19,430
Recorded events
120
Counties affected
25
Direct deaths
$338.2M
Property damage
Kentucky thunderstorm wind history: 19,430 recorded events across 120 counties between 1955 and 2026.
Decade by decade
Kentucky thunderstorm wind history by decade
The 2010s are the busiest decade on record with 6,400 reported thunderstorm wind events across Kentucky. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.
County ranking
Counties with the most thunderstorm wind events in Kentucky
| Rank | County | Events | Deaths | Damage | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Jefferson County | 661 | 3 | $3.6M | 1957–2026 |
| #2 | Pulaski County | 459 | 0 | $3.5M | 1957–2026 |
| #3 | Pike County | 398 | 1 | $1.3M | 1968–2025 |
| #4 | Laurel County | 343 | 1 | $1.2M | 1964–2026 |
| #5 | Fayette County | 321 | 1 | $63.2M | 1955–2026 |
| #6 | Warren County | 318 | 0 | $1.6M | 1955–2026 |
| #7 | Breathitt County | 311 | 0 | $642K | 1959–2026 |
| #8 | Christian County | 271 | 0 | $6.3M | 1959–2025 |
| #9 | Estill County | 267 | 0 | $1.5M | 1960–2025 |
| #10 | Hardin County | 266 | 0 | $56.9M | 1956–2026 |
| #11 | Floyd County | 244 | 1 | $947K | 1967–2026 |
| #12 | Whitley County | 242 | 0 | $1.6M | 1973–2025 |
| #13 | Morgan County | 241 | 0 | $868K | 1970–2025 |
| #14 | Perry County | 219 | 0 | $692K | 1970–2026 |
| #15 | Boone County | 217 | 0 | $1.2M | 1958–2025 |
| #16 | McCracken County | 217 | 0 | $3.9M | 1959–2025 |
| #17 | Madison County | 216 | 0 | $739K | 1956–2025 |
| #18 | Taylor County | 216 | 0 | $3.0M | 1957–2026 |
| #19 | Barren County | 213 | 0 | $4.0M | 1968–2026 |
| #20 | Logan County | 212 | 1 | $759K | 1969–2026 |
| #21 | Wayne County | 211 | 0 | $777K | 1970–2026 |
| #22 | Bath County | 207 | 0 | $1.3M | 1970–2025 |
| #23 | Graves County | 207 | 2 | $3.1M | 1961–2025 |
| #24 | Daviess County | 206 | 0 | $6.5M | 1955–2025 |
| #25 | Breckinridge County | 206 | 0 | $1.1M | 1970–2025 |
Significant events
Deadliest thunderstorm wind events in Kentucky
| Date | County | Scale | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 8, 1991 | Gallatin County | — | 2 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2001 | Bracken County | — | 2 | 3 |
| Feb 21, 1997 | Harlan County | — | 2 | 0 |
| May 29, 2019 | Floyd County | — | 1 | 0 |
| May 26, 2024 | Jefferson County | — | 1 | 0 |
| May 18, 2006 | Jessamine County | — | 1 | 0 |
| Jun 22, 2019 | Allen County | — | 1 | 0 |
| Jun 15, 2016 | Graves County | — | 1 | 0 |
| May 28, 1995 | Laurel County | — | 1 | 0 |
| May 25, 1996 | Bourbon County | — | 1 | 2 |