Debris Flow in Kentucky

Events

60

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$77,000

• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kentucky, April 2 to 6, 20254 deaths · 3 injured · $30,000 · EF3 · 122 eventsOn the night of April 2nd, 2025, a cold front approached the lower Ohio Valley. Along and ahead of the cold front, numerous supercells developed over southern Illinois and western Kentucky.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Kentucky, February 15 to 17, 20252 deaths · 1 injured · $4.3 million · 71 eventsSignificant flash flooding occurred over west Kentucky, as anomalously high amounts of low-level moisture streamed northward over a warm front that became stationary along the Tennessee border.
• Flash Flood and Debris Flows in Kentucky, February 5 to 9, 20201 death · $16 million · 28 eventsBeginning on February 3rd, numerous rounds of rainfall began to impact eastern Kentucky. This continued through February 7th, highlighted by heavy rainfall from the evening of February 5th through the first half of February 6th.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in Kentucky, May 2 to 7, 2010$71,000 · EF2 · 81 eventsA multiple lines and clusters of intense showers and strong to severe thunderstorms brought a variety of severe weather to eastern Kentucky on May 2nd and 3rd.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in Kentucky, January 1 to 2, 2022$1.1 million · EF1 · 61 eventsThe second warmest December on record for Eastern Kentucky finished with a warm and moist air mass in place on New Year's Eve.
• Flash Flooding and Ice Storm in Kentucky, February 14 to 20, 2003$1.4 million · 54 eventsHeavy rain inundated much of eastern Kentucky on February 14th through February 16th. Anywhere from 3 to 7 inches of rain fell over this 3 day period. This rain initially produced flash flooding for many counties of eastern Kentucky.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Kentucky, July 29 to 30, 2021$2.1 million · 61 kt wind · 31 eventsA strong low pressure system was present over the Great Lakes region to start the day on July 29th. From this extended a cold front to the southwest.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Kentucky, February 27 to 28, 2021$451,000 · 50 eventsSeveral rounds of heavy rain moved across eastern Kentucky from late Friday, February 26th through early Monday, March 1st. The combination of all the heavy rainfall led to significant flooding across a good portion of central and east Kentucky.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in Kentucky, May 6, 20223 injured · $76,000 · EF1 · 31 eventsA warm front was in place across the state during the morning hours on May 6th, setting the stage for increased moisture and warm air into the region. By the afternoon, a nearby low pressure system began to occlude, furthering the lift and instability across the state.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Kentucky, March 1 to 2, 2021$75,000 · 74 eventsSeveral rounds of heavy rain moved across eastern Kentucky from late Friday, February 26th through early Monday, March 1st. The combination of all the heavy rainfall led to significant flooding across a good portion of central and east Kentucky.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Kentucky, March 15, 20126 injured · $39,000 · 1.75 in hail · 24 eventsThis event began during the predawn hours of March 15th, with the first report of large hail occurring just after 5 am in Knox county. Hail between pea and golf ball size and flashing flooding continued to occur until after 9 pm on the 15th.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Kentucky, June 9 to 11, 2021$68,000 · 29 eventsWith a stationary boundary parked just north of the state, and deep S to SW flow, much of the state was seeing ample amounts of warm air and moisture being advected in. Afternoon storms developed each day, each capable of producing torrential rainfall.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Kentucky, May 18, 2018$103,000 · 7 eventsNumerous showers and thunderstorms developed this afternoon, extending into the evening ahead of an upper level disturbance.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Kentucky, August 30, 2021$65,000 · 6 eventsHurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana at 11:55am CDT on August 29. From here it continued to slowly move inland and northward. By 15Z on August 30, it had reached SW Mississippi.
• Flash Flood and Debris Flows in Kentucky, February 16, 2023$41,000 · 50 kt wind · 12 eventsA low pressure center was slowly tracking into western Kentucky during the first part of the day on Wedensday, with a stationary front positioned along the Ohio River, and keeping much of eastern Kentucky in a warm, moist, and unstable airmass.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Kentucky, March 18, 2021$35,000 · 1 in hail · 8 eventsA strong and occluded low pressure system moved through the state on Thursday, March the 18th. Deep moisture and steep lapse rates set the stage for convection during the afternoon.
• Debris Flow and Damaging Winds in Kentucky, June 17, 2025$27,000 · 50 kt wind · 6 eventsA slow moving system approached Kentucky from the west on the 17th. Abundant southerly flow increased moisture across our area.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Kentucky, August 10, 2022$18,000 · 12 eventsA stationary boundary lingered near the Ohio River through the day. The boundary provided a lifting mechanism for a moist and unstable air mass over eastern Kentucky.
• Debris Flows and Flooding in Kentucky, January 31, 202512 eventsA closed upper level low slowly moved out of SW CONUS and opened into a positively tilted trough as it approached KY. Large scale flow ahead of the lows approaching cold front, pulled gulf moisture northward.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Kentucky, September 27, 2018$7,000 · 11 eventsA multiple day period of rainfall led to flooding and flash flooding across portions of southeast and far eastern Kentucky on this day. A cold front, which pushed into eastern Kentucky on September 26, stalled across southeast Kentucky and oozed back toward the northwest today.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Kentucky, August 6, 20229 eventsWith a high pressure center sitting east of the state, Kentucky, along with much of the Deep South found themselves in a strong return flow pattern. This consisted of S to SW winds which were able to pump in ample moisture and warm air from the Gulf of Mexico.
• Debris Flows in Kentucky, April 10, 20035 eventsVarious rock and mudslides occurred near the communities of Dwarf, Willard, Big Creek, Bledsoe, and Thorton among others. Also, water backing up out of sewer drains and onto low water crossings was a common occurrence in each county.
• Debris Flows and Heavy Snow in Kentucky, December 21 to 22, 2018$2,000 · 5 eventsPersistent rain over the past day began to change to snow above 3000 feet during the morning of the 21st as colder air moved in aloft, with snow levels continuing to descend to near 2500 feet through the afternoon.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Kentucky, August 19 to 20, 20224 eventsA warm front was present across the Deep South moving towards the Tennessee Valley throughout the day, with WPC analyzing a secondary stationary boundary developing along the Ohio River by the evening. Overall forcing was not strong across the state of Kentucky, however.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Kentucky, September 23, 2018$6,000 · 3 eventsPersistent rain along a stalled frontal boundary resulted in rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches in a 24 hour period across portions of the Bluegrass region. This resulted in isolated flash flooding in Fleming and Bath Counties.

Debris Flow everywhereEvery kind of event in Kentucky

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.