Mingo County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54059 · population 23,504 · 423 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 453 records for Mingo County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 327 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (134 records). The deadliest single record is the July 10, 2019 heat, filed for the forecast zone Mingo, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 36 declarations naming the county since 1967, 34 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
- 453on 327 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 24 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $74Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 36latest 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 Mingo County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 134 since 1980. 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 | 134 | 88 | 1980-2026 | 0 | 3 | $2.9M | 29 of 53 |
| Hail | 78 | 52 | 1980-2025 | 0 | 0 | $120K | 10 of 53 |
| Floods | 70 | 54 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 1 | $69M | 30 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 61 | 61 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 44 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 28 | 28 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $80K | 29 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 24 | 24 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $112K | 36 of 53 |
| Heat | 21 | 21 | 1996-2019 | 1 | 0 | – | 18 of 53 |
| Drought | 20 | 20 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 10 | 10 | 1999-2020 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 21 of 53 |
| Wildfires | 3 | 3 | 1999-2001 | 1 | 0 | $5K | 2 of 53 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2014-2014 | 0 | 0 | $19K | 8 of 53 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | $6K | 24 of 53 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2014-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | $116K | 42 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 Mingo County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Mingo County from 2012 to 2012, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 0 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 1 tornado whose track touched Mingo County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 0 of them in Mingo County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-02 17:50, as SPC files it | Salyersville to WarfieldCrossed KY, WV | EF3 | 49.04 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in West Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Mingo County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-02 | Kermit, Mingo County | EF2 1.2 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $116K |
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 Mingo County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 22, 2026 flash flood ($75,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | Flash FloodScarlet, Mingo County | 0 | 0 | $75K | |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindHinch, Mingo County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindCinderella, Mingo County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindRed Jacket, Mingo County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindKirk, Mingo County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindDingess, Mingo County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindBreeden, Mingo County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtMingo County · forecast zone Mingo | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | Thunderstorm WindTekram, Mingo County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-05-24 | Thunderstorm WindDelbarton, Mingo County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-05-24 | Thunderstorm WindCinderella, Mingo County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-05-24 | Thunderstorm WindCinderella, Mingo 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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-07-10 | HeatMingo County · forecast zone Mingo Early and mid July were dominated by a ridge, with hot and humid conditions most days. On July 10th, an elderly male went missing while out picking berries in the forest. He was found deceased that evening. A combination of prior health issues and the heat are blamed for his death. The high temperature at East Lynn ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1999-11-09 | WildfireCountywide, Mingo County A week after the last significant rains on the 2nd, a second round of Indian Summer weather boosted afternoon temperatures into the upper 60s to the upper 70s on the 9th. Brush fires increased across southern West Virginia. Most of the fires were set by arsonists. The West Virginia Division of Forestry estimated about ... | 1 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2006-04-07 | Thunderstorm WindWilliamson, Mingo County Well south of a cold front, severe thunderstorms moved through the southern coal fields of West Virginia. The time frame was late on a Friday afternoon and into the early evening.The initial severe weather was large hail. However, the storms following the initial cells, consolidated and organized into a squall line. ... | 70 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $1.3M |
| 2005-08-19 | Flash FloodBorderland, Mingo County Repetitive thunderstorms dropped southeast along a warm frontal boundary. The rain moved along the Kentucky border with West Virginia, beginning around 0400E. Buffalo Creek and Dans Branch were hit the hardest. Rain estimates of 3 to 3.5 inches fell in 3 to 4 hours. The area was damp from rainfall the previous day. ... | 0 | 1 | $340K | |
| 1999-04-08 | Thunderstorm WindGilbert, Mingo County High winds blew the roof off a baseball field dugout, then caused the cinder block wall to fall. The visiting female coach of the Williamson High School girls softball team was injured. She broke some ribs and had a punctured lung. The girls in the dugout were not hurt. | 0 | 1 | $9K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-05-09 | FloodVerner, Mingo County | 0 | 0 | $33M | |
| 2004-05-30 | Flash FloodCountywide, Mingo County | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 2002-05-02 | FloodMingo County · forecast zone Mingo | 0 | 0 | $6.6M | |
| 2025-02-15 | FloodWilliamson, Mingo County | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | |
| 2004-06-04 | FloodMingo County · forecast zone Mingo | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2006-04-07 | Thunderstorm WindWilliamson, Mingo County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $1.3M |
| 2012-03-15 | Flash FloodBreeden, Mingo County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2015-03-04 | FloodWharncliffe, Mingo County | 0 | 0 | $996K |
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 Mingo 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 | 1 | 14 | 27 | 42 | 50 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 32 | 20 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 20 | 17 | 30 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 9 | 21 | 25 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
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 Mingo County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 46 · Feb 69 · Mar 38 · Apr 43 · May 58 · Jun 54 · Jul 41 · Aug 32 · Sep 20 · Oct 16 · Nov 15 · Dec 21 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Mingo County
FEMA's register lists 36 declarations that include Mingo County: 28 major disasters, 7 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for severe storm (16) 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 |
| 2021-05-20 | DR-4605 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4517 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3450 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2010-06-24 | DR-1918 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2010-03-02 | DR-1881 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2009-05-15 | DR-1838 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, 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 |
| 2003-06-21 | 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 |
| 2002-05-05 | DR-1410 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, 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 |
| 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 |
| 1984-05-15 | DR-706 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-12-14 | DR-569 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-08-24 | EM-3052 | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides & Flooding |
| 1977-04-07 | DR-531 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1974-01-29 | DR-416 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1972-08-23 | DR-349 | Flood | Heavy Rains & 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 Mingo County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 70 flood or flash flood records for Mingo County from 1996 to 2026, on 54 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Mingo County ranks 219th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $30.4 million on 1,679 claims filed in Mingo County; the most in one year was 790 in 1984. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 143 · 1979: 58 · 1980: 9 · 1981: 41 · 1982: 10 · 1984: 790 · 1985: 3 · 1987: 4 · 1989: 39 · 1991: 6 · 1994: 3 · 1996: 6 · 1997: 10 · 2000: 1 · 2002: 42 · 2003: 24 · 2004: 109 · 2005: 13 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 38 · 2009: 146 · 2010: 21 · 2011: 6 · 2012: 4 · 2014: 21 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 25 · 2022: 13 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 81 · 2026: 3; 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 Mingo County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Mingo County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $17.6 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 | $56K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $15M | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $269K | once in about 94 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $7K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $438K | 3.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $671K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $33K | 9.3 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $279K | 2 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 Mingo 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 Mingo CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Mingo County's FEMA declarations (CSV)36 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis