Chemung County, New York
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36015 · population 84,135 · 407 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 453 records for Chemung County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 303 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (201 records). The most damaging was the January 19, 1996 flash flood ($33.5 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1972, 15 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on October 1, 2018.
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
- 453on 303 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 012 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $69Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 6strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 19latest 2020
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 Chemung County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 201 since 1961. 56% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among New York'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 | 201 | 128 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 5 | $1.8M | 16 of 58 |
| Winter storms | 73 | 73 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $917K | 37 of 58 |
| Hail | 69 | 39 | 1968-2023 | 0 | 0 | $125K | 14 of 58 |
| Floods | 61 | 41 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $44M | 16 of 58 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $36K | 29 of 58 |
| High wind and dust storms | 14 | 14 | 1997-2019 | 0 | 0 | $514K | 44 of 58 |
| Drought | 7 | 7 | 1998-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 58 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 5 | 1983-2014 | 0 | 6 | $21M | 25 of 58 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2001-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 25 of 58 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1999-2005 | 0 | 1 | $102K | 31 of 58 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 of 58 |
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 Chemung County had?
NOAA records 6 tornadoes in Chemung County from 1983 to 2014, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries recorded in the county. That is 25th of 58 New York 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 6 tornadoes whose track touched Chemung County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 6, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-05-02 18:15, as SPC files it | Waverly | F3 | 15 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.
Every tornado record filed for Chemung County (6)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-09-02 | North Chemung, Chemung County | EF1 6 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $125K |
| 2012-07-26 | North Chemung, Chemung County | EF1 7.6 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $45K |
| 2012-07-26 | Hendy Creek, Chemung County | EF1 8.81 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $13M |
| 2011-04-28 | Erin, Chemung County | EF2 0.86 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $754K |
| 2006-11-16 | Erin, Chemung County | F1 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 1983-05-02 | Chemung County | F3 6 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 6 | $2.5M 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 Chemung County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindWest Elmira, Chemung County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMidway, Chemung County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormChemung County · forecast zone Chemung | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-23 | Winter WeatherChemung County · forecast zone Chemung | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindFisherville, Chemung County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindFisherville, Chemung County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindBreesport, Chemung County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindNorth Chemung, Chemung County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindElmira Airport, Chemung County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindHorseheads, Chemung County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindSlabtown, Chemung County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindElmira Hgts, Chemung County | 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-05-02 | TornadoChemung County | F3 6 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 6 | $2.5M step |
| 2002-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindBig Flats, Chemung County Strong thunderstorm winds took down a tree on church Street in Elmira. The snapped off 6 feet from the ground. The tree landed on a car parked in a driveway. Four people in the station wagon suffered only minor scrapes from glass when the tree landed on the rear of the car. Musical equipment in the back was smashed. ... | 55 kt wind | 0 | 4 | $82K |
| 2001-09-04 | LightningChemung County Newspaper reports indicate that lightning struck a metal building on Route 60 as a plant worker was entering it. The charge was transmitted to the worker who was subsequently injured. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2000-06-02 | Thunderstorm WindWaverly, Chemung County Fire and rescue personnel reported 1 inch diameter hail in Waverly. Also, thunderstorm winds knocked a tree onto a car on Route 407, slightly injuring the driver and trapping her in the vehicle for 30 minutes. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-01-19 | Flash FloodCountywide, Chemung County | 0 | 0 | $33M | |
| 2012-07-26 | TornadoHendy Creek, Chemung County | EF1 8.81 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $13M |
| 1996-11-08 | Flash FloodCountywide, Chemung County | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | |
| 2004-09-17 | Flash FloodCountywide, Chemung County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2011-09-07 | Flash FloodElmira Airport, Chemung County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2003-07-22 | Flash FloodNorthwest Portion, Chemung County | 0 | 0 | $802K | |
| 2004-09-09 | FloodChemung County · forecast zone Chemung | 0 | 0 | $781K | |
| 2011-04-28 | TornadoErin, Chemung County | EF2 0.86 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $754K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 2, 1983 (tornado, Chemung 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 Chemung 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 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 34 | 37 | 55 | 47 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 15 | 31 | 14 | 13 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 26 | 27 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 24 | 25 | 6 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 5 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
56% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 35 · Feb 21 · Mar 24 · Apr 21 · May 56 · Jun 71 · Jul 97 · Aug 49 · Sep 38 · Oct 9 · Nov 17 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Chemung County
FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Chemung County: 12 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (6) and severe storm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-20 | DR-4480 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3434 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-10-01 | DR-4397 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3351 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-09-13 | DR-4031 | Severe Storm | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011-09-08 | EM-3341 | Severe Storm | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011-06-10 | DR-1993 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2005-09-30 | EM-3262 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-08-03 | DR-1534 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-08-29 | DR-1486 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2003-08-23 | EM-3186 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2001-09-11 | DR-1391 | Fire | Fires and Explosions |
| 2000-10-11 | EM-3155 | Other | West Nile Virus |
| 1996-12-09 | DR-1148 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms High Winds, Rain and Flooding |
| 1996-01-24 | DR-1095 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3107 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1976-06-29 | DR-512 | Flood | Flash Flooding |
| 1975-10-02 | DR-487 | Flood | Storms, Rains, Landslides & Flooding |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-338 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
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 Chemung County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 61 flood or flash flood records for Chemung County from 1996 to 2024, on 41 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Chemung County ranks 743rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Lee | 2011-09-07 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.6 million on 304 claims filed in Chemung County; the most in one year was 98 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 10 · 1979: 25 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 7 · 1983: 6 · 1984: 24 · 1986: 2 · 1990: 1 · 1992: 2 · 1993: 12 · 1994: 24 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 98 · 2003: 4 · 2004: 7 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 2 · 2011: 37 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2018: 26 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 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 Chemung County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Chemung County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $18.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $312K | 31 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $14M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $413K | once in about 32 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $4K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $480K | 3.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.4M | once in about 10 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $78K | 0.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $393K | 1.5 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 Chemung 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 New YorkEvery New York tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in New YorkThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The New York recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Chemung CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Chemung County's FEMA declarations (CSV)19 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis