Pleasants County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54073 · population 7,647 · 130 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 250 records for Pleasants County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 229 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (55 records). 158 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 June 29, 2012 thunderstorm wind: 1 death and $643,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1993, 14 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on August 3, 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
- 250on 229 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 13 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $5.9Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 2strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 16latest 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 Pleasants County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 55 since 1957. 58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 55 | 48 | 1957-2026 | 1 | 0 | $1.1M | 12 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 54 | 54 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $97K | 10 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 32 | 32 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $56K | 3 of 53 |
| Floods | 26 | 25 | 1996-2020 | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | 13 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 24 | 24 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $109K | 2 of 53 |
| Heat | 19 | 19 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 53 |
| Drought | 17 | 17 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 53 |
| Hail | 16 | 14 | 1989-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 17 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 5 | 5 | 1998-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 1981-2014 | 0 | 3 | $818K | 10 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 Pleasants County had?
NOAA records 2 tornadoes in Pleasants County from 1981 to 2014, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries recorded in the county. That is 10th 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 2 tornadoes whose track touched Pleasants County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 2, 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 Pleasants County (2)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-07-27 | Wiley, Pleasants County | EF1 1.76 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 1981-07-28 | Pleasants County | F2 5.1 mi x 33 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 Pleasants County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($6,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindBellmont, Pleasants County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtPleasants County · forecast zone Pleasants | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtPleasants County · forecast zone Pleasants | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | HailBellmont, Pleasants County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-01 | Thunderstorm WindHebron, Pleasants County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-04-01 | HailBellmont, Pleasants County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherPleasants County · forecast zone Pleasants | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindPleasants County · forecast zone Pleasants | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillPleasants County · forecast zone Pleasants | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormPleasants County · forecast zone Pleasants | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-20 | Cold/Wind ChillPleasants County · forecast zone Pleasants | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | Winter WeatherPleasants County · forecast zone Pleasants | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindArvilla, Pleasants County Large trees and branches were blown down in scattered locations throughout the county. One house had major damage and 2 others had minor damage. Around 3100 customers were without electricity. The public infrastructure damage assessment was around $55,000. In the aftermath, there was 1 indirect death. A 38 year old ... | 56 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $643K |
| 1981-07-28 | TornadoPleasants County | F2 5.1 mi x 33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-06-28 | Flash FloodCountywide, Pleasants County | 0 | 0 | $905K | |
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindArvilla, Pleasants County | 56 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $643K |
| 2013-08-13 | Flash FloodCluster, Pleasants County | 0 | 0 | $253K | |
| 2014-07-27 | TornadoWiley, Pleasants County | EF1 1.76 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindBellmont, Pleasants County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6K |
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: July 28, 1981 (tornado, Pleasants 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 Pleasants 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 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 8 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 9 | 20 | 18 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 12 | 6 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 10 | 11 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 10 | 5 | 8 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 8 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 45 · Feb 35 · Mar 28 · Apr 17 · May 14 · Jun 26 · Jul 25 · Aug 12 · Sep 13 · Oct 9 · Nov 7 · Dec 19 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Pleasants County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Pleasants County: 10 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (4) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-03 | DR-4932 | Flood | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3639 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4517 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3450 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-04-17 | DR-4359 | Mud/Landslide | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-21 | DR-4221 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-18 | DR-4220 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3221 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-20 | DR-1558 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 1998-07-01 | DR-1229 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-01-25 | DR-1096 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1084 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3109 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
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 Pleasants County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 26 flood or flash flood records for Pleasants County from 1996 to 2020, on 25 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Pleasants County ranks 1731st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $536,000 on 43 claims filed in Pleasants County; the most in one year was 17 in 2004. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 1 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1985: 2 · 1987: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1996: 3 · 1998: 2 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 17 · 2005: 5 · 2010: 1 · 2018: 1; 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 Pleasants County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pleasants County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $12K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.1M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $86K | 46 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $23K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $30K | once in about 35 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $10K | 3 modeled event-days a year |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $46K | 2.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $25 | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Pleasants 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
- Severe thunderstorm wind in West VirginiaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, 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 Pleasants CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Pleasants County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis