Bullitt County
Population 86,454 (2025) 297 sq mi
Property owners in Bullitt County have filed 379 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, 20th most of 120 counties in Kentucky.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195012
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger3
- Major flood years since 19783
At a glance
The record for Bullitt County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes since 1950
12
45th of 120 in Kentucky
About as many as the typical Kentucky county
DetailsTropical cyclones within 50 mi
1
78th of 120 in Kentucky
None at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsStrongest tornado
F4
May 28, 1996, 30.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm (unnamed), 1888, 11.0 miles away
Federal disaster declarations
28
Most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, 2026
DetailsTornadoes
About one every 6.3 years since 1950, 2 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
May 28, 1996
F4, 30.0 mile path
850 yards wide.
Most recent
Sunday, March 30, 2025
EF1, 30.3 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Mar 30, 2025 | EF1 | 30.3 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 18, 2022 | EF1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 10, 2015 | EF0 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 2014 | EF0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 26, 2010 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2007 | EF1 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| May 28, 1996 | F4 | 30.0 | 10 | 0 |
| Apr 20, 1996 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 18, 1995 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 1995 | F2 | 15.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 1989 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 1969 | F3 | 4.3 | 14 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Bullitt County: 0.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
1 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 21, 1888
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
11.0 miles at closest approach, winds near 53 mph.
Most recent
September 27, 2024
Helene, Remnant low
17.7 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire and smoke
No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 53 days
Heavy smoke on 13 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
15.4 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
9 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 35 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
379 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $6.7 million paid.
Most claims in one year
1997: 196 claims
$3.2 million paid.
2nd most
2025: 38 claims
$1.6 million paid.
3rd most
1989: 29 claims
$304,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 40165 | 232 | $3.6 million |
| 40150 | 102 | $2.2 million |
| 40207 | 20 | $240,000 |
| 40047 | 7 | $146,000 |
| 40272 | 6 | $183,000 |
| 40071 | 5 | $173,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood42
- Flood15
- Heavy Rain3
1 death recorded in flood events since 1996.
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
River crests
Most severe crest
January 26, 1937
Salt River (KY) at Shepherdsville, 47.30 ft
15.30 feet above the 32.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
April 7, 2025
Salt River (KY) at Shepherdsville, 36.56 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| Salt River (KY) at Shepherdsville | 32.0 | 47.30 ft | 4 |
- Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 125 of 1,581 months since 1895 (8%); the longest spell lasted 21 months.
125
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
62
Months in extreme drought
8%
Share of all months, severe or worse
Lowest reading
January 1931
−6.22, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
21 months
August 1940 to April 1942.
Latest month
September 2026
+1.34, slightly wet
Last severe month: January 2011.
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes and landslides
16 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1974; none reached magnitude 4.
1
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
6
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
0
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
January 24, 1990
Magnitude 3.9
6 km WNW of Alton, Indiana; 31.7 miles away, 6.2 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
January 27, 1990
Magnitude 3.8
6 km N of Alton, Indiana; 29.8 miles away.
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the county boundary (or inside the county).
- Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Mapped landslides
9
Landslides mapped, probable or better
6
With a recorded date
1
Source inventory
Mapped by KY GS (9).
- Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.
USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
377 events in the National Weather Service record, 334 of them since 1996.
32
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
5
Hail, 2 inches or larger
176
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
36
Winter weather events since 1996
0
Heat events since 1996
6
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
July 2, 1980
3.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 25, 2023
96 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 2 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- May 28, 1996Tornado$100 million
National Weather Service narrative
The supercell that crossed the Ohio River from Harrison county produced the second a most destructive tornado in its long history. This second tornado formed 4 miles northwest of Brooks at 540 pm est in extreme south central Jefferson county. The tornado was initially estimated at F0-F1 intensity and moved east-southeast and quickly strengthened as it moved into north central Bullitt county near Holsclaw Hill road and Top Hill road where numerous trees were snapped off and some tree bark was stripped. At 545 pm est, the tronado then crossed near the Brooks exit at interstate 65 turning over 5 tractor trailers and damaging a Comfort Inn, Arby's and a Cracker Barrel. From there the…
- Mar 1, 1997Flood, Bullitt$15.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Record rainfall amounts from late evening Friday February 28 to the morning of Sunday March 2 lead to major flooding along the Salt River basin including the Rolling Fork. The Salt River at Sheperdsville reached the 32 foot flood stage just after 1 am est Sunday March 2 and crested at 40.9 feet at 1 pm est on Monday March 3. This was the worst flooding here since March 1964. The Rolling Fork at Boston reached the 35 foot flood stage at 11 pm est Saturday March 1 and crested at a record level of 53.2 feet at 1 pm est Monday March 3. This major flooding caused the most of the towns of Boston, Lebanon Junction and Sheperdsville to be underwater with water up to the rooftops in spots.…
- Apr 3, 2015Flash Flood$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Emergency management reported that the Martin Hill Rd Bridge on KY 1417 was washed out due to excessive rainfall. Also, KY 1116 over Cedar creek closed due to high water. Between 4 and 6 inches fell across the county, the highest amounts across the northern portions.
- Apr 20, 1996Tornado$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
118 houses were damaged due to downburst winds and an embedded F1 tornado just East of Mt. Washington. 3 homes and 2 mobile homes were destroyed. Most of the damage was in the Country Trace Estates sub-division. An 80 mph wind was reported on Zoneton Road. No injuries were reported.
- Feb 22, 2018Flood$275,000
National Weather Service narrative
Department of Highways reported numerous road closures closures in Bullitt County due to high water and mud slides.
- Feb 24, 2018Flash Flood$102,000
National Weather Service narrative
The public reported portion of Weavers Run Road was washed out in Bullitt County.
- Feb 24, 2018Thunderstorm Wind$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
Off duty NWS employee reported trees down on Weavers Run Road and a portion of the road was washed out from heavy rain and flash flooding.
- Nov 18, 2017Thunderstorm Wind$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
A NWS Storm Survey team found a swath of intermittent wind damage extending from Shepherdsville, KY to Mount Washington, KY. Damage length was approximately 11.12 miles and at its widest almost 2 miles. The damage was mainly confined to areas along either side of Highway 44. Numerous trees were downed and several buildings received carport and shingle damage.
- Feb 24, 2018Flash Flood$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
Local media reported KY 1526 was closed between mile marker 1 and 2 because of flash flooding and a road washout.
- Jul 18, 2012Thunderstorm Wind$75,000
National Weather Service narrative
A strong microburst just east of Lebanon Junction removed half of the roof of a large barn. Nearby, a mobile home was badly damaged. Several large trees were downed. This same microburst brought additional damage a couple of miles away in Nelson County.
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Louisville International Airport, 11.5 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1948.
- All-time high
- 106°F2 times, most recently Jul 7, 2012
- All-time low
- −22°FJan 19, 1994
- Warmest night
- 83°F3 times, most recently Jun 29, 2024
- Coldest day
- 1°FJan 20, 1985
- Wettest day
- 7.22 inMar 1, 1997
- Snowiest day
- 15.5 inJan 17, 1994
- Hottest year
- 2024mean 61.9°F
- Coldest year
- 1960mean 54.5°F
- Wettest year
- 201868.83 in
- Driest year
- 195330.38 in
- Snowiest season
- 50.1 in1977-78
Median first snow
December 3
Earliest: October 19, 1989
Median last snow
March 17
Latest: April 21, 2021
0 of 75 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Louisville International Airport (USW00093821), 480 ft elevation, 11.5 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 26, 2026; 100.0% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
28 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, September 1, 2026.
| Sep 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4937-KY |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633-KY |
| Apr 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864-KY |
| Apr 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626-KY |
| Feb 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860-KY |
| Feb 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624-KY |
| Apr 10, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4702-KY |
| Dec 12, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4630-KY |
| Dec 11, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3575-KY |
| Mar 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4497-KY |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3469-KY |
| Apr 26, 2018 | Flood | DR-4361-KY |
| May 12, 2015 | Flood | DR-4218-KY |
| May 1, 2015 | Flood | DR-4217-KY |
| Feb 5, 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1818-KY |
| Jan 28, 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3302-KY |
| Oct 9, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1802-KY |
| Sep 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3231-KY |
| Jun 10, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1523-KY |
| Jun 3, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1471-KY |
| Mar 4, 1997 | Severe Storm | DR-1163-KY |
| Jun 1, 1996 | Severe Storm | DR-1117-KY |
| Jan 13, 1996 | Snowstorm | DR-1089-KY |
| Feb 24, 1989 | Flood | DR-821-KY |
| Dec 12, 1978 | Flood | DR-568-KY |
| Apr 4, 1974 | Tornado | DR-420-KY |
| May 15, 1972 | Flood | DR-332-KY |
| Jun 5, 1970 | Flood | DR-288-KY |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
How this compares
Where Bullitt County stands among 120 counties in Kentucky and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 12 | 45 / 120 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 2 | 31 / 120 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 1 | 78 / 120 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 379 | 20 / 120 |
| Flood insurance paid | $6.7 million | 17 / 120 |
| Disaster declarations | 28 | 44 / 120 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 60 | 71 / 120 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 223 | 48 / 120 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 36 | 76 / 120 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $118 million | 5 / 120 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 4 | 27 / 120 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 125 | 64 / 120 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 15.4 | 31 / 120 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 1 | 23 / 120 |
Neighbouring counties
| Hardin County | 30 | 2 |
| Jefferson County | 33 | 1 |
| Nelson County | 12 | 2 |
| Spencer County | 11 | 1 |
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00093821.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.