Rutland County, Vermont
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 50021 · population 60,514 · 931 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,042 records for Rutland County, Vermont from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 607 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (412 records). 617 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 December 29, 2015 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Eastern Rutland, which covers the county: 3 deaths and $25,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1973, 20 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Tropical Depression Debby” on August 8, 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
- 1,042on 607 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 127 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $113Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 2strongest EF0
- FEMA declarations
- 22latest 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 Rutland County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 412 since 1996. 48% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The rank column places the county among Vermont'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 412 | 261 | 1996-2026 | 6 | 0 | $6.6M | 13 of 13 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 275 | 157 | 1955-2026 | 3 | 6 | $7.5M | 3 of 13 |
| High wind and dust storms | 112 | 73 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $11M | 7 of 13 |
| Hail | 90 | 54 | 1966-2025 | 0 | 0 | $157K | 6 of 13 |
| Floods | 74 | 62 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $85M | 10 of 13 |
| Extreme cold | 53 | 29 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 12 of 13 |
| Heat | 13 | 8 | 2006-2025 | 0 | 0 | $835K | 10 of 13 |
| Lightning | 6 | 6 | 2000-2013 | 0 | 1 | $202K | 7 of 13 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 2002-2009 | 0 | 0 | $138K | 11 of 13 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 1961-2023 | 0 | 0 | $73K | 11 of 13 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 1996-1996 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 13 |
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 Rutland County had?
NOAA records 2 tornadoes in Rutland County from 1961 to 2023, the strongest rated EF0, with 0 deaths and 0 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 2 tornadoes whose track touched Rutland 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 Vermont.
Every tornado record filed for Rutland County (2)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-13 | Benson Lndg, Rutland County | EF0 11.85 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $48K |
| 1961-07-21 | Rutland County | F0 | 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 Rutland County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 26, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindRutland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindProctor, Rutland County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindDanby Four Corners, Rutland County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindEast Pittsford, Rutland County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-15 | Flash FloodNorth Clarendon, Rutland County | 0 | 0 | $75K | |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindSudbury, Rutland County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2026-02-20 | Winter StormRutland County · forecast zone Eastern Rutland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-20 | Winter WeatherRutland County · forecast zone Western Rutland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-10 | Winter WeatherRutland County · forecast zone Western Rutland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-10 | Winter WeatherRutland County · forecast zone Eastern Rutland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillRutland County · forecast zone Eastern Rutland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillRutland County · forecast zone Western Rutland | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-12-29 | Winter WeatherRutland County · forecast zone Eastern Rutland Widespread 3 to 5 inches of snow fell across Rutland county as well as a prolonged period of sleet mixed with some freezing rain. Roads were slick from the first winter storm of the 2015-16 season. A tractor-trailer and SUV collided along Route 4 near Killington that resulted in 3 indirect fatalities and 3 injuries. | 3 | 0 | $25K | |
| 2011-08-28 | Flash FloodBenson, Rutland County Devastating flash flooding occurred across much of Rutland county, mainly along and east of Route 7 and especially in the foothills of the western slopes of the Green Mountains, such as Rutland, Killington, Mendon, Wallingford, Brandon, Chittenden and Pittsford. Dozens of roads (state and local), including Routes 4, ... | 2 | 0 | $68M | |
| 2009-08-19 | Thunderstorm WindCastleton, Rutland County A few branches and power lines downed by thunderstorm winds across Belgo road in Castleton. | 50 kt wind | 2 | 0 | $1K |
| 2022-12-23 | High WindRutland County · forecast zone Western Rutland Several observed wind gusts in the 40-50 mph range but observational network is rather sparse. Based on numerous downed branches, trees and utility lines and similar damage where observed winds were at least 55 mph. A tree fell on a woman outside in Castleton that resulted in her death. | 48 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $101K |
| 2016-07-23 | Thunderstorm WindHubbardton, Rutland County Trees down along Route 30 and other parts of town, some falling on structures. 1 fatality. | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $31K |
| 2011-02-01 | Winter WeatherRutland County · forecast zone Western Rutland A weak mid-atmospheric disturbance and inverted surface trough moved across Vermont during the afternoon of February 1st. A light snowfall occurred for much of the afternoon and early evening before ending prior to a significant snowfall event on February 2nd. Snowfall amounts were generally a dusting to 3 inches ... | 1 | 0 | $7K | |
| 2011-01-12 | Winter StormRutland County · forecast zone Eastern Rutland Generally 8 to 15 inches of snow fell across Rutland county with the higher amounts along the western slopes of the Green Mountains. Some specific snowfall totals included; 14 inches in Danby Four Corners, 12 inches in Castleton and 10 inches in Rutland. | 1 | 0 | $20K | |
| 1996-12-07 | Winter StormRutland County · forecast zone Western Rutland A storm system off the Carolina coast late Saturday, December 7 moved northeast across southeastern New England Sunday, December 8, 1996 resulting in significant snowfall in Vermont. Generally a foot or more of heavy wet snow fell in southern and eastern Vermont, with 5 to 9 inches in northwest Vermont.A few of the ... | 1 | 0 | $169K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-08-28 | Flash FloodBenson, Rutland County | 2 | 0 | $68M | |
| 2011-08-28 | FloodMt Tabor, Rutland County | 0 | 0 | $7.9M | |
| 2007-04-16 | High WindRutland County · forecast zone Western Rutland | 69 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5.0M |
| 2008-06-14 | Flash FloodRutland County | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | |
| 2017-07-01 | Flash FloodMt Tabor, Rutland County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2007-04-16 | High WindRutland County · forecast zone Eastern Rutland | 69 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2019-04-15 | Flash FloodNorth Pawlet, Rutland County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2023-05-18 | Frost/FreezeRutland County · forecast zone Western Rutland | 0 | 0 | $969K |
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 $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 21, 1961 (tornado, Rutland 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 Rutland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 36 | 165 | 120 | 91 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 3 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 50 | 62 | 79 | 45 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 47 | 35 | 20 |
| Hail | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 44 | 8 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 10 | 33 | 23 | 8 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 26 | 7 | 18 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
48% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 150 · Feb 118 · Mar 88 · Apr 49 · May 69 · Jun 118 · Jul 125 · Aug 108 · Sep 23 · Oct 27 · Nov 44 · Dec 123 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Rutland County
FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Rutland County: 16 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and flood (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-08 | EM-3609 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Depression Debby |
| 2024-03-02 | DR-4762 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| 2023-07-14 | DR-4720 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-07-10 | EM-3595 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2021-08-22 | EM-3567 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Henri |
| 2020-04-08 | DR-4532 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3437 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-06-14 | DR-4445 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2017-08-16 | DR-4330 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2015-02-03 | DR-4207 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2013-08-02 | DR-4140 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2011-09-01 | DR-4022 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Irene |
| 2011-08-29 | EM-3338 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2007-05-04 | DR-1698 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-04-10 | EM-3167 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2001-01-18 | DR-1358 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-07-27 | DR-1336 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1999-11-10 | DR-1307 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Floyd |
| 1998-06-30 | DR-1228 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-02-13 | DR-1101 | Flood | Ice Jams and Flooding |
| 1976-08-05 | DR-518 | Flood | Severe Storms, High Winds & Flooding |
| 1973-07-06 | DR-397 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, & Landslides |
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 Rutland County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 74 flood or flash flood records for Rutland County from 1996 to 2026, on 62 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Rutland County ranks 780th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-28 | 2 | 2 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.8 million on 284 claims filed in Rutland County; the most in one year was 151 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1980: 4 · 1981: 6 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 2 · 1984: 2 · 1986: 1 · 1987: 1 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1994: 1 · 2000: 4 · 2003: 1 · 2006: 4 · 2007: 3 · 2008: 13 · 2009: 9 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 151 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 48 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 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 Rutland County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Rutland County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $18.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $469K | 23 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $169K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $110K | 18 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $690K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $26K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $679K | once in about 21 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $13M | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.6M | 2.9 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 Rutland 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 VermontEvery Vermont tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in VermontThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Vermont recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Rutland CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Rutland County's FEMA declarations (CSV)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis