Boone County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54005 · population 21,756 · 502 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 509 records for Boone County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 362 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (191 records). The deadliest single record is the January 11, 2020 strong wind, filed for the forecast zone Boone, which covers the county: 1 death, 2 injuries and $11,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 31 declarations naming the county since 1967, 28 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 509on 362 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 22 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $19Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 31latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Boone County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 191 since 1975. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1975 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among West Virginia's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 191 | 112 | 1975-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 26 of 53 |
| Floods | 76 | 55 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $16M | 34 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 67 | 66 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 49 of 53 |
| Hail | 56 | 41 | 1962-2026 | 0 | 0 | $33K | 32 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 31 | 31 | 1999-2026 | 1 | 2 | $197K | 29 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 30 | 30 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $258K | 33 of 53 |
| Drought | 21 | 21 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 25 of 53 |
| Heat | 20 | 20 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 13 | 13 | 1999-2018 | 0 | 0 | $20K | 14 of 53 |
| Wildfires | 4 | 4 | 1999-2016 | 0 | 0 | $31K | 1 of 53 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
When was the last damaging storm in Boone County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,500 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-23 | FloodSouth Madison, Boone County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-23 | FloodRamage, Boone County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-23 | FloodBob White, Boone County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-23 | Flash FloodStark, Boone County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-23 | Flash FloodBob White, Boone County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-22 | Flash FloodWharton, Boone County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLory, Boone County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindHarris, Boone County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindSylvester, Boone County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindAshford, Boone County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindAndrew, Boone County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindCosta, Boone County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-01-11 | Strong WindBoone County · forecast zone Boone A strong storm system moved through the Great Lakes on the 11th and 12th. Ahead of this system, temperatures on the afternoon of the 11th soared into the 70s and low 80s, driven by strong southerly winds. Gusts were regularly measured in the 40-50 mph range. A line of showers and thunderstorms developed in the lower ... | 45 kt wind | 1 | 2 | $11K |
| 2010-07-25 | Flash FloodJulian, Boone County The repetitive showers and thunderstorms during the late afternoon into the early evening caused small stream to flood roads. The cooperative observer at Madison had a 24 hour rain total of 3.03 inches. Amounts of 2 to 2.5 inches likely fell in 3 hours. Along the flood swollen stream called Price Branch, a 41 year old ... | 1 | 0 | $135K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-06-16 | Flash FloodSouth Portion, Boone County | 0 | 0 | $4.8M | |
| 2012-10-29 | Heavy SnowBoone County · forecast zone Boone | 0 | 0 | $964K | |
| 2001-05-18 | Flash FloodJeffrey, Boone County | 0 | 0 | $917K | |
| 2003-02-15 | FloodBoone County · forecast zone Boone | 0 | 0 | $802K | |
| 2001-07-29 | Flash FloodEast Portion, Boone County | 0 | 0 | $500K | |
| 1996-05-15 | Flash FloodCountywide, Boone County | 0 | 0 | $376K | |
| 2003-11-19 | FloodBoone County · forecast zone Boone | 0 | 0 | $361K | |
| 2015-04-03 | Flash FloodJeffrey, Boone County | 0 | 0 | $280K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Boone County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 32 | 51 | 92 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 17 | 18 | 36 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 7 | 24 z | 27 |
| Hail | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 23 | 11 | 6 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 10 | 5 | 15 z |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 10 | 5 | 3 |
Winter storms in the 2010s: 24 records against 7 in the decade before, 24 of them forecast-zone records. High wind and dust storms in the 2020-26: 15 records against 5 in the decade before, 15 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Boone County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1975 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 44 · Feb 55 · Mar 41 · Apr 52 · May 61 · Jun 83 · Jul 68 · Aug 33 · Sep 13 · Oct 18 · Nov 17 · Dec 24 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Boone County
FEMA's register lists 31 declarations that include Boone County: 22 major disasters, 8 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for severe storm (13) and flood (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3639 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-02-26 | DR-4861 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2024-05-24 | DR-4787 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2024-05-22 | DR-4783 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2024-01-30 | DR-4756 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2021-05-20 | DR-4605 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4517 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3450 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015-05-14 | DR-4219 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-03-31 | DR-4210 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2014-01-10 | EM-3366 | Chemical | Chemical Spill |
| 2012-11-27 | DR-4093 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3358 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-07-23 | DR-4071 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012-06-30 | EM-3345 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2010-03-02 | DR-1881 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2007-05-01 | DR-1696 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3221 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-20 | DR-1558 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2004-06-07 | DR-1522 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-11-21 | DR-1500 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-06-21 | DR-1474 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1455 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2001-11-16 | FM-2391 | Fire | Wv - Southeast Fire Complex - 11/16/2001 |
| 2001-06-03 | DR-1378 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides |
| 1996-05-23 | DR-1115 | Flood | Flooding, Heavy Winds |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1084 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3109 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1977-08-24 | EM-3052 | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides & Flooding |
| 1972-02-27 | DR-323 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1967-03-13 | DR-224 | Flood | Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Boone County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 76 flood or flash flood records for Boone County from 1996 to 2026, on 55 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Boone County ranks 525th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.9 million on 477 claims filed in Boone County; the most in one year was 123 in 1978. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 123 · 1979: 11 · 1980: 3 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 1 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 3 · 1991: 36 · 1994: 2 · 1996: 55 · 1997: 6 · 2001: 66 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 70 · 2004: 9 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 49 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 1 · 2012: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 11 · 2017: 1 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 8; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Boone County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Boone County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $18.8 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $41K | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $17M | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $22K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $163K | once in about 134 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $386K | 3.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $151K | 48 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $337K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $38K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Boone County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Severe thunderstorm wind in West VirginiaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The West Virginia recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Boone CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Boone County's FEMA declarations (CSV)31 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis