Wahkiakum County, Washington
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 53069 · population 4,415 · 263 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 500 records for Wahkiakum County, Washington from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 343 days; the most frequent are high wind and dust records (306 records). 453 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 February 2, 2018 rip current, filed for the forecast zone South Coast, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 33 declarations naming the county since 1964, 30 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on April 7, 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
- 500on 343 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 113 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $41Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 33latest 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 Wahkiakum County most?
The most frequent records are high wind and dust records: 306 since 1996. 47% of its high wind and dust records since 1996 fell in November and December. The rank column places the county among Washington'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | 306 | 230 | 1996-2025 | 3 | 0 | $24M | 1 of 39 |
| Winter storms | 76 | 50 | 2001-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.2M | 3 of 39 |
| Floods | 71 | 62 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $9.5M | 1 of 39 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 17 | 17 | 2003-2022 | 6 | 2 | $5.7M | 1 of 39 |
| Heat | 9 | 6 | 2006-2022 | 2 | 1 | – | 2 of 39 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 7 | 2 | 1997-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 39 |
| Heavy rain | 5 | 5 | 2001-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 of 39 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 2 | 1998-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 39 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 2001-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 39 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 39 |
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 2017-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 of 39 |
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 Wahkiakum County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 26, 2021 excessive heat (1 death).
A reliable SkyWarn spotter (Pacific-34) called to report his temperature sensor was recording 105 degrees. A middle-aged man drowned on Sunday, June 27.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 965819)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-05 | High WindPacific County and 2 more · forecast zone Willapa Hills | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-25 | FloodGrays River, Wahkiakum County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-24 | High WindPacific County and 2 more · forecast zone Willapa Hills | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-03 | Heavy SnowPacific County and 2 more · forecast zone Willapa Hills | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-01 | Heavy SnowPacific County and 2 more · forecast zone Willapa Hills | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-06-26 | Excessive HeatPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-06-26 | Excessive HeatCowlitz County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone Lower Columbia | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-05-31 | Rip CurrentPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-11-15 | High SurfPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast | 0 | 0 | $5.7M | |
| 2018-02-02 | Rip CurrentPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-05-22 | Rip CurrentPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2015-12-21 | High WindCowlitz County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone Lower Columbia | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-02-02 | Rip CurrentPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast No one is quite sure what happened, but two people clamming in different locations on Washington Coast beaches in Pacific County were swept away by the surf within minutes of each other. One was clamming at Oysterville beach, the other was clamming near Warrenton Cannery Road in the community of North Cove. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-05-22 | Rip CurrentPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast A young girl was playing on the beach and ended up in deep water. No one witnessed how the girl was swept into the ocean, but it is most likely due to a rip current. She was found 500 feet from the shore and was in the water for around 30 minutes. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2014-07-03 | Rip CurrentPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast Two siblings playing in the shore near Boldtad Beach was caught in a rip that dragged them out to sea. The older sibling, a 11 year old girl pushed her younger brother towards the shore before she drifted further out to sea and drowned. The younger boy was rescued after being in the water for 30 minutes. He was found ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2021-06-26 | Excessive HeatCowlitz County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone Lower Columbia Very hot temperatures. There were three consecutive days with maximum temperatures greater than 100 degrees. Maximum temperatures were around 108 degrees on June 27 and June 28. There was one death reported due to heat related illness. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-06-26 | Excessive HeatPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast A reliable SkyWarn spotter (Pacific-34) called to report his temperature sensor was recording 105 degrees. A middle-aged man drowned on Sunday, June 27. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-05-31 | Rip CurrentPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast A 14 year old male was reportedly swept offshore while swimming near Long Beach, Washington. The Coast Guard Sector Columbia River and partner agencies performed search operations. After searching nearly 52 square miles, the search was suspended at 2126PST Monday. Weather was fairly benign with general seas between 3 ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2007-12-02 | High WindPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast Wind gust recorded at Cape Disappointment. Other impressive wind reports from this event include: gusts to 85 kt on Klipsan Beach, located south of Ocean Park on the Long Beach Peninsula; gusts to 65 kt at Toke Point, near Tokeland on the Willapa Bay; gusts to 63 in Bay Center; gusts to 58 kt in Oysterville, on the ... | 90 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $14M |
| 2007-12-02 | High WindCowlitz County and 2 more · forecast zone Southwest Interior Wind gust recorded at the Abernathy RAWS. NOTE: Damage estimates are for the entire Southwest Interior of Washington, and the majority of the damage occurred in the Wallapa Hills of Wahkiakum county. Other winds were also recorded at the Abernathy RAWS site. A woman, unknown age from Seaview, WA died when her house ... | 68 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $199K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-12-02 | High WindPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast | 90 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $14M |
| 2015-12-08 | High WindCowlitz County and 2 more · forecast zone Southwest Interior | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $7.5M |
| 2007-12-03 | Coastal FloodPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast | 0 | 0 | $7.1M | |
| 2020-11-15 | High SurfPacific County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone South Coast | 0 | 0 | $5.7M | |
| 2015-12-21 | High WindCowlitz County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone Lower Columbia | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 2008-12-20 | Winter StormCowlitz County and 2 more · forecast zone Southwest Interior | 0 | 0 | $947K | |
| 2008-12-20 | Winter StormCowlitz County and Wahkiakum County · forecast zone Lower Columbia | 0 | 0 | $940K | |
| 1998-12-27 | FloodCowlitz County and 2 more · forecast zone E Pacific/W Lewis/Wahkiakum | 0 | 0 | $905K |
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 Wahkiakum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 24 | 76 | 172 | 34 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 30 | 22 | 24 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 13 | 9 | 31 | 18 |
| Rip currents and high surf | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its high wind and dust records since 1996 fell in November and December. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 95 · Feb 71 · Mar 53 · Apr 12 · May 4 · Jun 5 · Jul 8 · Aug 3 · Sep 13 · Oct 23 · Nov 86 · Dec 127 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wahkiakum County
FEMA's register lists 33 declarations that include Wahkiakum County: 30 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (14) and severe storm (13).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | DR-4906 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2025-12-12 | EM-3629 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2024-04-28 | DR-4775 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-01-12 | DR-4682 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2022-03-29 | DR-4650 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
| 2021-04-08 | DR-4593 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-23 | DR-4539 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-03-22 | DR-4481 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3427 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-04-21 | DR-4309 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| 2016-02-02 | DR-4253 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, and A T |
| 2016-01-15 | DR-4249 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2012-03-05 | DR-4056 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2011-03-25 | DR-1963 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2009-03-02 | DR-1825 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow |
| 2009-01-30 | DR-1817 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding |
| 2007-12-08 | DR-1734 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2007-02-14 | DR-1682 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2006-12-12 | DR-1671 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2006-05-17 | DR-1641 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3227 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001-03-01 | DR-1361 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
| 1996-02-09 | DR-1100 | Flood | High Winds, Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-01-03 | DR-1079 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, High Wind, and Flooding |
| 1994-08-02 | DR-1037 | Fishing Losses | The El Nino (the Salmon Industry) |
| 1993-03-04 | DR-981 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms & High Wind |
| 1990-11-26 | DR-883 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1990-01-18 | DR-852 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1986-12-15 | DR-784 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1980-05-21 | DR-623 | Volcanic Eruption | Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. Helens |
| 1977-12-10 | DR-545 | Flood | Severe Storms,Mudslides, & Flooding |
| 1972-02-01 | DR-322 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1964-12-29 | DR-185 | 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 Wahkiakum County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 71 flood or flash flood records for Wahkiakum County from 1996 to 2025, on 62 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wahkiakum County ranks 1341st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.8 million on 93 claims filed in Wahkiakum County; the most in one year was 23 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1983: 2 · 1990: 2 · 1996: 23 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 3 · 2001: 2 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 5 · 2006: 16 · 2007: 13 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 14 · 2010: 1 · 2012: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2021: 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 Wahkiakum County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wahkiakum County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $931K | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $14K | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $977K | once in about 54 years (modeled) |
| Tsunami | Relatively Low | $2.0M | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $194K | 3.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | $81 | once in about 98 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $1.8M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $9K | 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 Wahkiakum County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- High wind and dust storms in WashingtonThe state's high wind and dust records, by county, year and month
- The Washington recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Wahkiakum CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wahkiakum County's FEMA declarations (CSV)33 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis