Kentucky floods
Every recorded flood since 1996 · 120 counties with a record
NOAA's Storm Events Database records 8,294 floods and flash floods in Kentucky from 1996 through June 30, 2026, about 280 a year since 2000. The deadliest was the July 27, 2022 flash flood: 40 deaths across 6 records. Kentucky ranks 3rd of 52 states and territories by count and 8th of 51 per square mile.
Floods in Kentucky, 1996 to 2026
Flood records per year (NOAA Storm Events); 2026 to June 30, 2026.
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $1 million
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- Records
- 8,2941996 to June 30, 2026
- A year since 2000
- 280average
- Deaths
- 16952 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $1.4Bas filed
- Busiest year
- 2015551 records
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; deaths and damage as filed, damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.
Are floods and flash floods common in Kentucky?
Kentucky averages about 280 floods and flash floods a year since 2000, 3rd of 52 states and territories by count. The busiest year on record was 2015 (551). Per 10,000 square miles of land, Kentucky records 2101 floods and flash floods since 1996, 8th of 51 states and territories by that measure.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1996, per 10,000 square miles of land area (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer; places under 1,000 square miles not ranked). Damage colours: Storm Events damage, 2025 dollars.
Which counties in Kentucky have the most floods and flash floods?
Per square mile, McCracken County leads Kentucky: 151 days with a flood since 1996, 606.9 per 1,000 square miles of land. By raw count, Jefferson County has the most flood records (245 since 1996); large counties collect more records simply by covering more ground, so the ranking counts days with a record per unit of area (a storm filed for several forecast zones adds several records but one day).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, days with a record in the county since 1996 per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer); in brackets, the count of records.
When is flood season in Kentucky?
Kentucky's floods and flash floods by month. The busiest month is May (1,246 records).
The values, month by month
Jan 537 · Feb 1,068 · Mar 1,018 · Apr 892 · May 1,246 · Jun 887 · Jul 1,007 · Aug 553 · Sep 473 · Oct 76 · Nov 157 · Dec 380 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began, since 1996.
What were the deadliest floods and flash floods in Kentucky?
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-27 | Flash FloodFisty, Knott County One storm episode: 6 records in 5 places, 2022-07-27 to 2022-07-28; the totals are the episode's. Between July 25th and July 30th, 2022, several complexes of training thunderstorms developed south of I-64 and brought heavy rain, deadly flash flooding, and devastating river flooding to eastern Kentucky and central Appalachia. These thunderstorms, at times, caused rainfall rates in excess of 4/hr across complex ... | 40 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-15 | Flash FloodBonnieville, Hart County One storm episode: 29 records in 16 places, 2025-02-15 to 2025-02-17; the totals are the episode's. A strong storm system moved across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys on February 15th and 16th, 2025, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding, severe weather, and winter weather to central Kentucky. The large scale upper level pattern featured deep troughing ejecting across the central CONUS, with broad southwesterly flow ... | 6 | 0 | $130K | |
| 1997-03-01 | FloodPendleton County · forecast zone Pendleton Persistent heavy rainfall occurred for nearly 36 hours on the 1st and 2nd. Up to 12 inches of rain fell across parts of Northern Kentucky bringing the Licking river at Falmouth out of it's banks. On the evening of the 2nd, the river crested at over 50 feet, which is the highest stage on record. The crest is an ... | 5 | 0 | $64M | |
| 2020-04-29 | FloodMoores Ferry, Bath County A low lying road near Peasticks and Salt Lick in Bath County, Adams Road, saw water levels gradually come up and produce a steady stream of flowing water as daily rainfall amounts topped out at 1-1.5 inches. An Amish family, initially attempting to cross this, decided to turn around. However, their horse lost its ... | 5 | 0 | $3K | |
| 2015-07-13 | Flash FloodFlatgap, Johnson County Flash flooding occurred in the Redbush and Flatgap communities, with devastating flooding occurring along Big Mudlick Creek and Ramey Branch. Four fatalities occurred and over 50 swift water rescues were performed in this area. Entire double wide houses were seen floating down Big Mudlick Creek and getting forced ... | 4 | 15 | $4.4M | |
| 2010-05-02 | Flash FloodStanford, Lincoln County One storm episode: 11 records in 10 places, 2010-05-02 to 2010-05-03; the totals are the episode's. A stalled cold front over the Mississippi Valley spawned thunderstorms producing heavy rain from northern Mississippi through middle Tennessee and central Kentucky into southern Indiana. With little movement of the front, training of storms produced record or near-record 2-day rainfall totals from 8 to 10+ inches in ... | 4 | 1 | $4.9M | |
| 2011-02-24 | Flash FloodBeulah, Hickman County A horse-drawn buggy carrying an Amish family was washed away at a low water crossing on a rural gravel road. Four children drowned when they were swept down a swollen creek. Reports stated that up to five feet of water swept the buggy away. The two parents driving the buggy and made it to safety, along with three ... | 4 | 0 | – | |
| 2010-07-17 | Flash FloodMeta, Pike County One storm episode: 3 records; the totals are the episode's. An isolated severe thunderstorm blew down trees in Montgomery county during the predawn hours of July 17th. The more significant event, however, occurred during the later afternoon and evening hours in Pike county. Slow moving, training thunderstorms dumped between 3 and 7 inches of rain on portions of eastern Pike ... | 4 | 0 | $11K | |
| 2026-06-27 | Flash FloodRichmond, Madison County One storm episode: 42 records in 19 places, 2026-06-27 to 2026-06-28; the totals are the episode's. Multiple rounds of storms occurred June 26-28th, 2026 resulting in significant flash flooding over southern Indiana and central Kentucky as well as an EF-0 tornado. Several flash flood warnings were issued over the 2 day period with Considerable Flash Flooding in multiple locations and even Flash Flood Emergencies in ... | 4 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-09-23 | Flash FloodLexington, Fayette County One storm episode: 5 records in 5 places; the totals are the episode's. Two women were knocked down and swept away by rapidly flowing water, after trying to cross a flooded intersection. Sixty intersections in town were covered by high water, some with water depths up to three or four feet. Interstate 75 at mile marker 115 was flooded. Interstate 64 at mile marker 81 also had high water. | 4 | 0 | $1.5M |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed by the National Weather Service, summed over each storm (one episode, or one named storm filed by several offices). Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.
The costliest floods and flash floods in Kentucky
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-03-02 | FloodHardin County · forecast zone Hardin One storm episode: 7 records in 7 places; the totals are the episode's. | 1 | 0 | $230M | |
| 1997-03-01 | FloodJefferson County · forecast zone Jefferson | 1 | 0 | $156M | |
| 1997-03-01 | Flash FloodHopkinsville, Christian County | 0 | 0 | $74M | |
| 1997-03-01 | FloodPendleton County · forecast zone Pendleton | 5 | 0 | $64M | |
| 2009-08-04 | Flash FloodSt Dennis, Jefferson County | 0 | 0 | $62M | |
| 1997-03-01 | FloodBullitt County · forecast zone Bullitt One storm episode: 3 records in 3 places, 1997-03-01 to 1997-03-02; the totals are the episode's. | 0 | 0 | $52M | |
| 1997-03-02 | FloodBallard County · forecast zone Ballard | 0 | 0 | $46M | |
| 2002-03-17 | FloodBell County · forecast zone Bell | 0 | 0 | $43M |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, in 2025 dollars.
Are floods and flash floods becoming more frequent in Kentucky?
Kentucky's count per decade against the whole country's, and its share. NOAA recorded every event type only from 1996, so earlier decades are not comparable; the share of the national total is the fairer comparison across decades.
| Decade | Kentucky | United States | Kentucky's share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-99 | 919 | 20,986 | 4.4% |
| 2000s | 2,462 | 54,913 | 4.5% |
| 2010s | 3,198 | 68,322 | 4.7% |
| 2020-26 | 1,715 | 43,563 | 3.9% |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
The most recent floods and flash floods in Kentucky
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-28 | FloodThixton, Jefferson County | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodEdmonton, Metcalfe County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodWago, Clinton County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodGrider, Cumberland County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodCaneyville, Grayson County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodMacon, Hart County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodLeitchfield, Grayson County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodSlick Rock, Barren County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodEdmonton, Metcalfe County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodEdmonton, Metcalfe County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-27 | Flash FloodRichmond, Madison County | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-27 | Flash FloodMillion, Madison County | 1 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; the newest months are revised by NCEI as reports arrive. Search the record at NCEI.
Federal disaster declarations for floods and flash floods in Kentucky
FEMA has declared 66 disasters in Kentucky for floods and flash floods, counting its incident type and declarations that name flood in the title (FEMA files most storm disasters under Severe Storm); 63 were major disasters, the latest on September 1, 2026.
| Declared | Number | Title | Areas named |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | DR-4937 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | 20 |
| 2025-04-24 | DR-4864 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | 91 |
| 2025-04-03 | EM-3626 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding | 120 |
| 2025-02-24 | DR-4860 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | 69 |
| 2025-02-16 | EM-3624 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides | 120 |
| 2023-05-09 | DR-4711 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | 22 |
| 2023-04-10 | DR-4702 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | 88 |
| 2022-07-29 | DR-4663 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | 20 |
| 2022-02-27 | DR-4643 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides | 13 |
| 2021-12-12 | DR-4630 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes | 23 |
| 2021-12-11 | EM-3575 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes | 16 |
| 2021-04-23 | DR-4595 | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | 50 |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), through October 2, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.
Next
- McCracken County: the county's whole recordThe Kentucky county with the most floods and flash floods per square mile
- Floods across the United StatesEvery state ranked, by year and month
- Every natural hazard in KentuckyTornadoes, floods, storms, heat and the federal declarations
- Severe thunderstorm wind in Kentucky19,621 records
- Winter storms in Kentucky8,092 records
- Hail in Kentucky6,621 records