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Wind in Letcher County, Kentucky
161 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.
NCEI records 161 wind events in Letcher County, Kentucky, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 37 years.
June is the busiest month, with 39 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 104 events against 49 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 22,160 wind events recorded in Kentucky; its 47.6 per 100 square miles compares with 56.1 statewide.
63 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 2 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 | Letcher County | Kentucky | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 161 | 22,160 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 47.6 | 56.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 75.8 | 49.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 39 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
6Mar
7Apr
16May
31Jun
39Jul
33Aug
10Sep
2Oct
3Nov
2Dec
6
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 161 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Dec 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | $3K | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $12K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2024 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | $9K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $250 | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2023 | High Wind | 58 mph | $20K | $1K | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2023 | High Wind | 58 mph | $2K | $1K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $4K | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | $100 | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2020 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $55K | $8K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | $100 | — | — | County |
| 12 Feb 2020 | Strong Wind | 30 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Nov 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $100 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jan 2017 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2011 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2009 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2008 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2008 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2007 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2007 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2006 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2006 | High Wind | 92 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2003 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Feb 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jan 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Letcher County had?
161 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 Letcher County?
18 Dec 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Letcher County?
The strong wind of 12 Apr 2020, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $55K and crop damage at $8K.
How does Letcher County compare with Kentucky for wind?
47.6 events per 100 square miles against 56.1 statewide; the county holds 161 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.