Botetourt County, Virginia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1878, 14 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Botetourt County, Virginia — about one every 10.6 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 40 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 40 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 59 kt (68 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1927) — 8.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 14
- Peak monthSeptember — 6 storms (43% of all)
- Most active year1878 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1990s — 3 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 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 40.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 6 Sep 1999 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Fran (1996) | 6 Sep 1996 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 47.9 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| David (1979) | 6 Sep 1979 | 16.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 20 Aug 1969 | 19.5 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 29 Aug 1949 | 22.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 4 Oct 1927 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 38.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 39.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 13 Sep 1878 | 16.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 6 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 | 12.7 mi | 30 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 24.5 mi | 20 kt |
| Bill (2003) | Post-tropical | 3 Jul 2003 | 24.6 mi | 20 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 16.9 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1905 | 10.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 1902 | 49.3 mi | 35 kt |
How Botetourt County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Botetourt County, Virginia ranks #1,065 — more exposed than 51.8% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #105 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 40 miles away on 29 August 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 59 kt (68 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 22 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 17 miles away on 13 September 1878 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 40 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
13 of the 14 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 10.6 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 14 storms spread over the 148 years from 1878 to 2025. 0 separate years 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 1893 and 1915. It has been 5 years since the last one; 9 of the 13 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Botetourt County, Virginia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Botetourt County, Virginia while at hurricane strength. 14 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1878, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1893).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Botetourt County, Virginia?
Zeta (2020), on 29 October 2020, passing 40 miles away — 6 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Botetourt County, Virginia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Botetourt County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 59 kt (68 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 40 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Botetourt County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 10.6 years — 14 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
Botetourt County, Virginia borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Rockbridge County, Virginia has 17 on record.