Whitley County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21235 · population 36,626 · 438 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 595 records for Whitley County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 335 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (244 records). The deadliest single record is the February 21, 2014 flash flood: 3 deaths and $1,247 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 38 declarations naming the county since 1974, 36 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
- 595on 335 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 613 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $17Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 5strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 38latest 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 Whitley County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 244 since 1973. 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 | 244 | 141 | 1973-2025 | 0 | 3 | $2.1M | 66 of 118 |
| Floods | 159 | 85 | 1996-2024 | 4 | 0 | $12M | 37 of 118 |
| Hail | 71 | 47 | 1959-2025 | 0 | 0 | $15K | 68 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 61 | 46 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 4 | $34K | 88 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 17 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $124K | 52 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 12 | 12 | 2007-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 61 of 118 |
| Heat | 7 | 7 | 2010-2019 | 1 | 0 | – | 50 of 118 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 7 | 5 | 2002-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 6 | 2009-2021 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 51 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 4 | 1967-2011 | 0 | 5 | $2.6M | 103 of 118 |
| Drought | 3 | 3 | 2016-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 of 118 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 1997-2020 | 0 | 1 | $8K | 55 of 118 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2018-2018 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 22 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 Whitley County had?
NOAA records 5 tornadoes in Whitley County from 1967 to 2011, the strongest rated F3, 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Whitley County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 5, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-03-12 04:20, as SPC files it | Pleasant View | F3 | 23.6 mi | 0 |
| 1967-03-12 05:30, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 2 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Whitley County (5)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-04 | Clio, Whitley County | EF1 1.74 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $262K |
| 2008-05-11 | Krupp, Whitley County | EF1 1.59 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $137K |
| 1974-04-03 | Whitley County | F2 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-03-12 | Whitley County | F3 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-03-12 | Whitley County | F3 12.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 5 | $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 Whitley County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 16, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($4,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormWhitley County · forecast zone Whitley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindHighland Park, Whitley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindCarpenter, Whitley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindLot, Whitley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindMountain Ash, Whitley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindBalltown, Whitley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindYoungs Creek, Whitley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-05-08 | HailHighland Park, Whitley County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-08 | HailGoldbug, Whitley County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-08 | HailRockholds, Whitley County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-08 | HailRockholds, Whitley County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-08 | HailWilliamsburg Airport, Whitley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-21 | Flash FloodParkers, Whitley County A vehicle containing a deceased family of three was found submerged in Jellico Creek off Newman Campbell Rd. The family went missing late Thursday night and the vehicle was found early Saturday morning. It is likely based off evidence from the scene that the driver drove into swiftly flowing water at least 3 feet deep ... | 3 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2013-11-26 | Winter WeatherWhitley County · forecast zone Whitley Slick snow covered roads resulted in a fatal multiple vehicle accident on I-75 near Williamsburg and lead to the closure of all north and south bound lanes. | 1 | 4 | – | |
| 2020-02-06 | FloodWilliamsburg, Whitley County Emergency Management reported extensive flooding in Williamsburg and elsewhere across Whitley County, especially east of town. Several swift water rescues were performed with one woman being diagnosed with hyperthermia. At least 38 homes were inundated with water, with six of these being completely under water. Many ... | 1 | 0 | $4.6M | |
| 2019-08-01 | HeatWhitley County · forecast zone Whitley A two year old toddler passed away from hyperthermia in a vehicle as heat indices warmed into the low to mid 90s. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1967-03-12 | TornadoWhitley County | F3 12.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 2013-08-31 | Thunderstorm WindHighland Park, Whitley County A tree fell destroying a fence, playhouse and hitting a child. The child suffered back and head injuries. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $13K |
| 2011-04-04 | Thunderstorm WindFaber, Whitley County A large tree fell on a man while he was mowing his lawn 4 miles southwest of Corbin. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2011-04-04 | Thunderstorm WindCorbin, Whitley County A tree fell down on a vehicle. The driver was injured. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-02-16 | FloodWhitley County · forecast zone Whitley | 0 | 0 | $5.9M | |
| 1998-04-17 | FloodWhitley County · forecast zone Whitley | 0 | 0 | $923K | |
| 1998-04-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Whitley County | 0 | 0 | $272K | |
| 2011-04-04 | TornadoClio, Whitley County | EF1 1.74 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $262K |
| 2024-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindYoungs Creek, Whitley County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $207K |
| 2008-05-11 | TornadoKrupp, Whitley County | EF1 1.59 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $137K |
| 2024-05-26 | Thunderstorm WindWoodbine, Whitley County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $113K |
| 2011-06-20 | Thunderstorm WindGoins, Whitley County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $98K |
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 12, 1967 (tornado, Whitley 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 Whitley 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 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 67 | 103 | 51 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 60 | 71 | 20 |
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 38 | 10 | 15 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 14 | 33 | 11 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
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 Whitley County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 45 · Feb 48 · Mar 24 · Apr 82 · May 77 · Jun 87 · Jul 87 · Aug 60 · Sep 27 · Oct 9 · Nov 18 · Dec 31 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Whitley County
FEMA's register lists 38 declarations that include Whitley County: 30 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (17) and flood (9).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-29 | DR-4913 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3633 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-05-23 | DR-4875 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 2024-05-22 | DR-4782 | 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 |
| 2023-04-10 | DR-4702 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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 |
| 2015-05-12 | DR-4218 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-01 | DR-4217 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3231 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004-06-10 | DR-1523 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1454 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and |
| 2002-05-07 | DR-1414 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 2002-04-04 | DR-1407 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-11-02 | FM-2385 | Fire | Ky - Southeastern Fire Complex - 11/02/01 |
| 2001-08-15 | DR-1388 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1998-03-03 | DR-1207 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 1989-06-30 | DR-834 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1984-05-15 | DR-705 | Severe Storm | High Winds, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1977-04-06 | DR-529 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1975-03-29 | DR-461 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-420 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
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 Whitley County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 159 flood or flash flood records for Whitley County from 1996 to 2024, on 85 days, with 4 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Whitley County ranks 1907th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $212,000 on 30 claims filed in Whitley County; the most in one year was 8 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1984: 6 · 1989: 2 · 1994: 6 · 1998: 8 · 2003: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2020: 3 · 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 Whitley County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Whitley County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $18.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $219K | 13 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.1M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $556K | 5.6 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $249K | 54 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $26K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $555K | once in about 82 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $11M | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $441K | 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 Whitley 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 Whitley CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Whitley County's FEMA declarations (CSV)38 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis