Larue County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21123 · population 14,854 · 261 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 250 records for Larue County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 187 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (123 records). The deadliest single record is the August 31, 2013 heavy rain: 1 death. FEMA has issued 25 declarations naming the county since 1970, 23 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
- 250on 187 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 129 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $13Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 25latest 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 Larue County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 123 since 1970. 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 | 123 | 94 | 1970-2025 | 0 | 9 | $1.3M | 57 of 118 |
| Hail | 39 | 30 | 1956-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 64 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 33 | 32 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 78 of 118 |
| Floods | 31 | 23 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $735K | 96 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 12 | 1952-2026 | 0 | 19 | $10M | 31 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 89 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2013-2023 | 0 | 1 | $19K | 100 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2010-2013 | 1 | 0 | – | 68 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 Larue County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Larue County from 1952 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 19 injuries recorded in the county. That is 31st of 118 Kentucky 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 14 tornadoes whose track touched Larue County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15: 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.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-03-28 18:22, as SPC files it | Magnolia | F3 | 2 mi | 0 |
| 1952-03-22 00:05, as SPC files it | Hodgenville | F3 | 2.7 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Larue County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-28 | Roanoke, Larue County | EF0 1.63 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-18 | Buffalo, Larue County | EF0 1.98 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-04-13 | Mt Sherman, Larue County | EF0 3.8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-04-13 | Talley, Larue County | EF1 2.6 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-25 | Tonieville, Larue County | EF1 4.7 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-06-23 | Mathers Mill, Larue County | EF1 5.1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $120K |
| 2013-06-26 | Tonieville, Larue County | EF2 6.65 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $633K |
| 2012-02-29 | Hodgenville, Larue County | EF2 0.89 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $26K |
| 2012-02-29 | Hodgenville, Larue County | EF2 2.46 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $257K |
| 2006-01-02 | Talley, Larue County | F1 6.4 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | $732K |
| 1997-03-28 | Creal, Larue County | F2 5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $184K |
| 1997-03-28 | Magnolia, Larue County | F3 2 mi x 1,200 yd | 0 | 1 | $5.5M |
| 1985-06-11 | Larue County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1972-04-14 | Larue County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1952-03-22 | Larue County | F3 2.7 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 18 | $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 Larue County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 5, 2023 thunderstorm wind (1 injury).
One person sustained a neck injury from storm debris that was blown through a window at their residence.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1095719)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-28 | TornadoRoanoke, Larue County | EF0 1.63 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormLarue County · forecast zone Larue | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-18 | TornadoBuffalo, Larue County | EF0 1.98 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindUpton, Larue County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindJericho, Larue County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindBarren Run, Larue County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-10 | Heavy SnowLarue County · forecast zone Larue | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-10 | Heavy SnowLarue County · forecast zone Larue | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-05 | Winter StormLarue County · forecast zone Larue | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-04-05 | Thunderstorm WindRoanoke, Larue County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2022-04-13 | TornadoMt Sherman, Larue County | EF0 3.8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-04-13 | TornadoTalley, Larue County | EF1 2.6 mi x 200 yd | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-08-31 | Heavy RainLyons, Larue County The LaRue emergency manager reported a 29 year old woman was swept away and drowned after driving an ATV into a swollen Otter Creek. This creek empties into the Rolling Fork River, and the accident occurred near this intersection. Although no rain gauges were located nearby, an estimated 2.5 inches of rain fell within ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1952-03-22 | TornadoLarue County | F3 2.7 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 18 | $250K step |
| 1989-11-15 | Thunderstorm WindLarue County | 0 | 6 | – | |
| 2023-04-05 | Thunderstorm WindRoanoke, Larue County One person sustained a neck injury from storm debris that was blown through a window at their residence. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2013-10-31 | Strong WindLarue County · forecast zone Larue An 18 year old man was injured when his vehicle hit a downed tree on Lyons Station Road. The nearby LaRue County mesonet recorded a 31 mph wind gust at around this same time. | 27 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $13K |
| 1997-03-28 | TornadoMagnolia, Larue County A 40 year old man was killed as an F3 tornado with winds estimated at 175 mph touched down near Bonnieville in Hart county and moved northeast 9 miles to the town of Magnolia in Larue county before lifting. The deceased man was killed in his house in Hammonville as the house was blown 50 yards away from its ... | F3 2 mi x 1,200 yd | 0 | 1 | $5.5M |
| 1993-02-21 | Thunderstorm WindLarue County One person was injured when a barn was blown over near Mount Sherman. | 0 | 1 | $102K | |
| 1987-08-03 | Thunderstorm WindLarue County | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-03-28 | TornadoMagnolia, Larue County | F3 2 mi x 1,200 yd | 0 | 1 | $5.5M |
| 1997-03-01 | FloodLarue County · forecast zone Larue | 0 | 0 | $735K | |
| 2006-01-02 | TornadoTalley, Larue County | F1 6.4 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | $732K |
| 2013-06-26 | TornadoTonieville, Larue County | EF2 6.65 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $633K |
| 2018-04-03 | Thunderstorm WindMathers Mill, Larue County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $235K |
| 1997-03-28 | TornadoCreal, Larue County | F2 5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $184K |
| 2017-06-23 | TornadoMathers Mill, Larue County | EF1 5.1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $120K |
| 2000-11-09 | Thunderstorm WindMt Sherman, Larue County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $103K |
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: March 22, 1952 (tornado, Larue 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 Larue 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 | 5 | 15 | 14 | 27 | 36 | 26 |
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 3 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 6 | 14 | 10 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 6 | 10 | 12 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Larue County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 24 · Feb 22 · Mar 29 · Apr 40 · May 37 · Jun 22 · Jul 40 · Aug 12 · Sep 8 · Oct 6 · Nov 3 · Dec 7 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Larue County
FEMA's register lists 25 declarations that include Larue County: 19 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (12) and flood (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3633 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-05-23 | DR-4875 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2025-04-24 | DR-4864 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2024-07-23 | DR-4804 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-04-10 | DR-4702 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, 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 |
| 2012-03-06 | DR-4057 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds 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 |
| 2005-02-08 | DR-1578 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Record Snow |
| 2004-08-06 | DR-1537 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-06-03 | DR-1471 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes |
| 2002-05-07 | DR-1414 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1997-03-04 | DR-1163 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1089 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1994-03-16 | DR-1018 | Snowstorm | Severe Weather, Freezing Rain, Sleet, Snw |
| 1989-02-24 | DR-821 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-12-12 | DR-568 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1970-06-05 | DR-288 | 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 Larue County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 31 flood or flash flood records for Larue County from 1997 to 2024, on 23 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Larue County ranks 2075th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $202,000 on 21 claims filed in Larue County; the most in one year was 5 in 1997. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 3 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 4 · 1989: 3 · 1997: 5 · 2010: 5; 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 Larue County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Larue County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively Low | $471K | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $567K | 6.7 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $68K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $55K | 8.7 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $868K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $152K | 53 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $513K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $343K | once in about 388 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Larue 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 Larue CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Larue County's FEMA declarations (CSV)25 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis