Steuben County
Population 91,855 (2025) 1,391 sq mi
Property owners in Steuben County have filed 375 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, 31st most of 62 counties in New York.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195010
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger9
- Major flood years since 19783
At a glance
The record for Steuben County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
5
24th of 62 in New York
None at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsStrongest tornado
EF1
July 27, 2013, 14.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm (unnamed), 1893, 0.0 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 7.6 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
July 27, 2013
EF1, 14.0 mile path
500 yards wide.
Deadliest
August 7, 1972
1 killed, F1
2 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Monday, September 19, 2022
EF1, 1.9 mile path
4 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Sep 19, 2022 | EF1 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 27, 2013 | EF1 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 26, 2012 | EF1 | 2.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 26, 2012 | EF1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | 4.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 2010 | EF1 | 7.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 12, 2005 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 3, 1993 | F0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1993 | F1 | 2.5 | 2 | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1972 | F1 | 0.1 | 2 | 1 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Steuben County: 1.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
5 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
October 14, 1893
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
0.0 miles at closest approach, winds near 70 mph.
Most recent
September 9, 2004
Frances, Post-tropical
15.3 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Frances | 2004 | 15.3 | Post-tropical |
| Opal | 1995 | 62.2 | Post-tropical |
| Hugo | 1989 | 69.2 | Post-tropical |
| David | 1979 | 48.8 | Tropical storm |
| Agnes | 1972 | 24.6 | Post-tropical |
| Connie | 1955 | 61.3 | Tropical storm |
| Hazel | 1954 | 12.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 72.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 26.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 83.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 67.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1903 | 19.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 45.8 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 64.2 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 99.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 1.8 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 87.8 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 54.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1876 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire and smoke
No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 61 days
Heavy smoke on 15 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
16.4 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
18 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 22 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
375 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $2.1 million paid.
Most claims in one year
1996: 108 claims
$773,000 paid.
2nd most
1993: 30 claims
$30,000 paid.
3rd most
2003: 28 claims
$168,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 14870 | 68 | $436,000 |
| 14840 | 46 | $214,000 |
| 14830 | 45 | $153,000 |
| 14801 | 43 | $375,000 |
| 14821 | 36 | $93,000 |
| 14810 | 31 | $128,000 |
| 14843 | 28 | $75,000 |
| 14823 | 19 | $336,000 |
| 14874 | 12 | $30,000 |
| 14809 | 11 | $57,000 |
| 14827 | 5 | $25,000 |
| 14856 | 5 | $27,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood179
- Flood7
- Heavy Rain3
1 death recorded in flood events since 1996.
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
River crests
Most severe crest
July 8, 1935
Canacadea Creek above Hornell, 16.61 ft
11.61 feet above the 5.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
August 9, 2024
Tuscarora Creek at South Addison, 14.16 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| Canacadea Creek above Hornell | 5.0 | 16.61 ft | 3 |
| Canisteo River at Hornell | 9.0 | 13.45 ft | 1 |
| Canisteo River at West Cameron | 17.0 | 23.48 ft | 2 |
| Canisteo River near Arkport | 1,305.0 | — | 0 |
| Chemung River at Corning | 26.0 | — | 0 |
| Cohocton River at Avoca | 9.0 | — | 0 |
| Cohocton River at Bath | 11.0 | 13.67 ft | 0 |
| Cohocton River near Campbell | 10.0 | 13.60 ft | 2 |
| Keuka Lake at Hammondsport | 716.5 | 716.52 ft | 0 |
| Tioga River at Lindley | 17.0 | 26.27 ft | 3 |
| Tioga River near Erwins | 18.0 | 26.74 ft | 1 |
| Tuscarora Creek at South Addison | 11.0 | 16.28 ft | 3 |
- Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 78 of 1,581 months since 1895 (5%); the longest spell lasted 15 months.
78
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
17
Months in extreme drought
5%
Share of all months, severe or worse
7
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
February 1931
−5.69, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
15 months
October 1964 to December 1965.
Latest month
September 2026
+0.92, incipient wet spell
Last severe month: September 2016.
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes and landslides
3 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.7 in 1929.
1
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
1
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
3
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
August 12, 1929
Magnitude 4.7
The 1929 Attica, New York Earthquake; 43.2 miles away, 5.6 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
February 3, 2001
Magnitude 3.2
6 km W of Bath, New York; inside the county.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Jun 13, 1967 | 4.1 | 33.4 |
| Jan 1, 1966 | 4.3 | 34.2 |
| Aug 12, 1929 | 4.7 | 43.2 |
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the county boundary (or inside the county).
- Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Mapped landslides
8
Landslides mapped, probable or better
0
With a recorded date
1
Source inventory
Mapped by USGS Conterminous (8).
- Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.
USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
887 events in the National Weather Service record, 785 of them since 1996.
76
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
6
Hail, 2 inches or larger
335
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
69
Winter weather events since 1996
4
Heat events since 1996
15
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
July 3, 1975
2.50 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
July 21, 2003
86 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 9 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Aug 9, 2024Flash Flood$35.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Widespread and massive flash flooding of Tuscarora Creek and surrounding tributaries devastated roads, homes and businesses between, and including, the villages of Greenwood and Jasper. Homes were pushed off foundations and were seen floating downstream smashing into area bridges. Dozens of people were rescued from flooded homes and vehicles and displaced in temporary shelters for weeks.
- Aug 9, 2024Flash Flood$30.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Widespread and massive flash flooding of Tuscarora Creek and surrounding tributaries devastated roads, homes and businesses between, and including, the villages of Woodhull and Addison. Homes were pushed off foundations and were seen floating downstream smashing into area bridges. Dozens of people were rescued from flooded homes and vehicles and displaced in temporary shelters for weeks.
- Aug 18, 2021Flash Flood$25.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Significant flash flooding destroyed Troupsburg Junior-Senior High School.
- Nov 8, 1996Flash Flood$14.4 million
- Jul 22, 2003Flash Flood$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The first indications of severe flooding occurred in the southwest portion of the Steuben county at around 145 pm EST from excessive rainfall. Over two days, between 6"-8" of rain fell in a southwest to northeast band across the southern half of the county. 2 to 4 inches of rain fell from nearly stationary thunderstorms in less than 3 hours during the early afternoon. Several rounds of thunderstorms went through on the 21st and 22nd. More than 20 state, county and town roads were closed or impassible including Interstate 86. Steuben County along with the Town of Campbell and Village of Arkport declared States of Emergency and requested no unnecessary travel. Interstate 86 was…
- Jan 19, 1996Flash Flood$4.4 million
National Weather Service narrative
The most disastrous flood event in more than twenty years struck central New York from the early morning of the 19th to the evening of the 21st. Significant widespread flooding of streams, rivers, homes and businesses, streets and highways, woodlands, and farmland occurred as a result of rapid snowmelt and nearly simultaneous storm runoff. Every county in central New York experienced road closures due to washouts, mudslides, and failed, damaged, or weakened bridges. There were six known fatalities. In Delaware County, five occupants of one car were killed when their vehicle and three others were swept into the Cannonsville Reservoir. A roadway over a sluice from an upstream pond…
- Aug 18, 2021Flash Flood$4.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Severe flash, and rapid onset river flooding destroyed many parts of the Town of Woodhull, including residences, businesses and infrastructure.
- Sep 9, 2004Flash Flood$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Flash flooding occurred in Tuscarora, Woodhull, Addison, Jasper, Rathbone, Canisteo, Erwin, Buena Vista, and Bath due to heavy rain. Rainfall amounts from the 8th into the 9th were 2.5 inches to around 5 inches in southeast Steuben County. The heavy rain was aided by tropical moisture from the remnants of hurricane Frances. Many streams and creeks were out of their banks. Several bridges were washed out or damaged beyond repair. The Freeman Bridge on County Route 85 near South Addison buckled when the foundation was disturbed. School was cancelled in a few towns. The worst hit area was along Route 417 and the Tuscarora Creek in the towns of Woodhull and Tuscarora. The road was…
- Aug 30, 2004Flash Flood$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain caused flooding of numerous roads in the towns of Addison, Campbell, and Thurston. A trailer park flooded starting at 3:40 PM in Addison. The park was on the corner of the County Route 119 and County Route 2. Rainfall amounts were 2 to 4 inches.
- Aug 18, 2021Flash Flood$1.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
Severe flash flooding occurring over several roads, and within numerous residences and businesses around Troupsburg.
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Elmira Corning Regional Airport, 22.6 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1938.
- All-time high
- 104°FJul 21, 2011
- All-time low
- −25°FFeb 1, 1948
- Warmest night
- 74°F2 times, most recently Jul 22, 2011
- Coldest day
- 2°FFeb 17, 1958
- Wettest day
- 4.02 inOct 14, 1955
- Snowiest day
- 13.0 inMar 16, 1956
- Hottest year
- 2024mean 51.9°F
- Coldest year
- 1958mean 45.3°F
- Wettest year
- 201843.78 in
- Driest year
- 200923.03 in
Station Elmira Corning Regional Airport (USW00014748), 936 ft elevation, 22.6 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1938 to October 26, 2026; 95.5% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
24 since 1953. The most recent: Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, September 24, 2024.
| Sep 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825-NY |
| Oct 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625-NY |
| Mar 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480-NY |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434-NY |
| Jul 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180-NY |
| Oct 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351-NY |
| Jun 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1993-NY |
| Sep 30, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3262-NY |
| Oct 1, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1565-NY |
| Oct 1, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1564-NY |
| Aug 3, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1534-NY |
| Aug 29, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1486-NY |
| Aug 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3186-NY |
| Sep 11, 2001 | Fire | DR-1391-NY |
| Jul 21, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1335-NY |
| Jul 7, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1233-NY |
| Dec 9, 1996 | Severe Storm | DR-1148-NY |
| Jan 24, 1996 | Flood | DR-1095-NY |
| Mar 17, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3107-NY |
| Mar 21, 1991 | Snowstorm | DR-898-NY |
| Sep 25, 1984 | Flood | DR-725-NY |
| Jun 29, 1976 | Flood | DR-512-NY |
| Oct 2, 1975 | Flood | DR-487-NY |
| Jun 23, 1972 | Flood | DR-338-NY |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
How this compares
Where Steuben County stands among 62 counties in New York and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 10 | 21 / 62 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 0 | — |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 5 | 24 / 62 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 375 | 31 / 62 |
| Flood insurance paid | $2.1 million | 44 / 62 |
| Disaster declarations | 24 | 32 / 62 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 189 | 10 / 62 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 489 | 17 / 62 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 69 | 56 / 62 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $140 million | 9 / 62 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 15 | 14 / 62 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 78 | 29 / 62 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 16.4 | 30 / 62 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 3 | 12 / 62 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 1 | 15 / 62 |
Neighbouring counties
| Allegany County | 12 | 4 |
| Chemung County | 6 | 5 |
| Livingston County | 3 | 2 |
| Ontario County | 7 | 3 |
| Potter County PA | 12 | 4 |
| Schuyler County | 6 | 5 |
| Tioga County PA | 7 | 6 |
| Yates County | 5 | 4 |
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00014748.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.