Genesee County, New York
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36037 · population 58,382 · 493 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 450 records for Genesee County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 347 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (159 records). The deadliest single record is the August 10, 2016 lightning: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 25 declarations naming the county since 1973, 21 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm” on March 15, 2023.
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
- 450on 347 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 73 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $46Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 6strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 25latest 2023
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 Genesee County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 159 since 1961. 42% 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 | 159 | 102 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | 39 of 58 |
| Winter storms | 108 | 106 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 1 | $15M | 29 of 58 |
| High wind and dust storms | 72 | 70 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 2 | $6.6M | 14 of 58 |
| Floods | 38 | 27 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $4.3M | 42 of 58 |
| Hail | 28 | 23 | 1974-2022 | 0 | 0 | $14M | 44 of 58 |
| Extreme cold | 27 | 25 | 2008-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 58 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 6 | 1993-2024 | 2 | 0 | $3.8M | 27 of 58 |
| Drought | 5 | 5 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 58 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 2011-2017 | 2 | 0 | $148K | 28 of 58 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 2 | 2020-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 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 Genesee County had?
NOAA records 6 tornadoes in Genesee County from 1993 to 2024, the strongest rated EF1, with 2 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 27th 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 Genesee County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 6, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-09-03 11:15, as SPC files it | Batavia | F1 | 4.2 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.
Every tornado record filed for Genesee County (6)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-09 | Indian Falls, Genesee County | EF0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-07-15 | Pavilion, Genesee County | EF0 0.75 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-07-10 | West Batavia, Genesee County | EF0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-04-25 | Alexander, Genesee County | EF0 0.75 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2009-07-25 | Fargo, Genesee County | EF1 4.12 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.8M |
| 1993-09-03 | Batavia, Genesee County | F1 4.2 mi x 65 yd | 2 | 0 | $1.0M |
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 Genesee County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 19, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-12 | Frost/FreezeGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-09 | Thunderstorm WindByron, Genesee County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-09 | Thunderstorm WindBatavia, Genesee County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-09 | Thunderstorm WindOakfield, Genesee County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-03 | Frost/FreezeGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-03 | Winter WeatherGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-21 | Winter WeatherGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-19 | Winter StormGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-14 | Winter StormGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-09 | High WindGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 59 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-08-10 | LightningBatavia, Genesee County Thunderstorms moved across western New York during the early morning hours of the 10th. During the afternoon of that day, two people were found dead in a Batavia cemetery. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death of the 34-year-old male and 32-year-old female was a lighting strike from the earlier ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 1993-09-03 | TornadoBatavia, Genesee County A tornado touched down in a corn field in Batavia and moved northeast. The tornado tore the roof off a home and destroyed the attached garage. The roof was carried about 0.25 mile. As the tornado crossed Route 5, it lifted a delivery van into the air and dropped it onto an oncoming tractor trailer. Both drivers were ... | F1 4.2 mi x 65 yd | 2 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2014-11-17 | Lake-Effect SnowGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee The epic November 17-19th 2014 lake effect event will be remembered as one of the most significant winter events in Buffalo’s snowy history. Over 5 feet of snow fell over areas just east of Buffalo, with mere inches a few miles away to the north. There were 13 fatalities with this storm, hundreds of major roof ... | 1 | 1 | $355K | |
| 2022-12-23 | BlizzardGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee A historic lake effect blizzard occurred northeast of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario during the Christmas holiday weekend. The combination of high winds in excess of 70 mph and heavy lake effect snow resulted in devastating impacts across western New York and also east of Lake Ontario from December 23 through December 27. ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2022-03-06 | High WindGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee A 61 year old man was killed when a tree fell on him in Bergen at approximately 2 PM. | 51 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2017-03-08 | High WindGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee Unusually deep low pressure moved from northwest Ontario across Hudson Bay. The low brought strong winds to the entire region with sustained winds up to 49 mph and wind gusts as high as 81 mph. A significant amount of damage resulted with hundreds of thousands left without power – over 100,000 in Monroe County alone. ... | 43 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $602K |
| 1997-02-27 | High WindGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee Deep low pressure moved from Indiana to Ontario bringing high winds to the area. The strong winds downed trees and telephone and power lines. Power outages were reported throughout the area. Several cities and towns declared States of Emergency because of the prolonged lack of power. Windows were blown out of ... | 0 | 1 | $184K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-06-16 | HailByron, Genesee County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $4.7M |
| 2006-10-12 | Lake-Effect SnowGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 0 | 0 | $4.4M | |
| 2009-07-25 | TornadoFargo, Genesee County | EF1 4.12 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.8M |
| 2002-01-31 | Ice StormGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2003-04-04 | Ice StormGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 1993-09-03 | TornadoBatavia, Genesee County | F1 4.2 mi x 65 yd | 2 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1998-06-26 | Flash FloodByron, Genesee County | 0 | 0 | $905K | |
| 2005-11-17 | Heavy SnowGenesee County · forecast zone Genesee | 0 | 0 | $756K |
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 Genesee 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 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 27 | 31 | 46 | 34 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 17 | 30 | 38 | 23 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 21 | 27 | 18 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 17 | 8 | 10 | 3 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 5 | 16 z | 6 |
Extreme cold in the 2010s: 16 records against 5 in the decade before, 16 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Genesee County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
42% 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 69 · Feb 29 · Mar 37 · Apr 24 · May 42 · Jun 41 · Jul 63 · Aug 30 · Sep 25 · Oct 22 · Nov 25 · Dec 43 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Genesee County
FEMA's register lists 25 declarations that include Genesee County: 13 major disasters, 12 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for snowstorm (10) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-03-15 | DR-4694 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2022-12-26 | EM-3590 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2022-11-20 | EM-3589 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2020-03-20 | DR-4480 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3434 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014-12-22 | DR-4204 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3351 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2006-10-24 | DR-1665 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-10-15 | EM-3268 | Snowstorm | Lake Effect Snowstorm |
| 2005-09-30 | EM-3262 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-08-03 | DR-1534 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-08-23 | EM-3186 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2003-05-12 | DR-1467 | Severe Ice Storm | Ice Storm |
| 2001-12-31 | EM-3170 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2001-09-11 | DR-1391 | Fire | Fires and Explosions |
| 2000-10-11 | EM-3155 | Other | West Nile Virus |
| 1999-01-15 | EM-3136 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1998-07-07 | DR-1233 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1998-01-06 | DR-1196 | Snowstorm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3107 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1991-03-21 | DR-898 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1977-02-05 | DR-527 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1977-01-29 | EM-3027 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1976-03-19 | DR-494 | Severe Ice Storm | Ice Storm,Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-03-21 | DR-367 | Flood | High Winds, Wave Action & 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 Genesee County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 38 flood or flash flood records for Genesee County from 1996 to 2024, on 27 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Genesee County ranks 1144th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.9 million on 137 claims filed in Genesee County; the most in one year was 35 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 5 · 1979: 11 · 1980: 1 · 1982: 2 · 1984: 2 · 1985: 10 · 1986: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1996: 7 · 1998: 35 · 1999: 1 · 2007: 8 · 2008: 6 · 2009: 8 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 2 · 2012: 6 · 2013: 3 · 2017: 15 · 2018: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2026: 7; 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 Genesee County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Genesee County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $19.1 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 High | $985K | 29 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $287K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $664K | 1.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $826K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $14M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $417K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $258K | once in about 37 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $604K | 3 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 Genesee 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 Genesee CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Genesee County's FEMA declarations (CSV)25 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis