Paducah, KY
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Paducah 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 McCracken County, KY. The county's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, heat wave, and ice storm.
Storm events near Paducah
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Paducah's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Paducah 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 McCracken County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Paducah along with the rest of the county, not a Paducah-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 35.6 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 80.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 97.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 95.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 85.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 85.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 70.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 81.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 44.3 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 93.2 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 53.1 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 78.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 82.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 89.1 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full McCracken County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on McCracken County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Paducah, KY at risk of?
Paducah 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 McCracken County, where Paducah is located, are earthquake, heat wave, and ice storm.
What is Paducah's biggest natural hazard risk?
Earthquake is the highest-rated hazard for McCracken County, where Paducah is located, scoring 97.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Moderate").
Is Paducah a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Paducah 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 McCracken County.
Has Paducah had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 46 tornado, 91 hail, 224 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Paducah since 2016.