King William County, Virginia

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51101 · population 17,810 · 274 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 325 records for King William County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 257 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (120 records). The deadliest single record is the October 18, 1990 tornado: 1 death. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1969, 22 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
325on 257 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
10 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$20Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
8strongest F3
FEMA declarations
24latest 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 King William County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 120 since 1960. 57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1960 fell in June and July. 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.

King William County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 120 92 1960-2026 0 0 $395K 38 of 96
Winter storms 106 88 1996-2025 0 0 $203K 31 of 96
Floods 25 23 1996-2025 0 0 $2.0M 61 of 96
Heavy rain 25 24 1998-2021 0 0 – 21 of 96
Hail 22 17 1992-2023 0 0 – 73 of 96
Tornadoes 8 6 1975-2017 1 0 $5.8M 40 of 96
Heat 5 4 1996-2025 0 0 – 44 of 96
High wind and dust storms 5 4 1999-2024 0 0 $71K 71 of 96
Drought 3 3 1997-1998 0 0 $9.0M 53 of 96
Extreme cold 3 2 2003-2016 0 0 – 77 of 96
Hurricanes and tropical storms 2 2 2003-2011 0 0 $2.4M 27 of 96
Lightning 1 1 2025-2025 0 0 $1K 68 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 King William County had?

NOAA records 8 tornadoes in King William County from 1975 to 2017, the strongest rated F3, with 1 death and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 40th of 96 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 8 tornadoes whose track touched King William County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 8, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched King William County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1990-10-18 15:00, as SPC files itKing WilliamF35 mi1

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.

Every tornado record filed for King William County (8)
Every tornado recorded in King William County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2017-10-24 Lanesville, King William County EF0 0.38 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $60K
2008-05-31 Etna Mills, King William County EF0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $69K
2008-04-20 Midway, King William County EF0 0.2 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $3K
2008-04-20 Manquin, King William County EF0 0.3 mi x 40 yd 0 0 $14K
2008-04-20 Enfield, King William County EF0 0.3 mi x 40 yd 0 0 $14K
2004-09-08 Aylett, King William County F0 1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $16K
1990-10-18 King William County F3 5 mi x 430 yd 1 0 $2.5M step
1975-07-13 King William County F0 0 0 $250 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 King William County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 22, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for King William County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-22 Thunderstorm WindKing William County 50 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2026-06-22 Thunderstorm WindAylett, King William County 50 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2026-06-22 Thunderstorm WindEpworth, King William County 50 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2026-06-22 Thunderstorm WindMangohick, King William County 50 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-10-12 Coastal FloodKing William County · forecast zone Eastern King William 0 0 –
2025-07-19 Thunderstorm WindBeulahville, King William County 50 kt wind 0 0 $5K
2025-07-19 Thunderstorm WindLestor Manor, King William County 50 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-07-19 Flash FloodBeulahville, King William County 0 0 –
2025-07-19 Flash FloodKing William County 0 0 –
2025-07-12 Flash FloodKing William County 0 0 –
2025-07-09 Flash FloodAylett, King William County 0 0 –
2025-07-09 Thunderstorm WindLanesville, King William County 50 kt wind 0 0 $3K

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

Records with deaths or injuries in King William County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1990-10-18 TornadoKing William County F3 5 mi x 430 yd 1 0 $2.5M 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.

The costliest records in King William County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1997-09-01 DroughtKing William County · forecast zone King William 0 0 $5.4M
2011-08-27 Tropical StormKing William County · forecast zone King William 0 0 $2.4M
2004-08-30 Flash FloodMangohick, King William County 0 0 $1.6M
1999-09-16 Flash FloodCountywide, King William County 0 0 $487K
2008-05-31 TornadoEtna Mills, King William County EF0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $69K
2017-10-24 TornadoLanesville, King William County EF0 0.38 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $60K
2021-07-29 Thunderstorm WindLestor Manor, King William County 65 kt wind 0 0 $16K
2008-04-20 TornadoEnfield, King William County EF0 0.3 mi x 40 yd 0 0 $14K

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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: October 18, 1990 (tornado, King William County, 1 killed).

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 King William 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).

King William County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind012416273040
Winter storms––––7364320
Floods––––231010
Heavy rain––––34108
Hail000031162

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1960 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 49 · Feb 35 · Mar 26 · Apr 20 · May 26 · Jun 46 · Jul 45 · Aug 26 · Sep 18 · Oct 12 · Nov 7 · Dec 15 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for King William County

FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include King William County: 17 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (10) and severe storm (4).

Declarations including King William County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-01-23EM-3631Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2022-03-11DR-4644Severe StormSevere Winter Storm and Snowstorm
2021-05-10DR-4602Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storms
2020-04-02DR-4512BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3448BiologicalCovid-19
2018-12-18DR-4411HurricaneTropical Storm Michael
2018-10-15DR-4401HurricaneHurricane Florence
2018-09-11EM-3403HurricaneHurricane Florence
2012-10-29EM-3359HurricaneHurricane Sandy
2011-09-03DR-4024HurricaneHurricane Irene
2006-09-22DR-1661Severe StormTropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and Flooding
2005-09-12EM-3240HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2004-09-03DR-1544Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td Gaston
2003-09-18DR-1491HurricaneHurricane Isabel
2000-02-28DR-1318Severe StormSevere Winter Storms
1999-09-18DR-1293HurricaneHurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations
1996-09-06DR-1135HurricaneHurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm Cond
1996-01-13DR-1086SnowstormBlizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)
1994-03-10DR-1014SnowstormSevere Ice Storms, Flooding
1993-03-25EM-3112SnowstormSevere Winter Storm
1977-07-23EM-3046DroughtDrought
1977-01-26DR-525FreezingIce Conditions
1972-06-23DR-339FloodTropical Storm Agnes
1969-08-23DR-274HurricaneSevere 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 King William County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 25 flood or flash flood records for King William County from 1996 to 2025, on 23 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), King William County ranks 1366th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on King William County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Hurricane Irene2011-08-2710
Hurricane Floyd1999-09-1610

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.4 million on 89 claims filed in King William County; the most in one year was 50 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 1 · 1985: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 6 · 1998: 5 · 1999: 3 · 2003: 50 · 2004: 1 · 2006: 11 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 4 · 2011: 1 · 2017: 1 · 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 King William County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates King William County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.3 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.

National Risk Index ratings for King William County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
DroughtRelatively Moderate$2.0M4.5 modeled event-days a year
HurricaneRelatively Low$459Konce in about 7 years (modeled)
Coastal FloodingRelatively Low$206K3.7 a year (modeled)
EarthquakeVery Low$184Konce in about 495 years (modeled)
LandslideVery Low$553once in about 5 years (modeled)
Heat WaveVery Low$161K5 modeled event-days a year
Ice StormVery Low$29K1.1 a year (modeled)
TornadoVery Low$333Konce in about 6 years (modeled)

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with King William County

  1. Hanover County 567
  2. Caroline County 433
  3. King William County 325
  4. New Kent County 279
  5. King and Queen County 271

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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