Caroline County, Virginia Hurricane History
Since 1876, 17 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Caroline County, Virginia — about one every 8.8 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Isaias (2020), which passed 38 miles away on 4 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentIsaias (2020) — 38 mi away, 4 August 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 85 kt (98 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1886) — 4.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 17
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (47% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s and 2000s — 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 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 37.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 16.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 10.0 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Dean (1983) | 30 Sep 1983 | 26.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Bret (1981) | 1 Jul 1981 | 7.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 14 Jul 1979 | 15.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 4 Sep 1934 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Aug 1933 | 22.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 45.3 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 4.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 13 Sep 1883 | 13.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 14.9 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 18 Sep 1876 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 15 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 | 3.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 13.4 mi | 45 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 33.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 9.4 mi | 22 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 23.7 mi | 22 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 22.1 mi | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 5.8 mi | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 10.2 mi | 50 kt |
How Caroline County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Caroline County, Virginia ranks #921 — more exposed than 58.3% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #83 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 15 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 45 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 67 kt (77 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1933) passed 22 miles away on 23 August 1933 as a hurricane, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1876) passed 12 miles away on 18 September 1876 as a tropical storm, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
14 of the 17 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 17 storms spread over the 150 years from 1876 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 35 years, between 1944 and 1979. It has been 5 years since the last one; 6 of the 15 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Caroline County, Virginia?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Caroline County, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1876. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 17.
When was the last hurricane in Caroline County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1933), on 23 August 1933, passing 22 miles away — 93 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Isaias (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Caroline County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 15 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Caroline County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.8 years — 17 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
Caroline County, Virginia borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. King and Queen County, Virginia has 32 on record.