Bedford County, Virginia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1878, 16 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Bedford County, Virginia — about one every 9.2 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 24 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 24 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1896) — 66 kt (76 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordCamille (1969) — 2.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles12 of 16
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (50% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s, 1950s, 1990s and 2000s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1878–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 44.5 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 3.0 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 6 Sep 1999 | 9.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Fran (1996) | 6 Sep 1996 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 17.7 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 20 Aug 1969 | 2.1 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 18 Aug 1955 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 15.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 29 Aug 1949 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 4 Oct 1927 | 30.6 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 30 Sep 1896 | 39.0 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 59 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 13 Sep 1878 | 7.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 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 | 16.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 5.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Bill (2003) | Post-tropical | 3 Jul 2003 | 1.7 mi | 20 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 10.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 47.6 mi | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 35.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1905 | 13.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 1902 | 26.4 mi | 35 kt |
How Bedford County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Bedford County, Virginia ranks #968 — more exposed than 56.2% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #92 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 39 miles away on 30 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 19 miles away on 29 August 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 15 miles away on 29 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 8 miles away on 13 September 1878 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
15 of the 16 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 9.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 16 storms spread over the 148 years from 1878 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 22 years, between 1927 and 1949. It has been 5 years since the last one; 9 of the 14 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Bedford County, Virginia?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Bedford County, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1878. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 16.
When was the last hurricane in Bedford County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1896), on 30 September 1896, passing 39 miles away — 130 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Zeta (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Bedford County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1896), which reached 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 39 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Bedford County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 9.2 years — 16 storms over the 148 years from 1878 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Bedford County, Virginia borders or sits close to 8 other counties with a published storm record. Pittsylvania County, Virginia has 20 on record.