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Winter in Knox County, Kentucky

60 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.

60 events · 1 deaths recorded · peak month February · county share of state 0.7%

Winter event locations in and around Knox County. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

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.

NCEI records 60 winter events in Knox County, Kentucky, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.

February is the busiest month, with 24 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 46 events against 14 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 0.7% of the 8,092 winter events recorded in Kentucky; its 15.5 per 100 square miles compares with 20.5 statewide.

NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to winter storms and snow.

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

MeasureKnox CountyKentuckyUS
Winter events since 1950608,092287,339
Per 100 square miles15.520.58.1
Per 10,000 residents20.117.98.7
Deaths recorded1822,509
Busiest monthFebruaryJanuaryJanuary

By year

195019882026
Winter events recorded in Knox County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
18
Feb
24
Mar
10
Apr
0
May
0
Jun
0
Jul
0
Aug
0
Sep
0
Oct
0
Nov
0
Dec
8
Winter events in Knox County by month of occurrence, all years.

Recorded events

All 60 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
24 Jan 2026Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
14 Jan 2024Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
11 Mar 2022Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
16 Jan 2022Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
6 Jan 2022Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
17 Feb 2021Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
17 Feb 2021Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
17 Feb 2021Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
14 Feb 2021Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
24 Dec 2020Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
9 Dec 2018Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
16 Jan 2018Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
14 Feb 2016Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
22 Jan 2016Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
20 Jan 2016Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
5 Mar 2015Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
20 Feb 2015Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
16 Feb 2015Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
3 Mar 2014Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
12 Feb 2014Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
2 Jan 2014Winter Weather————1Forecast zone
2 Jan 2014Winter Weather———11Forecast zone
25 Jan 2013Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2012Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2012Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2012Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2012Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2012Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2012Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2012Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2012Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
9 Feb 2011Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
9 Feb 2011Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
15 Dec 2010Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
15 Feb 2010Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
15 Feb 2010Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
9 Feb 2010Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
29 Jan 2010Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
18 Dec 2009Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
12 Mar 2009Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
12 Mar 2009Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
12 Mar 2009Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
12 Mar 2009Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
12 Mar 2009Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
3 Feb 2009Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
7 Mar 2008Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
25 Jan 2004Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
16 Jan 2003Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
4 Dec 2002Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
4 Dec 2002Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
19 Jan 2002Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
6 Jan 2002Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
2 Dec 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
22 Jan 2000Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
23 Dec 1998Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
3 Feb 1998Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
20 Mar 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
1 Feb 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
11 Jan 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
6 Jan 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone

Questions and answers

How many winter events has Knox County had?

60 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.

When was the last recorded winter event in Knox County?

24 Jan 2026 (Winter Storm). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Knox County?

NCEI records no damage estimate for events of this type in the county.

How does Knox County compare with Kentucky for winter?

15.5 events per 100 square miles against 20.5 statewide; the county holds 60 of the state's 8,092 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 Winter hub and the county page.