National Storms

Kentucky damaging wind history

From 2016 to 2025, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center logged 6,026 damaging thunderstorm wind reports in Kentucky, 5,911 of them 58 mph or more and 336 of 75 mph or more (measured or estimated), on 491 storm days. The day with the most reports since 1955 was May 26, 2024 (238 reports in Kentucky). The highest wind on record is 201 mph, on June 13, 1997. 2026 so far: 666 preliminary reports.

6,026wind reports 2016–2025
5,91158 mph or more
33675 mph or more
201 mphhighest on record
6662026 preliminary reports

Kentucky's biggest wind day since 2016: May 26, 2024

75 mph or more58–74 mphbelow 58 mph or no speed given

238 damaging wind reports in Kentucky, 35 of 75 mph or more. All storm reports that day →

1990: 1631991: 1611992: 1151993: 2501994: 1301995: 2871996: 3041997: 2611998: 3801999: 2492000: 5452001: 4712002: 3602003: 4112004: 6032005: 3302006: 7662007: 4212008: 7062009: 5782010: 4802011: 9402012: 8252013: 5662014: 6182015: 8032016: 6942017: 5312018: 5432019: 4472020: 4152021: 3412022: 6942023: 7382024: 8182025: 805199019931996199920022005200820112014201720202023max 940
Damaging wind reports per year in Kentucky, 1990–2025

Source: National Storms (nationalstorms.com), CC BY 4.0, data from NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports.

Days with the most damaging wind reports in Kentucky

Storm dayWind reports75 mph+Highest
May 26, 202423835100 mph
May 16, 20251671093 mph
June 17, 2022165175 mph
July 13, 2015150175 mph
January 29, 20081372192 mph
March 1, 201713615105 mph
May 30, 20041241092 mph
October 24, 20011195104 mph
July 2, 2023111064 mph
July 8, 2001106492 mph
November 9, 20001055492 mph
May 31, 2018104064 mph
April 4, 2011103381 mph
June 10, 2014102064 mph
June 25, 20239311110 mph

Highest wind speeds reported in Kentucky

Storm dayWind reports75 mph+Highest
June 13, 1997282201 mph
September 12, 199611201 mph
May 14, 201451125 mph
May 27, 2004386120 mph
December 10, 2021513115 mph
May 10, 2003465115 mph
April 27, 20022912115 mph
September 20, 2000412115 mph
May 14, 199541115 mph
June 25, 20239311110 mph

Kentucky damaging wind reports by year

YearDamaging wind reports58 mph+75 mph+HighestDays with reports
2026*66645482 mph62
20258057884796 mph55
2024818810120102 mph52
202373872632110 mph47
20226946831090 mph52
20213413357115 mph43
202041539723100 mph49
201944743616110 mph48
201854352914110 mph49
201753152055105 mph44
20166946871296 mph52
201580379418100 mph46
201461861530125 mph46
201356656026110 mph47
20128258203396 mph49
201194093544105 mph65
20104804801490 mph49
200957857726105 mph43
200870670552100 mph47
20074214181896 mph48
200676676632104 mph69
2005330330682 mph42
200460360354120 mph43
200341141158115 mph46
200236025962115 mph49
200147128125104 mph42
200054532072115 mph43
19992491376100 mph38
1998380283498 mph40
19972611515201 mph32
19963042194201 mph45
1995287646115 mph52
19941302178 mph29
1993250103100 mph39
1992115–––29
199116110175 mph22
199016312679 mph28
198992215110 mph29
19882922070 mph14
198721240796 mph33
19861123070 mph23
198510911069 mph23
198412215070 mph26
198317111490 mph36
19829923499 mph19
198185191100 mph22
1980653014100 mph23
1979453286 mph15
1978362063 mph16
1977608275 mph30
19765110383 mph15
19753611278 mph16
1974597298 mph16
19737314481 mph33
197282067 mph5
1971553184 mph21
1970928067 mph31
1969615183 mph20
1968416069 mph18
1967193066 mph13
1966113186 mph7
1965174060 mph12
1964136175 mph11
1963155071 mph12
1962119067 mph9
1961217276 mph15
1960112186 mph8
1959152181 mph9
1958121072 mph10
1957154277 mph9
19565–––4
195591063 mph7

* 2026: preliminary SPC reports; many have no wind speed yet.

More for Kentucky: tornado history and paths · hail history · all states · derechos

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Severe Weather Database (SVRGIS) damaging-wind reports, 1955–2025, and SPC preliminary storm reports for 2026 (data through November 6, 2026). Wind speeds are measured or estimated by spotters, the public and NWS staff; SPC records them in knots and we show mph. 58 mph is the National Weather Service's severe-thunderstorm wind threshold.

Guide: Hail vs wind damage