Monroe County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21171 · population 11,296 · 329 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 199 records for Monroe County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 145 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (109 records). The deadliest single record is the December 31, 2018 flood: 1 death and $12,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1969, 20 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on May 29, 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
- 199on 145 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 10 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $8.7Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 13strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 22latest 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 Monroe County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 109 since 1971. 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 | 109 | 82 | 1971-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | 99 of 118 |
| Hail | 30 | 23 | 1982-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 111 of 118 |
| Floods | 19 | 16 | 1997-2025 | 1 | 0 | $147K | 118 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 19 | 19 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 113 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 13 | 13 | 1989-2024 | 0 | 0 | $6.2M | 48 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 2016-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 97 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 90 of 118 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2010-2013 | 0 | 0 | $39K | 43 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 1 | 1 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 117 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 Monroe County had?
NOAA records 13 tornadoes in Monroe County from 1989 to 2024, the strongest rated EF3, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 48th 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 13 tornadoes whose track touched Monroe County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 13, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 26 people, 0 of them in Monroe County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-02-05 22:02, as SPC files it | HartsvilleCrossed KY, TN | EF3 | 50.32 mi | 22 |
| 2008-02-06 01:40, as SPC files it | Fountain Run | EF3 | 9.44 mi | 4 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Monroe County (13)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-26 | Persimmon, Monroe County | EF1 0.42 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-12-09 | Harlan Xrds, Monroe County | EF1 2.51 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-12-11 | Boles, Monroe County | EF0 5.4 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-03 | Tompkinsville, Monroe County | EF1 0.5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-27 | Vernon, Monroe County | EF1 2.96 mi x 550 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-04 | Otia, Monroe County | EF1 0.19 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-05-02 | Tompkinsville, Monroe County | EF0 5.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2009-10-09 | Flippin, Monroe County | EF2 15.82 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-06-11 | Cyclone, Monroe County | EF0 0.82 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-02-06 | Fountain Run, Monroe County | EF3 0.51 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $315K |
| 2008-02-05 | Bugtussle, Monroe County | EF3 19.6 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $5.1M |
| 1997-03-01 | Bugtussle, Monroe County | F2 4 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $184K |
| 1989-05-22 | Monroe County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Monroe County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 31, 2018 flood (1 death and $12,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A 19 year old female on Lyons Road attempted to drive through a low water crossing on the Rocky Branch of the East Fork of the Barren River just before 7 pm CST on New Year's Eve, but was washed away by the swollen creek's rising water. Her vehicle was carried downstream 500 yards, where it was discovered unoccupied the next day. After several days of searching, law enforcement located her body seven miles downstream on January 5, 2019.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 793808)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormMonroe County · forecast zone Monroe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-24 | Frost/FreezeMonroe County · forecast zone Monroe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindJeffrey, Monroe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-15 | Thunderstorm WindJeffrey, Monroe County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-15 | Flash FloodFlippin, Monroe County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-05-26 | TornadoPersimmon, Monroe County | EF1 0.42 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-12-09 | TornadoHarlan Xrds, Monroe County | EF1 2.51 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-12-11 | TornadoBoles, Monroe County | EF0 5.4 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-03 | TornadoTompkinsville, Monroe County | EF1 0.5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-01-11 | Thunderstorm WindTompkinsville, Monroe County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-01-11 | Thunderstorm WindCenter Pt, Monroe County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-12-31 | FloodGamaliel, Monroe County | 1 | 0 | $12K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-12-31 | FloodGamaliel, Monroe County A 19 year old female on Lyons Road attempted to drive through a low water crossing on the Rocky Branch of the East Fork of the Barren River just before 7 pm CST on New Year's Eve, but was washed away by the swollen creek's rising water. Her vehicle was carried downstream 500 yards, where it was discovered unoccupied ... | 1 | 0 | $12K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-02-05 | TornadoBugtussle, Monroe County | EF3 19.6 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $5.1M |
| 2008-01-29 | Thunderstorm WindMt Herman, Monroe County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.6M |
| 2008-02-06 | TornadoFountain Run, Monroe County | EF3 0.51 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $315K |
| 1997-03-01 | TornadoBugtussle, Monroe County | F2 4 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $184K |
| 2007-04-03 | Thunderstorm WindMt Herman, Monroe County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $171K |
| 2006-07-04 | Thunderstorm WindGamaliel, Monroe County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $110K |
| 2000-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindGamaliel, Monroe County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $34K |
| 2018-12-31 | FloodGamaliel, Monroe County | 1 | 0 | $12K |
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: May 22, 1989 (tornado, Monroe 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 Monroe 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 | 7 | 5 | 46 | 28 | 18 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 3 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
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 Monroe County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 21 · Feb 18 · Mar 18 · Apr 23 · May 30 · Jun 18 · Jul 39 · Aug 17 · Sep 0 · Oct 5 · Nov 4 · Dec 6 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Monroe County
FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Monroe County: 16 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (13) and snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-29 | DR-4913 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 2023-04-10 | DR-4702 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, 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 |
| 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 |
| 2008-02-21 | DR-1746 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3231 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004-08-06 | DR-1537 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-07-02 | DR-1475 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 1969-07-15 | DR-265 | 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 Monroe County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 19 flood or flash flood records for Monroe County from 1997 to 2025, on 16 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Monroe County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1,872 on 2 claims filed in Monroe County; the most in one year was 1 in 2019. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2019: 1 · 2021: 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 Monroe County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Monroe County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $485K | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $394K | 5.8 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $356K | once in about 433 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $890K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $45K | 6.8 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $60K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $643K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $44K | 3.9 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Monroe 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 Monroe CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Monroe County's FEMA declarations (CSV)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis