Marshall County

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Marshall County: 7.
2. 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.

Every storm within 100 miles

1. 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.

Smoke overhead

1. 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.

Claims by ZIP code

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.

1. 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.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

1. 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).
2. 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

Mapped by KY GS (2).

1. 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.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Jan 26, 2009Ice Storm, Marshall$19.2 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   This 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. Locally very destructive icing around 1.5 inches occurred from the Mississippi River counties east across Paducah and Madisonville to Owensboro. This resulted in unprecedented damage to utility infrastructure in western Kentucky. One hundred percent of residents in the hardest-hit counties from the Mississippi River to Madisonville were affected by power outages. A utility company serving areas from Ballard to Livingston Counties reported that 20 percent of its system had to be rebuilt. The…

2. May 4, 2003Hail$10.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   One of the most destructive hailstorms on record in far western Kentucky began near the Mississippi River just south of Cairo, Illinois. The storm moved east across Ballard County, producing quarter-size hail. One-inch diameter hail was reported on U.S. Highway 60 at mile marker 7, near Barlow. Hailstones grew larger as the storm crossed McCracken County, pounding the southwest side of Paducah and Lone Oak with hail from golf ball to tennis ball size. Thousands of vehicles were dented, and hail broke some windshields, including the windshield of a deputy sheriff's vehicle. The roofs of hundreds of buildings sustained at least minor damage. The only known injury occurred in…

3. Nov 15, 2005Tornado$8.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The long-track tornado entered Marshall County from extreme northwest Calloway County. As the tornado moved quickly northeast across Marshall County, it reached its peak intensity of 200 MPH as it approached the Kentucky Lake resort campgrounds and boatyards. Until the tornado reached U.S. Highway 641 south of Benton, mostly F-1 damage occurred. Garages and barns sustained varying degrees of damage, and numerous trees were down. The most serious damage, ranging up to F-3 intensity, occurred from Big Bear Highway to Moor's Resort on Kentucky Lake. The occupant of a destroyed mobile home was killed in this area. The mobile home was thrown 40 feet and overturned before catching fire.…

4. Sep 14, 2008High Wind, Marshall$7.2 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Frequent wind gusts from 60 to nearly 80 mph caused widespread damage in western Kentucky. The low pressure center that was the remnant of Hurricane Ike raced northeast at 40 to 50 mph across Missouri and Illinois. The center passed between Carbondale and St. Louis on its way toward the northeastern states. The rapid speed of the low pressure system contributed to this high wind event. ||Several counties reported hundreds of structures sustained roof and siding damage. Other counties reported dozens of damaged structures. The county of Crittenden alone estimated 1,500 homes sustained some degree of wind damage. Extensive tree damage occurred. Thousands of trees were uprooted and…

5. Jul 7, 2016Flash Flood$2.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Widespread major flash flooding affected Marshall County, especially the northern and central parts of the county. A rainfall amount of 6.87 inches was recorded in four hours and 15 minutes at the Kentucky mesonet site in Draffenville. An off-duty meteorologist in Calvert City measured three inches of rain per hour. Multiple evacuations were conducted throughout the county by various agencies. Many roads across the county were flooded, including many main roads. At least 22 roads were washed out across the county. Residents of about 10 homes were stranded because their street was washed out. The damage to county roads alone was 600,000 dollars. A pickup truck crashed headlong into…

6. Feb 16, 2025Flood$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Significant areal flooding occurred on the northern and eastern sides of the city of Benton due to the arrival of extremely high water levels on the Clarks River, which had reached record levels upstream at Almo, and accompanying branches and streams. Many businesses on the north side of town near Main Street sustained water intrusion with vast areas completely covered. Rainfall amounts were around 5 to 6.5 inches with the KY Mesonet site 4 miles north of Benton recording 6.4 inches of rain on the 15th.

7. Jul 10, 2002Thunderstorm Wind$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Cambridge Shores community, located on the shore of Kentucky Lake about 7 miles southeast of Gilbertsville, received severe damage from a downburst with estimated winds to 100 MPH. The core of the damage path was about 1.5 miles long and 1/4 mile wide. Numerous witnesses reported seeing a weak tornado embedded in the downburst. Estimated peak winds in this small tornado were 70 MPH. The bulk of the damage and both injuries were incurred by the downburst. At least a dozen boat docks were destroyed, and six boats were destroyed or capsized, including a houseboat. At least a dozen homes received significant damage, such as roofs blown off and trees landing on houses. Numerous…

8. Jun 23, 2019Tornado$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A very brief tornado with maximum estimated winds of 100 mph damaged part of a marina on Kentucky Lake. A 50-yard section of the marina was twisted and overturned. This was one of three sections that extended into Kentucky Lake. A boat that was docked in this part of the marina was lifted onto the debris. The entire marina structure was shifted several feet and pulled away from the shore, dislodging several spud poles that anchored the floating marina structure to the lake bottom.

9. Feb 11, 2008Winter Storm, Marshall$500,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Low pressure developed over the southern Plains, spreading widespread heavy precipitation across western Kentucky. At the same time, high pressure over the upper Ohio Valley produced a cold easterly wind flow. The result was a crippling ice storm. Around one inch of ice caused extensive damage across parts of western Kentucky, along and north of a line from Paducah to Madisonville. Many of those same areas received two to four inches of sleet and snow. Numerous trees and power lines were brought down, knocking out power to many thousands of homes. Power outages lasted up to a week. Emergency shelters were established in several counties (including Livingston, Crittenden, and…

10. Jun 21, 2019Tornado$500,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A 50-yard wide tornado with peak winds near 110 mph snapped and uprooted trees. The tornado appeared to touch down along the edge of Kentucky Dam Village property near Golf Course Maintenance Drive. It crossed Highway 641 and created a clear path from near 641 to the marina. At the marina, two piers (which were connected to other piers as an extension) broke loose and were pushed out into the bay, dragging concrete block tie downs along the floor of the bay. These piers sustained major damage to roofs and connections between the piers. The piers which were connected to the shore were damaged, not only at the connection point between piers, but also at the connection to the shore.…

1. 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.

All-time high

108°FJun 29, 2012

All-time low

−15°FJan 20, 1985

Warmest night

82°FJul 16, 1980

Coldest day

1°FJan 20, 1985

Wettest day

7.49 inSep 5, 1985

Snowiest day

14.0 inDec 22, 2004

Hottest year

2024mean 61.7°F

Coldest year

1958mean 55.6°F

Wettest year

201174.85 in

Driest year

196328.20 in

Snowiest season

35.7 in1977-78

Station Paducah (USW00003816), 506 ft elevation, 26.6 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1949 to October 26, 2026; 99.9% 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.

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.

Neighbouring counties

• 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 USW00003816.
• 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.