Braxton County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54007 · population 12,438 · 511 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 415 records for Braxton County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 343 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (124 records). The most damaging was the July 31, 1996 flash flood ($2.8 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1967, 22 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
- 415on 343 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 04 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $15Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest F0
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 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 Braxton County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 124 since 1960. 45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1960 fell in May and June. 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 | 124 | 83 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 3 | $2.4M | 41 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 79 | 79 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 1 | $2.3M | 42 of 53 |
| Floods | 56 | 52 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $7.1M | 40 of 53 |
| Hail | 52 | 41 | 1980-2024 | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | 33 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 31 | 31 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $56K | 32 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 27 | 27 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $130K | 39 of 53 |
| Heat | 20 | 20 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 of 53 |
| Drought | 19 | 19 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 6 | 1998-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 45 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1991-1991 | 0 | 0 | $5K | 46 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.
How many tornadoes has Braxton County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Braxton County from 1991 to 1991, the strongest rated F0, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 1 tornado whose track touched Braxton County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in West Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Braxton County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-04-09 | Braxton County | F0 0.1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Braxton County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 20, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,500 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindRamp Run, Braxton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindGassaway, Braxton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindBurnsville, Braxton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindNapier, Braxton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindStrange Creek, Braxton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindTague, Braxton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindStrange Creek, Braxton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindServia, Braxton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtBraxton County · forecast zone Braxton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindCorley, Braxton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindSutton Airport, Braxton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtBraxton County · forecast zone Braxton | 0 | 0 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-12-13 | Winter WeatherBraxton County · forecast zone Braxton A weak warm front lifted across the central Appalachians on the morning of the 13th. Temperatures aloft quickly rose above freezing, but surface temperatures lagged some as precipitation moved in. This created a period of freezing rain during the morning. Ice accretion amounts ranged from a trace to about a tenth of ... | 0 | 1 | $92K | |
| 1998-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindCentralia, Braxton County A camper and his tent at Baker Run - Mill Creek Campground were tossed into Sutton Lake. The man was sent to the hospital with multiple injuries. A number of trees were fallen in the vicinity . | 0 | 1 | $9K | |
| 1993-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindFrametown, Braxton County | 0 | 1 | $1.0M | |
| 1991-04-09 | Thunderstorm WindBraxton County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-07-31 | Flash FloodCountywide, Braxton County | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | |
| 1998-06-16 | HailGassaway, Braxton County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2012-10-29 | Heavy SnowBraxton County · forecast zone Braxton | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 1993-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindFrametown, Braxton County | 0 | 1 | $1.0M | |
| 1998-06-16 | HailSutton, Braxton County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $905K |
| 2015-07-13 | Flash FloodFlatwoods, Braxton County | 0 | 0 | $623K | |
| 2016-06-23 | FloodCaress, Braxton County | 0 | 0 | $492K | |
| 1998-06-16 | HailFrametown, Braxton County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $453K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 9, 1991 (tornado, Braxton County).
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 Braxton 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 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 23 | 33 | 41 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 13 | 25 | 30 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 11 | 16 | 12 | 17 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 23 | 7 | 2 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 12 | 5 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 9 | 6 | 11 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1960 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 53 · Feb 45 · Mar 35 · Apr 40 · May 41 · Jun 75 · Jul 26 · Aug 33 · Sep 14 · Oct 13 · Nov 12 · Dec 28 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Braxton County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Braxton County: 18 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and flood (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3639 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4517 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3450 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016-06-25 | DR-4273 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-08-07 | DR-4236 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-18 | DR-4220 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-03-31 | DR-4210 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2008-06-19 | DR-1769 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3221 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-06-07 | DR-1522 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-11-21 | DR-1500 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1455 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1319 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides |
| 1998-07-01 | DR-1229 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1997-03-07 | DR-1168 | Flood | Heavy & Wind Driven Rain, High Winds,Flooding,Slides |
| 1996-08-14 | DR-1132 | Fire | Heavy Rains, High Winds, Flooding, and Slides |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1084 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3109 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1985-11-07 | DR-753 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Braxton County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 56 flood or flash flood records for Braxton County from 1996 to 2025, on 52 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Braxton County ranks 1766th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $509,000 on 40 claims filed in Braxton County; the most in one year was 6 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 1 · 1980: 2 · 1985: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1996: 5 · 1997: 3 · 1998: 1 · 2000: 5 · 2003: 6 · 2004: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 3; 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 Braxton County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Braxton County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.8 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 | $91K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $7.8M | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $102K | 47 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $397K | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $29K | 6.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $1K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $37K | once in about 88 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Very Low | $95K | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Braxton County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in West VirginiaEvery West Virginia tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- 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 Braxton CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Braxton County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis