Marion County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21155 · population 19,521 · 344 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 255 records for Marion County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 175 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (125 records). The deadliest single record is the February 16, 2023 flood: 1 death. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1970, 21 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
- 255on 175 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 17 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $14Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 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 Marion County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 125 since 1967. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1967 fell in May and June. 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 | 125 | 97 | 1967-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 87 of 118 |
| Floods | 41 | 25 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $167K | 105 of 118 |
| Hail | 38 | 27 | 1964-2025 | 0 | 2 | $9.9M | 102 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 25 | 25 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $128K | 104 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 11 | 1973-2023 | 0 | 5 | $2.0M | 61 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 7 | 6 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $144K | 91 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2016-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 92 of 118 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2025-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 of 118 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2018-2018 | 0 | 0 | $294K | 69 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 Marion County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Marion County from 1973 to 2023, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 5 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Marion County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Marion County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-11 02:20, as SPC files it | Bradfordsville | EF3 | 14.54 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Marion County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-18 | Penicks, Marion County | EF0 0.11 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-01-01 | Lebanon, Marion County | EF1 0.26 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-12-11 | Jessietown, Marion County | EF2 7.99 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2021-12-11 | Riley, Marion County | EF1 1.9 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-11-05 | Belltown, Marion County | EF0 2 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $41K |
| 2017-06-23 | St Francis, Marion County | EF1 2.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $181K |
| 2013-01-30 | Phillipsburg, Marion County | EF0 0.12 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $32K |
| 2007-10-19 | Bradfordsville, Marion County | EF0 0.77 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $142K |
| 2000-11-09 | Lebanon, Marion County | F1 0.3 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $171K |
| 1997-03-28 | Attilla, Marion County | F2 3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-10-01 | Marion County | F1 4.7 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-05-25 | Marion County | F1 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $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 Marion County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 16, 2023 flood (1 death).
A 75-year old male died after his vehicle was swept into the flooded Rolling Fork River near Bradfordsville.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1082520)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-09 | Flash FloodDants, Marion County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-09 | Flash FloodDants, Marion County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-18 | Thunderstorm WindLoretto, Marion County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-24 | Frost/FreezeMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindCalvary, Marion County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-30 | Thunderstorm WindRaywick, Marion County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindGravel Switch, Marion County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindLebanon, Marion County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindNurkes Spg, Marion County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindLoretto, Marion County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | HailLebanon, Marion County | 1.00 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-02-16 | FloodBradfordsville, Marion County A 75-year old male died after his vehicle was swept into the flooded Rolling Fork River near Bradfordsville. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2013-01-30 | TornadoPhillipsburg, Marion County A weak EF-0 tornado with estimated winds of 80 to 85 mph briefly touched down along Calvary Road around 7 miles southwest of Bradfordsville. Although this twister had a path length estimated of only a tenth of a mile, it did destroy a mobile home, injuring two occupants. It also slid a shed off of its foundation. | EF0 0.12 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $32K |
| 2002-05-01 | HailLebanon, Marion County Two people were struck by hail and taken to the hospital. Hail knocked the windows out of several buildings and at least three police cruisers. | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 2 | $49K |
| 1973-05-25 | TornadoMarion County | F1 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 2021-12-11 | TornadoJessietown, Marion County This tornado formed approximately 1.7 miles west southwest of Saloma near Chaney Pike Road and tracked northeast for approximately 6.5 miles before exiting Taylor County and into southern Marion County. The tornado in Marion County resulted in EF-1 to EF-2 damage to homes and trees along Finley Ridge Road, Nolley Wood ... | EF2 7.99 mi x 450 yd | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-05-14 | HailMarion County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $9.7M |
| 2018-08-07 | LightningSt Joseph, Marion County | 0 | 0 | $294K | |
| 2017-06-23 | TornadoSt Francis, Marion County | EF1 2.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $181K |
| 2000-11-09 | TornadoLebanon, Marion County | F1 0.3 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $171K |
| 2002-05-01 | HailSt Mary, Marion County | 4.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $164K |
| 2003-11-18 | Thunderstorm WindLebanon, Marion County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $160K |
| 2007-10-19 | TornadoBradfordsville, Marion County | EF0 0.77 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $142K |
| 2002-05-06 | Thunderstorm WindGravel Switch, Marion County | 80 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $82K |
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: October 1, 1977 (tornado, Marion 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 Marion 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 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 27 | 36 | 29 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 7 | 15 | 12 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 3 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1967 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 20 · Feb 12 · Mar 23 · Apr 22 · May 58 · Jun 36 · Jul 35 · Aug 18 · Sep 3 · Oct 9 · Nov 9 · Dec 10 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Marion County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Marion County: 16 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and severe ice storm (3).
| 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 |
| 2025-02-16 | EM-3624 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2023-04-10 | DR-4702 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2021-12-12 | DR-4630 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 2020-03-28 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3231 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 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 |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3104 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1984-05-15 | DR-705 | Severe Storm | High Winds, Tornadoes & 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 Marion County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 41 flood or flash flood records for Marion County from 1996 to 2026, on 25 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Marion County ranks 2358th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $136,000 on 10 claims filed in Marion County; the most in one year was 3 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1997: 1 · 2002: 2 · 2010: 3 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2023: 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 Marion County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Marion County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.0 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 | $764K | 6.9 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $411K | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.7M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $425K | once in about 481 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $106K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $75K | 9 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $761K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $163K | 53 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 Marion 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 Marion CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Marion County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis