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Winter in Owsley County, Kentucky
83 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.
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.
Owsley County, Kentucky, has 83 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 23 different years.
February is the busiest month, with 31 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 65 events against 18 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 8,092 winter events recorded in Kentucky; its 42.0 per 100 square miles compares with 20.5 statewide.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 83 | 8,092 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 42.0 | 20.5 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 210.0 | 17.9 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 82 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | February | January | January |
By year
Seasonality
29Feb
31Mar
5Apr
0May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
2Dec
16
Recorded events
All 83 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 2026 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 2026 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2025 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2025 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Mar 2022 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2022 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 2022 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2021 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2021 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 2021 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 2020 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2018 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Feb 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Feb 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jan 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2013 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2012 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2012 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2012 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2012 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2012 | Winter Weather | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2012 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 2012 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Feb 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2009 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 2009 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 2009 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 2009 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2009 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2008 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 2008 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Nov 2008 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2008 | Sleet | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2004 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Dec 2002 | Ice Storm | — | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Dec 2002 | Ice Storm | — | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Dec 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 1999 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 1998 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 1998 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Mar 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jan 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Owsley County had?
83 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 Owsley County?
22 Feb 2026 (Heavy Snow). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Owsley County?
The winter weather of 19 Feb 2012, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $50K.
How does Owsley County compare with Kentucky for winter?
42.0 events per 100 square miles against 20.5 statewide; the county holds 83 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.