Severe Weather History


West Virginia Heavy Rain History: 505 Recorded Events

505

Recorded events

55

Counties affected

15

Direct deaths

$1.2M

Property damage

West Virginia heavy rain history: 505 recorded events across 55 counties between 1996 and 2025.

Decade by decade

West Virginia heavy rain history by decade

West Virginia heavy rain history: recorded events per decade
West Virginia heavy rain history: recorded events per decade

The 2000s are the busiest decade on record with 116 reported heavy rain events across West Virginia. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.

County ranking

Counties with the most heavy rain events in West Virginia

RankCountyEventsDeathsDamageSpan
#1Greenbrier County230$10K2007–2024
#2Mercer County222$130K1998–2024
#3Kanawha County150$238K1997–2017
#4Hardy County140$01999–2005
#5Jefferson County120$01999–2005
#6Morgan County100$02000–2003
#7Berkeley County100$02000–2003
#8Grant County90$02000–2003
#9Hampshire County90$01999–2004
#10Cabell County81$71K1997–2019
#11Pendleton County80$02000–2005
#12Summers County60$02018–2020
#13Pocahontas County50$01997–2018
#14Harrison County51$12K1997–2013
#15Marion County50$02012–2018
#16Wayne County50$28K2001–2016
#17Randolph County40$5K1997–2011
#18Boone County40$16K2001–2018
#19Lewis County40$01997–2001
#20Mineral County40$02000–2003
#21Lincoln County31$3K2001–2015
#22Putnam County31$200K2001–2013
#23Clay County30$4K2001–2013
#24Barbour County30$01997–2020
#25Webster County30$01997–2013
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · ranked by recorded event count

Significant events

Deadliest heavy rain events in West Virginia

DateCountyScaleDeathsInjuries
Feb 8, 1996Ritchie County—40
Feb 4, 1998Mercer County—20
Jul 9, 1997Cabell County—10
May 27, 2000Fayette County—10
Mar 31, 2017Roane County—10
May 4, 2009Harrison County—11
Aug 17, 2017Wood County—10
Jul 4, 2015Lincoln County—10
May 5, 1996Mason County—10
Jan 31, 2013Mason County—10
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · dates UTC

All hazards in West Virginia · Heavy Rain across the U.S.