Somerset County, Maine
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 23025 · population 50,421 · 3,924 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,343 records for Somerset County, Maine from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 731 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (559 records). 878 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 18, 2023 high wind, filed for the forecast zone Southern Somerset, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 29 declarations naming the county since 1970, 27 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storm and Flooding” on January 30, 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
- 1,343on 731 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 12 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $41Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 13strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 29latest 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 Somerset County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 559 since 1996. 46% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The rank column places the county among Maine'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 | 559 | 326 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $11M | 14 of 16 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 265 | 120 | 1960-2024 | 0 | 1 | – | 12 of 16 |
| Floods | 158 | 118 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $24M | 11 of 16 |
| Extreme cold | 107 | 66 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 16 |
| High wind and dust storms | 104 | 53 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $25K | 15 of 16 |
| Hail | 63 | 41 | 1962-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 16 |
| Drought | 53 | 26 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | 12 of 16 |
| Tornadoes | 13 | 12 | 1961-2014 | 0 | 0 | $3.8M | 11 of 16 |
| Lightning | 8 | 8 | 1997-2009 | 0 | 1 | $179K | 12 of 16 |
| Heat | 6 | 3 | 1998-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 16 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 3 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 16 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 1 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 16 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2007-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 16 |
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 Somerset County had?
NOAA records 13 tornadoes in Somerset County from 1961 to 2014, the strongest rated F2, 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 13 tornadoes whose track touched Somerset County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 13, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Maine.
Every tornado record filed for Somerset County (13)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-07-15 | St Albans, Somerset County | EF1 2.75 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-06-02 | Wyman Dam, Somerset County | EF0 0.03 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-06-01 | East New Portland, Somerset County | EF1 8.38 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-08-09 | Cornville, Somerset County | F2 3 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1984-05-23 | Somerset County | F1 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1971-11-07 | Somerset County | F2 4.1 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-08-11 | Somerset County | F1 0.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1970-10-03 | Somerset County | F1 9.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-07-15 | Somerset County | F0 17.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1963-07-01 | Somerset County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1963-07-01 | Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $3K step | |
| 1962-08-20 | Somerset County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1961-09-04 | Somerset County | F2 0.5 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Somerset County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 18, 2023 flash flood ($339,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Heavy rain and snowmelt caused the Pleasant Pond Stream to flood 2 bridges, one near Main Street and the other upstream. Main Street was closed cutting off most homes in the community. Some buildings were also inundated.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1151061)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtSomerset County · forecast zone Southern Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtSomerset County · forecast zone Central Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-05 | Winter WeatherSomerset County · forecast zone Northern Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-03 | Winter WeatherSomerset County · forecast zone Northern Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtSomerset County · forecast zone Southern Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtSomerset County · forecast zone Central Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtSomerset County · forecast zone Northern Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | Winter WeatherSomerset County · forecast zone Northern Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-31 | Winter WeatherSomerset County · forecast zone Northern Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-22 | Winter WeatherSomerset County · forecast zone Northern Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-11 | SleetSomerset County · forecast zone Northern Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtSomerset County · forecast zone Northern Somerset | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-18 | High WindSomerset County · forecast zone Southern Somerset Strong southeast wind gusts began the morning of the 18th. While wind gusts remained strong throughout the day, the damaging gusts occurred in several waves in the morning, again at midday, and once more in the evening. The peak gusts were fairly typical of a high wind event during the cool season, but the duration of ... | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2004-07-20 | LightningMadison, Somerset County A 50-yr-old man was struck an injured by lightning as he walked outside his home after the storm had passed. He was taken to a nearby hospital and released 8 hours later. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1985-07-26 | Thunderstorm WindSomerset County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-18 | FloodFairfield, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $9.7M | |
| 2023-12-18 | FloodGreat Works, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $4.8M | |
| 2000-07-17 | FloodBingham, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | |
| 1996-07-13 | Flash FloodAnson, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $621K | |
| 2000-04-22 | Flash FloodCountywide, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $588K | |
| 2008-04-29 | FloodFairfield, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $508K | |
| 2016-06-28 | Flash FloodThe Forks, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $492K | |
| 1999-09-17 | Flash FloodCountywide, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $443K |
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: September 4, 1961 (tornado, Somerset County); May 23, 1984 (tornado, Somerset 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 Somerset 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 | – | – | – | – | 87 | 205 | 151 | 116 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 27 | 68 | 113 | 37 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 21 | 57 | 45 | 35 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 26 | 54 | 18 | 9 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 36 | 52 | 9 | 7 |
| Hail | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 22 | 24 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 235 · Feb 147 · Mar 131 · Apr 80 · May 62 · Jun 133 · Jul 129 · Aug 96 · Sep 35 · Oct 56 · Nov 69 · Dec 170 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Somerset County
FEMA's register lists 29 declarations that include Somerset County: 20 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (11) and flood (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-30 | DR-4754 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| 2023-09-14 | EM-3598 | Hurricane | Hurricane Lee |
| 2023-07-06 | DR-4719 | Flood | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| 2023-03-22 | DR-4696 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4522 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3444 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-01-02 | DR-4354 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| 2009-07-30 | DR-1852 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2008-05-09 | DR-1755 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2007-04-25 | DR-1693 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding |
| 2005-09-19 | EM-3256 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-06-29 | DR-1591 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams |
| 2005-04-01 | EM-3209 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-03-14 | EM-3206 | Snowstorm | Record and/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2004-02-05 | DR-1508 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt and Ice Jams |
| 2004-01-26 | EM-3194 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2004-01-15 | EM-3190 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2001-03-20 | EM-3164 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2000-04-28 | DR-1326 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams |
| 1999-11-18 | DR-1308 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1998-07-02 | DR-1232 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1998-01-13 | DR-1198 | Severe Storm | Severe Ice Storms, Rains and High Winds |
| 1996-03-13 | DR-1106 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Ice Jams, Flooding |
| 1993-05-11 | DR-988 | Flood | Heavy Rain, Snowmelt, Ice Jams & Flooding |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3099 | Snowstorm | Blizzards, Severe Winds & Snowfall, Coastal Storm |
| 1992-03-27 | DR-940 | Flood | Heavy Rains, Ice Jams & Flooding |
| 1987-04-09 | DR-788 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1974-01-18 | DR-410 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1970-02-27 | DR-284 | Flood | Severe Storms, Ice Jams & 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 Somerset County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 158 flood or flash flood records for Somerset County from 1996 to 2025, on 118 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Somerset County ranks 1141st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-17 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.0 million on 138 claims filed in Somerset County; the most in one year was 44 in 1987. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 5 · 1979: 5 · 1980: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 4 · 1984: 10 · 1986: 8 · 1987: 44 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 2 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 8 · 2005: 4 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2023: 35; 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 Somerset County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Somerset County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $26.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $648K | 25 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $8.0M | 7.1 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $936K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $952K | 18 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $4.2M | once in about 13 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $850K | 3.3 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $10K | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $9.4M | 4.1 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 Somerset 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 MaineEvery Maine tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in MaineThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Maine recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Somerset CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Somerset County's FEMA declarations (CSV)29 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis