Storms near Virginia
The record holds 127 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Virginia between 1851 and 2025. The busiest month is September, with 52 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 3 strength. 8 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 127storms within 50 km
- 1major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 24at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Virginia?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 29 | 23% |
| Tropical storm | 66 | 52% |
| Category 1 | 18 | 14% |
| Category 2 | 5 | 4% |
| Category 3 | 1 | <1% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 8 | 6% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Virginia storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2025, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1851, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 6 |
| 1860s | 7 |
| 1870s | 8 |
| 1880s | 12 |
| 1890s | 12 |
| 1900s | 2 |
| 1910s | 3 |
| 1920s | 3 |
| 1930s | 4 |
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 8 |
| 1960s | 10 |
| 1970s | 8 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 13 |
| 2010s | 4 |
| 2020s | 8 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 4 |
| Jun | 7 |
| Jul | 17 |
| Aug | 32 |
| Sep | 52 |
| Oct | 14 |
| Nov | 1 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Virginia
- Unnamed storm of August 1879 (North Atlantic)12 August 1879 to 20 August 1879, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 971 hPa
- Unnamed storm of October 1878 (North Atlantic)13 October 1878 to 25 October 1878, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 963 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1899 (North Atlantic)3 August 1899 to 4 September 1899, Category 2 (90 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 930 hPa
- Connie (1955)3 August 1955 to 15 August 1955, Category 2 (85 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 944 hPa
- Donna (1960)29 August 1960 to 14 September 1960, Category 2 (85 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 930 hPa
- Isabel (2003)6 September 2003 to 20 September 2003, Category 2 (85 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 915 hPa
Most recent storms near Virginia
- Chantal (2025)4 July 2025 to 7 July 2025, Tropical depression (25 kt) near here, peak Tropical storm (50 kt), 1,002 hPa
- Ophelia (2023)21 September 2023 to 24 September 2023, peak Tropical storm (60 kt), 981 hPa
- Ida (2021)26 August 2021 to 4 September 2021, Tropical depression (20 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 929 hPa
- Elsa (2021)30 June 2021 to 10 July 2021, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (75 kt), 991 hPa
- Claudette (2021)17 June 2021 to 23 June 2021, peak Tropical storm (40 kt), 1,003 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
Virginia ranks number 10 among US states and territories for the number of storms.
Notable storms near Virginia with their own pages
- Connie (1955)3 August 1955 to 15 August 1955, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 944 hPa
- Donna (1960)29 August 1960 to 14 September 1960, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 930 hPa
- Isabel (2003)6 September 2003 to 20 September 2003, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 915 hPa
- Ione (1955)10 September 1955 to 27 September 1955, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 938 hPa
- Floyd (1999)7 September 1999 to 19 September 1999, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 921 hPa
- Bertha (1996)5 July 1996 to 17 July 1996, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 960 hPa
- Fran (1996)23 August 1996 to 10 September 1996, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 946 hPa
- Irene (2011)21 August 2011 to 30 August 2011, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 942 hPa
- Charley (2004)9 August 2004 to 15 August 2004, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 947 hPa
- Hugo (1989)10 September 1989 to 25 September 1989, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 918 hPa
- Camille (1969)14 August 1969 to 22 August 1969, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 905 hPa
- David (1979)25 August 1979 to 8 September 1979, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 924 hPa
Virginia counties
Every county that a storm has come near is listed, most storms first. 133 of them have at least 3 storms and their own page.