Summers County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54089 · population 11,935 · 361 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 291 records for Summers County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 228 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (97 records). The most damaging was the July 8, 2001 flash flood ($833,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1967, 22 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 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
- 291on 228 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 00 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $6.4Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 2strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 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 Summers County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 97 since 1983. 55% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1983 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among West Virginia'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 | 97 | 72 | 1983-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 31 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 76 | 75 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $553K | 26 of 53 |
| Hail | 46 | 33 | 1984-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 25 of 53 |
| Floods | 31 | 28 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3.6M | 46 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 13 | 13 | 2006-2025 | 0 | 0 | $114K | 50 of 53 |
| Drought | 12 | 12 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $561K | 35 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 4 | 2018-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 47 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 50 of 53 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2016-2025 | 0 | 0 | $37K | 14 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 1965-1974 | 0 | 0 | $249K | 28 of 53 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2015-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 53 |
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 Summers County had?
NOAA records 2 tornadoes in Summers County from 1965 to 1974, 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 2 tornadoes whose track touched Summers 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 West Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Summers County (2)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-04 | Summers County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1965-04-08 | Summers County | F2 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 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 Summers County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindSandstone, Summers County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtSummers County · forecast zone Summers | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtSummers County · forecast zone Summers | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-21 | DroughtSummers County · forecast zone Summers | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | HailPipestem, Summers County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-01 | HailPipestem, Summers County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormSummers County · forecast zone Summers | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-27 | LightningNimitz, Summers County | 0 | 0 | $6K | |
| 2025-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindNimitz, Summers County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindTrue, Summers County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindTrue, Summers County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-04-14 | Thunderstorm WindSandstone, Summers County | 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-07-08 | Flash FloodSouth Portion, Summers County | 0 | 0 | $833K | |
| 2010-05-16 | Flash FloodMeadow Creek, Summers County | 0 | 0 | $677K | |
| 2019-10-01 | DroughtSummers County · forecast zone Summers | 0 | 0 | $462K | |
| 2003-11-19 | Flash FloodCountywide, Summers County | 0 | 0 | $401K | |
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindHinton, Summers County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $289K |
| 2006-04-07 | Thunderstorm WindHinton, Summers County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $146K |
| 2023-08-07 | Thunderstorm WindNimitz, Summers County | 91 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $121K |
| 2025-02-15 | Flash FloodEllison, Summers County | 0 | 0 | $100K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 8, 1965 (tornado, Summers 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 Summers 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 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 31 | 28 | 24 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 18 | 14 | 34 | 10 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 6 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 11 | 8 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
55% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1983 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 30 · Feb 34 · Mar 18 · Apr 23 · May 37 · Jun 45 · Jul 40 · Aug 25 · Sep 3 · Oct 9 · Nov 6 · Dec 21 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Summers County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Summers County: 16 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and flood (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3639 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-02-26 | DR-4861 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4517 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3450 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016-06-25 | DR-4273 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-21 | DR-4221 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-03-31 | DR-4210 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3358 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-07-23 | DR-4071 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012-06-30 | EM-3345 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2010-03-29 | DR-1893 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3221 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-11-21 | DR-1500 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1455 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2002-05-05 | DR-1410 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2001-06-03 | DR-1378 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides |
| 1996-01-25 | DR-1096 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1084 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3109 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1985-11-07 | DR-753 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-08-24 | EM-3051 | Drought | Drought |
| 1977-04-07 | DR-531 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-01-19 | EM-3021 | Drought | Drought |
| 1967-03-13 | DR-224 | Flood | 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 Summers County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 31 flood or flash flood records for Summers County from 1996 to 2025, on 28 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Summers County ranks 725th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $5.7 million on 312 claims filed in Summers County; the most in one year was 119 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 7 · 1979: 1 · 1980: 2 · 1985: 34 · 1986: 1 · 1993: 1 · 1994: 2 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 119 · 1999: 1 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 13 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 3 · 2008: 1 · 2010: 31 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 87 · 2021: 2 · 2025: 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 Summers County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Summers County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $29K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.9M | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.8M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $32K | 19 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $99K | 44 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $119K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $25K | once in about 542 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Summers 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 West VirginiaEvery West Virginia tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in West VirginiaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The West Virginia recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Summers CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Summers County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis