-06-18 TornadoPrestonville, Carroll County EF1 8.73 mi x 750 yd 0 0 $100K
2024-03-14 TornadoLocust, Carroll County EF2 5.51 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $47K
2025-06-18 Thunderstorm WindPrestonville, Carroll County 50 kt wind 0 0 $20K
2024-03-14 TornadoPrestonville, Carroll County EF0 0.44 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $19K
2012-07-01 Thunderstorm WindLocust, Carroll County 50 kt wind 0 1 $13K

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: November 22, 1992 (tornado, Carroll County, 1 killed); February 10, 1959 (tornado, Carroll 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 Carroll 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).

Carroll County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind01419223321
Floods––––818228
Winter storms––––510239
Hail010047133
Tornadoes21112013

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

43% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1964 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 14 · Feb 23 · Mar 37 · Apr 23 · May 32 · Jun 31 · Jul 31 · Aug 19 · Sep 12 · Oct 3 · Nov 13 · Dec 15 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Carroll County

FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Carroll County: 16 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (11) and flood (4).

Declarations including Carroll County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-01-24EM-3633Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2025-04-24DR-4864Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides
2025-04-03EM-3626Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2025-02-16EM-3624Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides
2020-03-28DR-4497BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3469BiologicalCovid-19
2019-04-17DR-4428Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides
2018-04-26DR-4361FloodSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides
2015-08-12DR-4239Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide
2012-03-06DR-4057Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding
2011-05-04DR-1976Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2010-05-11DR-1912Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes
2009-02-05DR-1818Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm and Flooding
2009-01-28EM-3302Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2008-10-09DR-1802Severe StormSevere Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike
2005-09-10EM-3231HurricaneHurricane Katrina
2004-06-10DR-1523Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides
1997-03-04DR-1163Severe StormSevere Storm, Flooding, and Tornadoes
1996-01-13DR-1089SnowstormBlizzard of 96
1991-01-29DR-893FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1989-02-24DR-821FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1978-12-12DR-568FloodSevere 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 Carroll County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 56 flood or flash flood records for Carroll County from 1996 to 2026, on 44 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Carroll County ranks 1488th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.6 million on 70 claims filed in Carroll County; the most in one year was 23 in 2025. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 5 · 1979: 5 · 1981: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1997: 17 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 2 · 2025: 23; 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 Carroll County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Carroll County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.6 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Carroll County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$532K5.6 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Low$1.3Monce in about 11 years (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively Low$4.2M1.5 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Low$44Kabout once a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively Low$78K51 a year (modeled)
LandslideVery Low$417once in about 4 years (modeled)
EarthquakeVery Low$91Konce in about 607 years (modeled)
Cold WaveVery Low$236K1.7 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 Carroll County

  1. Jefferson County, IN 350
  2. Owen County 330
  3. Switzerland County, IN 284
  4. Gallatin County 280
  5. Henry County 269
  6. Carroll County 253
  7. Trimble County 196

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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