Marshall County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54051 · population 30,591 · 305 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 389 records for Marshall County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 273 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (169 records). The deadliest single record is the September 17, 2004 flood, filed for the forecast zone Marshall, which covers the county: 1 death and $7.3 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 25 declarations naming the county since 1972, 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
- 389on 273 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 12 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $25Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest EF2
- 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 Marshall County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 169 since 1966. 49% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1966 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 | 169 | 123 | 1966-2026 | 0 | 1 | $2.2M | 8 of 53 |
| Floods | 93 | 70 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $21M | 7 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 53 | 53 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 1 | $89K | 37 of 53 |
| Hail | 43 | 27 | 1983-2018 | 0 | 0 | $58K | 27 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 13 | 13 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $368K | 46 of 53 |
| Drought | 7 | 7 | 1999-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 2014-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 52 of 53 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 1998-2022 | 0 | 0 | $910K | 17 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2019-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 of 53 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2001-2001 | 0 | 0 | $250K | 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 Marshall County had?
NOAA records 3 tornadoes in Marshall County from 1998 to 2022, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 17th 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 Marshall 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 Marshall County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-08-01 | Dallas, Marshall County | EF2 1.22 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $610K |
| 2002-04-28 | St Joseph, Marshall County | F1 1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $164K |
| 1998-01-09 | Graysville, Marshall County | F1 11 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $136K |
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 Marshall County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 6, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindKausooth, Marshall County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindKausooth, Marshall County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindPleasant Vly, Marshall County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindBeelers Station, Marshall County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindMt Olivet, Marshall County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormMarshall County · forecast zone Marshall | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-13 | Winter StormMarshall County · forecast zone Marshall | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindClouston, Marshall County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindRoseby Rock, Marshall County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-07-25 | Flash FloodCameron, Marshall County | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2025-06-26 | Flash FloodBenwood, Marshall County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2025-05-30 | Flash FloodLynn Camp, Marshall 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-17 | FloodMarshall County · forecast zone Marshall At 230 PM EDT on 17th, Boggs Run flooded Benwood. By 9 PM on 18th, around Moundsville, 5 roads remained closed because of mud slides; and flooding from Grave Creek was keeping 1 road closed. 79 structures damaged or destroyed, including $1 million damage to a school. One man was swept away and found in Fish Creek. ... | 1 | 0 | $7.3M | |
| 2003-02-16 | Heavy SnowMarshall County · forecast zone Marshall A massive, slow-moving snow storm began just after midnight on the 16th. Counties in the south reached the 6 inch point by noon on 16th. Hancock county in the north accumulated 6 inches of snow by 5 PM on 16th. By 9 PM, southern counties had accumulated as much as 18 inches. By the morning of the 18th, total ... | 0 | 1 | $24K | |
| 1999-04-09 | Thunderstorm WindMoundsville, Marshall County Thunderstorm winds blew in a window in a classroom at Moundsville Junior High School, injuring a teacher. The teacher received cuts to her hands and face, but was not seriously injured. | 0 | 1 | $5K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-17 | FloodMarshall County · forecast zone Marshall | 1 | 0 | $7.3M | |
| 2017-07-29 | Flash FloodMc Mechen, Marshall County | 0 | 0 | $3.6M | |
| 2024-04-02 | Flash FloodGlendale, Marshall County | 0 | 0 | $3.4M | |
| 1996-01-19 | FloodMarshall County · forecast zone Marshall | 0 | 0 | $3.1M | |
| 2005-01-05 | FloodMarshall County · forecast zone Marshall | 0 | 0 | $982K | |
| 2022-08-01 | TornadoDallas, Marshall County | EF2 1.22 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $610K |
| 2024-04-11 | Flash FloodCaptina, Marshall County | 0 | 0 | $386K | |
| 2001-07-01 | LightningMoundsville, Marshall County | 0 | 0 | $250K |
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 Marshall 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 | 5 | 10 | 37 | 43 | 41 | 30 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 17 | 35 | 27 | 14 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 12 | 13 | 23 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 0 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
49% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1966 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 44 · Feb 36 · Mar 21 · Apr 30 · May 43 · Jun 68 · Jul 60 · Aug 38 · Sep 17 · Oct 5 · Nov 10 · Dec 17 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Marshall County
FEMA's register lists 25 declarations that include Marshall County: 19 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and flood (6).
| 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 |
| 2024-05-22 | DR-4783 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2017-08-18 | DR-4331 | Severe Storm | 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 |
| 2010-04-23 | DR-1903 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3221 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-02-01 | DR-1574 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2004-09-20 | DR-1558 | 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 |
| 1998-07-01 | DR-1229 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1980-08-15 | DR-628 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1975-09-12 | DR-481 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1972-07-03 | DR-344 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
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 Marshall County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 93 flood or flash flood records for Marshall County from 1996 to 2025, on 70 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Marshall County ranks 474th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.3 million on 541 claims filed in Marshall County; the most in one year was 130 in 2004. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 30 · 1979: 4 · 1980: 109 · 1981: 18 · 1985: 43 · 1989: 6 · 1990: 4 · 1991: 7 · 1994: 6 · 1996: 45 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 4 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 3 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 130 · 2005: 27 · 2006: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 12 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 7 · 2013: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 43 · 2018: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2024: 5 · 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 Marshall County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Marshall County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $17.8 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 | $53K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $16M | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $116K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $272K | 44 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $217K | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $47K | 3.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $507K | once in about 12 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $164K | 1.9 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 Marshall 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 Marshall CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Marshall County's FEMA declarations (CSV)25 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis