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Wind in Owsley County, Kentucky
115 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 115 wind events in Owsley County, Kentucky, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 30 years.
May is the busiest month, with 25 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 67 events against 47 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.5% of the 22,160 wind events recorded in Kentucky; its 58.3 per 100 square miles compares with 56.1 statewide.
44 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 5 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 | Owsley County | Kentucky | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 115 | 22,160 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 58.3 | 56.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 290.9 | 49.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 39 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | May | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
1Mar
3Apr
11May
25Jun
22Jul
19Aug
6Sep
5Oct
2Nov
11Dec
4
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 115 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 | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $2K | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $2K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 2023 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | $4K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Mar 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | $53K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $500 | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 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 |
| 21 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Dec 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Dec 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 2013 | 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 | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 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 |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Nov 2010 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2010 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2009 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Oct 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2008 | Strong Wind | 56 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jan 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Nov 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Dec 2001 | High Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 2000 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $11K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Owsley County had?
115 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 Owsley County?
20 May 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Owsley County?
The thunderstorm wind of 24 Jun 2019, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $70K.
How does Owsley County compare with Kentucky for wind?
58.3 events per 100 square miles against 56.1 statewide; the county holds 115 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.