Gilmer County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54021 · population 7,406 · 339 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 350 records for Gilmer County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 300 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (89 records). 177 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The most damaging was the June 4, 2008 flood ($1.2 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 25 declarations naming the county since 1967, 23 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 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
- 350on 300 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 01 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $9.3Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest F0
- FEMA declarations
- 25latest 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 Gilmer County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 89 since 1980. 58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1980 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among West 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 | 89 | 64 | 1980-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.6M | 34 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 70 | 69 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $835K | 30 of 53 |
| Floods | 59 | 55 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $6.5M | 17 of 53 |
| Hail | 33 | 27 | 1967-2022 | 0 | 0 | $39K | 34 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 32 | 32 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $56K | 16 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 23 | 23 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $129K | 24 of 53 |
| Heat | 19 | 19 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 53 |
| Drought | 18 | 18 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 6 | 1997-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1975-1975 | 0 | 0 | $137K | 37 of 53 |
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 Gilmer County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Gilmer County from 1975 to 1975, the strongest rated F0, 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 1 tornado whose track touched Gilmer County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in West Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Gilmer County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975-06-19 | Gilmer County | F0 | 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 Gilmer County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindTruebada, Gilmer County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindTruebada, Gilmer County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindGlenville, Gilmer County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-28 | FloodGlenville, Gilmer County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-27 | Flash FloodGlenville, Gilmer County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | Flash FloodCedarville, Gilmer County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | Flash FloodNormantown, Gilmer County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Heavy SnowGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 36 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-03-04 | FloodCoxs Mills, Gilmer County | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Gilmer County Trees were down in scattered locations through the county. | 0 | 1 | $18K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-06-04 | FloodGilmer County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2000-02-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Gilmer County | 0 | 0 | $857K | |
| 2003-02-16 | Ice StormGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | $802K | |
| 2000-02-19 | FloodGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | $686K | |
| 2003-11-19 | FloodGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | $642K | |
| 2003-05-10 | FloodGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | $481K | |
| 2005-08-29 | Flash FloodCountywide, Gilmer County | 0 | 0 | $302K | |
| 2017-03-01 | Thunderstorm WindGlenville, Gilmer County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $48K |
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: June 19, 1975 (tornado, Gilmer 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 Gilmer 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 | 4 | 11 | 17 | 20 | 37 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 13 | 22 | 29 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 11 | 18 | 13 | 17 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 10 | 1 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 12 | 6 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1980 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 50 · Feb 46 · Mar 32 · Apr 28 · May 34 · Jun 54 · Jul 33 · Aug 14 · Sep 15 · Oct 9 · Nov 12 · Dec 23 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Gilmer County
FEMA's register lists 25 declarations that include Gilmer County: 19 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and flood (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3639 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-05-24 | DR-4787 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4517 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3450 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016-06-25 | DR-4273 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-18 | DR-4220 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-03-31 | DR-4210 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3358 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-07-23 | DR-4071 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012-06-30 | EM-3345 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2009-05-15 | DR-1838 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2008-06-19 | DR-1769 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and |
| 2007-05-01 | DR-1696 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3221 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-06-07 | DR-1522 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-11-21 | DR-1500 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1455 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1319 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides |
| 1998-07-01 | DR-1229 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1997-03-07 | DR-1168 | Flood | Heavy & Wind Driven Rain, High Winds,Flooding,Slides |
| 1996-08-14 | DR-1132 | Fire | Heavy Rains, High Winds, Flooding, and Slides |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1084 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3109 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1985-11-07 | DR-753 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1967-03-13 | DR-224 | Flood | 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 Gilmer County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 59 flood or flash flood records for Gilmer County from 1996 to 2026, on 55 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Gilmer County ranks 548th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Katrina | 2005-08-29 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $5.2 million on 455 claims filed in Gilmer County; the most in one year was 68 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 25 · 1981: 2 · 1985: 59 · 1989: 42 · 1990: 7 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 1 · 1994: 34 · 1996: 12 · 1997: 38 · 1998: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 60 · 2002: 13 · 2003: 68 · 2004: 2 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 68 · 2009: 14 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2018: 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 Gilmer County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Gilmer County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.9 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 | $62K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.4M | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $40K | once in about 49 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $10K | 6.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $33 | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $27K | once in about 1,333 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Very Low | $64K | 47 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $38K | 2.6 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Gilmer 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 West VirginiaEvery West Virginia tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in West VirginiaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The West Virginia recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Gilmer CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Gilmer County's FEMA declarations (CSV)25 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis