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Wind in Harlan County, Kentucky
187 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Harlan County, Kentucky, has 187 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 39 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 41 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 139 events against 38 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 22,160 wind events recorded in Kentucky; its 40.1 per 100 square miles compares with 56.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to damaging wind.
72 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 3 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Kentucky
| Measure | Harlan County | Kentucky | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 187 | 22,160 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 40.1 | 56.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 71.5 | 49.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 39 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
7Feb
9Mar
7Apr
19May
35Jun
41Jul
35Aug
17Sep
3Oct
3Nov
3Dec
8
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 187 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2024 | High Wind | 58 mph | $45K | $15K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $10K | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | $3K | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $500 | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | $3K | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 43 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | $4K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2023 | High Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2023 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | $10K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $2K | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $2K | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $600 | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $200 | $600 | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2022 | Strong Wind | 51 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | $4K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2021 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2021 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $100 | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $100 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2020 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $4K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2020 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $20K | $5K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | $100 | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 21 Feb 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2013 | High Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2012 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 2009 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jan 2009 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2008 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2008 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2008 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Dec 2006 | High Wind | 61 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2006 | High Wind | 61 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2006 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2006 | High Wind | 92 mph | $150K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2003 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Dec 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Feb 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | 2 | — | County |
| 5 Jan 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Harlan County had?
187 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Harlan County?
20 May 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 61 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Harlan County?
The high wind of 17 Oct 2006, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $150K.
How does Harlan County compare with Kentucky for wind?
40.1 events per 100 square miles against 56.1 statewide; the county holds 187 of the state's 22,160 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.