Oswego County, New York
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36075 · population 117,511 · 952 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 992 records for Oswego County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 645 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (419 records). The deadliest single record is the November 18, 2013 high wind, filed for the forecast zone Oswego, which covers the county: 1 death and $25,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1972, 17 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storm and Flooding” on October 21, 2024.
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
- 992on 645 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 16 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $48Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 11strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 2024
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 Oswego County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 419 since 1968. 50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1968 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 | 419 | 195 | 1968-2026 | 0 | 3 | $8.6M | 40 of 58 |
| Winter storms | 322 | 315 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $23M | 9 of 58 |
| Hail | 86 | 41 | 1975-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 47 of 58 |
| Floods | 61 | 32 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $7.5M | 53 of 58 |
| High wind and dust storms | 51 | 49 | 1997-2024 | 1 | 0 | $5.3M | 35 of 58 |
| Extreme cold | 30 | 29 | 2008-2026 | 0 | 0 | $20K | 33 of 58 |
| Tornadoes | 11 | 11 | 1960-2024 | 0 | 3 | $1.9M | 29 of 58 |
| Heavy rain | 7 | 4 | 2018-2021 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 26 of 58 |
| Drought | 3 | 3 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 of 58 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | $38K | 53 of 58 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 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 Oswego County had?
NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Oswego County from 1960 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries recorded in the county. That is 29th of 58 New York 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 14 tornadoes whose track touched Oswego County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-05-02 19:29, as SPC files it | Phoenix | F3 | 3 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.
Every tornado record filed for Oswego County (11)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-24 | Little America, Oswego County | EF0 0.2 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-07-10 | Little America, Oswego County | EF1 2.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-28 | East Palermo, Oswego County | EF0 1.78 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $68K |
| 1996-07-15 | Granby, Oswego County | F0 0.5 mi x 8 yd | 0 | 3 | $66K |
| 1994-05-26 | Central Square, Oswego County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1993-08-02 | Mexico, Oswego County | F0 1.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1986-07-13 | Oswego County | F1 7 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1983-05-02 | Oswego County | F3 3 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1981-09-08 | Oswego County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1972-05-30 | Oswego County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1960-09-09 | Oswego County | F1 2 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 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 Oswego County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindWest Monroe, Oswego County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindPennellville, Oswego County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindHannibal, Oswego County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-12 | Frost/FreezeOswego County · forecast zone Oswego | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-16 | Thunderstorm WindSouth Hannibal, Oswego County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-03-17 | Lake-Effect SnowOswego County · forecast zone Oswego | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillOswego County · forecast zone Oswego | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-27 | Lake-Effect SnowOswego County · forecast zone Oswego | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormOswego County · forecast zone Oswego | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-18 | Winter StormOswego County · forecast zone Oswego | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-14 | Winter StormOswego County · forecast zone Oswego | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | Winter StormOswego County · forecast zone Oswego | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-11-18 | High WindOswego County · forecast zone Oswego Rapidly deepening low pressure tracked from the Upper Great Lakes to James Bay and brought strong winds to the entire region. The winds, gusting as high as 68 mph, brought down trees and power lines throughout the region with numerous reports of damage from downed trees. Power outages were in the tens of thousands. In ... | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $25K |
| 1996-07-15 | TornadoGranby, Oswego County A weak tornado touched down in the town of Granby. The storm destroyed a mobile home on Phinney Road. There were three people in the trailer at the time. All three suffered minor injuries. | F0 0.5 mi x 8 yd | 0 | 3 | $66K |
| 1986-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindOswego County | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2000-09-12 | Thunderstorm WindPennellville, Oswego County Thunderstorms crossed the eastern Lake Ontario region during the afternoon hours. The thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines. One person was slightly injured in Pennelville when the car they were in was crushed by a falling tree. | 0 | 1 | $34K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-04-04 | Ice StormOswego County · forecast zone Oswego | 0 | 0 | $6.0M | |
| 2007-02-02 | Lake-Effect SnowOswego County · forecast zone Oswego | 0 | 0 | $4.3M | |
| 2019-05-17 | FloodKinney Corners, Oswego County | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | |
| 2001-12-28 | Heavy SnowOswego County · forecast zone Oswego | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | |
| 1993-08-24 | HailOswego County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1993-08-24 | Thunderstorm WindOswego County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 1993-08-31 | Thunderstorm WindPulaski, Oswego County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 1998-09-07 | Thunderstorm WindPhoenix, Oswego County | 0 | 0 | $905K |
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: May 2, 1983 (tornado, Oswego County); July 13, 1986 (tornado, Oswego 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 Oswego 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 | 35 | 47 | 82 | 125 | 122 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 49 | 111 | 107 | 55 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 47 | 8 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 2 | 38 | 15 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 16 | 25 | 6 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 16 | 12 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1968 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 124 · Feb 77 · Mar 52 · Apr 25 · May 112 · Jun 94 · Jul 127 · Aug 147 · Sep 69 · Oct 31 · Nov 45 · Dec 89 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Oswego County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Oswego County: 12 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (6) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-21 | DR-4839 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2019-12-19 | DR-4472 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2017-11-14 | DR-4348 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3351 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2007-02-23 | EM-3273 | Snowstorm | Record Snow and Near Record Snow |
| 2005-09-30 | EM-3262 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-08-03 | DR-1534 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-03-03 | EM-3195 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 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 |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3107 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1985-03-20 | DR-733 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1975-10-02 | DR-487 | Flood | Storms, Rains, Landslides & Flooding |
| 1974-07-23 | DR-447 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-03-21 | DR-367 | Flood | High Winds, Wave Action & 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 Oswego County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 61 flood or flash flood records for Oswego County from 1996 to 2024, on 32 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Oswego County ranks 889th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.5 million on 221 claims filed in Oswego County; the most in one year was 31 in 1993. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 5 · 1979: 21 · 1980: 4 · 1981: 3 · 1983: 6 · 1984: 2 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 3 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 2 · 1990: 2 · 1991: 2 · 1992: 4 · 1993: 31 · 1994: 19 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 10 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 4 · 2000: 3 · 2001: 4 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2006: 6 · 2007: 6 · 2009: 2 · 2011: 10 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 17 · 2018: 8 · 2019: 17 · 2020: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 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 Oswego County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Oswego County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $26.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $564K | 47 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $558K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $22M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $905K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $381K | 29 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $617K | once in about 889 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $223K | once in about 70 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $334K | 2.9 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Oswego 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 Oswego CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Oswego County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis