Westmoreland County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51193 · population 18,477 · 229 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 332 records for Westmoreland County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 259 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (121 records). The most damaging was the October 1, 1998 drought ($7.2 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 25 declarations naming the county since 1969, 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
- 332on 259 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 00 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $14Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 7strongest EF1
- 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 Westmoreland County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 121 since 1960. 53% 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 | 121 | 88 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 0 | $473K | 27 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 90 | 89 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $102K | 22 of 96 |
| Floods | 46 | 31 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | $747K | 35 of 96 |
| Hail | 27 | 22 | 1960-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 24 | 23 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 7 | 7 | 1975-2021 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 27 of 96 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 35 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 4 | 4 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | 16 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2012-2018 | 0 | 0 | $48K | 75 of 96 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | $9.1M | 60 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 2003-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 70 of 96 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 65 of 96 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 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.
How many tornadoes has Westmoreland County had?
NOAA records 7 tornadoes in Westmoreland County from 1975 to 2021, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 27th of 96 Virginia counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 7 tornadoes whose track touched Westmoreland County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 7, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-02-24 17:34, as SPC files it | Tappahannock | EF3 | 30.34 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Westmoreland County (7)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-05-28 | Westmoreland County | EF0 0.11 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-02-24 | Nomini Grove, Westmoreland County | EF1 9.59 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2014-02-21 | Foneswood, Westmoreland County | EF0 0.84 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 1999-04-04 | Kinsale, Westmoreland County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $44K |
| 1996-07-13 | Hague, Westmoreland County | F0 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 1996-06-24 | Baynesville, Westmoreland County | F0 1 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $320K |
| 1975-07-17 | Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindFoneswood, Westmoreland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindOldhams, Westmoreland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-02-22 | Heavy SnowWestmoreland County · forecast zone Westmoreland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-29 | Coastal FloodWestmoreland County · forecast zone Westmoreland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-12 | Coastal FloodWestmoreland County · forecast zone Westmoreland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-01 | Coastal FloodWestmoreland County · forecast zone Westmoreland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-22 | Coastal FloodWestmoreland County · forecast zone Westmoreland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-27 | Thunderstorm WindErica, Westmoreland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindWestmoreland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-07-14 | Flash FloodFlat Iron, Westmoreland County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-13 | Flash FloodHorners, Westmoreland County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-13 | Flash FloodPotomac Beach, Westmoreland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-10-01 | DroughtWestmoreland County · forecast zone Westmoreland | 0 | 0 | $7.2M | |
| 2011-08-27 | Tropical StormWestmoreland County · forecast zone Westmoreland | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2016-02-24 | TornadoNomini Grove, Westmoreland County | EF1 9.59 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2003-09-18 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Westmoreland County · forecast zone Westmoreland | 0 | 0 | $722K | |
| 1999-09-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Westmoreland County | 0 | 0 | $443K | |
| 1996-06-24 | TornadoBaynesville, Westmoreland County | F0 1 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $320K |
| 2000-08-06 | Thunderstorm WindNomini Grove, Westmoreland County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $86K |
| 1999-04-04 | TornadoKinsale, Westmoreland County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $44K |
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: July 17, 1975 (tornado, Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland 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 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 29 | 39 | 30 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 35 | 32 | 14 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 5 | 12 | 28 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 4 | 0 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 4 | 8 | 10 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
53% 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 37 · Feb 38 · Mar 19 · Apr 23 · May 27 · Jun 61 · Jul 45 · Aug 22 · Sep 23 · Oct 16 · Nov 7 · Dec 14 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Westmoreland County
FEMA's register lists 25 declarations that include Westmoreland County: 17 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (12) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3631 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2022-03-11 | DR-4644 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4512 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3448 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-12-18 | DR-4411 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| 2018-09-11 | EM-3403 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2012-11-26 | DR-4092 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-11-17 | DR-4045 | Severe Storm | The Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011-09-03 | DR-4024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-26 | EM-3329 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2006-09-22 | DR-1661 | Severe Storm | Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-09-18 | DR-1491 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1318 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1999-09-18 | DR-1293 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1999-09-16 | EM-3147 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations |
| 1996-09-06 | DR-1135 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm Cond |
| 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 |
| 1985-11-09 | DR-755 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-01-26 | DR-525 | Freezing | Ice Conditions |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-339 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
| 1969-08-23 | DR-274 | Hurricane | Severe Storms & 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 Westmoreland County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 46 flood or flash flood records for Westmoreland County from 1999 to 2025, on 31 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Westmoreland County ranks 876th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-27 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Isabel | 2003-09-18 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-16 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $6.5 million on 230 claims filed in Westmoreland County; the most in one year was 91 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1980: 1 · 1985: 4 · 1993: 1 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 22 · 1998: 4 · 1999: 2 · 2003: 91 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 52 · 2008: 5 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 4 · 2011: 13 · 2015: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 13 · 2023: 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 Westmoreland County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Westmoreland County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $3.6M | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $920K | 4.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $582K | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $342K | 3.5 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $40K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $78K | 40 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $319K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $20K | 5.9 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 Westmoreland 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 VirginiaEvery Virginia tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- 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 Westmoreland CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Westmoreland County's FEMA declarations (CSV)25 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis