Wolfe County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21237 · population 6,562 · 222 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 430 records for Wolfe County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 277 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (191 records). The deadliest single record is the February 3, 1998 heavy snow, filed for the forecast zone Wolfe, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 34 declarations naming the county since 1978, 32 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
- 430on 277 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 10 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $13Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 34latest 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 Wolfe County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 191 since 1968. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1968 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 | 191 | 122 | 1968-2026 | 0 | 0 | $571K | 16 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 95 | 69 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $83K | 23 of 118 |
| Floods | 52 | 34 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $9.8M | 52 of 118 |
| Hail | 44 | 35 | 1968-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | 23 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 15 | 14 | 2001-2024 | 0 | 0 | $163K | 30 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 2007-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 118 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 of 118 |
| Drought | 4 | 4 | 2016-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 4 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | $168K | 87 of 118 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 2 | 2019-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2009-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 80 of 118 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 17 of 118 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2019-2019 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 57 of 118 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 47 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 Wolfe County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Wolfe County from 2005 to 2012, 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 4 tornadoes whose track touched Wolfe County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 0 of them in Wolfe County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-02 17:50, as SPC files it | Salyersville to WarfieldCrossed KY, WV | EF3 | 49.04 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Wolfe County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-02 | Burkhart, Wolfe County | EF1 1.06 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-09 | Valeria, Wolfe County | EF0 0.25 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $39K |
| 2011-02-28 | Gillmore, Wolfe County | EF1 0.25 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 2005-05-19 | Pine Ridge, Wolfe County | F0 0.1 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $30K |
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 Wolfe County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 19, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-19 | HailCampton, Wolfe County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-19 | Thunderstorm WindBethany, Wolfe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-02-19 | HailHazel Green, Wolfe County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormWolfe County · forecast zone Wolfe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindHazel Green, Wolfe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindDaysboro, Wolfe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindTorrent, Wolfe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindRogers, Wolfe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindTrent, Wolfe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindRogers, Wolfe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindDaysboro, Wolfe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $79K |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindMalaga, Wolfe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-02-03 | Heavy SnowWolfe County · forecast zone Wolfe A major snowstorm affected eastern Kentucky from the evening of February 3 into the morning of February 6. Snowfall totals for the storm ranged from around 4 inches in valley locations near the Virginia border to as much as 2 feet in areas from Whitley City to Flemingsburg. The greatest snowfalls during the storm ... | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-06-16 | Flash FloodCampton, Wolfe County | 0 | 0 | $9.2M | |
| 2012-03-02 | HailCampton, Wolfe County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $2.6M |
| 2021-08-19 | Flash FloodBethany, Wolfe County | 0 | 0 | $272K | |
| 2011-02-28 | TornadoGillmore, Wolfe County | EF1 0.25 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindDaysboro, Wolfe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $79K |
| 2004-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindRogers, Wolfe County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $47K |
| 2011-04-09 | TornadoValeria, Wolfe County | EF0 0.25 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $39K |
| 2012-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindHazel Green, Wolfe County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $32K |
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 Wolfe 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 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 56 | 77 | 40 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 26 | 48 | 15 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 15 | 19 | 16 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 12 | 4 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 2 | 7 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 3 | 10 | 1 |
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 1968 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 47 · Feb 60 · Mar 24 · Apr 42 · May 54 · Jun 62 · Jul 51 · Aug 32 · Sep 10 · Oct 11 · Nov 13 · Dec 24 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wolfe County
FEMA's register lists 34 declarations that include Wolfe County: 27 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (14) and flood (8).
| 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 |
| 2024-11-26 | DR-4848 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| 2020-03-28 | 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 |
| 2015-05-01 | DR-4217 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-04-30 | DR-4216 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2012-03-06 | DR-4057 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2002-04-04 | DR-1407 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms 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 |
| 1991-01-29 | DR-893 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1989-02-24 | DR-821 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-12-12 | DR-568 | 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 Wolfe County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 52 flood or flash flood records for Wolfe County from 1997 to 2025, on 34 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wolfe County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $0 on 1 claim filed in Wolfe County; the most in one year was 1 in 1989. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1989: 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 Wolfe County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wolfe County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $3.8 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 | $29K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $62K | once in about 358 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $2.9M | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $106K | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $25K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $179K | 5 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $52K | 51 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $193K | 1.1 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 Wolfe 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 Wolfe CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wolfe County's FEMA declarations (CSV)34 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis