Fleming County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21069 · population 15,067 · 349 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 364 records for Fleming County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 236 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (148 records). The most damaging was the March 1, 1997 flood ($5.5 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 26 declarations naming the county since 1978, 24 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
- 364on 236 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 09 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $16Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 26latest 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 Fleming County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 148 since 1974. 41% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1974 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 | 148 | 90 | 1974-2026 | 0 | 6 | $1.1M | 95 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 69 | 57 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 1 | $57K | 62 of 118 |
| Floods | 63 | 42 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 79 of 118 |
| Hail | 42 | 27 | 1991-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 103 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 11 | 11 | 2007-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 53 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 10 | 1964-2023 | 0 | 2 | $3.1M | 67 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 9 | 9 | 2008-2024 | 0 | 0 | $51K | 78 of 118 |
| Heat | 6 | 6 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 of 118 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 57 of 118 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2007-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 93 of 118 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2015-2015 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 70 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 Fleming County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Fleming County from 1964 to 2023, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 2 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 Fleming County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Fleming County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-09 | Beechburg, Fleming County | EF0 0.33 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $160K |
| 2015-07-14 | Dalesburg, Fleming County | EF1 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $62K |
| 2015-07-07 | Flemingsburg Jct, Fleming County | EF0 0.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-04-26 | Sunset, Fleming County | EF1 3.62 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $142K |
| 1993-02-21 | Fleming County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1986-03-12 | Fleming County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1984-09-14 | Fleming County | F1 2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-06-16 | Fleming County | F2 10 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1971-07-11 | Fleming County | F1 1 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1964-06-15 | Fleming County | F2 10.9 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $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 Fleming County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 22, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($9,500 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-22 | Thunderstorm WindElizaville, Fleming County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-01-24 | Heavy SnowFleming County · forecast zone Fleming | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindWallingford, Fleming County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindRingos Mills, Fleming County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindPlummers Mill, Fleming County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-04-03 | Thunderstorm WindDalesburg, Fleming County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-01-05 | Winter StormFleming County · forecast zone Fleming | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindRingos Mills, Fleming County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindRingos Mills, Fleming County | 76 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindColfax, Fleming County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 2023-08-09 | TornadoBeechburg, Fleming County | EF0 0.33 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $160K |
| 2017-07-23 | FloodFlemingsburg Airport, Fleming County | 0 | 0 | $2.4M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-07-14 | Thunderstorm WindFlemingsburg Jct, Fleming County A large swath of wind damage caused by winds reaching up to 80 to 100 mph occurred beginning in a subdivision off highway 11 3.5 miles north-northwest of Flemingsburg and ending near the Beechburg community. While several structures suffered at least minor damage in the path, the worst damage occurred on Cherry Grove ... | 87 kt wind | 0 | 4 | – |
| 2007-11-05 | Thunderstorm WindMt Carmel, Fleming County Two people were injured when they were blown off scaffolding during a severe thunderstorm. Extent of injuries is not known. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $4K |
| 2011-01-31 | Winter WeatherFleming County · forecast zone Fleming An injury accident occurred on Hwy 165 in Ewing. | 0 | 1 | $7K | |
| 1982-06-16 | TornadoFleming County | F2 10 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1964-06-15 | TornadoFleming County | F2 10.9 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-03-01 | FloodFleming County · forecast zone Fleming | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | |
| 2017-07-23 | FloodFlemingsburg Airport, Fleming County | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | |
| 1993-02-21 | TornadoFleming County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2002-03-20 | FloodFleming County · forecast zone Fleming | 0 | 0 | $820K | |
| 2004-06-12 | Flash FloodFlemingsburg, Fleming County | 0 | 0 | $781K | |
| 2017-07-22 | Thunderstorm WindFlemingsburg Airport, Fleming County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $301K |
| 2023-08-09 | TornadoBeechburg, Fleming County | EF0 0.33 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $160K |
| 2007-04-26 | TornadoSunset, Fleming County | EF1 3.62 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $142K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 16, 1982 (tornado, Fleming County); September 14, 1984 (tornado, Fleming 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 Fleming 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 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 48 | 47 | 34 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 21 | 36 | 9 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 19 | 33 | 3 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 19 | 15 | 1 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 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 1974 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 30 · Feb 32 · Mar 31 · Apr 43 · May 48 · Jun 36 · Jul 59 · Aug 35 · Sep 8 · Oct 11 · Nov 8 · Dec 23 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Fleming County
FEMA's register lists 26 declarations that include Fleming County: 19 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (13) and severe ice storm (3).
| 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 |
| 2015-08-12 | DR-4239 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide |
| 2015-05-12 | DR-4218 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, 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 |
| 2008-05-19 | DR-1757 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3231 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004-06-10 | DR-1523 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Fleming County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 63 flood or flash flood records for Fleming County from 1996 to 2021, on 42 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Fleming County ranks 1669th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $943,000 on 49 claims filed in Fleming County; the most in one year was 13 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1989: 1 · 1997: 7 · 1998: 1 · 2000: 2 · 2002: 5 · 2003: 8 · 2010: 13 · 2012: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2025: 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 Fleming County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Fleming 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.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $818K | 4.3 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $940K | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $172K | 51 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $42K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.0M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $124K | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $146K | 2.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $30K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Fleming 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 Fleming CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Fleming County's FEMA declarations (CSV)26 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis