NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
West Virginia Summary
From 1980-2025 (as of April 8, 2025), there have been 47 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect West Virginia. These events included 7 drought events, 2 flooding events, 2 freeze events, 18 severe storm events, 6 tropical cyclone events, and 12 winter storm events. The 1980–2024 annual average is 1.0 event (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2020–2024) is 1.8 events (CPI-adjusted).
| Disaster Type | Events | Events/Year | Percent Frequency | Total Costs | Percent of Total Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 7 | 0.2 | 14.9% | $2.0B-$5.0B | 28.6% |
| Flooding | 2 | 0.0 | 4.3% | $2.0B-$5.0B | 34.9% |
| Freeze | 2 | 0.0 | 4.3% | $5M-$100M | 0.9% |
| Severe Storm | 18 | 0.4 | 38.3% | $1.0B-$2.0B | 14.2% |
| Tropical Cyclone | 6 | 0.1 | 12.8% | $500M-$1.0B | 10.6% |
| Wildfire | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Winter Storm | 12 | 0.3 | 25.5% | $500M-$1.0B | 10.8% |
| All Disasters | 47 | 1.0 | 100.0% | $5.0B-$10.0B | 100.0% |
| Time Period | Billion-Dollar Disasters | Events/ | Cost | Percent of Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s (1980-1989) | 7 | 0.7 | $2.0B-$5.0B | 42.2% |
| 1990s (1990-1999) | 13 | 1.3 | $1.0B-$2.0B | 16.2% |
| 2000s (2000-2009) | 8 | 0.8 | $500M-$1.0B | 10.3% |
| 2010s (2010-2019) | 10 | 1.0 | $2.0B-$5.0B | 26.4% |
| Last 5 Years (2020-2024) | 9 | 1.8 | $250M-$500M | 5.1% |
| Last 3 Years (2022-2024) | 5 | 1.7 | $250M-$500M | 3.6% |
| Last Year (2024) | 3 | 3.0 | $100M-$250M | 2.0% |
| All Years (1980-2025)* | 47 | 1.0 | $5.0B-$10.0B | 100.0% |
| Event | Type | Begin Date |
End Date |
Summary |
CPI-Adjusted Estimated Cost (in Billions) |
Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southern/ 2024 | Drought | January 1, 2024 | December 31, 2024 | Drought conditions impacted many Southern, Eastern and Northwestern states. This drought was more transient in its impacts over numerous states throughout the year. The states of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas had some of the highest losses to crops from the effects of drought and heat. As the drought changed in intensity and duration throughout the year across several regions of the country. Several Northwestern states also had costly impacted to agriculture including Montana, Idaho and Washington. Numerous southern and eastern states from Mississippi through Pennsylvania also experienced crop impacts that were most severe in the Summer months. The drought conditions also strengthen through the Fall and Winter months impacting Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. It was also one of the hottest years on record for a number of these states, which claimed more than 100 lives from excessive heat exposure. | $5.5 CI | 136 |
Hurricane Helene September 2024 | Tropical Cyclone | September 24, 2024 | September 29, 2024 | Category 4 Hurricane Helene with 140 mph sustained winds was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Big Bend region of Florida having made landfall near Perry, Florida on September 26. Helene was the third hurricane to hit the Big Bend region in just over a year. It caused up to 15 feet of storm surge along the Big Bend coast and six feet of surge as far south as St. Petersburg. It also caused billions of dollars in damage to Georgia's agriculture sector. Helene's most severe impacts were from the historic rainfall (up to 30+ inches) and flooding across much of western North Carolina. This flooding eclipsed the region's previous worst flood from 1916. Asheville and many surrounding cities and communities were heavily impacted. Southwestern Virginia and extreme eastern Tennessee were also heavily impacted. Damage came in many forms. Landslides, debris flows, and historic levels of flooding inundated and destroyed homes, businesses, parks, hospitals, the electrical, cellular and water system infrastructure, and damaged thousands of roads, highways and bridges, as examples. Additional information is currently being assembled that summarizes the vast scope of damage produced by Helene. Helene was the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Maria (2017), and the deadliest to strike the U.S. mainland since Katrina (2005). | $79.5 CI | 219 |
Central Tornado Outbreak and Eastern Severe Weather April 2024 | Severe Storm | April 1, 2024 | April 3, 2024 | A central tornado outbreak produced more than 85 tornadoes across a three-day period from Oklahoma to West Virginia. This outbreak included 19 EF-0, 52 EF-1 and 14 EF-2 tornadoes, which were most concentrated across the Ohio River Valley on April 1-2. These tornadoes and severe weather impacts across several eastern states caused damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and other infrastructure. | $2.5 CI | 3 |
Southern and Eastern Severe Weather April 2023 | Severe Storm | March 24, 2023 | March 26, 2023 | Southern and eastern severe storms including more than 40 tornadoes caused damage across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee to many homes, businesses, vehicles and other infrastructure. Additional high wind damage occurred in parts of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. | $3.0 CI | 23 |
Central and Eastern Winter Storm and Cold Wave December 2022 | Winter Storm | December 21, 2022 | December 26, 2022 | Historic winter storm and powerful arctic front caused significant impact across much of the nation, bringing heavy rains, snow, ice and high winds that sent temperatures plummeting. More than 200 million people were under a winter weather advisory or warning and more than a million customers, from Texas to Maine, were left without power. Buffalo, New York was paralyzed by near hurricane force winds and continuous snow squalls, which contributed to dozens of fatalities in the region. Additional impacts were widespread frozen water pipes that led to extensive water damage in many homes, businesses and to other critical infrastructure. | $9.0 CI | 87 |
Hurricane Ida August 2021 | Tropical Cyclone | August 29, 2021 | September 1, 2021 | Category 4 Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 930 mb. Ida was one of three hurricanes in recorded history to make landfall in Louisiana with 150 mph winds, along with Hurricane Laura in 2020 and the 'Last Island' hurricane of 1856. Grand Isle, Louisiana took a direct hit with 100% of its homes damaged and nearly 40% were nearly-to-completely destroyed. There was heavy damage to the energy infrastructure across southern Louisiana causing widespread, long duration power outages to millions of people. Parts of New Orleans were without power for nearly a week due to the widespread damage. As the remnants of Ida moved into the Northeast it merged with a frontal system creating severe weather and flash flooding across a wide region from eastern Pennsylvania to New York. Flash flood emergencies were declared in New Jersey and New York for the first time, producing damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and infrastructure while also causing dozens of fatalities. | $86.1 CI | 96 |
Southeast and Eastern Tornado Outbreak April 2020 | Severe Storm | April 12, 2020 | April 13, 2020 | Outbreak of at least 140 tornadoes from Texas to Maryland including 3 EF4s, 12 EF3s, 20 EF2s, 77 EF1s and 28 EF0s. Damage was extensive and highly destructive to many homes, vehicles and businesses across more than a dozen Southeast and Eastern states. | $4.3 CI | 35 |
North Central and Ohio Valley Hail Storms and Severe Weather April 2020 | Severe Storm | April 7, 2020 | April 8, 2020 | Numerous hail storms caused widespread damage across many North Central and Ohio Valley states including Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Missouri. More than 20 tornadoes were also reorted across southern Indiana and Ohio. There was additional widespread high wind damage to homes, vehicles and businesses in many other surrounding states. | $3.6 CI | 0 |
Midwest and Ohio Valley Severe Weather March 2020 | Severe Storm | March 27, 2020 | March 28, 2020 | Severe weather caused damage across many Midwest and Ohio Valley states including Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The states most affected from a combination of high winds and hail were Missouri, Ohio and Arkansas. There were also two dozen tornadoes across Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Arkansas causing additional damage. | $3.2 CI | 0 |
Southeast, Ohio Valley and Northeast Severe Weather February 2019 | Severe Storm | February 23, 2019 | February 25, 2019 | Tornadoes, severe weather and flooding in the south (MS, AL, TN) and high-wind damage across many Ohio Valley (IL, IN, OH) and Northeastern states (CT, MD, MA, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV). This storm system produced heavy rain that caused major flooding along parts of the Ohio, Mississippi and Tennessee rivers. | $1.6 CI | 2 |
Central and Eastern Severe Weather May 2018 | Severe Storm | May 13, 2018 | May 15, 2018 | Severe storm damage across many Central states including TX, KS, CO, OK, MO, IL, IN, IA and OH. This was followed by a derecho event across the Northeastern states of MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV, MA and CT that caused widespread high wind damage. Also, there were one dozen tornadoes reported across PA, NY and CT causing further damage. | $1.7 CI | 5 |
Central/ March 2017 | Severe Storm | February 28, 2017 | March 1, 2017 | Over 70 tornadoes developed during a widespread outbreak across many central and southern states causing significant damage. There was also widespread straight-line wind and hail damage. This was the second largest tornado outbreak to occur early in 2017. | $2.4 CI | 6 |
West Virginia Flooding and Ohio Valley Tornadoes June 2016 | Flooding | June 22, 2016 | June 24, 2016 | Torrential rainfall caused destructive flooding through many West Virginia towns, damaging thousands of homes and businesses and causing considerable loss of life. Over 1,500 roads and bridges were damaged or destroyed making the impact on infrastructure comparable to the historic 2013 Colorado flood. The storm system also produced numerous tornadoes causing damage across several Ohio Valley states. | $1.3 CI | 23 |
Midwest/ April 2015 | Severe Storm | April 7, 2015 | April 9, 2015 | Severe storms across the Midwest and Ohio Valley including the states (AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MO, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, WI, WV). Large hail and high winds created the most damage across Missouri and Illinois. | $2.1 CI | 2 |
Center Severe Weather May 2014 | Severe Storm | May 10, 2014 | May 14, 2014 | Severe weather including damaging hail, high winds and more than 50 tornadoes impacted Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. These impacts caused damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and other infrastructure. | $1.1* CI | 0 |
Hurricane Sandy October 2012 | Tropical Cyclone | October 30, 2012 | October 31, 2012 | Extensive damage across several northeastern states (MD, DE, NJ, NY, CT, MA, RI) due to high wind and coastal storm surge, particularly NY and NJ. Damage from wind, rain and heavy snow also extended more broadly to other states (NC, VA, WV, OH, PA, NH), as Sandy merged with a developing Nor'easter. Sandy's impact on major population centers caused widespread interruption to critical water/electrical services and also caused 159 deaths (72 direct, 87 indirect). Sandy also caused the New York Stock Exchange to close for two consecutive business days, which last happened in 1888 due to a major winter storm. | $89.8 CI | 159 |
Plains/ June-July 2012 | Severe Storm | June 29, 2012 | July 2, 2012 | Sustained outbreak of thunderstorms/high winds from a strong derecho event over the central, eastern, and northeastern states (IL, IN, KY, OH, WV, SC, NC, VA, MD, DC, NJ). | $4.0 CI | 28 |
Southern Plains/ Spring-Summer 2011 | Drought | March 1, 2011 | August 31, 2011 | Drought and heat wave conditions created major impacts across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Kansas, and western Louisiana. In Texas and Oklahoma, a majority of range and pastures were classified in "very poor" condition for much of the 2011 crop growing season. | $17.3 CI | 95 |
Northeast Winter Storm February 2010 | Winter Storm | February 9, 2010 | February 11, 2010 | Winter storm produced 10-20 inches of snow and high wind impacts across numerous northeastern and eastern states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina. These impacts were most focused in Pennsylvania and Maryland, as this winter storm closely followed a previous winter storm from the week prior. | $1.2* CI | 3 |
Southeast/ February 2009 | Severe Storm | February 10, 2009 | February 11, 2009 | Complex of severe thunderstorms and high winds across the region (TN, KY, OK, OH, VA, WV, PA). | $2.6 CI | 10 |
Western/ Summer-Fall 2007 | Drought | June 1, 2007 | November 30, 2007 | Severe drought with periods of extreme heat over most of the southeast and portions of the Great Plains, Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes area, resulting in major reductions in crop yields, along with very low stream-flows and lake levels. Includes states of ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, MN, WI, IA, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, FL, TN, VA, WV, KY, IN, IL, OH, MI, PA, NY. | $5.6 CI | 15 |
Spring Freeze April 2007 | Freeze | April 4, 2007 | April 10, 2007 | Widespread severe freeze over much of the east and midwest (AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO, MS, NC, NE, OH, OK, SC, TN, VA, WV), causing significant losses in fruit crops, field crops (especially wheat), and the ornamental industry. Temperatures in the teens/20s accompanied by rather high winds nullified typical crop-protection systems. | $3.2 CI | 0 |
Hurricane Ivan September 2004 | Tropical Cyclone | September 12, 2004 | September 21, 2004 | Category 3 hurricane makes landfall on Gulf coast of Alabama, with significant wind, storm surge, and flooding damage in coastal AL and FL panhandle, along with wind/flood damage in the states of GA, MS, LA, SC, NC, VA, WV, MD, TN, KY, OH, DE, NJ, PA, and NY. | $34.4 CI | 57 |
Hurricane Isabel September 2003 | Tropical Cyclone | September 18, 2003 | September 19, 2003 | Category 2 hurricane makes landfall in eastern North Carolina, causing considerable storm surge damage along the coasts of NC, VA, and MD, with wind damage and some flooding due to 4-12 inch rains in NC, VA, MD, DE, WV, NJ, NY, and PA. | $9.4 CI | 55 |
Midwest/ July 2003 | Severe Storm | July 4, 2003 | July 9, 2003 | Severe storms affect the states IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, VA, WV across the Midwest and Plains. | $1.5* CI | 7 |
U.S. Drought Spring-Fall 2002 | Drought | March 1, 2002 | November 30, 2002 | Moderate to extreme drought over large portions of more than 30 states, including the western states, the Great Plains, and much of the eastern U.S. | $16.2 CI | 0 |
Severe Storms and Tornadoes April 2002 | Severe Storm | April 27, 2002 | April 28, 2002 | Numerous tornadoes and widespread hail damage over the Central and Eastern states including NC, GA, VA, TX, AR, MO, MS, TN, IL, IN, KY, PA, MD, NY, OH, WV, and KS. | $3.7 CI | 7 |
Eastern Drought/ Summer 1999 | Drought | June 1, 1999 | August 31, 1999 | Very dry summer and high temperatures, mainly in eastern U.S., with extensive agricultural losses. The states impacted include AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, SC, TN, VA, WV and PA. | $4.8 CI | 502 |
Central and Eastern Winter Storm Mid-January 1999 | Winter Storm | January 13, 1999 | January 16, 1999 | Winter storm affecting the Central and Eastern states including IL, IN, OH, MI, WV, VA, MD, PA, NJ, NY, MA, CT, VT, NH and ME. | $1.7* CI | 0 |
Central and Eastern Winter Storm January 1999 | Winter Storm | January 1, 1999 | January 4, 1999 | South, Southeast, Midwest, Northeast affected by damaging winter storm | $2.0 CI | 25 |
Central and Eastern Severe Storms and Flooding June 1998 | Severe Storm | June 20, 1998 | June 24, 1998 | Severe storms and flooding impact numerous Central and Eastern states. In particular, these storms and floods affected many residences and businesses throughout north-central and eastern Ohio. More than 7,000 homes were affected and more than 1,000 structures were completely destroyed or declared uninhabitable. | $1.8* CI | 12 |
Northern Plains and Great Lakes Derecho, Tornadoes June 1998 | Severe Storm | May 30, 1998 | June 2, 1998 | Severe storms in late May through early June hit the Midwest, North, Northeast, and Southeast | $2.2 CI | 20 |
Mississippi and Ohio Valley Severe Weather and Flooding March 1997 | Severe Storm | February 28, 1997 | March 5, 1997 | Tornadoes and severe flooding hit the states of AR, MO, MS, TN, IL, IN, KY, OH, and WV, with over 10 inches of rain in 24 hours in Louisville. | $2.0 CI | 67 |
Hurricane Fran September 1996 | Tropical Cyclone | September 5, 1996 | September 8, 1996 | Category 3 hurricane strikes North Carolina and Virginia, over 10-inch 24-hour rains in some locations and extensive agricultural and other losses. | $10.1 CI | 37 |
Blizzard/ January 1996 | Winter Storm | January 1, 1996 | January 31, 1996 | Very heavy snowstorm (1-4 feet) over Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast; followed by severe flooding in parts of same area due to rain and snowmelt. | $6.2 CI | 187 |
Southeast Ice Storm February 1994 | Winter Storm | February 8, 1994 | February 13, 1994 | Intense ice storm with extensive damage in portions of TX, OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, TN, GA, SC, NC, and VA. | $6.5 CI | 9 |
Winter Storm, Cold Wave January 1994 | Winter Storm | January 17, 1994 | January 20, 1994 | Winter storm affects the Southeast and Northeast regions. The states impacted include CT, DE, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT and WV. | $2.3 CI | 70 |
East Coast Blizzard and Severe Weather March 1993 | Winter Storm | March 11, 1993 | March 14, 1993 | The "Storm of the Century" impacts the entire Eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. This historic storm dumped 2-4 feet of snow and caused hurricane force winds across many Eastern and Northeastern states. This caused power outages to over 10 million households. Additional impacts included numerous tornadoes across Florida causing substantial damage. This was the most destructive and costly winter storm to affect the United States (since 1980), until it was surpassed by the February 2021 winter storm and cold wave. | $12.3 CI | 270 |
Northeast Winter Storm December 1992 | Winter Storm | December 10, 1992 | December 13, 1992 | Slow-moving winter storm batters northeast U.S. coast, with the New England region hardest hit. The states impacted include VA, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA and WV. | $5.6 CI | 19 |
U.S. Drought Spring-Summer 1991 | Drought | March 1, 1991 | August 31, 1991 | Drought conditions over parts of the West, Central and eastern U.S. most affected the states IL, IN, KS, MN, OH, OR, PA, SD, and WA. | $7.1 CI | 0 |
Winter Storm, Cold Wave December 1989 | Winter Storm | December 21, 1989 | December 26, 1989 | Winter storm and deep cold impacts the Northeast, South and Southeast. The states impacted include AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, ME, MO, MS, NC, NH, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT and WV. | $1.7* CI | 100 |
U.S. Drought/ Summer 1988 | Drought | June 1, 1988 | August 31, 1988 | 1988 drought across a large portion of the U.S. with very severe losses to agriculture and related industries. Combined direct and indirect deaths (i.e., excess mortality) due to heat stress estimated at 5,000. | $55.2 CI | 454 |
Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland Flooding November 1985 | Flooding | November 3, 1985 | November 8, 1985 | Historic flooding damaged or destroyed over 10,000 homes and businesses across West Virginia and Virginia. Rainfall exceeded 19 inches, which forced the Roanoke and James Rivers, among others, to record levels. The damage in Virginia was most severe in the towns of Roanoke and Richmond. In Pennsylvania, floods also damaged or destroyed several thousand homes. Maryland experiened severe but more isolated flooding and damage. | $4.1 CI | 62 |
Winter Storm, Cold Wave January 1985 | Winter Storm | January 19, 1985 | January 22, 1985 | Extreme cold and winter storms in the Southeast, South, Southwest, Northeast, Midwest, and North | $2.5* CI | 150 |
Freeze/ December 1983 | Freeze | December 15, 1983 | December 25, 1983 | Severe freeze damages citrus crops across central/northern Florida. Associated cold wave over much of the U.S. causes over 100 deaths and additional damages. | $6.5 CI | 151 |
Midwest/ April 1982 | Severe Storm | April 2, 1982 | April 4, 1982 | Tornadoes and severe weather affect the states (AL, AR, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, WI, WV) across the Midwest, Plains and Southeast. | $1.6* CI | 33 |
Midwest/ January 1982 | Winter Storm | January 8, 1982 | January 16, 1982 | Winter storm and cold wave affect numerous states (AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) across the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast. | $2.2* CI | 85 |
†Deaths associated with drought are the result of heat waves. (Not all droughts are accompanied by extreme heat waves.)
Flooding events (river basin or urban flooding from excessive rainfall) are separate from inland flood damage caused by tropical cyclone events.
*Statistics valid as of April 8, 2025
Citing this information:
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/, DOI: 10.25921/stkw-7w73
