New York County, New York
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36061 · population 1,693,650 · 23 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 221 records for New York County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 185 days; the most frequent are floods and flash floods (71 records). The deadliest single record is the August 2, 2002 lightning: 1 death and 1 injury. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1965, 18 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Remnants of Hurricane Ida” on September 5, 2021.
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
- 221on 185 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 322 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $130Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest F0
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 2021
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 New York County most?
The most frequent records are floods and flash floods: 71 since 1996. 44% of its floods and flash floods since 1996 fell in July and August. Census land area gives no figure for New York County under this code, so it carries no per-area rank.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | 71 | 54 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $124M | – |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 46 | 36 | 1979-2026 | 1 | 6 | $584K | – |
| Winter storms | 41 | 41 | 2013-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Heavy rain | 18 | 18 | 1996-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| High wind and dust storms | 18 | 18 | 2001-2024 | 0 | 11 | $410K | – |
| Hail | 12 | 10 | 1985-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Heat | 6 | 6 | 2013-2019 | 1 | 0 | – | – |
| Lightning | 6 | 6 | 2002-2025 | 1 | 4 | $13K | – |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2020-2020 | 0 | 0 | $5.1M | – |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1995-1995 | 0 | 1 | $58K | – |
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 New York County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in New York County from 1995 to 1995, the strongest rated F0, with 0 deaths and 1 injury 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.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.
Every tornado record filed for New York County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-08-31 | New York County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 1 | $58K |
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 New York County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 12, 2026 thunderstorm wind.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindNew York County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-02-23 | BlizzardNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-26 | Winter WeatherNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-13 | Winter WeatherNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-30 | Flash FloodCentral Park, New York County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-06 | Thunderstorm WindCentral Park, New York County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-19 | LightningCentral Park, New York County | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2025-05-03 | Thunderstorm WindCentral Park, New York County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-02-08 | Winter WeatherNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-05-23 | LightningNew York County | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2021-09-01 | Flash FloodCentral Park, New York County | 0 | 0 | $65M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-08-02 | LightningCentral Park, New York County A 25 year old man was struck and killed by lightning at 835 pm while watching thunderstorms from the roof of a four-story building located at 365 Broome Street. A 24 year old woman was also injured in the event. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2013-07-19 | Excessive HeatNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) The NYC medical examiner's office reported the death of a female, age 81 years old, as a result of the intense and excessive heat for several days. The death occurred in Manhattan on 7/19/13. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1998-04-09 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, New York County As a low pressure system developed rapidly off the Virginia Coast and moved northeast, it produced heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms. High winds associated with thunderstorms downed trees and electrical cables in Grymes Hills, Midland Beach and South Beach in Staten Island. They also caused a brick facade to blow ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2017-11-19 | Strong WindNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) At 1140 am, the broadcast media reported a collapsed scaffolding at the corner of Prince Street and Broadway. There were 5 injuries as a result. | 34 kt wind | 0 | 5 | $60K |
| 2013-11-01 | Strong WindNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) The strong winds caused a scaffolding to collapse at West 40th Street and 7th Avenue. There were 4 people reported injured. | 39 kt wind | 0 | 4 | $25K |
| 2016-02-16 | Strong WindNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) Strong winds blew a table off a 22 story building at 7th Avenue and West 39th street at 1115 am. Two people were injured. | 35 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $37K |
| 2002-04-19 | Thunderstorm WindNew York County Severe thunderstorms produced large hail in Orange County and damaging winds and frequent lightning across parts of the NYC Metropolitan Area.Here are selected reports of hail from NWS Skywarn Spotters: Orange County -- 0.88-inch diameter hail in Gardnerville (Central Portion of Orange County), 0.75-inch diameter hail ... | 50 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2000-06-02 | Thunderstorm WindNew York County Lines of severe thunderstorms swept southeast across the region. They produced one F1 tornado, one funnel cloud, and high winds that downed many trees and power lines and caused at least 11 injuries, 8 of which were in New York City.Based on a storm survey performed by NWS staff, an F1 tornado occurred around 7:05 pm ... | 50 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-01 | Flash FloodCentral Park, New York County | 0 | 0 | $59M | |
| 2020-08-04 | Tropical StormNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) | 0 | 0 | $5.1M | |
| 2009-08-18 | Thunderstorm WindCentral Park, New York County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $413K |
| 2017-11-19 | Strong WindNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) | 34 kt wind | 0 | 5 | $60K |
| 1995-08-31 | TornadoNew York County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 1 | $58K |
| 2008-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindCentral Park, New York County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $55K |
| 2016-02-16 | Strong WindNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) | 35 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $37K |
| 2013-11-01 | Strong WindNew York County · forecast zone New York (Manhattan) | 39 kt wind | 0 | 4 | $25K |
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 New York 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 12 | 31 | 16 | 12 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 12 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 26 | 15 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
44% of its floods and flash floods since 1996 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 18 · Feb 19 · Mar 15 · Apr 16 · May 14 · Jun 28 · Jul 35 · Aug 30 · Sep 17 · Oct 10 · Nov 12 · Dec 7 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for New York County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include New York County: 13 major disasters, 10 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (8) and snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-05 | DR-4615 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| 2021-09-02 | EM-3572 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| 2021-08-22 | EM-3565 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri |
| 2020-03-20 | DR-4480 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3434 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012-10-30 | DR-4085 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3351 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-08-31 | DR-4020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-26 | EM-3328 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2005-09-30 | EM-3262 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-08-03 | DR-1534 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-08-23 | EM-3186 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2003-03-27 | EM-3184 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2001-09-11 | DR-1391 | Fire | Fires and Explosions |
| 2000-10-11 | EM-3155 | Other | West Nile Virus |
| 1996-11-19 | DR-1146 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Heavy Rains, High Winds |
| 1996-01-12 | DR-1083 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-04-02 | DR-984 | Human Cause | Explosion at World Trade Center |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3107 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1992-12-21 | DR-974 | Flood | Coastal Storm, High Tides, Heavy Rain, & Flooding |
| 1984-04-17 | DR-702 | Flood | Coastal Storms & Flooding |
| 1971-09-13 | DR-311 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1965-08-18 | DR-204 | Drought | Water Shortage |
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 New York County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 71 flood or flash flood records for New York County from 1996 to 2025, on 54 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), New York County ranks 242nd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ida | 2021-09-01 | 2 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Isaias | 2020-08-04 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $121 million on 1,498 claims filed in New York County; the most in one year was 669 in 2012. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 63 · 1979: 65 · 1980: 61 · 1981: 16 · 1982: 23 · 1983: 28 · 1984: 36 · 1985: 27 · 1986: 6 · 1987: 4 · 1988: 3 · 1989: 10 · 1990: 3 · 1991: 28 · 1992: 44 · 1993: 11 · 1994: 2 · 1995: 10 · 1996: 11 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 5 · 1999: 6 · 2003: 4 · 2005: 5 · 2006: 2 · 2007: 62 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 3 · 2010: 9 · 2011: 70 · 2012: 669 · 2013: 9 · 2014: 8 · 2015: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 16 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 110 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 35 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 9; 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 New York County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates New York County Relatively High overall, with an expected annual loss of $307 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Very High | $7.7M | 5.4 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very High | $187M | 2 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Very High | $1.2M | 9.3 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | $41M | 10 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $18M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively High | $23M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.1M | 32 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $528K | 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 New York 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 New YorkEvery New York tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Floods in New YorkThe state's floods and flash floods, by county, year and month
- The New York recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in New York CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download New York County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis