Carter County, Kentucky
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1961 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
2
Tornado reports
51
Hail reports
101
Floods since 1996
403
All events
5
Deaths
$33.5M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Carter County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 2 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Little Fork was swollen, but not flooding, near its junction with the feeder stream called Leadingham Branch. Rains of 1 to 1.5 inches likely had fallen in the vicinity over the past 24 hours. A lull in the rain occurred during the late afternoon and early evening. During the ear…
Streams such as Tygart Creek, Little and Big Sinking Creeks, Henderson Branch, Smith Run, and Mills Branch saw major flash flooding. A 72 year old woman drowned. Her mobile home was washed off its foundation and pushed some 200 yards to a bridge. The home broke into pieces at the…
Localized downpours of 2 inches flooded roads around Hitchins. Three spelunkers were in one of the caves around Carter Caves. They were walking in a underground stream, heading toward a cave exit. They were about 20 feet from the exit, when a 4 to 5 foot surge of water entered th…
Significant flash flooding occurred in multiple spots across the county. Some of the first reports came from Carter Caves State Park where James Branch began flooding after 1.5 inches of rain in just over an hour. At the Carter County Fairgrounds, hundreds of folks were gathered …
Small stream flooding occurred with the final rounds of showers during the evening of the 3rd mostly in the eastern portion of the county. This was mainly along the Little Fork watershed. An earth level had nearly 3 feet of dirt washed away from its center near Willard. In the Hi…
In the Olive Hill vicinity around 80 homes and 30 businesses were flooded. The Olive Hill sewer plant was damaged. Two churches in the Buffalo Creek drainage, around the community of Carter, had several feet of water inside. Two shelters were opened. Numerous roads were closed an…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
One thousand and sixty-two residents were without power due to tree contact.
Flood Flood
Tygarts Creek above Olive Hill rose above a bankfull level of 10 feet the night of May 27. After cresting around 10.4 feet, the creek quickly returned to its banks overnight. At 10 feet, Bond Hollow Road, agricultural fields, and soccer fields near the creek begin to flood.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In downtown Grayson, a tree blew down and blocked portions of Main Street.
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A few trees and power lines were blown down next to Olive Hill on State Route 174.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down onto Route 7 north of Grayson.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree blew down along South State Highway One in Grayson.
Drought Drought
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flooding was observed on sections of Route 60 from Olive Hill toward Morehead. One such place was the intersection of 60 and Rayburn Fork Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Downed trees and power lines along Church River Road in Grahn resulted in local power outages.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
High water was observed on Damron Branch Road between Beech Grove and Grayson.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Downed trees along Leon Road resulted in nearby power outages.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Stan Branch flooded and a bridge was overrun with water.
Flood Flood
Tygarts Creek above Olive Hill rose above a bankfull level of 10 feet on the afternoon of May 30th. After rising to a crest of around 11.9 feet, the creek receded back into its banks later the same afternoon. Low sections of Biggs Bridge Road, Bond Hollow Road, and agricultural f…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Nearly 150 homes in the area were without power due to tree and power line damage nearby.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down around Olive Hill.
Flood Flood
Tygarts Creek above Olive Hill exceeded a bankfull level of 10 feet on the morning of April 4th. The creek rose to a crest around 10.6 feet and then receded back into its banks later that morning. While the creek was out of its banks, Bond Hollow Road and fields adjacent to the c…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree fell onto power lines in the Willard township.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Flood Flood
Route 2 was blocked by flooding near Carter.
Flood Flood
Route 1910 was flooded at Little Sandy River.
Flood Flood
East Midland Trail was closed due to flooding in Grayson.
Flood Flood
Route 986 was closed due to flooding just south of Olive Hill.
Flood Flood
The Little Sandy River at Grayson exceeded its flood stage of 21 feet early on the 16th of February, then continued to rise to a crest around 24.4 feet during the afternoon. The river slowly receded back below flood stage the morning of the 17th. This resulted in flooding of low …
Flood Flood
Route 773 was closed due to flooding along Straight Creek east of Hitchins.
Flood Flood
Tygarts Creek above Olive Hill exceeded a bankfull level of 10 feet on the night of February 15th. After cresting just over 13 feet overnight, the creek lowered back into its banks before sunrise on the 16th. Before doing so, however, flooding occurred within fields, low sections…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Flood Flood
Street flooding was observed near Williams Creek Road west of Rush.
Flood Flood
Tygarts Creek above Olive Hill rose above its bankfull level of 10 feet during the pre-dawn hours of February 6th. The creek rose to a crest of 14.5 feet during the morning, then receded below bankfull around midday. While above its banks, the lower section of Chili Street and th…
Flood Flood
The Little Sandy River at Grayson exceeded its flood stage of 21 feet on the morning of February 6th. The river crested around 24.4 feet that afternoon and then receded below flood stage again early the next morning. While the river spilled out of its banks, flooding of low spots…
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 35 | 0 |
| 2024 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 | 14 | 0 |
| 2021 | 9 | 0 |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 |
| 2018 | 9 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 0 |
| 2016 | 15 | 0 |
| 2015 | 21 | 0 |
| 2014 | 16 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012 | 18 | 0 |
| 2011 | 11 | 0 |
| 2010 | 17 | 0 |
| 2009 | 7 | 0 |
| 2008 | 9 | 1 |
| 2007 | 10 | 0 |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 |
| 2005 | 7 | 0 |
| 2004 | 10 | 0 |
| 2003 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 | 17 | 0 |
| 2001 | 13 | 0 |
| 2000 | 17 | 0 |
| 1999 | 13 | 0 |
| 1998 | 11 | 0 |
| 1997 | 21 | 0 |
| 1996 | 16 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | 5 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
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See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Carter County, measured to its path.
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