Edmonson County
Population 12,749 (2025) 303 sq mi
Property owners in Edmonson County have filed 1 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, 112th 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 195010
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger3
- Wildfire burn scars since 19841
At a glance
The record for Edmonson County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes since 1950
10
59th of 120 in Kentucky
About as many as the typical Kentucky county
DetailsAcres burned since 1984
641
35th of 120 in Kentucky
1 large fire; the largest was Unnamed, 2000
DetailsTropical cyclones within 50 mi
2
47th of 120 in Kentucky
None at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsStrongest tornado
F4
April 23, 1968, 78.7 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm (unnamed), 1888, 0.0 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 7.6 years since 1950, 2 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 23, 1968
F4, 78.7 mile path
550 yards wide; 6 killed along the whole path.
Deadliest
December 11, 2021
16 killed, EF3
63 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Saturday, December 11, 2021
EF2, 17.0 mile path
5 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Dec 11, 2021 | EF2 | 17.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 11, 2021 | EF3 | 29.3 | 63 | 16 |
| Nov 5, 2018 | EF0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 25, 2018 | EF0 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 25, 2015 | EF2 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 30, 2013 | EF1 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 2010 | EF1 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 28, 2002 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1968 | F4 | 78.7 | 364 | 6 |
| Apr 29, 1963 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Edmonson 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
2 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 21, 1888
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
0.0 miles at closest approach, winds near 55 mph.
Most recent
September 27, 2024
Helene, Remnant low
23.1 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
641 acres burned in 1 large fire since 1984, equal to 0.3% of the land.
Largest
October 31, 2000
Unnamed Fire, 638 acres
640 acres inside Edmonson County.
Most recent
October 31, 2000
Unnamed Fire
638 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Unnamed | 2000 | 640 | 638 |
- Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.
Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 55 days
Heavy smoke on 8 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
14.2 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
10 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 30 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
1 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $436 paid.
Flood events since 1996
- Flood33
- Flash Flood21
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
April 6, 2025
Green River (KY) near Mammoth Cave, 59.66 ft
27.66 feet above the 32.0 ft flood stage; moderate flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
April 6, 2025
Green River (KY) near Mammoth Cave, 59.66 ft
Moderate flooding.
| Apr 6, 2025 | Green River (KY) near Mammoth Cave | 59.66 | +27.66 |
| Feb 18, 2025 | Green River (KY) near Mammoth Cave | 52.46 | +20.46 |
| Mar 3, 2021 | Green River (KY) near Mammoth Cave | 50.94 | +18.94 |
| Feb 26, 2019 | Green River (KY) near Mammoth Cave | 42.62 | +10.62 |
| Dec 19, 2019 | Green River (KY) near Mammoth Cave | 38.04 | +6.04 |
| Feb 12, 2018 | Green River (KY) near Mammoth Cave | 34.60 | +2.60 |
| May 7, 2011 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 559.70 | −0.30 |
| Apr 17, 2025 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 556.30 | −3.70 |
| May 23, 1983 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 549.90 | −10.10 |
| Mar 13, 1989 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 545.70 | −14.30 |
| Mar 22, 1997 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 544.70 | −15.30 |
| May 14, 1984 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 542.70 | −17.30 |
| Jan 19, 1985 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 541.60 | −18.40 |
| Apr 1, 1979 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 541.20 | −18.80 |
| May 2, 1995 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 539.90 | −20.10 |
| Apr 1, 1972 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 538.60 | −21.40 |
| Apr 1, 1975 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 536.30 | −23.70 |
| Dec 1, 1978 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 535.90 | −24.10 |
| Jan 13, 1991 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 532.70 | −27.30 |
| May 10, 2010 | Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 532.00 | −28.00 |
River gauges
| Green River (KY) near Mammoth Cave | 32.0 | 59.66 ft | 0 |
| Nolin River at Nolin River Lake | 560.0 | 559.70 ft | 0 |
- 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 128 of 1,581 months since 1895 (8%); the longest spell lasted 17 months.
128
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
42
Months in extreme drought
8%
Share of all months, severe or worse
Lowest reading
January 1931
−6.63, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
17 months
July 1930 to November 1931.
Latest month
September 2026
+0.96, incipient wet spell
Last severe month: April 2026.
- 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
14 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1973; none reached magnitude 4.
1
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
4
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
March 23, 1980
Magnitude 3.3
2 km ESE of Fordsville, Kentucky; 24.5 miles away, 3.7 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
May 29, 2023
Magnitude 3.0
6 km W of Calhoun, Kentucky; 49.6 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
6
Landslides mapped, probable or better
1
With a recorded date
1
Source inventory
Mapped by KY GS (6).
- 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
259 events in the National Weather Service record, 236 of them since 1996.
21
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
1
Hail, 2 inches or larger
113
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
25
Winter weather events since 1996
0
Heat events since 1996
2
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
May 23, 2000
2.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
April 28, 2002
104 mph
Costliest events since 1996
- Mar 2, 1997Flood, Edmonson$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The Green River crested at 30.7 feet at Rochester at 1000 am est on March 7 (flood stage is 17 feet). This is the second biggest flood next to January 1950. Many homes were flooded out in Rochester and Woodberry along the river. In Woodberry, the river crested at 48.9 feet (flood stage is 33 feet) at 11 am est March 5. At Brownsville, the river crested at 33.8 feet (flood stage is 18 feet) at 4 pm est on March 5. This caused mainly bottomland flooding. At Munfordville, the river crested at 43.9 feet at 10 pm est March 3 (flood stage is 28 feet). This caused significant bottomland flooding. 25 families were cut off by the water there. These three counties received federal disaster aid.
- Apr 28, 2002Tornado$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
Roofs were blown off several homes. 2-by-4's from buildings were stuck into the ground. Numerous trees were downed, some were snapped well above the ground.
- May 2, 2010Flood$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
The Green River at Brownsville crested at 37.5 feet around 645 AM EST on May 5. Flood stage at Brownsville is 18 feet. Moderate flooding occurs at this level, with homes in the bottom land flooded.
- May 30, 2004Thunderstorm Wind$100,000
- Apr 3, 2018Thunderstorm Wind$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
A 1.5 mile wide swath of winds gusting to around 95 mph created tornado-like damage along Kentucky Highway 259 in Edmonson County. The winds, extending 3/4 of a mile north and south of Bee Spring, destroyed or heavily damaged several small outbuildings, tore part of the roof off of one home, uprooted and snapped the trunks of numerous trees, and snapped around a dozen power poles. Several other homes sustained roof damage, and wind-driven hail shredded vinyl siding on a number of buildings.
- Jan 30, 2013Tornado$80,000
National Weather Service narrative
A circulation embedded within a squall line that earlier produced an EF-2 tornado in Warren County spawned a second tornado that briefly touched down in Rocky Hill. It then lifted and touched down again around one mile to the northeast. Along its second track, which was around seven tenths of a mile, it snapped several trees within two long rows of trees along fence lines. Near the end of its path, along Louisville Road, it tore half the roof off of a home and destroyed a nearby barn.
- Mar 30, 2019Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
A strong cold front advanced through central Kentucky from the northwest. A line of thunderstorms ahead of the front caused severe winds to cause tree and roof damage.
- Feb 24, 2018Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
NWS survey crew observed intermittent straight-line wind damage in the town of Chalybeate. There was damage to fences, several trees snapped, and 2 older barns experienced significant damage. In a residential area, two large sections of trees fell on one roof, and an above ground swimming pool was blown away. Everything was facing down from west to east, indicative of straight line winds. The duration of the thunderstorm wind event was 2 minutes.
- Jan 24, 2002Thunderstorm Wind$40,000
National Weather Service narrative
Trees were blown down throughout the county. A garage was blown down, several storage buildings were blown away, and a propane gas tank was blown over. Winds also damaged windows and roofs on homes.
- Apr 28, 2002Thunderstorm Wind$35,000
National Weather Service narrative
Windows were blown out of a car. A mobile home and a large storage building were destroyed. A tree was blown on to a car.
- 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 Bowling Green Warren County Airport, 18.3 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1893.
- All-time high
- 113°FJul 28, 1930
- All-time low
- −21°F2 times, most recently Jan 24, 1963
- Warmest night
- 81°F4 times, most recently Jul 6, 2022
- Coldest day
- −1°FFeb 9, 1899
- Wettest day
- 6.15 inDec 7, 1924
- Snowiest day
- 18.0 inMar 9, 1960
- Hottest year
- 1921mean 63.0°F
- Coldest year
- 1958mean 55.1°F
- Wettest year
- 197976.56 in
- Driest year
- 193030.50 in
- Snowiest season
- 48.0 in1959-60
Median first snow
December 23
Earliest: October 31, 1993
Median last snow
February 25
Latest: April 21, 2021
1 of 91 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Bowling Green Warren County Airport (USW00093808), 523 ft elevation, 18.3 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1893 to October 26, 2026; 99.8% 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
26 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 24, 2026.
| 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 |
| Jul 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4804-KY |
| Apr 10, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4702-KY |
| Apr 23, 2021 | Flood | DR-4595-KY |
| Mar 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4497-KY |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3469-KY |
| Apr 17, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4428-KY |
| Aug 26, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4278-KY |
| Apr 30, 2015 | Snowstorm | DR-4216-KY |
| May 4, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1976-KY |
| May 11, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1912-KY |
| Feb 5, 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1818-KY |
| Jan 28, 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3302-KY |
| Sep 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3231-KY |
| Aug 6, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1537-KY |
| Jun 10, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1523-KY |
| May 7, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1414-KY |
| Mar 4, 1997 | Severe Storm | DR-1163-KY |
| Jan 13, 1996 | Snowstorm | DR-1089-KY |
| Mar 16, 1994 | Snowstorm | DR-1018-KY |
| Mar 16, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3104-KY |
| Feb 24, 1989 | Flood | DR-821-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 Edmonson County stands among 120 counties in Kentucky and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 10 | 59 / 120 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 2 | 31 / 120 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 2 | 47 / 120 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 641 | 35 / 120 |
| Flood insurance claims | 1 | 112 / 120 |
| Flood insurance paid | $436 | 116 / 120 |
| Disaster declarations | 26 | 61 / 120 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 54 | 82 / 120 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 147 | 87 / 120 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 25 | 106 / 120 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $2.0 million | 108 / 120 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 0 | — |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 128 | 56 / 120 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 14.2 | 70 / 120 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 1 | 23 / 120 |
Neighbouring counties
| Barren County | 21 | 3 |
| Butler County | 10 | 2 |
| Grayson County | 15 | 1 |
| Hart County | 18 | 2 |
| Warren County | 32 | 2 |
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 USW00093808.
- 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.