Cabell County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54011 · population 94,158 · 281 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 579 records for Cabell County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 433 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (193 records). The deadliest single record is the May 6, 2022 flash flood: 1 death and $908,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 32 declarations naming the county since 1967, 29 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
- 579on 433 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 85 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $28Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 32latest 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 Cabell County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 193 since 1955. 50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 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 | 193 | 137 | 1955-2026 | 2 | 4 | $7.3M | 5 of 53 |
| Floods | 106 | 90 | 1996-2026 | 4 | 0 | $17M | 2 of 53 |
| Hail | 90 | 57 | 1977-2025 | 0 | 0 | $991K | 3 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 59 | 59 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $980K | 25 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 33 | 33 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $408K | 8 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 28 | 28 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $717K | 15 of 53 |
| Drought | 21 | 21 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 53 |
| Heat | 21 | 21 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 18 | 18 | 1997-2019 | 1 | 0 | $89K | 1 of 53 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1996-2014 | 0 | 1 | $16K | 4 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 3 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 0 | $617K | 14 of 53 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2001-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 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 Cabell County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Cabell County from 2000 to 2024, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 14th of 53 West Virginia counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Cabell County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in West Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Cabell County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-02 | Wilson, Cabell County | EF1 4.2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $71K |
| 2024-04-02 | Hodges, Cabell County | EF1 0.47 mi x 280 yd | 0 | 0 | $38K |
| 2014-06-04 | Riders Store, Cabell County | EF1 0.51 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $37K |
| 2000-08-09 | Lesage, Cabell County | F1 0.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $471K |
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 Cabell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindGuyan Estates, Cabell County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindJohnson, Cabell County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Strong WindCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 36 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | FloodGuyandotte, Cabell County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-20 | Cold/Wind ChillCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-29 | Strong WindCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 36 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-06 | Flash FloodWest Huntington, Cabell County Significant flash flooding occurred in Cabell County. The hardest hit area was the Enslow Park area where over 100 homes and many vehicles were inundated as Fourpole Creek flooded. Some vehicles were swept away. Route 10 was closed due to flash flooding near Huntinton High School, Route 60 was impassable at the East ... | 1 | 0 | $908K | |
| 2016-07-14 | Flash FloodHodges, Cabell County Water rose rapidly on several local streams and creeks resulting in roadway blockages and homes surrounded. The hardest hit area was along Green Valley Road where 50 homes sustained damage from high water. The public witnessed a car drive rapidly into flooded waters along Green Valley Road. After assisting the driver ... | 1 | 0 | $615K | |
| 2007-12-10 | FloodMilton, Cabell County Several periods of rain occurred from the 7th into the 10th. A strong frontal zone existed on the 9th into the 10th with surface dew points in the 55 to 60 degree range south of the front. Embedded heavier showers moved across Wayne, Cabell, and Putnam Counties from 2300E on the 9th to 0100E on the 10th. A spotter in ... | 1 | 0 | $43K | |
| 2005-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindHuntington, Cabell County The outflow wind gust was funneled between 2 adjacent buildings along Piedmont Road in Huntington. A man was sitting outside on his second floor apartment landing, reading his Bible. The wind blew out a window unit from the adjacent building and dropped onto him. The 73 year old man was killed. | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $2K |
| 1999-01-08 | Ice StormCabell County · forecast zone Cabell Rains of 0.5 to 0.8 inches fell with surface temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees. A quarter to a half inch of ice accumulated. Roads were not as icy as sidewalks, since most roads were previously treated. Ice accumulated the most on vehicles and trees. A 40 year old female was killed in Huntington around 0830E when a ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1997-07-09 | Heavy RainBarboursville, Cabell County A 12 year old boy was sucked into a 14 inch diameter drain pipe and drowned. He was playing in a neighbor's yard with 2 other boys, after a heavy downpour. The pipe was normally covered, but had been left opened during the construction of a nearby home. Apparently. the 5 foot 4 inch, 110 pound boy slipped and fell ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1996-06-23 | Flash FloodNorthern Half, Cabell County Major small stream flooding occurred after a second roundof thunderstorms, within 18 hours, dumped about 2 inches ofrain in an hour. A 24 year old woman drowned when her carwashed into Lower Creek, north of Milton. The woman got out of the car, but she was swept away. Her body was found about a mile downstream. ... | 1 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 1991-04-09 | Thunderstorm WindCabell County | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-02-15 | FloodCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2004-09-17 | FloodCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2003-11-12 | FloodCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 1996-06-23 | Flash FloodNorthern Half, Cabell County | 1 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2015-03-04 | FloodSalt Rock, Cabell County | 0 | 0 | $934K | |
| 2022-05-06 | Flash FloodWest Huntington, Cabell County | 1 | 0 | $908K | |
| 2003-11-19 | FloodCabell County · forecast zone Cabell | 0 | 0 | $802K | |
| 2000-02-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Cabell County | 0 | 0 | $686K |
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 Cabell 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 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 43 | 38 | 59 | 43 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 9 | 21 | 37 | 39 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 19 | 24 | 19 | 17 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 9 | 17 | 27 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 10 | 9 | 11 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 10 | 10 | 5 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 48 · Feb 65 · Mar 41 · Apr 50 · May 67 · Jun 74 · Jul 97 · Aug 51 · Sep 24 · Oct 12 · Nov 24 · Dec 26 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Cabell County
FEMA's register lists 32 declarations that include Cabell County: 24 major disasters, 7 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 |
| 2024-05-22 | DR-4783 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2021-05-20 | DR-4605 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2021-05-13 | DR-4603 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4517 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3450 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-04-17 | DR-4359 | Mud/Landslide | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-21 | DR-4221 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2012-10-29 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 1978-12-14 | DR-569 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-04-07 | DR-531 | 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 Cabell County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 106 flood or flash flood records for Cabell County from 1996 to 2026, on 90 days, with 4 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Cabell County ranks 380th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $11.4 million on 807 claims filed in Cabell County; the most in one year was 110 in 1978. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 110 · 1979: 20 · 1980: 19 · 1981: 2 · 1982: 11 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 4 · 1985: 3 · 1986: 1 · 1987: 1 · 1989: 9 · 1990: 15 · 1991: 10 · 1992: 1 · 1994: 7 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 13 · 1997: 105 · 1998: 17 · 2000: 29 · 2001: 3 · 2002: 35 · 2003: 98 · 2004: 42 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 15 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 12 · 2010: 9 · 2011: 6 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 6 · 2015: 11 · 2016: 32 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 19 · 2022: 63 · 2023: 12 · 2025: 50 · 2026: 1; 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 Cabell County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cabell County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $49.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $732K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $41M | 2.8 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $3.0M | 4.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $38K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $149K | 8.4 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $902K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $432K | 48 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $777K | once in about 839 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Cabell 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 Cabell CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Cabell County's FEMA declarations (CSV)32 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis