Wise County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51195 · population 36,104 · 403 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 423 records for Wise County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 300 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (157 records). The deadliest single record is the March 17, 2002 flash flood: 1 death. FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1977, 17 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
- 423on 300 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 15 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $7.8Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 19latest 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 Wise County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 157 since 1996. 62% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 157 | 105 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $579K | 42 of 96 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 145 | 110 | 1977-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 61 of 96 |
| Floods | 48 | 30 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $2.8M | 65 of 96 |
| Hail | 31 | 28 | 1996-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 70 of 96 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 18 | 17 | 2009-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 96 |
| Heat | 8 | 7 | 2011-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 8 | 8 | 2006-2024 | 0 | 0 | $80K | 61 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2011-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 53 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 1957-2009 | 0 | 5 | $2.7M | 77 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 Wise County had?
NOAA records 3 tornadoes in Wise County from 1957 to 2009, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 5 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 Wise 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 Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Wise County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-05-08 | Hugh, Wise County | EF2 1.71 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-03-04 | Big Stone Gap, Wise County | EF1 1 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.5M |
| 1957-04-05 | Wise County | F1 | 0 | 3 | $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 Wise County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 18, 2009 heavy snow ($558,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Law enforcement personnel reported 10 to 15 inches of snow fell across the county.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 205612)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Flash FloodExeter, Wise County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-18 | Flash FloodBondtown, Wise County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Heavy SnowWise County and Norton (city) · forecast zone Wise | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindVicco, Wise County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindAddington, Wise County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter WeatherWise County and Norton (city) · forecast zone Wise | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowWise County and Norton (city) · forecast zone Wise | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-11 | Winter WeatherWise County and Norton (city) · forecast zone Wise | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-10 | Heavy SnowWise County and Norton (city) · forecast zone Wise | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-02 | Flash FloodGilley, Wise County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindEast Stone Gap, Wise County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-17 | Thunderstorm WindPound, Wise County | 52 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03-17 | Flash FloodCountywide, Wise County Widespread flooding occurred across most of extreme Southwest Virginia. Rainfall totals between five and eight inches were reported in 36 hours. Total damage estimates were over 5 million dollars. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1957-04-05 | TornadoWise County | F1 | 0 | 3 | $25K step |
| 2008-03-04 | TornadoBig Stone Gap, Wise County Tornado struck Big Stone Gap destroying six homes and producing major damage to fifteen homes and minor damage to twenty five homes. Two minor injuries were reported. Also, numerous large diameter trees were reported down. | EF1 1 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.5M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-03-04 | TornadoBig Stone Gap, Wise County | EF1 1 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.5M |
| 2003-02-14 | FloodWise County · forecast zone Wise | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2003-02-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Wise County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2009-12-18 | Heavy SnowWise County · forecast zone Wise | 0 | 0 | $558K | |
| 2005-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindWise County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $27K |
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 5, 1957 (tornado, Wise 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 Wise 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 13 | 31 | 90 | 23 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 58 | 46 | 20 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 14 | 10 | 20 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 11 | 0 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 17 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
62% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 57 · Feb 72 · Mar 34 · Apr 17 · May 46 · Jun 53 · Jul 55 · Aug 20 · Sep 6 · Oct 14 · Nov 12 · Dec 37 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wise County
FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Wise County: 12 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (6) and snowstorm (4).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2010-02-16 | DR-1874 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 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 |
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 Wise County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 48 flood or flash flood records for Wise County from 1996 to 2026, on 30 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wise County ranks 670th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.7 million on 348 claims filed in Wise County; the most in one year was 81 in 2002. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 10 · 1979: 4 · 1980: 6 · 1981: 9 · 1982: 67 · 1984: 28 · 1987: 2 · 1989: 10 · 1991: 2 · 1993: 1 · 1994: 6 · 1995: 1 · 1998: 1 · 2001: 18 · 2002: 81 · 2003: 37 · 2004: 2 · 2006: 2 · 2011: 14 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 9 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 5; 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 Wise County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wise County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $13.2 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 | $38K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.2M | 2.2 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $89K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $505K | 3.9 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $525K | once in about 87 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $9.1M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $329K | once in about 602 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Wise 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
- Winter storms in VirginiaThe state's winter storm records, 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 Wise CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wise County's FEMA declarations (CSV)19 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis