Harlan County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21095 · population 26,728 · 466 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 509 records for Harlan County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 327 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (166 records). The deadliest single record is the February 21, 1997 thunderstorm wind: 2 deaths and $18,000 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
- 509on 327 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 23 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $11Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 2strongest EF0
- 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 Harlan County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 166 since 1996. 62% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 166 | 108 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $51K | 39 of 118 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 165 | 108 | 1969-2025 | 2 | 3 | $631K | 105 of 118 |
| Hail | 65 | 36 | 1968-2025 | 0 | 0 | $64K | 105 of 118 |
| Floods | 57 | 42 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $9.2M | 94 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 22 | 19 | 2003-2024 | 0 | 0 | $367K | 48 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 2007-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 56 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 9 | 9 | 2009-2021 | 0 | 0 | $30K | 40 of 118 |
| Drought | 3 | 3 | 2016-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 56 of 118 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 68 of 118 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 2 | 2001-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 1 | 2007-2007 | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | 117 of 118 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 59 of 118 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 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 Harlan County had?
NOAA records 2 tornadoes in Harlan County from 2007 to 2007, the strongest rated EF0, 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 2 tornadoes whose track touched Harlan County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 2, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Harlan County (2)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-04-03 | Cawood, Harlan County | EF0 1.18 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $996K |
| 2007-04-03 | Tway, Harlan County | EF0 0.32 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
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 Harlan County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 2, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-22 | Heavy SnowHarlan County · forecast zone Harlan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowHarlan County · forecast zone Harlan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindClover, Harlan County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-02 | Thunderstorm WindEvarts, Harlan County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-02 | Thunderstorm WindEvarts, Harlan County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-04-14 | HailRio Vista, Harlan County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-14 | HailBaxter, Harlan County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-14 | Thunderstorm WindBaxter, Harlan County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-01-19 | Heavy SnowHarlan County · forecast zone Harlan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-10 | Heavy SnowHarlan County · forecast zone Harlan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-05 | Heavy SnowHarlan County · forecast zone Harlan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-02-06 | FloodSand Hill, Harlan County | 0 | 0 | $5.7M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-02-21 | Thunderstorm WindAges, Harlan County After strong winds and heavy rain a single large tree fell onto and crushed a car, killing two adults in the front seat. An infant in a child safety seat in the back seat of the car was not injured. The tree was on an embankment, and according to local residents had been leaning over the road for over 10 years. ... | 2 | 0 | $18K | |
| 2014-04-28 | Thunderstorm WindDressen, Harlan County A Storm Survey Team comprised of officials from the National Weather Service and Harlan County Emergency Management determined that the wind damage that occurred on Monday April 28th in the Harlan and Evarts Communities of Harlan County was caused by straight-line winds of up to 90 mph. The thunderstorm which caused ... | 78 kt wind | 0 | 3 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-02-06 | FloodSand Hill, Harlan County | 0 | 0 | $5.7M | |
| 2013-04-17 | Flash FloodHarlan County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2007-04-03 | TornadoCawood, Harlan County | EF0 1.18 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $996K |
| 2016-06-21 | Flash FloodBledsoe, Harlan County | 0 | 0 | $621K | |
| 2018-02-10 | FloodCranks, Harlan County | 0 | 0 | $588K | |
| 2003-02-16 | FloodHarlan County · forecast zone Harlan | 0 | 0 | $586K | |
| 2013-04-17 | Flash FloodCranks, Harlan County | 0 | 0 | $253K | |
| 2007-04-03 | TornadoTway, Harlan County | EF0 0.32 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
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 Harlan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 50 | 81 | 24 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 14 | 47 | 53 | 39 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 26 | 23 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 19 | 24 | 8 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 10 | 3 | 9 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 3 | 10 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
62% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 68 · Feb 67 · Mar 40 · Apr 58 · May 73 · Jun 51 · Jul 45 · Aug 28 · Sep 7 · Oct 17 · Nov 16 · Dec 39 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Harlan County
FEMA's register lists 33 declarations that include Harlan County: 24 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 3 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (11) and flood (9).
| 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 |
| 2024-11-26 | DR-4848 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-07-23 | DR-4804 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-05-09 | DR-4711 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2022-07-29 | DR-4663 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2018-04-12 | DR-4358 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2016-11-20 | FM-5166 | Fire | Southeastern Kentucky Fire Complex |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2002-04-04 | DR-1407 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-11-02 | FM-2385 | Fire | Ky - Southeastern Fire Complex - 11/02/01 |
| 2000-11-04 | FM-2349 | Fire | Ky - Southeastern District Fire Complex - 11/03/00 |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1089 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1994-03-16 | DR-1018 | Snowstorm | Severe Weather, Freezing Rain, Sleet, Snw |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3104 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1984-05-15 | DR-705 | Severe Storm | High Winds, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1977-04-06 | DR-529 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1970-06-05 | DR-288 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1970-02-02 | DR-282 | Flood | Heavy Snowmelt, Rains & 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 Harlan County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 57 flood or flash flood records for Harlan County from 1996 to 2022, on 42 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Harlan County ranks 560th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.4 million on 443 claims filed in Harlan County; the most in one year was 141 in 1984. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 11 · 1979: 10 · 1980: 3 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 141 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 1 · 1988: 3 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 2 · 1991: 42 · 1994: 29 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 116 · 2003: 18 · 2004: 9 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 1 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 3; 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 Harlan County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Harlan County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $17.7 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 High | $1.2M | 4.9 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $42K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $14M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $109K | 18 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $11K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $121K | once in about 185 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.2M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $169K | 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 Harlan 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
- Winter storms in KentuckyThe state's winter storm records, 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 Harlan CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Harlan County's FEMA declarations (CSV)33 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis