Somerset County, New Jersey
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 34035 · population 345,266 · 302 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,258 records for Somerset County, New Jersey from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 927 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (325 records). 636 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. NOAA records 221 flood or flash floods there since 1996, with 7 deaths; its 6,502 flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA) rank 75th of 2,942 U.S. counties; the deadliest named storm on its flood record is Hurricane Ida (2021). The deadliest day on its record was September 1, 2021: flash flood records filed for Somerset County that day count 5 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 30 declarations naming the county since 1965, 27 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Remnants of Hurricane Ida” on September 5, 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
- 1,258on 927 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 9134 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $1.2Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 30latest 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 Somerset County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 325 since 1976. 54% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1976 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among New Jersey'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 | 325 | 175 | 1976-2026 | 0 | 7 | $8.4M | 6 of 20 |
| Winter storms | 253 | 247 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 3 | $13M | 5 of 20 |
| Floods | 221 | 181 | 1996-2025 | 7 | 100 | $1.2B | 5 of 20 |
| High wind and dust storms | 119 | 118 | 1996-2019 | 0 | 4 | $27M | 9 of 20 |
| Heat | 95 | 95 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 4 | – | 4 of 20 |
| Hail | 43 | 36 | 1978-2025 | 0 | 0 | $162K | 8 of 20 |
| Drought | 42 | 42 | 1997-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 20 |
| Heavy rain | 42 | 36 | 1996-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 20 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 39 | 39 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 20 |
| Lightning | 37 | 30 | 1998-2021 | 0 | 8 | $3.5M | 8 of 20 |
| Extreme cold | 32 | 31 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 20 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 4 | 1960-2023 | 0 | 8 | $5.9M | 18 of 20 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 3 | 3 | 2008-2020 | 0 | 0 | $656K | 16 of 20 |
| Wildfires | 3 | 3 | 2002-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 20 |
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 4 tornadoes in Somerset County from 1960 to 2023, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 8 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Somerset County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-10-18 16:07, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| 1977-09-26 14:05, as SPC files it | Milltown | F3 | 5.9 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New Jersey.
Every tornado record filed for Somerset County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-26 | Bernardsville, Somerset County | EF1 1.38 mi x 475 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-10-27 | Bedminster, Somerset County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-10-18 | Somerset County | F3 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 8 | $2.5M step |
| 1960-11-29 | Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $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 Somerset County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 14, 2025 flash flood ($15,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindRaritan, Somerset County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-09 | Dense FogSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindMine Brook, Somerset County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindClyde, Somerset County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindBelle Mead, Somerset County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindFlagtown, Somerset County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindBlawenburg, Somerset County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindBelle Mead, Somerset County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | Dense FogSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-07 | Dense FogSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-03 | Winter WeatherSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter StormSomerset County · forecast zone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-01 | Flash FloodBranchburg Park, Somerset County Widespread flash flooding occurred in the northern half of Somerset County with numerous roads closures. There were three flood related fatalities in northern Somerset County, all in Bridgewater Township. There were approximately 1200 water rescues in the entire county. Many buildings and homes were either damaged or ... | 3 | 0 | $28M | |
| 1999-09-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Somerset County Hurricane Floyd battered New Jersey (especially the central and northern thirds) on September 16th and brought with it torrential and in some areas, unprecedented and record breaking rains and damaging winds. The hurricane will go down in history as the greatest natural disaster to ever effect the state of New Jersey ... | 2 | 100 | $634M | |
| 2021-09-01 | Flash FloodBranchburg Park, Somerset County Widespread flash flooding occurred in the southern half of Somerset County with numerous road closures. There were two flood related fatalities in southern Somerset County, both in Hillsborough Township. There were approximately 1200 water rescues in the entire county. Many buildings and homes were either damaged or ... | 2 | 0 | $93M | |
| 2015-03-05 | Heavy SnowSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset Waves of low pressure that formed along a sinking cold front brought New Jersey heavy snow and the southern half of the state its heaviest snow of the season. Snowfall averaged 4 to 9 inches with the highest amounts in central New Jersey. Less snow fell in Sussex County. The heavy snow prompted Governor Chris Christie ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1999-07-04 | HeatSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset A very strong and oppressive high pressure system that extended from the surface to aloft gave New Jersey a brutal heat wave that included the entire Independence Day weekend. There were seventeen heat related deaths and around 100 reported heat related injuries. High temperatures reached the 90s for the first time on ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1990-10-18 | TornadoSomerset County | F3 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 8 | $2.5M step |
| 2003-11-13 | High WindSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset The combination of a rapidly deepening low pressure system moving through the Saint Lawrence Valley and a high pressure system building in from the Plains States produced high winds across New Jersey. The strongest winds occurred during two time periods: in the morning shortly after the low pressure system's cold ... | 55 kt wind | 0 | 4 | $481K |
| 2011-07-21 | Excessive HeatSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset One of the most oppressive heat waves since mid July 1995 enveloped New Jersey from July 21st through the 24th. The heat was responsible for two deaths and hundreds of heat related injuries. Many locations had high temperatures that reached into the 100s. The most oppressive day was July 22nd when the combination of ... | 0 | 3 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-09-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Somerset County | 2 | 100 | $634M | |
| 2011-08-28 | FloodPeapack, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $262M | |
| 2021-09-01 | Flash FloodBranchburg Park, Somerset County | 2 | 0 | $93M | |
| 2007-04-15 | FloodLamington, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $68M | |
| 1996-10-19 | Flash FloodCountywide, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $58M | |
| 2021-09-01 | Flash FloodBranchburg Park, Somerset County | 3 | 0 | $28M | |
| 2012-10-29 | High WindSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $26M |
| 1998-09-07 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Somerset County | 0 | 1 | $4.8M |
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: October 18, 1990 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 43 | 59 | 85 | 130 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 24 | 95 | 95 | 39 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 19 | 86 | 84 | 32 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 20 | 63 | 36 | 0 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 26 | 32 | 19 | 18 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 10 | 8 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
54% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1976 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 157 · Feb 139 · Mar 106 · Apr 62 · May 67 · Jun 111 · Jul 231 · Aug 117 · Sep 51 · Oct 59 · Nov 44 · Dec 114 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Somerset County
FEMA's register lists 30 declarations that include Somerset County: 19 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (9) and severe storm (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-05 | DR-4614 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| 2021-09-02 | EM-3573 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| 2020-03-25 | DR-4488 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3451 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-06-08 | DR-4368 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2016-03-14 | DR-4264 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2012-10-30 | DR-4086 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3354 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-11-30 | DR-4048 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
| 2011-08-31 | DR-4021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-27 | EM-3332 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-02-04 | DR-1954 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2010-04-02 | DR-1897 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2007-04-26 | DR-1694 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding |
| 2005-09-19 | EM-3257 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-03-20 | EM-3181 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2001-09-19 | EM-3169 | Fire | Fires and Explosions |
| 2000-11-01 | EM-3156 | Other | West Nile Virus |
| 1999-09-18 | DR-1295 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1999-09-17 | EM-3148 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations |
| 1996-11-19 | DR-1145 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1088 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3106 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1992-12-18 | DR-973 | Flood | Coastal Storm, High Tides, Heavy Rain, & Flooding |
| 1980-10-19 | EM-3083 | Drought | Water Shortage |
| 1975-07-23 | DR-477 | Flood | Heavy Rains, High Winds, Hail & Tornadoes |
| 1973-08-07 | DR-402 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1971-09-04 | DR-310 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1968-06-18 | DR-245 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1965-08-18 | DR-205 | Drought | Water Shortage |
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 221 flood or flash flood records for Somerset County from 1996 to 2025, on 181 days, with 7 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Somerset County ranks 75th of 2,942 U.S. counties. The 100 counties with the most claims
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ida | 2021-09-01 | 2 | 5 |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-16 | 1 | 2 |
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-27 | 3 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $240 million on 6,502 claims filed in Somerset County; the most in one year was 1,383 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 29 · 1979: 133 · 1980: 5 · 1981: 7 · 1982: 15 · 1983: 22 · 1984: 65 · 1985: 6 · 1986: 4 · 1987: 3 · 1988: 2 · 1989: 11 · 1990: 2 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 9 · 1993: 10 · 1994: 17 · 1995: 7 · 1996: 580 · 1997: 11 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 1,099 · 2000: 15 · 2001: 4 · 2002: 3 · 2003: 14 · 2004: 13 · 2005: 21 · 2006: 10 · 2007: 1,021 · 2008: 9 · 2009: 10 · 2010: 710 · 2011: 1,383 · 2012: 39 · 2013: 13 · 2014: 72 · 2015: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2018: 12 · 2019: 8 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 858 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 23 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 171 · 2026: 1.
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 Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $161 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $126M | 6.3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $1.0M | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $4.5M | 6.8 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $1.7M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.4M | 34 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $4.3M | 7.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $5.3M | once in about 9 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $4.3M | about once 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 New JerseyEvery New Jersey tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in New JerseyThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The New Jersey 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)30 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis