Owensboro, KY
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Owensboro is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk — near the middle compared to other US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Daviess County, KY. The county's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, ice storm, and strong wind.
Storm events near Owensboro
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Owensboro's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Owensboro itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Daviess County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Owensboro along with the rest of the county, not a Owensboro-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 17.9 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 88.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 95.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 90.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 88.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 68.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 71.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 91.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 35 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 95.9 | Very High |
| Landslide | 28.9 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 69.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 94.8 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 93.4 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Daviess County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Daviess County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Owensboro, KY at risk of?
Owensboro is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — near the middle compared to other US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Daviess County, where Owensboro is located, are earthquake, ice storm, and strong wind.
What is Owensboro's biggest natural hazard risk?
Earthquake is the highest-rated hazard for Daviess County, where Owensboro is located, scoring 95.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Moderate").
Is Owensboro a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Owensboro carries near the middle compared to other US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Moderate" for Daviess County.
Has Owensboro had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 24 tornado, 82 hail, 210 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Owensboro since 2016.