Colonial Heights city, Virginia Hurricane History
Since 1859, 31 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Colonial Heights city, Virginia — about one every 5.4 years. Of those, 5 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 17 miles away on 7 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 17 mi away, 7 July 2025
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 86 kt (99 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordGinger (1971) — 2.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles16 of 31
- Peak monthSeptember — 14 storms (45% of all)
- Most active year1886 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2025
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 7 Jul 2025 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 16.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 31.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 30 Aug 2004 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Isabel (2003) | 19 Sep 2003 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Bret (1981) | 1 Jul 1981 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 14 Jul 1979 | 34.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 17 Sep 1976 | 37.8 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 2 Oct 1971 | 2.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 20 Aug 1969 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 14 Sep 1949 | 46.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 17.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 3 Sep 1934 | 21.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Aug 1933 | 39.5 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 26.0 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 15.2 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 49.8 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 29.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 7.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 21.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 12 Sep 1883 | 22.7 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 12.7 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 17.4 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 12.4 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 25 Oct 1872 | 42.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 16 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 | 10.1 mi | 24 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 42.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Michael (2018) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 2018 | 44.2 mi | 52 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2013 | 46.6 mi | 40 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 24.3 mi | 40 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 16.9 mi | 22 kt |
| Danny (1985) | Post-tropical | 19 Aug 1985 | 26.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 31.0 mi | 77 kt |
How Colonial Heights city, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Colonial Heights city, Virginia ranks #512 — more exposed than 76.8% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #34 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 17 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 86 kt (99 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 50 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1933) passed 39 miles away on 23 August 1933 as a hurricane, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1876) passed 12 miles away on 17 September 1876 as a hurricane, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
27 of the 31 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 31 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 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 29 years, between 1904 and 1933. It has been 0 years since the last one; 28 of the 28 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Colonial Heights city, Virginia?
5 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Colonial Heights city, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 31.
When was the last hurricane in Colonial Heights city, Virginia?
Isabel (2003), on 19 September 2003, passing 32 miles away — 23 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Colonial Heights city, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 86 kt (99 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 17 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Colonial Heights city, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.4 years — 31 storms over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Colonial Heights city, Virginia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Prince George County, Virginia has 37 on record.