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Flood in Owsley County, Kentucky
52 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
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 52 flood events in Owsley County, Kentucky, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
May is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 25 events against 27 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.6% of the 8,294 flood events recorded in Kentucky; its 26.3 per 100 square miles compares with 21.0 statewide.
Compared with Kentucky
| Measure | Owsley County | Kentucky | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 52 | 8,294 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 26.3 | 21.0 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 131.5 | 18.4 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 169 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | May | May | June |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
6Mar
7Apr
7May
11Jun
4Jul
3Aug
1Sep
6Oct
0Nov
1Dec
3
Recorded events
All 52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jul 2022 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2022 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2021 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2021 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2021 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2021 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2020 | Flood | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Feb 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2015 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2015 | Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2014 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Dec 2013 | Flood | — | $1K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 6 Dec 2013 | Flood | — | $1K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2013 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 2009 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2009 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2009 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2009 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2009 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2009 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2005 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2004 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Nov 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2004 | Flood | — | $136K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Sep 2004 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jun 2004 | Flood | — | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 May 2004 | Flood | — | $50K | $50K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2004 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2004 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 2004 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Sep 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2003 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2003 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2003 | Flood | — | $1.9M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2003 | Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 May 2002 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 May 2002 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 2002 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jun 2000 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 1999 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Apr 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 1998 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Apr 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 1997 | Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 May 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Owsley County had?
52 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Owsley County?
27 Jul 2022 (Flash Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Owsley County?
The flood of 16 Feb 2003, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.9M.
How does Owsley County compare with Kentucky for flood?
26.3 events per 100 square miles against 21.0 statewide; the county holds 52 of the state's 8,294 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 Flood hub and the county page.