Tazewell County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51185 · population 40,399 · 519 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 567 records for Tazewell County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 368 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (141 records). The deadliest single record is the September 27, 2024 high wind, filed for the forecast zone Tazewell, which covers the county: 1 death and $18.0 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 25 declarations naming the county since 1976, 23 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 23, 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
- 567on 368 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 210 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $84Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 25latest 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 Tazewell County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 141 since 1960. 57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1960 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among 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 | 141 | 94 | 1960-2025 | 0 | 7 | $2.6M | 86 of 96 |
| Floods | 126 | 78 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $51M | 30 of 96 |
| Hail | 99 | 63 | 1995-2024 | 0 | 0 | $74K | 24 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 75 | 75 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 2 | $12K | 80 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 61 | 60 | 1998-2025 | 1 | 1 | $19M | 11 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 26 | 13 | 2012-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 58 of 96 |
| Drought | 22 | 22 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 19 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 9 | 9 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $6K | 39 of 96 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 7 | 6 | 2006-2023 | 0 | 0 | $78K | 1 of 96 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | $20K | 74 of 96 |
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.
When was the last damaging storm in Tazewell County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 1, 2025 thunderstorm wind.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-21 | DroughtTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Winter StormTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-27 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-16 | Flash FloodRed Ash, Tazewell County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindLittle Town, Tazewell County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindWardell, Tazewell County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindMouth Of Laurel, Tazewell County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindRaven, Tazewell County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindRed Ash, Tazewell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | High WindTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell Trees were downed county wide by high winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Helene. Over 18,000 customers were reported without power by 6 PM EDT on Friday, the peak of the high winds. There was one confirmed fatality, one man was killed when a tree fell on him while he was clearing a tree that had fallen ... | 56 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $18M |
| 1998-01-27 | Heavy SnowTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell Heavy wet snow developed during the morning hours on the 27th and continued until the morning hours on the 28th. The snow mixed with sleet and rain at times during the evening hours on the 27th. Snowfall amounts were mainly from 15 to 32 inches with maximum snow depths mainly from 8 to 20 inches.The heavy wet snow ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1997-07-04 | Thunderstorm WindRichlands, Tazewell County A supercell thunderstorm that travelled from Tazewell County to southern Pittsylvania County during the evening hours on the 4th produced damaging winds and hail up to golf ball size and slightly injured 5 people. Another severe thunderstorms traveled across northern Pittsylvania during the evening hours on the 4th.A ... | 0 | 5 | $1.4M | |
| 2016-01-05 | Winter WeatherTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell Multiple vehicle accidents were reported across portions of southeast West Virginia and far Western portions of Virginia due to snowy and icy conditions. Snow squalls coupled with temperatures in the mid-20's were determined to be the primary cause of an accident with injuries near the Country Club in Tazewell County. ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1992-03-07 | Thunderstorm WindTazewell County | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2019-01-23 | High WindTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell Several hours of high winds blew down numerous trees and power lines across much of Tazewell County. Near the community of Tiptop, a 30-foot tall pine was blown down onto a home. Near Cedar Bluff, a tree was blown down onto an automobile, causing damage to the vehicle and minor injury to an occupant. A mesonet station ... | 54 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $40K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-07-08 | Flash FloodCountywide, Tazewell County | 0 | 0 | $25M | |
| 2024-09-27 | High WindTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell | 56 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $18M |
| 2003-11-19 | FloodTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell | 0 | 0 | $9.8M | |
| 2007-09-01 | DroughtTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell | 0 | 0 | $7.8M | |
| 2015-07-05 | Flash FloodPocahontas, Tazewell County | 0 | 0 | $4.4M | |
| 2007-07-10 | DroughtTazewell County · forecast zone Tazewell | 0 | 0 | $3.1M | |
| 2003-11-19 | Flash FloodCountywide, Tazewell County | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 2002-03-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Tazewell County | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
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 Tazewell 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 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 32 | 63 | 31 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 10 | 34 | 50 | 32 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 38 | 42 | 8 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 14 | 19 | 29 | 13 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 21 | 28 | 9 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 22 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1960 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 52 · Feb 68 · Mar 39 · Apr 43 · May 71 · Jun 84 · Jul 80 · Aug 50 · Sep 13 · Oct 16 · Nov 22 · Dec 29 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Tazewell County
FEMA's register lists 25 declarations that include Tazewell County: 17 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and snowstorm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3631 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-04 | DR-4863 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2024-10-01 | DR-4831 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2024-09-29 | EM-3621 | Tropical Storm | Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| 2022-09-30 | DR-4674 | Severe Storm | Flooding and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4512 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3448 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-09-11 | EM-3403 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-07-27 | DR-4072 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2010-04-27 | DR-1905 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms |
| 2010-02-16 | DR-1874 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-06-15 | DR-1525 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2003-12-09 | DR-1502 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-03-27 | DR-1458 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and Mudslide |
| 2002-05-05 | DR-1411 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2002-04-02 | DR-1406 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-07-12 | DR-1386 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1318 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1086 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1994-03-10 | DR-1014 | Snowstorm | Severe Ice Storms, Flooding |
| 1993-03-25 | EM-3112 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1977-04-07 | DR-530 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1976-10-15 | EM-3018 | Drought | Drought |
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 Tazewell County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 126 flood or flash flood records for Tazewell County from 1996 to 2025, on 78 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Tazewell County ranks 521st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $7.6 million on 481 claims filed in Tazewell County; the most in one year was 72 in 1978. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 72 · 1979: 6 · 1980: 26 · 1981: 2 · 1982: 3 · 1984: 45 · 1985: 2 · 1987: 4 · 1989: 1 · 1991: 3 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 3 · 1994: 10 · 1995: 5 · 1996: 9 · 1998: 12 · 2001: 57 · 2002: 13 · 2003: 66 · 2004: 21 · 2005: 2 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2009: 9 · 2010: 5 · 2011: 1 · 2012: 5 · 2013: 6 · 2015: 15 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 24 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 14 · 2025: 24; 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 Tazewell County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Tazewell County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $15.2 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 | $60K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.9M | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $12M | 2.6 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $471K | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $507K | once in about 578 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $197K | 2.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $59K | 17 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 Tazewell County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Severe thunderstorm wind in VirginiaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Virginia recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Tazewell CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Tazewell County's FEMA declarations (CSV)25 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis