Ice Storm in Kentucky

Events

647

Deaths

13

Injuries

2

Damage

$339 million

• Ice Storm in Kentucky, January 26 to 28, 200911 deaths · 1 injured · $307 million · 22 eventsThis historic, prolonged ice storm was called the biggest disaster in modern Kentucky history by the governor of Kentucky. The storm produced at least one inch of ice across western Kentucky.
• Ice Storm in Kentucky, February 15 to 16, 20031 death · $26 million · 16 eventsLight to occasionally moderate freezing rain began on the evening of the 15th, and continued through the evening of the 16th. Reports of ice accumulations of an inch were common along and north of Interstate 64, from Frankfort to Winchester.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, January 24 to 25, 20261 death · $85,000 · 22 eventsA major winter storm that brought Paducah's 7th largest snowstorm on record impacted western Kentucky on the 24th with light to moderate snow developing during the morning hours.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, February 14 to 16, 20211 death · 2 injured · 46 eventsA significant winter storm with heavy mixed precipitation impacted central Kentucky from late on Valentine's Day through the early morning hours of February 16, 2021. The majority of the precipitation occurred on February 15, 2021.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, February 10 to 11, 20211 death · 1 injured · 38 eventsAn arctic airmass was centered over the northern Plains, and Kentucky and southern Indiana were positioned directly along a volatile boundary between the arctic air mass and a warm and moist tropical airmass associated with the Gulf of Mexico.
• 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.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, December 15 to 17, 2010$100,000 · 87 eventsOn December 16th, a low pressure system developed in the plains and then tracked east across the Tennessee Valley. The warm front moved just south of the forecast area. Wintry precipitation fell as freezing rain from the Tennessee border and north up to the Mountain Parkway.
• Ice Storm and Flood in Kentucky, January 5 to 6, 2025$1.7 million · 23 eventsA winter storm, with locally major impacts, affected western Kentucky on the 5th with a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. A brief wintry mix that fell primarily as freezing rain quickly transitioned to plain rain later that morning and afternoon across much of the region.
• Ice Storm in Kentucky, February 16 to 17, 2003$2.4 million · 4 eventsIce from freezing rain accumulated 1 to 2 inches on power lines and trees. Fallen trees and branches blocked roads and knocked out electricity and phone service.
• Ice Storm in Kentucky, December 22 to 23, 2004$750,000 · 2 eventsA winter storm began with freezing rain. This left a layer of ice about one inch thick on surfaces. Two to four inches of snow and sleet fell on top of this. A hangar collapsed at the airport in Elizabethtown, destroying a few airplanes.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, February 2 to 3, 2022$275,000 · 22 eventsA major winter storm dumped significant amounts of sleet and freezing rain across western Kentucky. An ice storm occurred along and southeast of a line from Murray to Madisonville and Owensboro.
• Ice Storm in Kentucky, December 22 to 23, 2004$250,000 · 22 eventsA winter storm began with freezing rain, then changed over to sleet and snow over parts of south central and east central Kentucky. Ice accumulations up to one half inch were reported, with up to an inch of snow or sleet on top.
• Ice Storm in Kentucky, February 15 to 16, 2003$180,000 · 14 eventsFreezing rain began late in the afternoon of the 15th. The freezing rain changed to sleet late in the evening, and alternated between sleet and light freezing rain through most of the 16th.
• Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 21 to 22, 20084 injured · $40,000 · 12 eventsLow pressure organized over Louisiana, spreading precipitation northeast along a warm front that extended into the Ohio Valley. Arctic high pressure over the Great Lakes region produced a cold northeast wind flow near the surface.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, February 14 to 16, 202165 eventsA significant winter/ice storm struck eastern Kentucky from February 14th to 16th 2021. Ice accumulations from freezing rain ranged from 0.25 inches to as much as 0.75 inches by the the time the storm had ended. Sleet accumulations of 0.3 to as much as 2 inches also occurred.
• Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Kentucky, January 25, 2013$140,000 · 5 eventsDuring the early morning hours on January 25, a weak inverted trough associated with the southern branch of the jet stream moved across Tennessee.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, January 27 to 29, 200960 eventsA major winter storm affected Eastern Kentucky beginning on January 27th. A low pressure system moved northeast from the Gulf Coast States, reaching Eastern Kentucky by the morning of the 28th.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, February 20 to 22, 2015$12,000 · 45 eventsAnother major winter storm wreaked havoc across eastern Kentucky February 20th and 21st. This storm caused significant ice and snow accumulations across the area, along with flooding in several counties around the area.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, December 4 to 5, 2002$24,000 · 30 eventsThis winter storm occurring on December 4th and December 5th was the first of the season for eastern Kentucky. This storm system tracked across the southern United States, spreading precipitation as far north as the Ohio Valley.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, December 4 to 5, 2002$24,000 · 30 eventsThis winter storm occurring on December 4th and December 5th was the first of the season for eastern Kentucky. This storm system tracked across the southern United States, spreading precipitation as far north as the Ohio Valley.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, February 15 to 16, 2021$75,000 · 4 eventsA fast moving, yet significant winter storm moved through the area on the morning of February 15th. As the system moved through, a warm nose of air moving northward resulted in a second round of mixed precipitation in just a few short days after the previous storm.
• Ice Storm in Kentucky, February 21 to 22, 2008$15,000 · 31 eventsSouthwest flow brought moisture which overran arctic air just above the surface. Sleet developed during the late morning hours and quickly turned to freezing rain. Initial freezing rain accumulations developed across central Kentucky.
• Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 10 to 12, 202136 eventsWidespread freezing rain lead to an ice storm across eastern Kentucky on February 10th and 11th, 2021. Many locations experienced power outages due to ice laden trees and tree limbs falling onto and/or downing power lines.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, March 2 to 3, 201433 eventsA strong cold front passed southeastward across eastern Kentucky late on Sunday March 2nd. A shallow layer of very cold air infiltrated the area behind the cold front with temperatures dropping into the 20s and eventually teens behind this front.
• Ice Storm in Kentucky, January 25, 200432 eventsA storm system moved out of the plains and into the southern Ohio Valley. Before the storm arrived, arctic air flooded into eastern Kentucky. As the storm system approached, warm air rose up and over the cold air.

Ice Storm 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.