Virginia Storm & Severe Weather History
Since 1996, Virginia has logged 54,515 severe-weather events — about 1,759 a year — with 186 direct deaths, 1,149 injuries and $2.5B in reported property damage.
By event type
Thunderstorm Wind18,38029 d$217.1M
Hail5,5151 d$64.6M
Winter Weather4,7459 d$1.1M
Flash Flood4,30343 d$491.4M
Winter Storm3,8025 d$13.1M
Flood3,46420 d$213.9M
Heavy Rain2,513—$2.7M
Dense Fog1,707—$1.3M
High Wind1,6189 d$141.9M
Heavy Snow1,2323 d$8.9M
Frost/Freeze1,143——
Heat1,0684 d—
Drought821——
Tornado61913 d$304.4M
Strong Wind5827 d$4.6M
Ice Storm565—$24.0M
Events by year
19962026
Notable events (214)
Events with deaths, major damage, or a strong tornado — deadliest first.
Hurricane (Typhoon)September 18, 2003
York · $133.0M damage
Flash FloodSeptember 27, 2024
Washington · $105.0M damage
Coastal FloodFebruary 4, 1998
York / Poquoson · $75.0M damage
Tornado (F2)September 17, 2004
Henry · 4 injured · $53.8M damage
Thunderstorm WindJuly 26, 2022
Norfolk (C) · $50.0M damage
Hurricane (Typhoon)September 18, 2003
James City · $45.0M damage
FloodSeptember 6, 1996
Warren · $40.0M damage
Hurricane (Typhoon)September 18, 2003
Virginia Beach · $39.0M damage
Hurricane (Typhoon)September 15, 1999
Newport News · $32.0M damage
Hurricane (Typhoon)September 18, 2003
Suffolk · $31.0M damage
Tornado (EF3)April 28, 2008
Suffolk (C) · 200 injured · $30.0M damage
Hurricane (Typhoon)September 18, 2003
Chesapeake · $28.0M damage
Flash FloodJanuary 19, 1996
Shenandoah · $27.0M damage
Hurricane (Typhoon)September 15, 1999
Norfolk · $23.4M damage
FloodSeptember 6, 1996
Shenandoah · $21.1M damage
Hurricane (Typhoon)September 18, 2003
Mathews · $21.0M damage
Tornado (EF3)April 30, 2023
Virginia Beach (C) · $20.0M damage
FloodOctober 8, 2016
Chesapeake (C) · $20.0M damage
Hurricane (Typhoon)September 18, 2003
Essex · $20.0M damage
Ice StormDecember 23, 1998
York / Poquoson · $20.0M damage
Coastal FloodSeptember 1, 2006
Northumberland · $19.7M damage
FloodOctober 8, 2016
Norfolk (C) · $19.0M damage
Flash FloodAugust 2, 2018
Lynchburg (C) · $18.0M damage
Coastal FloodNovember 12, 2009
Norfolk · $18.0M damage
Tropical StormSeptember 18, 2003
Fairfax · $18.0M damage
High WindSeptember 27, 2024
Wythe · $17.0M damage
Hurricane (Typhoon)September 15, 1999
James City · $15.7M damage
High WindSeptember 27, 2024
Grayson · 3 injured · $15.5M damage
High WindSeptember 1, 2006
Northumberland · $15.0M damage
Flash FloodJuly 8, 2001
Tazewell · $15.0M damage
Tropical StormSeptember 18, 2003
Prince William / Manassas · $14.5M damage
Tropical StormSeptember 18, 2003
Stafford · 1 injured · $14.1M damage
Coastal FloodNovember 12, 2009
Newport News · $14.0M damage
Hurricane (Typhoon)September 18, 2003
Middlesex · $14.0M damage
High WindSeptember 27, 2024
Smyth · $13.8M damage
Hurricane (Typhoon)August 26, 1998
Virginia Beach · 3 injured · $11.5M damage
Flash FloodJune 25, 2006
Fairfax · $11.0M damage
Thunderstorm WindJuly 29, 2023
Arlington · $10.0M damage
Thunderstorm WindJuly 29, 2023
Alexandria (C) · $10.0M damage
Tornado (EF2)May 8, 2008
Stafford · $10.0M damage
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Counts are every logged event since 1996; the "notable" list is filtered to events with fatalities, major damage or a strong tornado. Damage is the reporting office's estimate. A record of past weather is not a forecast. See About the Data.