Hampshire County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54027 · population 23,087 · 640 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 732 records for Hampshire County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 576 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (212 records). 400 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 April 10, 1997 frost/freeze ($5.5 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1967, 17 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
- 732on 576 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 06 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $17Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 19latest 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 Hampshire County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 212 since 1996. 59% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 212 | 207 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $22K | 15 of 53 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 200 | 121 | 1986-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.6M | 35 of 53 |
| Floods | 78 | 57 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $5.2M | 42 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 56 | 55 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | 21 of 53 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 51 | 50 | 2005-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 53 |
| Hail | 48 | 31 | 1991-2025 | 0 | 0 | $120K | 48 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 33 | 32 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $728K | 42 of 53 |
| Heat | 27 | 27 | 1999-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 53 |
| Drought | 11 | 11 | 1997-1999 | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | 49 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 9 | 9 | 1999-2004 | 0 | 0 | – | 40 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 2 | 1998-2022 | 0 | 5 | $791K | 35 of 53 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2003-2024 | 0 | 0 | $3K | 15 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 Hampshire County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Hampshire County from 1998 to 2022, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 5 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 4 tornadoes whose track touched Hampshire County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, 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 Hampshire County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-12 | Rio, Hampshire County | EF0 0.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $101K |
| 2022-07-12 | Glebe, Hampshire County | EF0 0.38 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $202K |
| 1998-06-02 | Junction, Hampshire County | F1 5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 5 | $272K |
| 1998-06-02 | Donaldson, Hampshire County | F1 8 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $217K |
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 Hampshire County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindBloomer, Hampshire County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindLevels, Hampshire County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindRomney, Hampshire County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-02 | Winter WeatherHampshire County · forecast zone Hampshire | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillHampshire County · forecast zone Hampshire | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillHampshire County · forecast zone Hampshire | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormHampshire County · forecast zone Hampshire | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillHampshire County · forecast zone Hampshire | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-19 | Cold/Wind ChillHampshire County · forecast zone Hampshire | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | Winter WeatherHampshire County · forecast zone Hampshire | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-26 | Winter WeatherHampshire County · forecast zone Hampshire | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-02 | Winter WeatherHampshire County · forecast zone Hampshire | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-06-02 | TornadoJunction, Hampshire County The combination of an upper-level disturbance, increasing atmospheric shear, and ample instability set the stage for a major severe weather episode across portions of eastern West Virginia during the late afternoon and evening. The episode was highlighted by supercell thunderstorms which produced two multi-county ... | F1 5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 5 | $272K |
| 1993-09-02 | Thunderstorm WindRomney, Hampshire County Golfball-size hail fell in Romney. Winds were estimated at over 60 mph. Numerous trees were uprooted along Sand Hill and Jersey Mountain Roads, which are county routes 50/6 and 5. | 0 | 1 | $112K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-04-10 | Frost/FreezeHampshire County · forecast zone Hampshire | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | |
| 1996-09-06 | FloodHampshire County · forecast zone Hampshire | 0 | 0 | $4.2M | |
| 1996-09-06 | Flash FloodCountywide, Hampshire County | 0 | 0 | $753K | |
| 2022-07-12 | Thunderstorm WindCamp Wickham, Hampshire County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $303K |
| 1998-06-02 | TornadoJunction, Hampshire County | F1 5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 5 | $272K |
| 2022-07-12 | Thunderstorm WindCapon Spgs, Hampshire County | 75 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $252K |
| 1998-06-02 | TornadoDonaldson, Hampshire County | F1 8 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $217K |
| 2022-07-12 | TornadoGlebe, Hampshire County | EF0 0.38 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $202K |
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 Hampshire 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 | – | – | – | – | 20 | 57 | 92 | 43 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 37 | 63 | 84 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 27 | 29 | 15 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 16 | 27 | 11 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | – | – | – | – | 0 | 8 | 31 z | 12 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 17 | 16 | 4 |
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds in the 2010s: 31 records against 8 in the decade before, 31 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 Hampshire 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?
59% 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 89 · Feb 80 · Mar 52 · Apr 55 · May 54 · Jun 120 · Jul 86 · Aug 47 · Sep 38 · Oct 34 · Nov 14 · Dec 63 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Hampshire County
FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Hampshire County: 11 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (4) and flood (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3639 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4517 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3450 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-07-12 | DR-4378 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3358 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-06-30 | EM-3345 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2010-04-23 | DR-1903 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3221 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-09-23 | DR-1496 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1455 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides |
| 1996-09-11 | DR-1137 | Severe Storm | Hurricane Fran and Associated Heavy Rains,Flooding Highwind |
| 1996-01-25 | DR-1096 | Flood | Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1977-08-24 | EM-3051 | Drought | Drought |
| 1977-01-19 | EM-3021 | Drought | Drought |
| 1972-07-03 | DR-344 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
| 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 Hampshire County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 78 flood or flash flood records for Hampshire County from 1996 to 2025, on 57 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Hampshire County ranks 811th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Fran | 1996-09-06 | 2 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.2 million on 261 claims filed in Hampshire County; the most in one year was 182 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1981: 1 · 1985: 28 · 1988: 1 · 1993: 4 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 182 · 2003: 29 · 2006: 1 · 2011: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2025: 2; 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 Hampshire County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hampshire County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.4 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 | $46K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $328K | once in about 23 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $8.6M | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $229K | 3.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $389K | 4 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $40K | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $2K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $55K | once in about 1,120 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Hampshire 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
- Winter storms in West VirginiaThe state's winter storm records, 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 Hampshire CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Hampshire County's FEMA declarations (CSV)19 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis