Enter any address in Fayette County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Fayette County, KY. Between 2020 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 49 flash flood events and 14 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on April 7, 2024, which caused ponding on city streets in Lexington and led to stalled vehicles, and a flash flood event on June 26, 2024, occurring within a hot and humid summertime pattern.
Fayette County residents should pay close attention to flood risk, particularly those in Zone A, which has seen the highest number of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims (183) with an average payout of $13,290 and an average water depth of 4.1 feet. Properties in Zone X also experience significant claims, with an average payout of $8,235 and an average water depth of 5.8 feet, despite being designated as moderate flood risk areas. Homeowners in these zones, as well as those in Zone UNKNOWN, should be particularly aware of their flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
30 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Fayette County, Kentucky has recorded 63 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 49 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1978–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides | Severe Storm | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Mar 3, 2023 |
| Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 27, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 1, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Jan 27, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 7, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 3, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 18, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 18, 2020 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 21, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 26, 2025
A typical hot and humid summertime pattern was in place across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys on June 26th and 27th, with temperatures warming into the upper 80s and low 90s both afternoons. This allowed for the development of at least 4000 J/kg SBCAPE across central Kentucky, setting up a strongly unstable environment. Overall, forcing was weak over this time period, with upper level ridging s...
Flash Flood — Oct 7, 2025
As a couple of cold fronts moved through the Lower Ohio Valley, widespread rainfall fell across north central Kentucky. This resulted in ponding water on city streets in Louisville and Lexington. Several people stalled vehicles as they drove into the water, and some streets were closed due to the high water. One place in Spencer County had water over a roadway.
Flood — Feb 6, 2025
A quasi-stationary front was draped across the lower Ohio Valley from February 5th into the 6th. South of the front, a warm and humid air mass was present, with temperatures in the mid 60s and dewpoints in the upper 50s and low 60s during the early morning hours on February 6th. Temperatures warmed into the low 70s south of the front during the day, with dewpoints remaining in the low 60s. A fe...
Flash Flood — Apr 4, 2025
On the night of April 2nd, 2025, a cold front approached the lower Ohio Valley. Along and ahead of the cold front, numerous supercells developed over southern Illinois and western Kentucky. These storms tracked eastward and occasionally grew upscale into a QLCS with bowing segments. Storms lasted all night and into the morning hours, as the cold front began to stall over the lower Ohio Valley. ...
Flash Flood — Jan 3, 2023
During the overnight hours and into the morning on January 3rd, a strong system moved across central Kentucky, bringing isolated damaging wind gusts and widespread heavy rainfall. The system was associated with a negatively-tilted upper-level trough which moved from the Four Corners region on January 2nd to the upper Midwest by January 4th. A surface cyclone transited in a similar fashion to th...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Fayette County, Kentucky:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Fayette County, Kentucky that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.