Berkeley County, WV Environment & Hazard Risk

• Strong windRelatively High$2.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 6.0 events a year
• HurricaneRelatively Low$2.6M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 14 years
• LandslideRelatively Low$13.08K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• Heat waveRelatively Low$1.29M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.6 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$171K/yr expected annual loss, about 14 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$627K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.0 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$825K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 889 years
• HailRelatively Low$558K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.2 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$399K/yr expected annual loss, about 37 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Low$1.24M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 6 years
• Ice stormRelatively Low$47.53K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• WildfireVery Low$20.45K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2,829 years
• AvalancheVery Low$30/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• Cold waveVery Low$195K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.9 events a year

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

150 of 46,176 (0.3%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

913

Insured in high-risk zones

84 (9%)

Flood claims since 1978

312

Claims paid since 1978

$4.85M

• Thunderstorm Wind234
• Winter Weather122
• Flood100
• Dense Fog85
• Hail82
• Winter Storm70
• Frost/Freeze37
• Heat32
• High Wind28
• Flash Flood25

• TornadoF2, 2 mi path, 100 yd wide09/18/2004

  Darkesville, Berkeley County

  6 injured, $25K damage

  What happened

  A tornado touched down in Darkesville in southern Berkeley County. The F2 tornado produced extensive structural damage to homes and businesses in the area. The storm traveled north and toppled tractor trailers and vehicles on Interstate-81. At least 6 people were injured from the automobile accidents.

• Frost/Freeze04/10/1997

  Berkeley

  $4M damage

  What happened

  A record cold arctic air mass overspread eastern West Virginia overnight on the 9th and 10th, dropping temperatures into the mid teens to lower 20s. These temperatures came on the heels of an above normal winter season. Warm temperatures in late March allowed apple and peach blossoms to reach critical bloom stage about 1 week ahead of schedule. Significant, but not total, kills of peaches and Red Delicious apples were noted. In general, the apple crop sustained 50 percent damage, but the peach crop kill range from 60 to 90 percent. Berries also sustained large kills.Some of the notable damaged acres included: Berkeley Co (WVZ052), 8500 acres; Hampshire Co (WVZ050), 4000 acres; Jefferson Co, 1700 acres.

• Heat07/04/1999

  Berkeley

  3 injured

  What happened

  High pressure sat off the Mid-Atlantic coast from the 4th through the 7th, acting like a heat pump drawing in extremely warm and humid air. Temperatures on the 4th through early on the 7th were oppressively hot, and extremely humid conditions added to the misery. These conditions continued until a cold front swept through the area during the afternoon of the 7th, ushering cooler and much less humid air. The mercury soared into the upper 90s to lower 100s during the period. Dew points were in the lower to middle 70s, creating heat indices between 105 and 115 degrees. High temperatures on the 4th included 101 degrees at Berkeley Springs, 99 degrees at Keyser, 98 degrees at Romney and Charles Town, and 97 degrees at Mathias. Afternoon readings on the 5th included 103 degrees at Berkeley Springs, 101 degrees at Keyser, 100 degrees at Mathias, Moorefield, Charles Town, and Romney; 99 degrees at Martinsburg, and 98 degrees at Wardensville. Highs on the 6th included 102 degrees at Sugar Grove, 100 degrees at Charles Town, Martinsburg, Mathias, Moorefield, Romney, and Keyser; 98 degrees at Wardensville, and 96 degrees at Petersburg. Because of the 4th of July holiday weekend,...

• Drought07/01/1997

  Berkeley

  $2.15M damage

  What happened

  A very dry month, containing one 7-day heat wave, exacerbated drought-like conditions across much of the fertile farmland of eastern West Virginia. The weather in July proved to be the death knell for much of the crop yields, including corn, hay, and pasture. The West Virginia Farm Service Agency reported the following damage statistics: Corn, hay, and pasture yields were 40 to 50 percent of normal. Estimated damage to the corn crop included 2500 to 3000 acres per county in the Potomac Highlands (WVZ048>051, 055) but as much as 10,000 acres in the eastern panhandle (WVZ052>053). Hay damage was estimated to be 40,000 acres per county; pasture land an additional 80,000 acres per county. No significant damage to alfalfa was noted. Though some summer fruit was damaged by the drought, most of what survived was excellent.

• High Wind50 kt wind09/18/2003

  Berkeley

  $200K damage

• Flash Flood09/06/1996

  Countywide, Berkeley County

  $200K damage

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/18/2026

  Martinsburg, Berkeley County

  $2,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/04/2026

  (Mrb)shepherd Fld Mr, Berkeley County

  $2,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/04/2026

  Glengary, Berkeley County

  $1,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/04/2026

  Gerrardstown, Berkeley County

  $2,000 damage

• Excessive Heat07/04/2026

  Berkeley

• Excessive Heat07/03/2026

  Berkeley

• Excessive Heat07/02/2026

  Berkeley

• Excessive Heat07/01/2026

  Berkeley

• Hurricane David (1979)08/25/1979 · 924 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1928)09/06/1928 · Landfall: FL, SC · 929 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1893)09/25/1893 · Landfall: SC · 955 mbCategory 175 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1885)10/10/1885 · Landfall: FLTropical storm46 mph nearby

• Berkeley County Pswd-Potomac RiverServes 69,372 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Martinsburg City ofServes 16,250 · Groundwater (surface influenced) · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Woods Home Owners Association 2Serves 3,300 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• VA Medical CenterServes 2,175 · Groundwater (surface influenced) · FederalNo health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
• Berkeley Co Pswd-Glenwood ForestServes 1,102 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+8 monitoring or reporting
• Rocky Glen Manufactured Housing CommunitServes 861 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+11 monitoring or reporting
• G and E MhpServes 235 · Groundwater (surface influenced) · Private2 health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Wvaw - Valley Water and Sewer-DeerwoodServes 219 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting