Sullivan County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47163 · population 158,067 · 414 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 520 records for Sullivan County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 336 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (270 records). The deadliest single record is the January 30, 2026 heavy snow, filed for the forecast zone Sullivan, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1973, 10 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on February 6, 2026.
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
- 520on 336 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 222 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $22Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 2026
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 Sullivan County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 270 since 1957. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Tennessee'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 | 270 | 208 | 1957-2025 | 1 | 8 | $8.0M | 17 of 95 |
| Hail | 93 | 67 | 1960-2024 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 16 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 82 | 51 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $27K | 52 of 95 |
| Floods | 50 | 38 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $124K | 38 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 9 | 8 | 2003-2024 | 0 | 2 | $160K | 47 of 95 |
| Lightning | 6 | 5 | 2000-2007 | 0 | 0 | $97K | 28 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 1974-2014 | 0 | 12 | $14M | 92 of 95 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2012-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 25 of 95 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2009-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 of 95 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | 78 of 95 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 2022-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 56 of 95 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2007-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 53 of 95 |
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 Sullivan County had?
NOAA records 3 tornadoes in Sullivan County from 1974 to 2014, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 12 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Sullivan County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 3, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Sullivan County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-07-27 | Rock Spgs, Sullivan County | EF1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-10-01 | Sullivan County | F1 16.2 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 10 | $2.5M step |
| 1974-04-04 | Sullivan County | F0 13.8 mi x 2,500 yd | 0 | 2 | $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 Sullivan County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the January 30, 2026 heavy snow (1 death).
Heavy snow fell across Sullivan County, with 8.5 inches of snow in Gray and 9 inches in Colonial Heights. Additional snowfall measurements include 7.5 inches in Bristol, and the Tri-Cities Airport measured 8 inches of snowfall.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1314744)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-04 | Winter WeatherSullivan County · forecast zone Sullivan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowSullivan County · forecast zone Sullivan | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormSullivan County · forecast zone Sullivan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-19 | Thunderstorm WindColonial Hgts, Sullivan County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-19 | Thunderstorm WindAvoca, Sullivan County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-04 | Thunderstorm WindFriendship, Sullivan County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-13 | FloodVance, Sullivan County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-13 | Flash FloodBluff City, Sullivan County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-13 | Flash FloodVance, Sullivan County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-30 | Flash FloodBlountville, Sullivan County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-30 | Flash FloodMorrison City, Sullivan County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-30 | Flash FloodLeonard, Sullivan County | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowSullivan County · forecast zone Sullivan Heavy snow fell across Sullivan County, with 8.5 inches of snow in Gray and 9 inches in Colonial Heights. Additional snowfall measurements include 7.5 inches in Bristol, and the Tri-Cities Airport measured 8 inches of snowfall. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2022-09-25 | Thunderstorm WindSpringdale, Sullivan County Multiple large trees were blown down. A tree that was blown over hit a vehicle traveling on Shady View Road near Kingsport, killing a woman. | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 1977-10-01 | TornadoSullivan County | F1 16.2 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 10 | $2.5M step |
| 2002-07-23 | Thunderstorm WindJacob, Sullivan County Wind downed a tree onto a van carrying juveniles near Jacobs Creek Camp. Several persons were injured and transported to the hospital. Other trees were downed at Little Oak Campground near Friendship. | 0 | 3 | $66K | |
| 2009-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindKingsport, Sullivan County Trained spotter reported multiple trees and powerlines downed by thunderstorm winds in Kingsport. In addition, a mother and child were injured by a falling limb at a local park in Kingsport. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $28K |
| 2004-07-10 | Thunderstorm WindHolston Vly, Sullivan County A woman and her daughter were injured when thunderstorm winds caused a tree to fall onto their tent at Observation Knob Park near South Holston Lake. | 45 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 1974-04-04 | TornadoSullivan County | F0 13.8 mi x 2,500 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2024-09-27 | High WindSullivan County · forecast zone Sullivan A severe prolonged non-thunderstorm wind event from Helene wrecked havoc across Sullivan County, with dispatch noting an early estimate of a thousand trees being felled by winds that were up to an estimated 80 mph, primarily at higher elevations. In addition, reports from the public including trained spotters noted ... | 70 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-25 | Thunderstorm WindKingsport, Sullivan County | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | |
| 2004-05-26 | Thunderstorm WindBloomingdale, Sullivan County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.3M |
| 2004-05-26 | Thunderstorm WindKingsport, Sullivan County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $469K |
| 2002-07-23 | Thunderstorm WindJacob, Sullivan County | 0 | 3 | $66K | |
| 2011-09-03 | Thunderstorm WindSpringdale, Sullivan County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2025-02-06 | Thunderstorm WindLynn Garden, Sullivan County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $40K |
| 2011-04-16 | Strong WindSullivan County · forecast zone Sullivan | 45 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $39K |
| 2008-06-09 | Thunderstorm WindBristol, Sullivan County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $34K |
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 1, 1977 (tornado, Sullivan 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 Sullivan 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 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 37 | 95 | 75 | 33 |
| Hail | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 33 | 26 | 10 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 16 | 43 | 13 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 12 | 14 | 8 | 16 |
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 severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 44 · Feb 32 · Mar 16 · Apr 44 · May 85 · Jun 74 · Jul 96 · Aug 55 · Sep 25 · Oct 6 · Nov 8 · Dec 35 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Sullivan County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Sullivan County: 7 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (3) and winter storm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-06 | DR-4898 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3635 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-02 | EM-3625 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2024-10-02 | DR-4832 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4514 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3473 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-05-01 | DR-1974 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3217 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1998-01-13 | DR-1197 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-03-14 | EM-3095 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-424 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1973-03-21 | DR-366 | Flood | Heavy Rains & 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 Sullivan County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 50 flood or flash flood records for Sullivan County from 1996 to 2025, on 38 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Sullivan County ranks 947th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.0 million on 197 claims filed in Sullivan County; the most in one year was 29 in 2013. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1980: 3 · 1981: 9 · 1982: 4 · 1984: 18 · 1989: 8 · 1990: 2 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 2 · 1994: 8 · 1995: 4 · 1996: 8 · 1998: 18 · 1999: 1 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 5 · 2003: 10 · 2005: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 3 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 5 · 2012: 4 · 2013: 29 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2019: 10 · 2020: 14 · 2021: 7 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2025: 3; 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 Sullivan County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sullivan County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $28.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $1.7M | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $911K | 50 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $105K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $20M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $3.3M | once in about 460 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $80K | 7.7 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $859K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 15 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Sullivan 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 TennesseeEvery Tennessee tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in TennesseeThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Tennessee recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Sullivan CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Sullivan County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis