Yates County, New York
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36123 · population 24,764 · 338 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 331 records for Yates County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 235 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (132 records). The most damaging was the May 14, 2014 flash flood ($8.7 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1972, 17 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby” on September 24, 2024.
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
- 331on 235 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 09 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $78Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 6strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 2024
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 Yates County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 132 since 1973. 55% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1973 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among New York'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 | 132 | 82 | 1973-2026 | 0 | 9 | $1.3M | 27 of 58 |
| Winter storms | 68 | 67 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.9M | 34 of 58 |
| Floods | 45 | 22 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $33M | 32 of 58 |
| Hail | 37 | 26 | 1966-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 58 |
| High wind and dust storms | 21 | 19 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 0 | $507K | 33 of 58 |
| Extreme cold | 10 | 10 | 1996-2005 | 0 | 0 | $31K | 36 of 58 |
| Drought | 6 | 6 | 1999-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 58 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 6 | 1954-2026 | 0 | 0 | $39M | 14 of 58 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2001-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 of 58 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2000-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 58 |
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 Yates County had?
NOAA records 6 tornadoes in Yates County from 1954 to 2026, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 14th of 58 New York 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Yates County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 6: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.
Every tornado record filed for Yates County (6)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Rock Stream, Yates County | EF1 2.68 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2018-05-03 | Potter, Yates County | EF1 1.11 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 1996-06-22 | Middlesex, Yates County | F1 1.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $141K |
| 1978-06-27 | Yates County | F1 1.9 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1956-07-01 | Yates County | F1 0.5 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1954-07-14 | Yates County | F1 2 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M 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 Yates County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindRock Stream, Yates County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindDundee, Yates County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-18 | TornadoRock Stream, Yates County | EF1 2.68 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMays Mills, Yates County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindKeuka Park, Yates County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormYates County · forecast zone Yates | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-09 | Flash FloodSecond Milo, Yates County | 0 | 0 | $2K | |
| 2025-06-05 | Thunderstorm WindBellona Stn, Yates County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-05 | Thunderstorm WindBenton, Yates County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-05 | HailBenton, Yates County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindHimrod, Yates County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $55K |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindHimrod, Yates County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $21K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindYates County | 0 | 5 | – | |
| 2021-05-26 | Thunderstorm WindPenn Yan, Yates County Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down a lumber building under construction, resulting in 3 injuries. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $16K |
| 2005-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindMiddlesex, Yates County Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees, wires, and utility poles. One tree fell on a house injuring a person inside. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $76K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-05-14 | Flash FloodPenn Yan Airport, Yates County | 0 | 0 | $8.7M | |
| 2014-05-13 | Flash FloodPenn Yan Airport, Yates County | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | |
| 2011-04-27 | Flash FloodBellona, Yates County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 2015-06-14 | Flash FloodItaly, Yates County | 0 | 0 | $809K | |
| 2014-05-13 | Flash FloodYatesville, Yates County | 0 | 0 | $499K | |
| 2003-01-03 | Heavy SnowYates County · forecast zone Yates | 0 | 0 | $481K | |
| 1998-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindVine Vly, Yates County | 0 | 0 | $272K | |
| 1996-06-22 | TornadoMiddlesex, Yates County | F1 1.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $141K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 14, 1954 (tornado, Yates County); June 27, 1978 (tornado, Yates 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 Yates 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 | 2 | 8 | 27 | 17 | 26 | 52 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 31 | 16 | 9 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 6 | 31 | 6 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 4 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 9 | 5 | 3 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
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 1973 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 31 · Feb 21 · Mar 20 · Apr 19 · May 50 · Jun 62 · Jul 51 · Aug 35 · Sep 10 · Oct 8 · Nov 8 · Dec 16 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Yates County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Yates County: 15 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (5) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-24 | DR-4825 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2021-10-08 | DR-4625 | Hurricane | Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred |
| 2020-03-20 | DR-4480 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3434 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014-07-08 | DR-4180 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3351 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-06-10 | DR-1993 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2005-09-30 | EM-3262 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-08-03 | DR-1534 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-08-29 | DR-1486 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2003-08-23 | EM-3186 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2003-05-12 | DR-1467 | Severe Ice Storm | Ice Storm |
| 2001-09-11 | DR-1391 | Fire | Fires and Explosions |
| 2000-10-11 | EM-3155 | Other | West Nile Virus |
| 2000-07-21 | DR-1335 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-01-24 | DR-1095 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3107 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1991-03-21 | DR-898 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1984-09-25 | DR-725 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1975-10-02 | DR-487 | Flood | Storms, Rains, Landslides & Flooding |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-338 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
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 Yates County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 45 flood or flash flood records for Yates County from 1996 to 2025, on 22 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Yates County ranks 1088th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.1 million on 149 claims filed in Yates County; the most in one year was 39 in 2014. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 17 · 1979: 4 · 1982: 6 · 1983: 2 · 1984: 8 · 1985: 2 · 1986: 3 · 1987: 3 · 1989: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 22 · 1994: 4 · 1996: 6 · 1999: 2 · 2001: 2 · 2004: 2 · 2006: 2 · 2009: 1 · 2011: 3 · 2014: 39 · 2015: 7 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 2; 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 Yates County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Yates County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $456K | 2.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $100K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $8.0M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $208K | once in about 41 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $219K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $282K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $108K | 30 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $340K | once in about 16 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Yates 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 New YorkEvery New York tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in New YorkThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The New York recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Yates CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Yates County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis