Alexandria city, Virginia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1876, 19 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Alexandria city, Virginia — about one every 7.9 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Isaias (2020), which passed 46 miles away on 4 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentIsaias (2020) — 46 mi away, 4 August 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 81 kt (93 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1934) — 5.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 19
- Peak monthAugust — 9 storms (47% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1930s, 1940s and 1950s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1876–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 35.6 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 18 Aug 1955 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 29.8 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 31.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 29 Aug 1949 | 46.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 1 Oct 1943 | 22.5 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 20.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 4 Sep 1934 | 5.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 24 Aug 1933 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 23 Oct 1893 | 27.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 30.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 13 Sep 1883 | 17.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 14.0 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 18 Sep 1876 | 22.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 12 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. Showing the 8 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophelia (2023) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 2023 | 8.0 mi | 20 kt |
| Ida (2021) | Post-tropical | 1 Sep 2021 | 39.2 mi | 32 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 20.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 35.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 38.2 mi | 20 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 26.0 mi | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 25.9 mi | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 19 Jun 1934 | 27.7 mi | 40 kt |
How Alexandria city, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Alexandria city, Virginia ranks #838 — more exposed than 62.0% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #69 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 14 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 81 kt (93 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1876) passed 23 miles away on 18 September 1876 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Isaias (2020) passed 46 miles away on 4 August 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 58 kt (67 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1933) passed 10 miles away on 24 August 1933 as a tropical storm, reaching 58 kt (67 mph) while within 50 miles.
19 of the 19 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 19 storms spread over the 150 years from 1876 to 2025. 2 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 41 years, between 1963 and 2004. It has been 5 years since the last one; 6 of the 16 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Alexandria city, Virginia?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Alexandria city, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1876. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 19.
When was the last hurricane in Alexandria city, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1878), on 23 October 1878, passing 14 miles away — 148 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Isaias (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Alexandria city, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 81 kt (93 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 14 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Alexandria city, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.9 years — 19 storms over the 150 years from 1876 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Alexandria city, Virginia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Fairfax County, Virginia has 20 on record.