Lincoln County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54043 · population 20,386 · 437 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 474 records for Lincoln County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 371 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (131 records). The deadliest single record is the July 4, 2015 heavy rain: 1 death. FEMA has issued 39 declarations naming the county since 1967, 36 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
- 474on 371 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 31 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $27Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 6strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 39latest 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 Lincoln County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 131 since 1981. 52% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1981 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 | 131 | 103 | 1981-2026 | 0 | 1 | $2.2M | 22 of 53 |
| Floods | 114 | 80 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $22M | 15 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 59 | 59 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 48 of 53 |
| Hail | 53 | 42 | 1979-2025 | 0 | 0 | $46K | 24 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 29 | 28 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $234K | 28 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 26 | 26 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $56K | 35 of 53 |
| Drought | 23 | 23 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 53 |
| Heat | 21 | 21 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 10 | 10 | 1999-2015 | 1 | 0 | $4K | 23 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 5 | 1972-2016 | 0 | 0 | $857K | 13 of 53 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2014-2014 | 0 | 0 | $25K | 25 of 53 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 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 Lincoln County had?
NOAA records 6 tornadoes in Lincoln County from 1972 to 2016, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 13th 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 6 tornadoes whose track touched Lincoln County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 6, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 10 people, 0 of them in Lincoln County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-02 16:39, as SPC files it | West LibertyCrossed KY, WV | EF3 | 84.99 mi | 10 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in West Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Lincoln County (6)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-07-04 | Yawkey, Lincoln County | EF0 0.23 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $37K |
| 2012-03-02 | Bradyville, Lincoln County | EF1 16.02 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $193K |
| 2012-03-02 | Cuzzie, Lincoln County | EF1 8.88 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $257K |
| 2000-08-09 | Branchland, Lincoln County | F1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $343K |
| 1979-08-08 | Lincoln County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1972-09-29 | Lincoln County | F1 20.9 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Lincoln County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 10, 2026 flash flood.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-10 | Flash FloodBranchland, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $500 | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindHager, Lincoln County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindAlkol, Lincoln County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter WeatherLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | FloodYawkey, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | FloodNew Hamlin, Lincoln 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-07-04 | Heavy RainHarts, Lincoln County During the night, a car with 4 occupants attempted to drive through a natural stream crossing off of Route 19 near Harts. A few mobile homes were located on the opposite side. The stream was Big Harts Creek. The stream was swollen, but still well within its bank. No flooding was occurring. The car got stuck in the ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2004-09-17 | FloodLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln As the weakening Hurricane Ivan moved inland across Alabama, light rain began in southern West Virginia on the morning of the 16th. The rain shield moved into northern counties overnight. Heavy rain began before dawn on the 17th around Huntington. The heavier rain moved up the Ohio River counties and engulfed the ... | 1 | 0 | $195K | |
| 2003-02-15 | FloodLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln Rains from Friday afternoon, the 14th, into Sunday the 16th were on the order of 3.5 to 4.9 inches, with the maximum over Wayne and Lincoln Counties. Small streams flooded onto roads Saturday evening, the 15th, into early Sunday, the 16th. Major flooding occurred along the Twelvepole Creek in Wayne County including ... | 1 | 0 | $4.0M | |
| 2007-07-26 | Thunderstorm WindGriffithsville, Lincoln County Scattered locations had large branches or trees blown down. One boy was slightly injured by a large fallen branch. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-11-12 | FloodLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | $8.0M | |
| 2003-02-15 | FloodLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 1 | 0 | $4.0M | |
| 1997-03-01 | Flash FloodCountywide, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2015-03-04 | FloodFry, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2021-06-10 | Flash FloodHamlin Airport, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2015-07-14 | Flash FloodAlkol, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $623K | |
| 2016-06-27 | Flash FloodAlkol, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $584K | |
| 2012-03-15 | Flash FloodHarts, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $578K |
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 $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: September 29, 1972 (tornado, Lincoln County); August 8, 1979 (tornado, Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 | 3 | 15 | 33 | 44 | 36 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 9 | 16 | 31 | 58 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 7 | 20 | 25 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 4 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 9 | 8 | 11 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 10 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
52% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1981 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 48 · Feb 65 · Mar 46 · Apr 48 · May 52 · Jun 50 · Jul 62 · Aug 31 · Sep 16 · Oct 17 · Nov 14 · Dec 25 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lincoln County
FEMA's register lists 39 declarations that include Lincoln County: 31 major disasters, 7 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for severe storm (17) and flood (11).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3639 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-02-26 | DR-4861 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2024-05-24 | DR-4787 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2024-05-22 | DR-4783 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2021-05-20 | DR-4605 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2021-05-13 | DR-4603 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4517 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3450 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-04-17 | DR-4359 | Mud/Landslide | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2015-05-14 | DR-4219 | Severe Storm | 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 |
| 2012-03-22 | DR-4061 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Lanslides |
| 2012-03-16 | DR-4059 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2007-05-01 | DR-1696 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3221 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-20 | DR-1558 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2004-08-06 | DR-1536 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2004-06-07 | DR-1522 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-11-21 | DR-1500 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-06-21 | DR-1474 | 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 |
| 2001-11-16 | FM-2391 | Fire | Wv - Southeast Fire Complex - 11/16/2001 |
| 2001-06-03 | DR-1378 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1319 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides |
| 1997-03-07 | DR-1168 | Flood | Heavy & Wind Driven Rain, High Winds,Flooding,Slides |
| 1996-05-23 | DR-1115 | Flood | Flooding, Heavy Winds |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1084 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3109 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1978-12-14 | DR-569 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-04-07 | DR-531 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1974-01-29 | DR-416 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1972-02-27 | DR-323 | Flood | Heavy Rains & 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 Lincoln County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 114 flood or flash flood records for Lincoln County from 1996 to 2026, on 80 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Lincoln County ranks 679th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.3 million on 344 claims filed in Lincoln County; the most in one year was 80 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 54 · 1979: 15 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 2 · 1983: 1 · 1989: 7 · 1990: 2 · 1995: 4 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 26 · 1998: 12 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 5 · 2003: 80 · 2004: 11 · 2005: 2 · 2007: 7 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 3 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 3 · 2012: 32 · 2013: 2 · 2014: 6 · 2015: 40 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 1 · 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 Lincoln County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lincoln 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 | $77K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $13M | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $764K | 4.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $148K | once in about 423 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $65K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $33K | 8.9 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $85K | 48 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $328K | 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lincoln County's FEMA declarations (CSV)39 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis