Leslie County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21131 · population 10,414 · 401 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 481 records for Leslie County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 295 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (165 records). The deadliest single record is the February 23, 2019 flood: 2 deaths and $17,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 39 declarations naming the county since 1967, 37 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
- 481on 295 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 20 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $3.6Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 39latest 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 Leslie County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 165 since 1974. 49% 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 | 165 | 109 | 1974-2026 | 0 | 0 | $966K | 91 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 99 | 69 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $520K | 56 of 118 |
| Hail | 85 | 55 | 1980-2025 | 0 | 0 | $88K | 32 of 118 |
| Floods | 66 | 46 | 1996-2021 | 2 | 0 | $1.5M | 83 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 20 | 12 | 2002-2024 | 0 | 0 | $284K | 73 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 14 | 12 | 2002-2020 | 0 | 0 | $92K | 22 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 12 | 12 | 2007-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 58 of 118 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 5 | 4 | 2003-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 118 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 5 | 2004-2010 | 0 | 0 | $34K | 28 of 118 |
| Drought | 4 | 4 | 2016-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 118 |
| Heat | 3 | 3 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 63 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 1990-2014 | 0 | 0 | $91K | 105 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 Leslie County had?
NOAA records 3 tornadoes in Leslie County from 1990 to 2014, the strongest rated EF1, 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Leslie County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 3, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Leslie County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-07-27 | Helton, Leslie County | EF1 2 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-11 | Wooton, Leslie County | EF1 0.25 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $34K |
| 1990-06-22 | Leslie County | F0 1 mi x 20 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 Leslie County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindSmilax, Leslie County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-02-22 | Heavy SnowLeslie County · forecast zone Leslie | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormLeslie County · forecast zone Leslie | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindCinda, Leslie County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindRockhouse, Leslie County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindHyden, Leslie County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-05-08 | HailCutshin, Leslie County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-08 | HailEssie, Leslie County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-08 | HailAsher, Leslie County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-01-31 | Debris FlowAsher, Leslie County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-02-06 | FloodDryhill, Leslie County | 0 | 0 | $257K | |
| 2019-02-23 | FloodCinda, Leslie County | 2 | 0 | $17K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-02-23 | FloodCinda, Leslie County A local news media outlet reported that a motorist crashed into Wolf Creek off of Stidham Road south of Cinda. The driver's body was later found trapped inside the car. Additionally, a bystander also died as a result of the flooded creek after he jumped in to try to save the driver. The creek was 3 to 4 times higher ... | 2 | 0 | $17K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-12-18 | Winter StormLeslie County · forecast zone Leslie | 0 | 0 | $344K | |
| 1998-04-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Leslie County | 0 | 0 | $326K | |
| 2020-02-06 | FloodDryhill, Leslie County | 0 | 0 | $257K | |
| 2008-05-11 | TornadoWooton, Leslie County | EF1 0.25 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $34K |
| 2004-07-05 | Thunderstorm WindHyden, Leslie County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $31K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindHyden, Leslie County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2019-02-23 | FloodCinda, Leslie County | 2 | 0 | $17K | |
| 1998-05-07 | HailHyden, Leslie County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $9K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 22, 1990 (tornado, Leslie 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 Leslie 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 | 12 | 72 | 54 | 21 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 22 | 57 | 13 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 47 | 17 | 6 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 29 | 27 | 6 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 12 | 3 | 5 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
49% 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 52 · Feb 74 · Mar 32 · Apr 52 · May 62 · Jun 61 · Jul 56 · Aug 41 · Sep 6 · Oct 9 · Nov 6 · Dec 30 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Leslie County
FEMA's register lists 39 declarations that include Leslie County: 31 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (18) and flood (12).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3633 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 2025-02-24 | 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 |
| 2024-07-23 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 2010-05-11 | DR-1912 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes |
| 2009-05-29 | DR-1841 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and Mudslides |
| 2007-05-25 | DR-1703 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Rockslides |
| 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 |
| 2003-03-14 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 1998-04-29 | DR-1216 | 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 |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3104 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1989-10-30 | DR-846 | Flood | Severe Storms, Mudslides & Flooding |
| 1989-06-30 | DR-834 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1989-02-24 | DR-821 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Leslie County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 66 flood or flash flood records for Leslie County from 1996 to 2021, on 46 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Leslie County ranks 1629th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $362,000 on 54 claims filed in Leslie County; the most in one year was 29 in 1989. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1984: 1 · 1989: 29 · 1990: 2 · 1998: 3 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2025: 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 Leslie County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Leslie County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $88K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.9M | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $38K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $454K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $245K | 5.4 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $2K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $73K | once in about 124 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $108K | once in about 539 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Leslie 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 Leslie CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Leslie County's FEMA declarations (CSV)39 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis