Dickenson County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51051 · population 14,122 · 330 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 367 records for Dickenson County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 299 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (89 records). The deadliest single record is the May 16, 2023 thunderstorm wind: 1 death. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1977, 19 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
- 367on 299 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 11 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $12Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 2strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Dickenson County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 89 since 1996. 62% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 89 | 89 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5.6M | 39 of 96 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 87 | 57 | 1982-2026 | 1 | 0 | $563K | 88 of 96 |
| Floods | 63 | 46 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | 34 of 96 |
| Hail | 43 | 29 | 1981-2019 | 0 | 0 | $42K | 48 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 27 | 27 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $105K | 22 of 96 |
| Drought | 17 | 17 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 96 |
| Heat | 15 | 15 | 1997-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 14 | 14 | 2001-2025 | 0 | 1 | $81K | 46 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 10 | 10 | 1996-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 53 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 1974-2009 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 83 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 Dickenson County had?
NOAA records 2 tornadoes in Dickenson County from 1974 to 2009, the strongest rated F1, 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 2 tornadoes whose track touched Dickenson County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 2, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Dickenson County (2)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-05-08 | Isom, Dickenson County | EF0 0.58 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 1974-04-04 | Dickenson County | F1 7.3 mi x 17 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 Dickenson County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 20, 2026 thunderstorm wind.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter WeatherDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-20 | Thunderstorm WindDarwin, Dickenson County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $200 |
| 2026-02-20 | Thunderstorm WindBartlick, Dickenson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-27 | Cold/Wind ChillDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-29 | Strong WindDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindVicey, Dickenson County A tree fell down onto an occuipied vehicle on Welcome Lane near the town of Vicey. The occupant of the car, a sixty-five year old man, died as a result. | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-16 | Strong WindDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson A tree fell onto a truck on Herndon Lane near Dante Mountain Road outside of Clintwood. One person inside the car at the time of the fallen tree sustained minor injuries. | 35 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $2K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-12-18 | Heavy SnowDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | |
| 2012-10-29 | Heavy SnowDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | $964K | |
| 2001-08-13 | Flash FloodClintwood, Dickenson County | 0 | 0 | $750K | |
| 2001-07-26 | Flash FloodCountywide, Dickenson County | 0 | 0 | $500K | |
| 1997-07-28 | Flash FloodCounts, Dickenson County | 0 | 0 | $460K | |
| 2002-03-17 | FloodDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | $410K | |
| 2003-02-15 | FloodDickenson County · forecast zone Dickenson | 0 | 0 | $401K | |
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindHaysi, Dickenson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $257K |
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: April 4, 1974 (tornado, Dickenson 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 Dickenson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 18 | 16 | 29 | 26 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 23 | 39 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 18 | 9 | 30 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 22 | 0 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 4 | 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?
62% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 47 · Feb 53 · Mar 23 · Apr 33 · May 61 · Jun 35 · Jul 28 · Aug 19 · Sep 11 · Oct 14 · Nov 16 · Dec 27 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Dickenson County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Dickenson County: 13 major disasters, 7 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for severe storm (6) and snowstorm (4).
| 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 |
| 2024-10-01 | DR-4831 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2024-09-29 | EM-3621 | Tropical Storm | Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4512 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3448 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-09-11 | EM-3403 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2010-02-16 | DR-1874 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2006-07-13 | DR-1655 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-03-27 | DR-1458 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and Mudslide |
| 2002-04-02 | DR-1406 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-11-16 | FM-2390 | Fire | Va - Far Southwest Fire Complex - 11/16/2001 |
| 2001-07-12 | DR-1386 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1318 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 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 |
| 1984-05-23 | DR-707 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-04-07 | DR-530 | Flood | 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 Dickenson County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 63 flood or flash flood records for Dickenson County from 1996 to 2025, on 46 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Dickenson County ranks 1218th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $514,000 on 118 claims filed in Dickenson County; the most in one year was 56 in 1984. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 4 · 1979: 2 · 1980: 2 · 1982: 10 · 1984: 56 · 1987: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 2 · 1994: 3 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 9 · 1999: 1 · 2002: 8 · 2003: 7 · 2004: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2025: 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 Dickenson County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Dickenson County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.0 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 | $72K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $543K | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $436K | once in about 82 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $461K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.3M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $2K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $26K | once in about 43 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $87K | once in about 642 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Dickenson 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
- Winter storms in VirginiaThe state's winter storm records, 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 Dickenson CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Dickenson County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis