Cumberland County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51049 · population 9,675 · 297 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 268 records for Cumberland County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 232 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (100 records). The most damaging was the October 1, 1998 drought ($9.6 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1969, 21 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 23, 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
- 268on 232 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 00 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $17Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 2strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 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 Cumberland County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 100 since 1989. 50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1989 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among 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 | 100 | 77 | 1989-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 66 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 94 | 94 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $184K | 32 of 96 |
| Hail | 25 | 22 | 1978-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 62 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 21 | 21 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 96 |
| Floods | 11 | 10 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 92 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 2003-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 51 of 96 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 of 96 |
| Drought | 3 | 3 | 1997-1998 | 0 | 0 | $15M | 56 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 0 | $6K | 80 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 1977-2011 | 0 | 0 | $174K | 79 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | $484K | 53 of 96 |
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 Cumberland County had?
NOAA records 2 tornadoes in Cumberland County from 1977 to 2011, the strongest rated EF1, 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Cumberland County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 2: 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 Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Cumberland County (2)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 | Kimberley Hills, Cumberland County | EF1 4.32 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $52K |
| 1977-07-12 | Cumberland County | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Cumberland County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($4,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindCumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindCumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-07-09 | Thunderstorm WindKimberley Hills, Cumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-24 | Excessive HeatCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindCumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindCumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindCumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindCumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindKimberley Hills, Cumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-04-14 | Thunderstorm WindCumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-02-16 | Strong WindCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 39 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-02-11 | Winter StormCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | $50K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-10-01 | DroughtCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | $9.6M | |
| 1997-09-01 | DroughtCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | $3.3M | |
| 1993-08-20 | Thunderstorm WindCumberland County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 2003-09-18 | Tropical StormCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | $484K | |
| 2022-04-26 | Thunderstorm WindCartersville, Cumberland County | 72 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $151K |
| 2025-04-14 | Thunderstorm WindCumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 12, 1977 (tornado, Cumberland 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 Cumberland 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 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 20 | 34 | 34 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 14 | 34 | 35 | 11 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 3 | 4 | 9 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
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 1989 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 46 · Feb 31 · Mar 15 · Apr 25 · May 24 · Jun 32 · Jul 28 · Aug 22 · Sep 12 · Oct 9 · Nov 7 · Dec 17 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Cumberland County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Cumberland County: 15 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) and severe storm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3631 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-04 | DR-4863 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2022-03-11 | DR-4644 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2021-05-10 | DR-4602 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4512 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3448 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-12-18 | DR-4411 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| 2018-09-11 | EM-3403 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-07-27 | DR-4072 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-09-18 | DR-1491 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 2002-05-05 | DR-1411 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1318 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1996-09-06 | DR-1135 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm Cond |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1086 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1994-03-10 | DR-1014 | Snowstorm | Severe Ice Storms, Flooding |
| 1993-03-25 | EM-3112 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1977-07-23 | EM-3046 | Drought | Drought |
| 1976-10-15 | EM-3018 | Drought | Drought |
| 1972-10-10 | DR-359 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-339 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
| 1969-08-23 | DR-274 | Hurricane | Severe Storms & 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 Cumberland County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 11 flood or flash flood records for Cumberland County from 1996 to 2024, on 10 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Cumberland County ranks 2321st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Isabel | 2003-09-18 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $302,000 on 11 claims filed in Cumberland County; the most in one year was 7 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1996: 7 · 2020: 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 Cumberland County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cumberland County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively High | $2.4M | 8.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $555K | once in about 12 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $331K | once in about 340 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $22K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $110K | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $186 | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $53K | 3.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Very Low | $50K | 41 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 Cumberland 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 VirginiaEvery Virginia tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in VirginiaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Virginia recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Cumberland CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Cumberland County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis