Kentucky has had at least 18 severe weather emergencies since 2019. Here’s a recap
As a tornado system hammered parts of Southern Kentucky this weekend, Gov. Andy Beshear signed his 18th weather-related state of emergency declaration since taking office in 2020.
The declaration, which allows the state to tap into federal funds for recovery efforts, came after severe storms and at least one tornado killed at least 19 people late Friday and early Saturday in Pulaski, Russell and Laurel counties.
An analysis of emergency declarations shows Beshear has made more than three weather declarations per year since taking office, as severe weather has killed more than 150 people in Kentucky.
This year has been especially deadly, as Beshear has made four weather-related emergency declarations in the first five months of the year. Severe weather has killed at least 47 people in the commonwealth already in 2025.
Weather events since 2020 have included tornadoes, flooding, winter storms, arctic temperatures and snowfall.
Thirteen of those led to natural disaster declarations by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The pace and intensity of weather events have surged in recent years — not just in Kentucky, but across much of the country, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Their data places Kentucky in the middle of the pack nationwide for disaster data over the past 45 years.
The frequency of extreme weather conditions in the United States has risen steadily since the 1970s, according to the U.S. Climate Extremes Index.
Flooding, especially in Eastern Kentucky, has been a recurring hazard in the commonwealth.
Before Friday night storms, at least 29 people — including two children — were killed in two rounds of Kentucky flooding in February and April.
At least three emergency orders were issued in 2024; three were also issued in 2023, five in 2022, two in 2021 and one in 2020.
May 16, 2025
A violent wave of Friday storms and a tornado has killed at least 19 people in Southern Kentucky.
On Friday afternoon, a storm system that took shape in southeastern Missouri, west of Interstate 55, gained power and roared into Kentucky, leveling homes, businesses, airport hangars and at least one church late Friday and early Saturday.
In his state of emergency order, Beshear cited a severe weather system that included heavy rain, damaging straight-line winds, hail and tornadoes.
April 2, 2025
Just a month ago, Beshear signed an order for similar weather patterns, including severe storms, heavy winds, rainfall and tornadoes.
From April 2-6, the state was hit by significant rainfall, flooding several Kentucky rivers, including in downtown Frankfort.
The Kentucky River in Frankfort reached 48.27 feet, nearly surpassing its record height set in 1978.
Seven deaths were reported in this round of flooding.
February 14, 2025
In February, significant rainfall and snow brought heavy flooding to multiple areas of the commonwealth, resulting in at least 22 deaths. All 120 counties in Kentucky reported flooding.
Eastern Kentucky, still reeling from flooding three years ago, was hit particularly hard.
The weather brought the perfect storm of flooding, followed by snowfall and cold temperatures.
Jan. 4, 2025
An order was signed by Beshear for Winter Storm Blair, which brought a coating of ice atop several inches of snow as a winter storm battered Kentucky for two days.
Six to 8 inches of snow fell in many areas, topped by a half-inch of ice. Another inch or more of snow fell in Central Kentucky the following day, and Lexington’s two-day snowfall total reached 7 inches.
The winter weather was compounded by several days of freezing temperatures that followed the snowstorm.
May 26, 2024
Strong winds and heavy rain pummeled much of Kentucky over Memorial Day weekend, causing power outages, broad destruction, impassable roads and killing five people.
It was part of a punishing weather system that stretched from Texas to West Virginia and killed at least 21 people.
Lexington and Central Kentucky saw some power outages, downed branches and pounding rain, but the worst of the weather was near Louisville and in Western Kentucky.
April 2, 2024
Eleven tornadoes touched down in Kentucky during severe spring storms two years ago.
The National Weather Service confirmed 10 EF-1 tornadoes touched down in Kentucky, along with one stronger EF-2.
The storms left thousands without power, and one person was killed in a car crash in Campbell County.
January 14, 2024
No fatalities were reported in this round of winter storms, but several campers were rescued from Red River Gorge after awaking to a thick blanket of snow.
Several inches of snow fell, and numerous car crashes were reported throughout the state.
July 19, 2023
Flash flooding hit much of Western Kentucky after a heavy rain pounded the state.
No deaths were reported, but Mayfield recorded 11.2 inches of rain in 24 hours, breaking the commonwealth’s previous record of 10.48 inches, recorded 26 years earlier in Louisville.
March 31, 2023
Beshear declared a state of emergency ahead of a weekend of potentially dangerous storm systems that swept through Western and Central Kentucky.
A tornado watch was issued, but no fatalities were reported.
February 15, 2023
A state of emergency was issued ahead of expected flash flooding after several inches of rainfall in Southern Kentucky.
The weather event brought landslides that required rescues of people trapped in their homes.
December 21, 2022
An arctic blast hit Kentucky just days before Christmas, as the commonwealth saw temperatures plummet below zero for several days.
Parts of Central and Western Kentucky saw highs of just 3 to 8 degrees, according to the NWS. Temperatures didn’t rise for days.
The storm left thousands without power over the holiday. Officials advised against traveling on dangerous road conditions.
July 28, 2022
Severe flooding killed at least 45 Kentuckians in one of the most severe weather disasters of the year nationwide.
Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding, especially in Breathitt, Perry, Letcher, Knott and Floyd counties, as homes, businesses, churches, roads and bridges were destroyed
Beshear called the event “one of the worst, most devastating flooding events in Kentucky‘s history.”
February 2, 2022
Cold temperatures, icy conditions and a blanket of snowfall resulted in poor road conditions and school closures, and thousands were left without power for days.
Kentucky State Police responded to hundreds of calls for weather-related car crashes.
January 6, 2022
Kentucky’s first major snowstorm of the year shut down portions of several Kentucky highways and caused more than 75 car crashes in the Fayette County area alone.
Kentuckians saw heavy snow accumulations resulting in 4 to 6 inches of snowfall. No fatalities were reported.
January 1, 2022
Just a few weeks after tornadoes ravaged Western Kentucky, Beshear declared a state of emergency as another severe weather system brought heavy rainfall, straight-line winds, tornadoes and hail.
The National Weather Service confirmed damage in several counties, including from an EF-2 tornado in Christian County.
Taylor County suffered EF-1 damage with winds reaching maximum speeds between 105 and 110 mph. There was also EF-1 damage in Madison and Barren counties, according to the National Weather Service.
Wind speeds were estimated at 90 mph in Madison County and 95 mph in Barren County.
December 11, 2021
Western Kentucky saw a tornado outbreak of “historic proportions” that killed at least 74 people.
Four tornadoes touched down, including one that traveled more than 200 miles from Arkansas to Western Kentucky, in the most severe tornado event in Kentucky’s history.
Dozens of deaths happened in a candle factory in the Mayfield area.
February 11, 2021
Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency as an ice storm left more than 70,000 Kentuckians without power.
Several inches of ice fell on parts of the commonwealth. No deaths were reported, but fallen trees, downed electrical lines and dangerous road conditions paralyzed much of the state.
February 7, 2020
A state of emergency was declared after near-record-breaking flooding in Eastern Kentucky.
The floods affected more than 200 homes, and more than 100 water rescues were conducted as fast-rising water cut off access for many people.
Flooding was recorded on several waterways, but the worst was along the upper Cumberland River.
One man died in Whitley County while on his way to work, and another was found dead in a submerged vehicle.
At the time, Beshear described the event as a 100-year flood.
This story was originally published May 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
