Nicholas County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54067 · population 24,584 · 647 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 537 records for Nicholas County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 392 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (201 records). 332 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the January 21, 2014 cold/wind chill, filed for the forecast zone Nicholas, which covers the county: 1 death and $9,973 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 26 declarations naming the county since 1967, 24 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
- 537on 392 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 13 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $61Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 26latest 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 Nicholas County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 201 since 1996. 56% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 201 | 159 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $13M | 19 of 53 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 92 | 65 | 1977-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.1M | 50 of 53 |
| Hail | 66 | 39 | 1966-2026 | 0 | 0 | $137K | 42 of 53 |
| Floods | 44 | 41 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $42M | 51 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 38 | 26 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $263K | 48 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 33 | 31 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $66K | 42 of 53 |
| Drought | 29 | 19 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 of 53 |
| Heat | 18 | 18 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 10 | 10 | 1999-2016 | 0 | 0 | $6K | 38 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 4 | 1967-2016 | 0 | 3 | $2.3M | 27 of 53 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | $91K | 30 of 53 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 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 Nicholas County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Nicholas County from 1967 to 2016, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries recorded in the county. That is 27th 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 4 tornadoes whose track touched Nicholas 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 West Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Nicholas County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-21 | Richwood, Nicholas County | EF1 2.76 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-27 | Coe, Nicholas County | EF1 0.98 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
| 1969-07-06 | Nicholas County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1967-03-14 | Nicholas County | F1 2.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K 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 Nicholas County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 12, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($6,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLeivasy, Nicholas County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindFowler Knob, Nicholas County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLeivasy, Nicholas County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindRichwood, Nicholas County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2026-06-12 | HailMt Nebo, Nicholas County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindCalvin, Nicholas County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindAlmoris, Nicholas County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMuddlety, Nicholas County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtNicholas County · forecast zone Southeast Nicholas | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtNicholas County · forecast zone Northwest Nicholas | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtNicholas County · forecast zone Southeast Nicholas | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtNicholas County · forecast zone Northwest Nicholas | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-21 | Cold/Wind ChillNicholas County · forecast zone Nicholas As colder air was filtering south, a strong mid level disturbance moved up the Ohio River. Only a weak low pressure system was reflected at the surface, which passed to the south. Snow developed in the southwestern Ohio by 0000E on the 21st. The snow moved east, into West Virginia during the predawn. The steadiest ... | 1 | 0 | $10K | |
| 1967-03-14 | TornadoNicholas County | F1 2.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-23 | Flash FloodBays, Nicholas County | 0 | 0 | $27M | |
| 2012-10-29 | BlizzardNicholas County · forecast zone Nicholas | 0 | 0 | $9.6M | |
| 2003-11-19 | FloodNicholas County · forecast zone Nicholas | 0 | 0 | $6.1M | |
| 2016-06-23 | FloodAllingdale, Nicholas County | 0 | 0 | $4.9M | |
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindBirch River, Nicholas County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.6M |
| 1998-01-27 | Heavy SnowNicholas County · forecast zone Nicholas | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2001-07-29 | Flash FloodCountywide, Nicholas County | 0 | 0 | $833K | |
| 1996-01-19 | FloodNicholas County · forecast zone Nicholas | 0 | 0 | $564K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 14, 1967 (tornado, Nicholas 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 Nicholas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 22 | 42 | 59 | 78 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 35 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 15 | 16 | 8 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 11 | 6 | 20 z |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 10 | 7 | 4 |
High wind and dust storms in the 2020-26: 20 records against 6 in the decade before, 20 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Nicholas County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
56% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 96 · Feb 71 · Mar 56 · Apr 59 · May 27 · Jun 60 · Jul 35 · Aug 21 · Sep 12 · Oct 18 · Nov 23 · Dec 59 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Nicholas County
FEMA's register lists 26 declarations that include Nicholas County: 20 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and flood (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3639 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2012-11-27 | DR-4093 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 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 |
| 2010-03-02 | DR-1881 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3221 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 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 |
| 2001-06-03 | DR-1378 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides |
| 1996-08-14 | DR-1132 | Fire | Heavy Rains, High Winds, Flooding, and Slides |
| 1996-01-25 | DR-1096 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1084 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1995-07-12 | DR-1060 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Heavy Rains, Flooding, Mudslides |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3109 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1985-11-07 | DR-753 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1980-08-15 | DR-628 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1969-09-03 | DR-278 | Hurricane | Severe Storms & 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 Nicholas County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 44 flood or flash flood records for Nicholas County from 1996 to 2025, on 41 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Nicholas County ranks 895th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $8.7 million on 216 claims filed in Nicholas County; the most in one year was 70 in 2016. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 7 · 1980: 4 · 1981: 8 · 1982: 1 · 1985: 2 · 1986: 4 · 1991: 1 · 1996: 9 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 2 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 26 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 67 · 2004: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2016: 70 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 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 Nicholas County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Nicholas County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $14.2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $5.0M | 2.2 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $44K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $284K | 47 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $5K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $8.3M | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $59K | 16 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $31K | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $208K | 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 Nicholas 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
- Winter storms in West VirginiaThe state's winter storm records, 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 Nicholas CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Nicholas County's FEMA declarations (CSV)26 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis