Federal records document 119 natural disaster events in the Buffalo, NY area (ZIP 14203). These include 50 blizzards, 49 floods, and 16 hailstorms. Total documented property damage amounts to $38.7M. A total of 3 injuries have been reported across all events.
The dominant hazard type for Buffalo is blizzards, with 50 recorded events making up 42% of the area's disaster history. Of these, 15 (30%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for winter storm events here is 5/5 (extreme). Winter storm events have caused a combined $32.5M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded blizzard occurred on Jan 28, 2004.
There have been 49 recorded floods in this area, representing 41% of all disaster events. Of these, 23 (47%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $3.3M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Aug 15, 2020.
There have been 16 recorded hailstorms in this area, representing 13% of all disaster events. Hail-related events have caused a combined $56K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on Jul 15, 2024.
Buffalo has experienced 3 tornadoes on record. Tornado-related events have caused a combined $2.8M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded tornado occurred on Aug 5, 2024.
Buffalo has experienced 1 earthquake on record. The most recent recorded earthquake occurred on Feb 6, 2023.
The most significant disaster event on record for Buffalo was Heavy Snow on Nov 20, 2000, which caused $20M in property damage. Another major event was Heavy Snow (Dec 24, 2001), causing $10M in damages. EF2 Tornado on Jul 30, 1987 also caused significant damage ($2.5M).
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 14203 has experienced 119 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include blizzards (50 events), floods (49 events), hailstorms (16 events), tornadoes (3 events), and earthquake (1 event). The primary hazard is blizzards, which account for 42% of all recorded events.
Blizzards are the most frequently recorded hazard in Buffalo, NY, with 50 events documented. These events have caused a combined $32.5M in property damage.
Yes, Buffalo (ZIP 14203) has 49 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $3.3M in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Aug 15, 2020.
Buffalo has 3 recorded tornado events in the historical record. The strongest tornado recorded reached severity level 3/5 on the normalized scale. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $2.8M. The most recent tornado was recorded on Aug 5, 2024.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 14203 was Heavy Snow, which occurred on Nov 20, 2000. This event caused $20M in documented property damage. It was rated at severity level 5/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $38.7M in property damage in the Buffalo, NY area (ZIP 14203). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →