Raleigh County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54081 · population 74,558 · 605 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 750 records for Raleigh County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 487 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (191 records). The deadliest single record is the March 13, 2010 flood: 2 deaths and $5.4 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 29 declarations naming the county since 1967, 27 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
- 750on 487 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 645 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $126Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 7strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 29latest 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 Raleigh County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 191 since 1964. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1964 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 | 191 | 112 | 1964-2026 | 0 | 3 | $6.2M | 37 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 181 | 139 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 4 | $19M | 23 of 53 |
| Hail | 120 | 69 | 1962-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | 12 of 53 |
| Floods | 80 | 63 | 1996-2026 | 4 | 2 | $80M | 36 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 60 | 41 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $510K | 25 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 35 | 32 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | 39 of 53 |
| Drought | 32 | 23 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 53 |
| Heat | 22 | 22 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 34 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 11 | 11 | 1999-2015 | 0 | 0 | $25K | 34 of 53 |
| Lightning | 7 | 7 | 2001-2017 | 0 | 11 | $94K | 7 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 7 | 6 | 1959-2014 | 0 | 25 | $16M | 16 of 53 |
| Wildfires | 3 | 3 | 1999-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 53 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 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 Raleigh County had?
NOAA records 7 tornadoes in Raleigh County from 1959 to 2014, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 25 injuries recorded in the county. That is 16th 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 7 tornadoes whose track touched Raleigh County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 7, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Raleigh County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-04 02:26, as SPC files it | Meadow Bridge | F3 | 32.2 mi | 1 |
| 1974-04-04 02:20, as SPC files it | Coal to Shady Spring | F3 | 9.2 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in West Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Raleigh County (7)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-10-07 | Willibet, Raleigh County | EF2 3.01 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $343K |
| 1980-07-09 | Raleigh County | F1 4.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1974-04-04 | Raleigh County | F3 3.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1974-04-04 | Raleigh County | F3 9.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 12 | $2.5M step |
| 1967-04-17 | Raleigh County | F0 1.3 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1967-03-14 | Raleigh County | F1 1.5 mi x 180 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1959-04-19 | Raleigh County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 12 | $25K 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 Raleigh County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 22, 2026 flash flood ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-23 | Flash FloodEunice, Raleigh County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-22 | Flash FloodProsperity, Raleigh County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindSprague, Raleigh County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindNaoma, Raleigh County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindCherry Creek, Raleigh County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindBurma, Raleigh County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindCool Ridge, Raleigh County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindBeaver, Raleigh County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindHotcoal, Raleigh County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindArnett, Raleigh County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindRock Creek, Raleigh County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindSweeneyburg, Raleigh County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-03-13 | FloodBesoco, Raleigh County Major stream flooding along such streams as Piney, Beaver, Little Beaver, Little Whitestick, and the headwaters of Dunloup Creek, including Maple Fork. Damage was less along the Marsh Fork and Clear Fork drainage in the western portion of the county. A 59 year old female turnpike worker was returning home from the ... | 2 | 0 | $5.4M | |
| 1998-01-27 | Heavy SnowRaleigh County · forecast zone Raleigh A surprise heavy wet snow fell over these mountainous counties. Since the environment was near the freezing mark, through a deep layer, a wide variation in snow depth was observed. The variation was based on elevation. Elevations above 2000 feet were impacted the most. At these elevations of Fayette, Raleigh, Wyoming, ... | 2 | 0 | $9.1M | |
| 1997-06-01 | Flash FloodWestern Portion, Raleigh County Rains of 2.5 to 3.5 inches fell over the mountainous terrain in less than 3 hours. A coal mine along Clear Fork reported a total of 3.4 inches of rain. Flooding was most serious in the Clear Creek to Artie vicinity, including Toney Fork, Workman Creek, White Oak Creek, and Clear Fork. A 34 year old woman and a 15 year ... | 2 | 0 | $368K | |
| 1974-04-04 | TornadoRaleigh County | F3 9.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 12 | $2.5M step |
| 1959-04-19 | TornadoRaleigh County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 12 | $25K step |
| 2001-08-11 | LightningBeckley, Raleigh County Residents were sitting outside on benches near Broadway and Seventh Streets. Apparently, it was not raining, when a lightning bolt struck. One of the 9 people was seriously injured. | 0 | 9 | – | |
| 1998-02-03 | Winter StormRaleigh County · forecast zone Raleigh A slow moving coastal storm in conjunction with easterly winds aloft, caused several periods of wet snow, sleet, and rain. The snow fell mostly from the 3rd into the 4th and again late on the 5th into the 6th. Tri State Airport near Kenova and Ceredo reported a snow depth of 13 inches, Branchland of Lincoln County, ... | 0 | 4 | $6.3M | |
| 2017-02-28 | LightningClear Creek, Raleigh County Two men were struck by lightning on an abandoned portion of the Workman's Creek mine in the Clear Creek community of Raleigh County. | 0 | 2 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-07-08 | Flash FloodWest Portion, Raleigh County | 0 | 0 | $67M | |
| 1998-01-27 | Heavy SnowRaleigh County · forecast zone Raleigh | 2 | 0 | $9.1M | |
| 1998-02-03 | Winter StormRaleigh County · forecast zone Raleigh | 0 | 4 | $6.3M | |
| 2010-03-13 | FloodBesoco, Raleigh County | 2 | 0 | $5.4M | |
| 2009-05-09 | FloodAmigo, Raleigh County | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | |
| 2022-12-23 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillRaleigh County · forecast zone Southeast Raleigh | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2003-11-19 | FloodRaleigh County · forecast zone Raleigh | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2002-04-28 | HailBeckley, Raleigh County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.1M |
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: April 4, 1974 (tornado, Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 36 | 46 | 77 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 17 | 31 | 55 | 78 |
| Hail | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 45 | 31 | 10 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 21 | 16 | 39 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 12 | 11 | 36 z |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 13 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
High wind and dust storms in the 2020-26: 36 records against 11 in the decade before, 36 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 Raleigh 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?
47% 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 99 · Feb 97 · Mar 60 · Apr 87 · May 65 · Jun 88 · Jul 70 · Aug 49 · Sep 27 · Oct 21 · Nov 30 · Dec 57 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Raleigh County
FEMA's register lists 29 declarations that include Raleigh County: 21 major disasters, 7 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for severe storm (11) and flood (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3639 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-02-26 | DR-4861 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4517 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3450 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015-03-31 | DR-4210 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, 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 |
| 2010-03-29 | DR-1893 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2010-03-02 | DR-1881 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2009-05-15 | DR-1838 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 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 |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1455 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2002-05-05 | DR-1410 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2001-11-16 | FM-2391 | Fire | Wv - Southeast Fire Complex - 11/16/2001 |
| 2001-06-03 | DR-1378 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides |
| 1996-05-23 | DR-1115 | Flood | Flooding, Heavy Winds |
| 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 |
| 1980-08-15 | DR-628 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-04-07 | DR-531 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-01-19 | EM-3021 | Drought | Drought |
| 1974-04-11 | DR-426 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1972-02-27 | DR-323 | Flood | Heavy Rains & 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 Raleigh County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 80 flood or flash flood records for Raleigh County from 1996 to 2026, on 63 days, with 4 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Raleigh County ranks 522nd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.5 million on 479 claims filed in Raleigh County; the most in one year was 105 in 2001. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 29 · 1979: 8 · 1980: 14 · 1981: 5 · 1982: 9 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 2 · 1985: 16 · 1987: 9 · 1989: 3 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 6 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 1 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 26 · 1997: 5 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 105 · 2002: 8 · 2003: 51 · 2004: 37 · 2005: 2 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 3 · 2009: 14 · 2010: 73 · 2013: 12 · 2015: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 9 · 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 Raleigh County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Raleigh County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $20.0 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 Moderate | $61K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $16M | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $161K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $540K | 46 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $122K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $585K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $13K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $211K | once in about 270 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Raleigh 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 Raleigh CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Raleigh County's FEMA declarations (CSV)29 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis