Storms near Roanoke County
The record holds 12 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Roanoke County, Virginia between 1878 and 2020. The busiest month is September, with 5 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 1 strength.
- 12storms within 50 km
- 0major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 1at 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 Roanoke County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 4 | 33% |
| Tropical storm | 7 | 58% |
| Category 1 | 1 | 8% |
| Category 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 0 | 0% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Roanoke County storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2020, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1878, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1870s | 1 |
| 1890s | 1 |
| 1910s | 1 |
| 1920s | 1 |
| 1940s | 1 |
| 1950s | 1 |
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1970s | 1 |
| 1980s | 1 |
| 1990s | 1 |
| 2000s | 1 |
| 2020s | 1 |
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 | 0 |
| Jun | 0 |
| Jul | 1 |
| Aug | 4 |
| Sep | 5 |
| Oct | 2 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Roanoke County
- Unnamed storm of August 1893 (North Atlantic)15 August 1893 to 2 September 1893, Category 1 (65 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 954 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1878 (North Atlantic)1 September 1878 to 13 September 1878, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 970 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1949 (North Atlantic)23 August 1949 to 1 September 1949, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 954 hPa
- Able (1952)18 August 1952 to 3 September 1952, Tropical storm (45 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (85 kt), 983 hPa
- Zeta (2020)24 October 2020 to 30 October 2020, Tropical storm (45 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (95 kt), 973 hPa
Most recent storms near Roanoke County
- Zeta (2020)24 October 2020 to 30 October 2020, Tropical storm (45 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (95 kt), 973 hPa
- Ivan (2004)2 September 2004 to 24 September 2004, Tropical depression (20 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 910 hPa
- Dennis (1999)24 August 1999 to 8 September 1999, Tropical depression (20 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 962 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.
A storm that came near several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.