Owsley County, Kentucky
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1977 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
2
Tornado reports
41
Hail reports
52
Floods since 1996
328
All events
0
Deaths
$3.1M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Owsley 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.
At 0700 EST, February 17, the South Fork of the Kentucky River crested at 38.64 feet in Booneville. This is 11.64 feet above flood stage.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Significant convective snowfall was noted upstream of the higher terrain. A CoCoRaHS observer located 3.6 miles east-northeast of Booneville measured a storm total of 4.1 inches of snow by the morning of the 24th.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A former CO-OP observer measured 0.25 inches of flat ice accretion in Island City at 1825EST on the 25th. The icing followed a period of mixed precipitation, leading to slick roads and drooping trees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A social media report stated a tree was down in Lerose near the intersection of Lymans Creek Rd and KY-30.
Hail Hail
Media relayed photos of quarter sized hail that occurred south of Booneville, near the town of Taft.
Hail Hail
Nickle sized hail was reported in the Sextons Creek area of Owsley County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Social media showed a tree down along KY-399 near the old Vincent Post Office.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Heavy snow fell across Owsley County on January 19th and into the 20th. An early measured report of 2.0 inches was received from a county official near Lerose at 1000EST on the 19th. The final storm total was a measured 5.0 inches, reported at 700EST on the 20th by the CoCoRaHS o…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A storm total of 4.0 inches of measured snow was reported by the CoCoRaHS observer located 3.6 miles east-northeast of Booneville. The measurement was taken at 7:00 AM on January 6th.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The highway department reported that a tree was blown down onto Lower Wolfe Creek Road between Eddie Marshall Lane and KY-2024.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Owsley County had the highest total snowfall report out of this event. The observation point 4 ENE of Booneville recorded 9.3 inches of snow as of 7am on January 16. This was an increase from 4.5 inches reported 24 hours before. Also on the 15th, a CoCoRaHS station 2 miles NNW of…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The public reported multiple trees blown down or snapped in the vicinity of Holland Lane and Fox Hunters Knob.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Pictures show large limbs blown and trees snapped and uprooted in the 2700 block of Fish Creek School Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A member of the public reported two trees blown down at a residence near Lerose.
Hail Hail
A member of the public reported approximately half-dollar sized (1.25 inch) hail near Lerose.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
State highway garage reported a tree blown down onto KY-1768 about a half mile from the its intersection with KY-28.
High Wind High Wind
At 6:45 PM EST, the Kentucky Mesonet site located 2 miles S of Booneville recorded a maximum wind gust of 47 mph. While this isn't High Wind criteria, both Law Enforcement and the Emergency Manager of the county called in additional reports, indicating that wind gusts were higher…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was reported flowing over the road along Bear Run near the community of Eversole.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple instances of flash flooding occurred in SW Owsley County. At 10:00 PM EST - Pictures on social media show significant flash flood damange along Buffalo Creek, including a home washed off it's foundation and destroyed.
High Wind High Wind
The local utility company reported that a large tree had been blown down onto and damaged a double circuit adjacent to the substation, located 1/2 miles west of city of Booneville, causing a major power outage across much of the county. Two other power poles, one up the left hand…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Two reports were received in the northern part of the county from the public and a CoCoRaHS observer. The public report was made at 10:20am EST, with a storm total snowfall of 6.0 inches. The CoCoRaHS report was made at 7am EST, with a storm total snowfall of 6.7 inches.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
After a period of mixed precipitation during much of the day on the 16th, snow fell heavily at times later in the afternoon and evening. The county maintenance garage reported widespread 4 to 5 inch storm total snowfall amounts. The heaviest amounts were reported on the higher ri…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A storm total snowfall of 4.3 inches was reported in Chestnut Gap, KY from an emergency manager. Snow was fairly uniform throughout the county.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
The Kentucky Mesonet station in Owsley County (BNVL) measured 4.29 inches of rainfall in a 48-hour period ending at 7am on January 2, 2022.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
A CoCoRaHS observer 4 miles NE of Booneville measured 3.60 inches of rainfall in a 48-hour period ending at 8am on January 2, 2022.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down along Anglin Branch Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down near Cowcreek.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Owsley County dispatch reported that strong thunderstorm wind gusts had knocked down a tree across Fish Creek School Road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Sugar Camp Road was impassable due to water flowing over it.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Dispatch reported that a road east of Booneville was impassable due to water flowing over it.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
The cooperative observing station near the community of Island City measured 2.00 inches of rainfall in a 24 hour period.
Flood Flood
KY-28 is closed between mile markers 0 and 1 due to high water across the road.
Flood Flood
KY-11 South is closed between mile marker 3 and 6 due to high water across the road.
Flood Flood
KY-30 east is closed between mile marker 11 and 13 just outside of Booneville due to high water across the road.
Flood Flood
KY-2025 is closed between mile marker 5 and 6 due to high water across the road south of Booneville.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Four inches of snow was measured near Booneville.
Ice Storm Ice Storm
Two thirds of an inch of ice due to freezing rain and a third of an inch of sleet accumulation occurred near Booneville.
Ice Storm Ice Storm
Two to three tenths of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred in the higher elevations of the county. The valley areas experienced up to a tenth of an inch of ice accumulation.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A volunteer weather observer reported that 1.2 inches of snow had fallen near Island City.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A volunteer weather observer reported that 1.7 inches of snow had fallen near Lerose.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall was measured at 5 inches between 2 pm and time of report at 8:22 pm EST on 12/24 just outside of the community of Lucky Fork (1 SW).
Flood Flood
Candy Branch Road (Mahaffy Road) was reported flooded near the community of Sturgeon.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Hail Hail
A Cooperative Observer near Island City observed nickel sized hail.
Hail Hail
Emergency Management reported nickel sized hail just east of Booneville.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
A citizen reported a mudslide, due to previous heavy rain, occurred on Kentucky Highway 2024 near the intersection with Kentucky Highway 30 just outside of Lerose.
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency Management reported a tree blew down onto a house in Island City. This tree also brought powerlines down onto the home, adding to the damage. Additionally, several more trees were downed along Kentucky Highway 11 south of Booneville.
Hail Hail
Dispatch relayed a report of penny sized hail south of Booneville.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 |
| 2021 | 15 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 |
| 2015 | 14 | 0 |
| 2014 | 21 | 0 |
| 2013 | 19 | 0 |
| 2012 | 9 | 0 |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 |
| 2010 | 34 | 0 |
| 2009 | 26 | 0 |
| 2008 | 16 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 13 | 0 |
| 2005 | 5 | 0 |
| 2004 | 15 | 1 |
| 2003 | 18 | 0 |
| 2002 | 13 | 0 |
| 2001 | 8 | 0 |
| 2000 | 14 | 0 |
| 1999 | 5 | 0 |
| 1998 | 6 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 9 | 0 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Owsley County, measured to its path.
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