Rensselaer County, New York
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36083 · population 161,042 · 652 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,630 records for Rensselaer County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 801 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (553 records). 821 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 February 22, 2008 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Western Rensselaer, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 29 declarations naming the county since 1973, 24 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Henri” on August 22, 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
- 1,630on 801 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 2118 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $48Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 29latest 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 Rensselaer County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 553 since 1962. 53% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 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 | 553 | 257 | 1962-2026 | 1 | 16 | $4.1M | 9 of 58 |
| Winter storms | 389 | 213 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 1 | $1.3M | 10 of 58 |
| High wind and dust storms | 184 | 103 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 11 | $1.3M | 9 of 58 |
| Hail | 133 | 84 | 1959-2025 | 0 | 76 | $115K | 7 of 58 |
| Extreme cold | 130 | 84 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $42K | 5 of 58 |
| Floods | 117 | 64 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 2 | $20M | 18 of 58 |
| Heat | 87 | 64 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 58 |
| Lightning | 13 | 13 | 1996-2020 | 0 | 11 | $398K | 14 of 58 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 8 | 1973-2020 | 0 | 1 | $20M | 26 of 58 |
| Drought | 4 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 45 of 58 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2008-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 25 of 58 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 3 | 2 | 2011-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 58 |
| Wildfires | 3 | 2 | 2001-2002 | 0 | 0 | $3K | 3 of 58 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 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 Rensselaer County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Rensselaer County from 1973 to 2020, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 1 injury recorded in the county. That is 26th 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Rensselaer County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-31 14:22, as SPC files it | Stillwater to Hoosick FallsCrossed NY, VT | F3 | 30.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.
Every tornado record filed for Rensselaer County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-08-29 | Schaghticoke Airport, Rensselaer County | EF1 2.17 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $86K |
| 2003-07-21 | Nassau, Rensselaer County | F1 4.8 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $80K |
| 1998-05-31 | East Schodack, Rensselaer County | F2 8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $317K |
| 1998-05-31 | Reynolds, Rensselaer County | F2 20.3 mi x 970 yd | 0 | 0 | $18M |
| 1994-04-27 | Eagle Bridge, Rensselaer County | F1 1.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1992-05-02 | Rensselaer County | F1 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1992-05-02 | Rensselaer County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1989-11-16 | Rensselaer County | F0 0.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1974-08-27 | Rensselaer County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-08-28 | Rensselaer County | F2 2.3 mi x 83 yd | 0 | 1 | $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 Rensselaer County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind (1 injury and $15,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A local news outlet reported a downed tree near the intersection of Spring Avenue and Kinloch Avenue. The tree unfortunately fell on a 60 year old man who was later taken to Albany Medical Center and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1333007)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindEagle Mills, Rensselaer County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindBarberville, Rensselaer County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindGrafton, Rensselaer County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindWest Sand Lake, Rensselaer County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindBrunswick Center, Rensselaer County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-12 | HeatRensselaer County · forecast zone Western Rensselaer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-14 | Thunderstorm WindAlbia, Rensselaer County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $15K |
| 2026-03-16 | Strong WindRensselaer County · forecast zone Eastern Rensselaer | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Strong WindRensselaer County · forecast zone Western Rensselaer | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter WeatherRensselaer County · forecast zone Western Rensselaer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter WeatherRensselaer County · forecast zone Eastern Rensselaer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-20 | Winter WeatherRensselaer County · forecast zone Eastern Rensselaer | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-02-22 | Winter WeatherRensselaer County · forecast zone Western Rensselaer A 48 year old female died after she lost control of her vehicle on Route 150 at Sharon Lane in Schodack at approximately 1600 LST. The car went through the guide rails, and slid down an embankment. Slippery roads due to snow were believed to be a contributing factor in the accident. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1989-10-14 | Thunderstorm WindRensselaer County | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2002-06-16 | HailEast Greenbush, Rensselaer County Thunderstorms developed along an occluded frontal bounday by midday June 16. Their intensity was aided by a large cold pocket of air aloft combined with the strong June midday sunshine. As the storms approached the Hudson Valley of eastern New York, some of them became severe. Most of the reports were of hail damage. ... | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 75 | – |
| 2001-06-20 | High WindBrunswick, Rensselaer County A cold front, moving across Renselaer County, late during the afternoon of June 20, produced wind gusts that while below warning criteria, nevertheless damaged a church under construction in the town of Brunswick. The building was only in the framing state and trusses were being placed on a roof. The precariously ... | 0 | 11 | $42K | |
| 2004-07-08 | LightningWynantskill, Rensselaer County Seven people sent to hospital with injuries when lightning struck a softball field in vicinity of North Greenbush/Wynantskill. | 0 | 7 | – | |
| 2017-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindSouth Schodack, Rensselaer County Four people suffered minor injuries after a fireworks display tent collapsed at the Pilot truck stop on Route 9 in Schodack due to severe thunderstorm winds. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 4 | – |
| 1996-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindWynantskill, Rensselaer County | 0 | 3 | $38K | |
| 1988-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindRensselaer County | 0 | 3 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-31 | TornadoReynolds, Rensselaer County | F2 20.3 mi x 970 yd | 0 | 0 | $18M |
| 2008-08-11 | Flash FloodRensselaer County | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | |
| 1999-09-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Rensselaer County | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | |
| 1999-07-06 | Thunderstorm WindPittstown, Rensselaer County | 0 | 0 | $886K | |
| 1996-06-09 | Flash FloodPittstown, Rensselaer County | 0 | 0 | $640K | |
| 2021-07-14 | Flash FloodMillers Corner, Rensselaer County | 0 | 0 | $545K | |
| 2019-01-25 | FloodTroy, Rensselaer County | 0 | 0 | $404K | |
| 1996-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindDefreestville, Rensselaer County | 0 | 0 | $376K |
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, 1992 (tornado, Rensselaer 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 Rensselaer 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 | 8 | 3 | 43 | 91 | 106 | 196 | 106 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 35 | 123 | 131 | 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 21 | 30 | 63 | 70 |
| Hail | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 57 | 36 | 6 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 29 | 67 | 32 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 23 | 32 | 43 | 19 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
53% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 202 · Feb 142 · Mar 88 · Apr 75 · May 131 · Jun 171 · Jul 281 · Aug 213 · Sep 65 · Oct 65 · Nov 45 · Dec 152 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Rensselaer County
FEMA's register lists 29 declarations that include Rensselaer County: 18 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and hurricane (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-08-22 | EM-3565 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri |
| 2020-03-20 | DR-4480 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3434 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-07-12 | DR-4322 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3351 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-09-08 | EM-3341 | Severe Storm | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011-08-31 | DR-4020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-02-18 | DR-1957 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2009-03-04 | DR-1827 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-12-18 | EM-3299 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2006-07-01 | DR-1650 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-30 | EM-3262 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-04-19 | DR-1589 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-08-03 | DR-1534 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-08-29 | DR-1486 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2003-08-23 | EM-3186 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2003-02-25 | EM-3173 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 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 |
| 1999-09-19 | DR-1296 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1998-06-16 | DR-1222 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1996-01-24 | DR-1095 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-01-12 | DR-1083 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3107 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1987-11-10 | DR-801 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1978-08-07 | EM-3066 | Toxic Substances | Chemical Waste, Love Canal |
| 1976-09-03 | DR-520 | Hurricane | Hurricane Belle |
| 1973-07-20 | DR-401 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Rensselaer County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 117 flood or flash flood records for Rensselaer County from 1996 to 2023, on 64 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Rensselaer County ranks 526th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-16 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $5.8 million on 475 claims filed in Rensselaer County; the most in one year was 157 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 2 · 1979: 13 · 1980: 4 · 1981: 2 · 1982: 5 · 1983: 5 · 1984: 8 · 1986: 2 · 1987: 2 · 1989: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 6 · 1994: 8 · 1995: 11 · 1996: 50 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 18 · 1999: 7 · 2000: 16 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 13 · 2006: 4 · 2007: 9 · 2008: 28 · 2009: 8 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 157 · 2012: 7 · 2013: 4 · 2014: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 12 · 2019: 5 · 2021: 12 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 15; 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 Rensselaer County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Rensselaer County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $49.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $2.5M | 2.9 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $37M | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $756K | 27 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.4M | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $240K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $114K | 17 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $1.8M | once in about 16 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Rensselaer 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 Rensselaer CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Rensselaer County's FEMA declarations (CSV)29 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis