Onondaga County, New York
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36067 · population 476,419 · 778 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,005 records for Onondaga County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 519 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (463 records). The deadliest single record is the September 7, 1998 thunderstorm wind: 3 deaths, 7 injuries and $163 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1972, 15 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred” on October 8, 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
- 1,005on 519 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 939 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $250Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 8strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 19latest 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 Onondaga County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 463 since 1956. 52% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in July and August. 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 | 463 | 206 | 1956-2026 | 5 | 22 | $171M | 25 of 58 |
| Hail | 203 | 86 | 1958-2025 | 0 | 3 | $253K | 10 of 58 |
| Winter storms | 177 | 176 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 1 | $12M | 23 of 58 |
| Floods | 70 | 30 | 1996-2025 | 2 | 0 | $52M | 52 of 58 |
| High wind and dust storms | 29 | 25 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 1 | $994K | 45 of 58 |
| Lightning | 20 | 17 | 1996-2014 | 1 | 7 | $536K | 12 of 58 |
| Extreme cold | 17 | 16 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $47K | 44 of 58 |
| Tornadoes | 8 | 8 | 1963-2006 | 0 | 5 | $12M | 35 of 58 |
| Drought | 5 | 5 | 1999-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 58 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 2001-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 58 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 3 | 2000-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 58 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 2003-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 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 Onondaga County had?
NOAA records 8 tornadoes in Onondaga County from 1963 to 2006, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 5 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Onondaga County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 8: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Onondaga County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-05-02 19:15, as SPC files it | Baldwinsville | F3 | 20 mi | 1 |
| 1969-06-02 14:30, as SPC files it | Port Byron to Meridian | F3 | 17.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.
Every tornado record filed for Onondaga County (8)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-07-29 | Marcellus, Onondaga County | F0 3 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2002-07-28 | Mottville, Onondaga County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3.3M |
| 2001-09-24 | Fabius, Onondaga County | F0 0.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 1993-08-24 | Syracuse, Onondaga County | F1 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1990-08-28 | Onondaga County | F0 6 mi x 37 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1986-07-13 | Onondaga County | F1 4 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 1983-05-02 | Onondaga County | F3 14 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1963-06-11 | Onondaga County | F0 5.2 mi x 100 yd | 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 Onondaga County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindWrights Corners, Onondaga County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindBaldwinsville, Onondaga County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindSouth Bay, Onondaga County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-29 | Thunderstorm WindDe Witt, Onondaga County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-05-29 | Thunderstorm WindOnondaga County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-29 | Thunderstorm WindMalvic Manor, Onondaga County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindManlius, Onondaga County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindChestnut Hill, Onondaga County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindFawn Ridge, Onondaga County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-02-11 | Lake-Effect SnowOnondaga County · forecast zone Onondaga | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormOnondaga County · forecast zone Onondaga | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-15 | Lake-Effect SnowOnondaga County · forecast zone Onondaga | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-09-07 | Thunderstorm WindBaldwinsville, Onondaga County The derecho that caused extensive wind damage upstream in both Cayuga and Seneca counties continued eastward across Onondaga county. Widespread structural damage resulted and tens of thousands of trees were toppled in northern portions of the county. Direct human impact was also felt. Two fatalities and seven injuries ... | 3 | 7 | $163M | |
| 1998-05-29 | Thunderstorm WindCicero, Onondaga County A line of thunderstorms became severe as it crossed northern sections of the county close to 1:30 pm EDT. Numerous trees and wires were downed across northern and eastern sections of the Syracuse metropolitan area. One man in Cicero was injured when he was shocked from falling wires. In Syracuse, another man was ... | 1 | 1 | $72K | |
| 1996-03-06 | Heavy SnowOnondaga County · forecast zone Onondaga A winter storm formed over the Carolinas and tracked up the coast, bringing heavy snow to central New York. Snowfall accumulations ranged from 6 to 12 inches by the time the snow tapered off on the evening of the 7th. During the height of the storm, many accidents were reported due to poor visibility, including one in ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2015-06-30 | Flash FloodColeville, Onondaga County Severe urban flash flooding occurred in the City of Syracuse. A man was swept to his death after stepping into an open manhole on East Fayette Street. Heavy rainfall caused the manhole cover to be blown off by excessive water pressure in the storm sewer system. | 1 | 0 | $623K | |
| 2004-08-27 | LightningSyracuse, Onondaga County A 12-year-old boy was killed by lightning. His mother and a neighbor took shelter from a thunderstorm under a tree in Assumption Cemetery. Both the boy and his mother had bicycles with them. The neighbor was in a wheelchair. The mother and neighbor felt the lightning but were not injured. Lightning also took out power ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1999-07-03 | Thunderstorm WindOtisco, Onondaga County A young girl drowned on Otisco Lake as a result of thunderstorm winds capsizing the party boat she was riding in. | 1 | 0 | $89K | |
| 1998-08-24 | Flash FloodManlius, Onondaga County As a severe thunderstorm moved through the region early in the evening, it dumped torrential rains. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches were observed in less than 30 minutes. This caused the Limestone Creek to quickly rise out of its banks. A four year old girl was out playing by the creek near her backyard when waters ... | 1 | 0 | $36K | |
| 1999-07-03 | Thunderstorm WindSyracuse, Onondaga County Numerous tents and booths were damaged or blown down at the county Fairgrounds during the "Taste of Syracuse" festival. | 0 | 11 | $886K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-09-07 | Thunderstorm WindBaldwinsville, Onondaga County | 3 | 7 | $163M | |
| 1996-01-19 | Flash FloodCountywide, Onondaga County | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 2011-04-26 | Flash FloodBaldwinsville, Onondaga County | 0 | 0 | $12M | |
| 2003-04-04 | Ice StormOnondaga County · forecast zone Onondaga | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2016-07-08 | Flash FloodLong Branch Manor, Onondaga County | 0 | 0 | $6.1M | |
| 2017-07-01 | Flash FloodMandana, Onondaga County | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | |
| 2002-06-14 | Flash FloodNorth Portion, Onondaga County | 0 | 0 | $3.3M | |
| 2002-07-28 | TornadoMottville, Onondaga County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3.3M |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 2, 1983 (tornado, Onondaga 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 Onondaga 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 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 36 | 68 | 55 | 116 | 163 |
| Hail | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 91 | 76 | 13 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 28 | 73 | 49 | 27 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 18 | 26 | 22 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 13 | 7 | 5 |
| Lightning | – | – | – | – | 2 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
52% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 64 · Feb 53 · Mar 43 · Apr 46 · May 140 · Jun 154 · Jul 220 · Aug 144 · Sep 33 · Oct 27 · Nov 27 · Dec 54 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Onondaga County
FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Onondaga County: 13 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (5) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-10-08 | DR-4625 | Hurricane | Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred |
| 2020-03-20 | DR-4480 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3434 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3351 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-06-10 | DR-1993 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2005-09-30 | EM-3262 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 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 |
| 2003-05-12 | DR-1467 | Severe Ice Storm | Ice Storm |
| 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 |
| 1998-09-11 | DR-1244 | Severe Storm | Ny - Severe Wx, Sept 7, 1998 |
| 1996-01-24 | DR-1095 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3107 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1975-10-02 | DR-487 | Flood | Storms, Rains, Landslides & Flooding |
| 1974-07-23 | DR-447 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-338 | 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 Onondaga County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 70 flood or flash flood records for Onondaga County from 1996 to 2025, on 30 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Onondaga County ranks 337th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $8.6 million on 970 claims filed in Onondaga County; the most in one year was 190 in 1993. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 40 · 1979: 67 · 1980: 15 · 1981: 118 · 1982: 3 · 1983: 10 · 1984: 8 · 1985: 3 · 1986: 7 · 1987: 2 · 1988: 8 · 1989: 4 · 1990: 14 · 1992: 4 · 1993: 190 · 1994: 66 · 1995: 5 · 1996: 61 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 9 · 1999: 3 · 2000: 11 · 2001: 8 · 2002: 10 · 2003: 4 · 2004: 25 · 2005: 18 · 2006: 26 · 2007: 22 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 9 · 2010: 4 · 2011: 39 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2014: 9 · 2015: 27 · 2016: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 45 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 18 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 11 · 2026: 6; 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 Onondaga County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Onondaga County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $103 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 | $6.2M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Very High | $1.2M | 26 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very High | $2.3M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $77M | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.4M | 30 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $6.0M | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.7M | 3.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $818K | 2.3 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 Onondaga 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 Onondaga CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Onondaga County's FEMA declarations (CSV)19 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis