Jackson County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54035 · population 27,774 · 464 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 489 records for Jackson County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 374 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (142 records). The deadliest single record is the December 6, 2014 heavy rain: 5 deaths, 2 injuries and $37,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 25 declarations naming the county since 1967, 22 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
- 489on 374 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 717 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $28Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest EF1
- 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 Jackson County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 142 since 1967. 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 | 142 | 99 | 1967-2026 | 0 | 11 | $5.6M | 28 of 53 |
| Floods | 79 | 69 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 2 | $14M | 24 of 53 |
| Hail | 77 | 51 | 1975-2026 | 0 | 0 | $229K | 14 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 72 | 72 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5.7M | 41 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 31 | 31 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $56K | 28 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 28 | 28 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $202K | 32 of 53 |
| Drought | 23 | 23 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 53 |
| Heat | 20 | 20 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 11 | 11 | 1998-2014 | 5 | 2 | $40K | 20 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 1963-2016 | 0 | 2 | $2.5M | 25 of 53 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 1997-2018 | 0 | 0 | $49K | 19 of 53 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2001-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 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 Jackson County had?
NOAA records 3 tornadoes in Jackson County from 1963 to 2016, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries recorded in the county. That is 25th of 53 West Virginia 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Jackson County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 3, 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 Jackson County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-23 | Kenna, Jackson County | EF1 0.06 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K |
| 2015-06-26 | Ripley, Jackson County | EF0 1.35 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $31K |
| 1963-07-19 | Jackson County | F1 2 mi x 33 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 Jackson County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 27, 2026 thunderstorm wind.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindKenna, Jackson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindRipley, Jackson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindPleasant, Jackson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindMt Alto, Jackson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-27 | FloodParchment Vly, Jackson County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindStatts Mills, Jackson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindAngerona, Jackson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindEvans, Jackson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindFair Plain, Jackson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindEvans, Jackson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindMt Alto, Jackson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtJackson County · forecast zone Jackson | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-12-06 | Heavy RainHemlock, Jackson County A SUV traveling northbound on Interstate 77 lost control on wet pavement and veered into the median. This occurred at mile marker 143 between Ripley and Ravenswood. The vehicle crashed through a cable median and into the southbound traffic. A pickup truck traveling south hit the broadside of the SUV causing it to ... | 5 | 2 | $37K | |
| 2016-06-23 | Flash FloodMillwood, Jackson County Flash flooding occurred in scattered locations, mostly in the northern half of the county. In Ravenswood, a small stream along Utah Road called Lick Run is usually ankle deep. It rose 6 feet. A 4 year old toddler slipped into the water. The grandfather jumped in, but could not rescue him. His body was found the ... | 1 | 0 | $615K | |
| 2011-04-16 | Flash FloodGiven, Jackson County Streams overflowed onto the usual low spots. Shortly after 0900E, a 79 year old man was heading back home after a church pancake breakfast. He was traveling down Copper Fork Road near Sandyville which is also Route 33/8. Water from Copper Fork had come out of the banks in an area considered a low water crossing. The ... | 1 | 0 | $26K | |
| 1991-04-09 | Thunderstorm WindJackson County | 0 | 10 | – | |
| 2016-06-23 | TornadoKenna, Jackson County A single wide trailer was lifted off the ground and rolled upside down before settling on its side. Two residents were inside the structure at the time of the tornado. Minor injuries were sustained. Additional tree damage was observed in the vicinity of the trailer. A few large trees were uprooted and several large ... | EF1 0.06 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K |
| 1997-03-01 | Flash FloodCountywide, Jackson County | 0 | 2 | $368K | |
| 1987-07-16 | Thunderstorm WindJackson County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-02-16 | Ice StormJackson County · forecast zone Jackson | 0 | 0 | $5.6M | |
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindRavenswood, Jackson County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3.2M |
| 2022-08-10 | Flash FloodEvans, Jackson County | 0 | 0 | $908K | |
| 2004-05-27 | Flash FloodCountywide, Jackson County | 0 | 0 | $625K | |
| 2016-06-23 | Flash FloodMillwood, Jackson County | 1 | 0 | $615K | |
| 1997-03-02 | FloodJackson County · forecast zone Jackson | 0 | 0 | $552K | |
| 2000-02-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Jackson County | 0 | 0 | $514K | |
| 2015-06-26 | Flash FloodRipley, Jackson County | 0 | 0 | $436K |
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: July 19, 1963 (tornado, Jackson 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 Jackson 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 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 33 | 35 | 40 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 11 | 21 | 22 | 25 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 24 | 30 | 9 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 10 | 24 | 32 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 11 | 6 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 11 | 6 | 10 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Jackson County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 51 · Feb 60 · Mar 49 · Apr 40 · May 53 · Jun 78 · Jul 43 · Aug 37 · Sep 22 · Oct 17 · Nov 17 · Dec 22 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Jackson County
FEMA's register lists 25 declarations that include Jackson County: 18 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and flood (8).
| 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 |
| 2016-06-25 | DR-4273 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-08-07 | DR-4236 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-21 | DR-4221 | 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 |
| 2014-01-10 | EM-3366 | Chemical | Chemical Spill |
| 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 |
| 2008-06-19 | DR-1769 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3221 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-20 | DR-1558 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2004-06-07 | DR-1522 | 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 |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1084 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3109 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1980-08-15 | DR-628 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-12-14 | DR-569 | 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 Jackson County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 79 flood or flash flood records for Jackson County from 1996 to 2026, on 69 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Jackson County ranks 728th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.5 million on 311 claims filed in Jackson County; the most in one year was 65 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 34 · 1979: 5 · 1980: 23 · 1982: 3 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 2 · 1985: 8 · 1987: 4 · 1989: 1 · 1991: 3 · 1992: 1 · 1994: 7 · 1995: 7 · 1996: 4 · 1997: 22 · 1998: 65 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 22 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 7 · 2003: 11 · 2004: 36 · 2005: 3 · 2006: 1 · 2008: 3 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 2 · 2012: 9 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2025: 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 Jackson County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Jackson County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $15.4 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 | $63K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $14M | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $211K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $440K | 4.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $156K | 47 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $30K | 6 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $22K | 8.3 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $307K | about once 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 Jackson 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 Jackson CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Jackson County's FEMA declarations (CSV)25 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis