Albemarle County, Virginia Hurricane History
Since 1893, 15 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Albemarle County, Virginia — about one every 8.9 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Jeanne (2004), which passed 47 miles away on 28 September 2004.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentJeanne (2004) — 47 mi away, 28 September 2004
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 70 kt (81 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordIsabel (2003) — 4.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 15
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (53% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s and 2000s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1893–2004
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 46.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Isabel (2003) | 19 Sep 2003 | 4.9 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 6 Sep 1999 | 21.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Fran (1996) | 6 Sep 1996 | 45.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Bret (1981) | 1 Jul 1981 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| David (1979) | 6 Sep 1979 | 34.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 14 Jul 1979 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 18 Aug 1955 | 7.6 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 29 Aug 1949 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 12.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 30 Sep 1896 | 17.4 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 20.6 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 10.0 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 8 systems passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | Post-tropical | 9 Aug 2024 | 48.1 mi | 30 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 24.7 mi | 45 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 20.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 17.3 mi | 20 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 44.0 mi | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1905 | 7.0 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 1902 | 42.1 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | Post-tropical | 13 Oct 1885 | 16.8 mi | 40 kt |
How Albemarle County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Albemarle County, Virginia ranks #1,022 — more exposed than 53.7% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #98 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed (October 1893) passed 21 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 17 miles away on 30 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Isabel (2003) passed 5 miles away on 19 September 2003 as a hurricane, reaching 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed (August 1893) passed 10 miles away on 29 August 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles.
12 of the 15 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 15 storms spread over the 133 years from 1893 to 2025. 3 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 34 years, between 1915 and 1949. It has been 21 years since the last one; 2 of the 11 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Albemarle County, Virginia?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Albemarle County, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1893. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 15.
When was the last hurricane in Albemarle County, Virginia?
Isabel (2003), on 19 September 2003, passing 5 miles away — 23 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Jeanne (2004) in 2004.
What was the strongest storm to affect Albemarle County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 21 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Albemarle County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.9 years — 15 storms over the 133 years from 1893 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Albemarle County, Virginia borders or sits close to 8 other counties with a published storm record. Louisa County, Virginia has 20 on record.