When big rains come, these are the Lexington areas that commonly flood
Seven of Fayette County’s nine watersheds begin in the middle of Lexington, keeping flood risks lower in the center of the city.
But farther out, toward the periphery of the county, floods are more commonly observed, said Rob Larkin, director of the Lexington-Fayette Division of Emergency Management.
Flooding is Kentucky’s number one hazard state-wide, according to Larkin, but Lexington’s environment puts the city in a “decent spot.”
This does not mean the center of Lexington is exempt from flooding.
Here are some areas in Fayette County most prone to flooding, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency:
- Alexandria Drive near Old Frankfort Pike and Leestown Road
- Near Wolf Run Creek
- N Broadway railroad overpass
- S Forbes Road between W Main Street and W High Street
- Citation Boulevard near Leestown Road
- Calumet, Cardinal Valley, Colony and Gardenside neighborhoods off of Versailles Road
- Lafayette Parkway near the Southland Drive and Rosemont Garden intersection
- Belleay Woods Park
- Buena Vista Road off of Winchester Road
- Idle Hour Park
- New Circle Road between Newtown Pike and US-68
- Joyland neighborhood off of US-68
- Armstrong Mill Road and Greentree Road intersection
Larkin said the Wolf Run watershed is one they keep an eye on during heavy rainfalls for risk of flooding.
Flood risk is determined by soil conditions, water already in a water system such as a creek and the rate at which an area receives rain.
Rainfall varies across Lexington’s 286 square miles, creating disparities in risks and flooding hazards during every rainfall.
Keep people and cars out of flood waters
In the event of driving during a flood, Larkin referred to the motto, “turn around, don’t drown,” used by the National Weather Service.
Sometimes people are in too much of a hurry to get to their destination, they think they can make it, or they simply do not pay attention to the level of water on the road, he said, but cars can get stuck and seriously damaged by the water.
According to Larkin, 12 inches of running water can carry a car away, and six inches can knock a person off their feet.
Larkin urged people to stay out of the water, because he considers it to be contaminated. Flood water can contain fuel, exhaust byproducts, oils, fertilizer, pesticides, sanitary sewer water and animal waste.
It is recommended to “decontaminate” by washing your skin as soon as possible if wading in water up to your knees or deeper, especially if there is any broken skin from an injury. Clothes exposed to high waters should also be laundered as soon as possible.
If you see water collecting in an area during rainfall, wait uphill and avoid the area.
This story was originally published June 23, 2026 at 1:41 PM.