Delaware County, New York
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36025 · population 44,102 · 1,443 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 759 records for Delaware County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 449 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (324 records). The deadliest single record is the January 19, 1996 flash flood: 6 deaths and $17.5 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 39 declarations naming the county since 1965, 35 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby” on September 24, 2024.
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
- 759on 449 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 169 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $555Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 11strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 39latest 2024
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 Delaware County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 324 since 1962. 53% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 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 | 324 | 183 | 1962-2026 | 1 | 1 | $2.9M | 51 of 58 |
| Floods | 137 | 69 | 1996-2025 | 15 | 3 | $544M | 49 of 58 |
| Winter storms | 123 | 123 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 56 of 58 |
| Hail | 108 | 53 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $157K | 50 of 58 |
| High wind and dust storms | 22 | 22 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 4 | $1.1M | 57 of 58 |
| Extreme cold | 18 | 17 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $48K | 54 of 58 |
| Tornadoes | 11 | 10 | 1986-2023 | 0 | 1 | $4.6M | 42 of 58 |
| Drought | 5 | 5 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 of 58 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2001-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 43 of 58 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 2002-2020 | 0 | 0 | $204K | 48 of 58 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2000-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 51 of 58 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 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 Delaware County had?
NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Delaware County from 1986 to 2023, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 1 injury 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Delaware County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-31 15:30, as SPC files it | Binghamton | F3 | 62 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.
Every tornado record filed for Delaware County (11)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-12 | Fishs Eddy, Delaware County | EF0 3.66 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2022-09-25 | Beerston, Delaware County | EF1 2.29 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $86K |
| 2013-04-19 | Masonville, Delaware County | EF0 1.21 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $38K |
| 2004-05-24 | Deposit, Delaware County | F1 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $78K |
| 2002-05-31 | Lordville, Delaware County | F1 1 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $16K |
| 1998-06-26 | Colchester, Delaware County | F1 3.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $453K |
| 1998-05-31 | Deposit, Delaware County | F3 30 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
| 1998-05-31 | Davenport, Delaware County | F0 3 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $272K |
| 1990-06-21 | Delaware County | F1 0.7 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1990-06-09 | Delaware County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1986-10-01 | Delaware County | F2 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K 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 Delaware County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 30, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindDownsville, Delaware County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindColchester, Delaware County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindAndes, Delaware County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindMeredith, Delaware County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindNorth Franklin, Delaware County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindColchester, Delaware County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-06 | HailDeposit, Delaware County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-15 | Thunderstorm WindRoxbury, Delaware County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindDownsville, Delaware County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-03-31 | HailWalton, Delaware County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindDeposit, Delaware County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-02-08 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillDelaware County · forecast zone Delaware | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-01-19 | Flash FloodCountywide, Delaware County | 6 | 0 | $17M | |
| 2007-06-19 | Flash FloodColchester, Delaware County A catastrophic flash flood occurred the evening of June 19th. The area along the border of Delaware and Sullivan Counties received between 8 and 11 inches of rain in 2 to 3 hours. The water washed out one bridge, damaged several other bridges and roads, destroyed all land-line and cellular communications and ripped ... | 4 | 0 | $43M | |
| 2003-10-29 | FloodDelaware County · forecast zone Delaware The West Branch of the Delaware River in the town on Delhi went over its banks. About two miles upstream of the village of Delhi the river came onto Back River Road, also known as County Route 18. Just after 6 PM, a 43 year old woman and mother of two drove into the flooded section of the road. Her car was swept into ... | 2 | 1 | $80K | |
| 2006-06-27 | Flash FloodCountywide, Delaware County Tropical moisture continued to stream northward into upstate New York ahead of a frontal system which slowly moved westward into the eastern Great Lakes by Tuesday morning the 27th. This tropical moisture developed a batch of heavy showers and thunderstorms across much of upstate New York late Monday evening the 26th ... | 2 | 0 | $366M | |
| 2024-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindHorton, Delaware County A severe microburst with estimated wind speeds of up to 90 mph, occurred just northwest to north of Cooks Falls, NY near the southeastern edge of Delaware County. There was sporadic damage spread across southern Delaware County from the severe thunderstorm that tracked through the area late in the morning. However, ... | 78 kt wind | 1 | 1 | $108K |
| 2011-08-28 | Flash FloodFleischmanns, Delaware County Catastrophic flash flooding occurred through the town of Fleischmanns. Homes were washed off foundations, slamming into other homes. Over 200 people were evacuated before the flash flood hit. Some people who did not evacuate had to be rescued. One woman was killed when the building she was in collapsed due to the ... | 1 | 0 | $6.6M | |
| 1996-01-27 | High WindDelaware County · forecast zone Delaware A spring-like storm system moved toward the Great Lakes, bringing mild air and strong winds to central New York. There were many reports of downed trees and wires, as winds gusted over 60 MPH. Four people were injured in Grand Gorge (Delaware County), when their mobile home was overturned by high winds. Peak wind ... | 0 | 4 | $47K | |
| 1996-11-09 | Flash FloodCountywide, Delaware County | 0 | 2 | $941K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-06-27 | Flash FloodCountywide, Delaware County | 2 | 0 | $366M | |
| 2007-06-19 | Flash FloodColchester, Delaware County | 4 | 0 | $43M | |
| 2004-09-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Delaware County | 0 | 0 | $19M | |
| 1996-01-19 | Flash FloodCountywide, Delaware County | 6 | 0 | $17M | |
| 2006-06-27 | FloodWalton, Delaware County | 0 | 0 | $15M | |
| 2008-07-23 | Flash FloodColchester, Delaware County | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 2006-06-27 | FloodDelhi, Delaware County | 0 | 0 | $7.3M | |
| 2011-08-28 | Flash FloodFleischmanns, Delaware County | 1 | 0 | $6.6M |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: October 1, 1986 (tornado, Delaware County); June 9, 1990 (tornado, Delaware County); June 21, 1990 (tornado, Delaware 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 Delaware 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 | 5 | 3 | 21 | 63 | 62 | 69 | 101 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 11 | 58 | 37 | 31 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 22 | 52 | 27 | 22 |
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 60 | 26 | 13 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 5 | 10 | 0 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
53% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 56 · Feb 36 · Mar 49 · Apr 32 · May 92 · Jun 157 · Jul 119 · Aug 74 · Sep 45 · Oct 27 · Nov 25 · Dec 47 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Delaware County
FEMA's register lists 39 declarations that include Delaware County: 27 major disasters, 12 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (15) and flood (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-24 | DR-4825 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2021-08-22 | EM-3565 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri |
| 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 |
| 2017-07-12 | DR-4322 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2014-07-08 | DR-4180 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2013-07-12 | DR-4129 | 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 |
| 2011-08-31 | DR-4020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-26 | EM-3328 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-06-10 | DR-1993 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2009-03-04 | DR-1827 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-12-18 | EM-3299 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2007-07-02 | DR-1710 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-12-12 | DR-1670 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-07-01 | DR-1650 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-30 | EM-3262 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-04-19 | DR-1589 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-10-01 | DR-1564 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-10-01 | DR-1565 | Severe Storm | Tropical Depression Ivan |
| 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 |
| 2003-03-27 | EM-3184 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2003-02-25 | EM-3173 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 2001-09-11 | DR-1391 | Fire | Fires and Explosions |
| 2000-10-11 | EM-3155 | Other | West Nile Virus |
| 1998-07-07 | DR-1233 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-12-09 | DR-1148 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms High Winds, Rain and Flooding |
| 1996-01-24 | DR-1095 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-01-12 | DR-1083 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3107 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1987-05-15 | DR-792 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1973-07-20 | DR-401 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1970-07-22 | DR-290 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1965-08-18 | DR-204 | Drought | Water Shortage |
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 Delaware County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 137 flood or flash flood records for Delaware County from 1996 to 2025, on 69 days, with 15 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Delaware County ranks 275th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-28 | 3 | 1 |
| Tropical Storm Lee | 2011-09-07 | 3 | 0 |
| Tropical Depression Ivan | 2004-09-18 | 4 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $39.6 million on 1,291 claims filed in Delaware County; the most in one year was 445 in 2006. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 5 · 1979: 17 · 1980: 5 · 1981: 13 · 1982: 9 · 1983: 5 · 1984: 1 · 1985: 4 · 1986: 11 · 1987: 8 · 1989: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 2 · 1993: 2 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 157 · 1998: 2 · 1999: 3 · 2000: 5 · 2001: 2 · 2003: 6 · 2004: 67 · 2005: 85 · 2006: 445 · 2007: 2 · 2008: 6 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 18 · 2011: 369 · 2012: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 1 · 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 Delaware County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Delaware County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $35.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $31M | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $40K | 2.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $102K | 20 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.5M | 5 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $902K | once in about 36 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $410K | 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 Delaware 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 Delaware CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Delaware County's FEMA declarations (CSV)39 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis