Seneca County, New York
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36099 · population 33,805 · 324 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 320 records for Seneca County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 230 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (139 records). The most damaging was the August 14, 2018 flash flood ($1.4 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1972, 8 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on October 1, 2018.
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
- 320on 230 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 02 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $9.9Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 2020
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 Seneca County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 139 since 1971. 61% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1971 fell in June and July. 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 | 139 | 90 | 1971-2026 | 0 | 2 | $1.6M | 21 of 58 |
| Winter storms | 69 | 67 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.9M | 31 of 58 |
| Hail | 43 | 27 | 1973-2026 | 0 | 0 | $37K | 22 of 58 |
| Floods | 27 | 19 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | 38 of 58 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 17 | 1997-2021 | 0 | 0 | $557K | 34 of 58 |
| Extreme cold | 13 | 12 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $31K | 25 of 58 |
| Drought | 4 | 4 | 1999-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 58 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2001-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 22 of 58 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 58 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | $34K | 45 of 58 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2001-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 58 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 2007-2007 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 53 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 Seneca County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Seneca County from 2007 to 2007, the strongest rated EF1, 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 1 tornado whose track touched Seneca County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.
Every tornado record filed for Seneca County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-06-21 | Sheldrake, Seneca County | EF1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
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 Seneca County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindWaterloo, Seneca County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-13 | HailSeneca Falls, Seneca County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-13 | HailPackwood Corners, Seneca County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-31 | Flash FloodEast Varick, Seneca County | 0 | 0 | $2K | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormSeneca County · forecast zone Seneca | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindRomulus, Seneca County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-06-09 | Flash FloodCovert, Seneca County | 0 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2025-06-09 | Thunderstorm WindCovert, Seneca County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-06-05 | Thunderstorm WindHayts Corners, Seneca County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindOvid, Seneca County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindHayts Corners, Seneca County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $17K |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindLodi, Seneca County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-05-29 | Thunderstorm WindRose Hill, Seneca County The path of the storm started along route 96A in the town of Fayette, just east of Seneca Lake. Here a barn was destroyed with estimated wind speeds of 80 to 90 mph. Scattered damage continued to the northeast through the town of Fayette across route 96 near Christler Road. Here a tractor trailer was blown off the ... | 78 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $39K |
| 1984-09-11 | Thunderstorm WindSeneca County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-08-14 | Flash FloodLodi Station, Seneca County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 1996-01-19 | Flash FloodCountywide, Seneca County | 0 | 0 | $941K | |
| 1998-09-06 | Thunderstorm WindWaterloo, Seneca County | 0 | 0 | $453K | |
| 2004-04-18 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Seneca County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $312K |
| 2012-05-29 | Thunderstorm WindRose Hill, Seneca County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $39K |
| 2015-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindRomulus, Seneca County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2024-07-10 | Thunderstorm WindSheldrake Spgs, Seneca County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindHayts Corners, Seneca County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $17K |
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 Seneca 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 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 53 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 15 | 31 | 17 | 6 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 20 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 5 | 8 | 11 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
61% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1971 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 32 · Feb 19 · Mar 19 · Apr 19 · May 36 · Jun 56 · Jul 59 · Aug 31 · Sep 10 · Oct 14 · Nov 10 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Seneca County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Seneca County: 6 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and flood (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-20 | DR-4480 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3434 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-10-01 | DR-4397 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3351 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2005-09-30 | EM-3262 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-08-03 | DR-1534 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 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 Seneca County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 27 flood or flash flood records for Seneca County from 1996 to 2026, on 19 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Seneca County ranks 1272nd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $977,000 on 108 claims filed in Seneca County; the most in one year was 45 in 1993. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 4 · 1983: 8 · 1987: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 45 · 1994: 4 · 1996: 4 · 2003: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 12 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 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 Seneca County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Seneca County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $462K | 2.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $161K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $7.6M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $146K | once in about 43 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $227K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $94K | 30 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $401K | once in about 16 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $217K | 1.5 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 Seneca 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 Seneca CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Seneca County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis