Niagara County, New York
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36063 · population 212,642 · 522 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 591 records for Niagara County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 403 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (241 records). The deadliest single record is the December 23, 2022 blizzard, filed for the forecast zone Niagara, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 27 declarations naming the county since 1973, 22 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm” on March 15, 2023.
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
- 591on 403 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 220 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $56Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 27latest 2023
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 Niagara County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 241 since 1964. 42% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1964 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among New York'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 | 241 | 144 | 1964-2026 | 0 | 2 | $8.5M | 22 of 58 |
| Winter storms | 90 | 84 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 2 | $15M | 43 of 58 |
| High wind and dust storms | 81 | 79 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 9 | $8.9M | 13 of 58 |
| Hail | 75 | 43 | 1963-2023 | 0 | 0 | $6.6M | 24 of 58 |
| Floods | 61 | 46 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $16M | 20 of 58 |
| Extreme cold | 23 | 23 | 2008-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 58 |
| Lightning | 7 | 7 | 1998-2023 | 0 | 7 | $432K | 22 of 58 |
| Drought | 5 | 5 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 58 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 4 | 1963-1994 | 0 | 0 | $424K | 38 of 58 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2020-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 58 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 1 | 1 | 2015-2015 | 0 | 0 | $37K | 7 of 58 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 of 58 |
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 Niagara County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Niagara County from 1963 to 1994, the strongest rated F1, 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 4 tornadoes whose track touched Niagara County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.
Every tornado record filed for Niagara County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-08-28 | Lockport, Niagara County | F0 0.6 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1994-08-25 | Lockport, Niagara County | F0 2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1969-07-26 | Niagara County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-09-03 | Niagara County | F1 | 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 Niagara County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindBarker Central Airport, Niagara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindCarlisle Gardens, Niagara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindMiddleport, Niagara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindLockport, Niagara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindWendelville, Niagara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindLockport, Niagara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindNorth Tonawanda, Niagara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindEscarpment, Niagara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindLewiston, Niagara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-09 | Thunderstorm WindNewfane, Niagara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-12-23 | BlizzardNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara A historic lake effect blizzard occurred northeast of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario during the Christmas holiday weekend. The combination of high winds in excess of 70 mph and heavy lake effect snow resulted in devastating impacts across western New York and also east of Lake Ontario from December 23 through December 27. ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2015-02-14 | Winter StormNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara A strong clipper crossed the Great Lakes and brought snow and blowing snow to the region and some of the coldest air of the season. The snowfall amounts were enhanced downwind of Lake Ontario and upslope east of Lake Erie where snowfall amounts around a foot were recorded. Gusty winds accompanied the system and ... | 1 | 0 | $25K | |
| 2000-07-28 | LightningNiagara Falls, Niagara County An isolated thunderstorm developed in lake breezes during the early afternoon hours. The thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines in the city of Niagara Falls. Localized poor drainage flooding was reported at College and Highland Avenues. Four tourists visiting the Falls were knocked to the ground when ... | 0 | 4 | – | |
| 2017-03-08 | High WindNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara Unusually deep low pressure moved from northwest Ontario across Hudson Bay. The low brought strong winds to the entire region with sustained winds up to 49 mph and wind gusts as high as 81 mph. A significant amount of damage resulted with hundreds of thousands left without power – over 100,000 in Monroe County alone. ... | 63 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $602K |
| 1996-01-27 | High WindNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara Deep low pressure over the upper Great Lakes brought strong winds to the area. The high winds downed trees and power lines across the county. In Wilson, a mother and her two young children were seriously injured when the car in which they were driving was crushed by a falling tree. | 0 | 3 | $85K | |
| 2005-04-03 | Heavy SnowNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara Deep low pressure over Pennsylvania brought copious amounts of precipitation to western New York. West of the Genesee River the precipitation fell mainly as heavy, wet snow with eight to twelve inches reported across much of the area. Locally heavier amounts of up to two feet were reported along the ridges southeast ... | 0 | 2 | $378K | |
| 1997-02-27 | High WindNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara Deep low pressure moved from Indiana to Ontario bringing high winds to the area. The strong winds downed trees and telephone and power lines. Power outages were reported throughout the area. Several cities and towns declared States of Emergency because of the prolonged lack of power. Windows were blown out of ... | 0 | 2 | $184K | |
| 2024-01-09 | High WindNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara One injury reported, caused by a tree falling on car at the intersection of West High Street and South Transit in Lockport. Additional reports of a few trees and wires down in Newfane and Lockport. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $28K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-09-06 | Thunderstorm WindOlcott, Niagara County | 0 | 0 | $4.1M | |
| 2001-12-24 | Heavy SnowNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara | 0 | 0 | $3.8M | |
| 2006-10-12 | Lake-Effect SnowNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara | 0 | 0 | $2.9M | |
| 1998-01-08 | Flash FloodNiagara Falls, Niagara County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 1998-09-27 | HailNiagara Falls, Niagara County | 4.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
| 2002-02-01 | High WindNiagara County · forecast zone Niagara | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2019-05-17 | FloodYoungstown, Niagara County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2019-06-01 | FloodYoungstown, Niagara County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 26, 1969 (tornado, Niagara 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 Niagara 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 | 1 | 7 | 28 | 46 | 57 | 65 | 37 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 23 | 26 | 29 | 12 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 24 | 31 | 18 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 31 | 5 | 14 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 10 | 24 | 20 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 14 | 7 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
42% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1964 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 66 · Feb 31 · Mar 33 · Apr 21 · May 55 · Jun 71 · Jul 114 · Aug 69 · Sep 43 · Oct 32 · Nov 26 · Dec 30 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Niagara County
FEMA's register lists 27 declarations that include Niagara County: 15 major disasters, 12 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for snowstorm (9) and severe storm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-03-15 | DR-4694 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2022-11-20 | EM-3589 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2020-03-20 | DR-4480 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3434 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-11-14 | DR-4348 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2013-07-12 | DR-4129 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3351 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-06-10 | DR-1993 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2006-10-24 | DR-1665 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-10-15 | EM-3268 | Snowstorm | Lake Effect Snowstorm |
| 2005-09-30 | EM-3262 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-04-19 | DR-1589 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-10-01 | DR-1564 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-08-03 | DR-1534 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-08-23 | EM-3186 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2001-12-31 | EM-3170 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2001-09-11 | DR-1391 | Fire | Fires and Explosions |
| 2000-10-11 | EM-3155 | Other | West Nile Virus |
| 2000-07-21 | DR-1335 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1999-01-15 | EM-3136 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1998-01-06 | DR-1196 | Snowstorm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3107 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1985-03-22 | DR-734 | Snowstorm | Snow Melt & Ice Jams |
| 1980-05-21 | EM-3080 | Toxic Substances | Chemical Waste, Love Canal |
| 1977-02-05 | DR-527 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1977-01-29 | EM-3027 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1973-03-21 | DR-367 | Flood | High Winds, Wave Action & 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 Niagara County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 61 flood or flash flood records for Niagara County from 1996 to 2024, on 46 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Niagara County ranks 987th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $826,000 on 184 claims filed in Niagara County; the most in one year was 30 in 2013. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 3 · 1979: 20 · 1980: 1 · 1982: 6 · 1983: 2 · 1984: 1 · 1985: 21 · 1986: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1993: 1 · 1995: 2 · 1996: 2 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 4 · 1999: 4 · 2000: 5 · 2001: 4 · 2002: 4 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 3 · 2007: 2 · 2008: 6 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 1 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 30 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 8 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 19 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 5; 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 Niagara County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Niagara County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $52.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $760K | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $45M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $664K | 28 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.1M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.2M | 3.1 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $658K | once in about 1,235 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $568K | 2.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $83K | 19 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 Niagara 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
- Severe thunderstorm wind in New YorkThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, 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 Niagara CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Niagara County's FEMA declarations (CSV)27 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis