Mason County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21161 · population 17,117 · 240 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 363 records for Mason County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 274 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (133 records). The deadliest single record is the March 1, 1997 flash flood: 1 death and $919,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1968, 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
- 363on 274 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 110 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $22Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 11strongest F3
- 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 Mason County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 133 since 1961. 41% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 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 | 133 | 97 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.6M | 39 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 83 | 83 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 3 | $376K | 16 of 118 |
| Floods | 79 | 52 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $4.2M | 28 of 118 |
| Hail | 33 | 29 | 1966-2022 | 0 | 0 | $22K | 56 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 13 | 13 | 2000-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | 35 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 11 | 11 | 1964-2026 | 0 | 7 | $10M | 32 of 118 |
| Heat | 7 | 7 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $699K | 96 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 81 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 Mason County had?
NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Mason County from 1964 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries recorded in the county. That is 32nd 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Mason County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-05-10 14:45, as SPC files it | Vanceburg | F3 | 25 mi | 0 |
| 1967-05-07 06:25, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 2 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Mason County (11)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Washington, Mason County | EF2 1.97 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $500K |
| 2025-04-03 | Minerva, Mason County | EF0 1.79 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2024-04-12 | Somo, Mason County | EF1 0.75 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $47K |
| 2024-04-02 | Minerva, Mason County | EF1 3.5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $282K |
| 2020-04-08 | Sardis, Mason County | EF0 1.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $17K |
| 2019-06-24 | Minerva, Mason County | EF0 4.86 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $58K |
| 2003-05-10 | Maysville, Mason County | F3 4 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $802K |
| 1981-06-09 | Mason County | F2 4.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 7 | $2.5M step |
| 1969-07-22 | Mason County | F1 2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1967-05-07 | Mason County | F3 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1964-03-10 | Mason County | F1 | 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 Mason County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindMaysville, Mason County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindMaysville, Mason County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindMaysville, Mason County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindMoranburg, Mason County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-18 | TornadoWashington, Mason County | EF2 1.97 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $500K |
| 2026-05-24 | FloodMurphysville, Mason County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | FloodHelena, Mason County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | FloodFernleaf, Mason County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | Flash FloodSpringdale, Mason County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2026-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindMaysville, Mason County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-15 | Strong WindMason County · forecast zone Mason | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindMason County · forecast zone Mason | 43 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-03-01 | Flash FloodCountywide, Mason County Estimated rainfall from 5 to over 12 inches across the county in less than 36 hours caused area creeks and streams to rise out of their banks. Numerous roads were covered by water causing several vehicles to stall in the water. Some people had to be rescued from their vehicles. Three bridges were washed out and water ... | 1 | 0 | $919K | |
| 1981-06-09 | TornadoMason County | F2 4.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 7 | $2.5M step |
| 2012-01-02 | Winter WeatherMason County · forecast zone Mason Numerous traffic accidents and delays occurred due to the snowfall. Less than a half inch of snow was estimated to have fallen. State Kentucky 324 between Raymond Road and Old Sardis Pike was closed by officials as they responded to an accident involving injuries. Emergency personnel had to walk to the accident site ... | 0 | 3 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09-14 | High WindMason County · forecast zone Mason | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.7M |
| 2000-02-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Mason County | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | |
| 1993-11-17 | Thunderstorm WindMason County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 1994-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindMason County | 0 | 0 | $996K | |
| 2017-07-22 | Flash FloodMaysville, Mason County | 0 | 0 | $903K | |
| 2003-05-10 | TornadoMaysville, Mason County | F3 4 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $802K |
| 2026-06-18 | TornadoWashington, Mason County | EF2 1.97 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $500K |
| 2024-04-02 | TornadoMinerva, Mason County | EF1 3.5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $282K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 9, 1981 (tornado, Mason 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 Mason 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 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 28 | 41 | 26 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 16 | 39 | 23 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 19 | 21 | 32 |
| Hail | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
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 1961 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 32 · Feb 51 · Mar 33 · Apr 33 · May 47 · Jun 50 · Jul 46 · Aug 20 · Sep 12 · Oct 8 · Nov 9 · Dec 22 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Mason County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Mason County: 16 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (12) and flood (2).
| 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 |
| 2024-05-22 | DR-4782 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2021-04-23 | DR-4595 | Flood | Severe, Storms, 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 |
| 2011-05-04 | DR-1976 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2010-07-23 | DR-1925 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2001-08-15 | DR-1388 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1320 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms 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 |
| 1968-05-04 | DR-237 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Severe Storms |
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 Mason County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 79 flood or flash flood records for Mason County from 1996 to 2026, on 52 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Mason County ranks 2181st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $178,000 on 16 claims filed in Mason County; the most in one year was 3 in 1997. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 2 · 1997: 3 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2017: 2; 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 Mason County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Mason County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.7 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 Moderate | $850K | 4.2 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 9 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $6.4M | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $305K | 5.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $166K | 51 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $45K | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $41K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $133K | 3.2 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 Mason 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 Mason CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Mason County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis