Frederick County, Virginia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1876, 15 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Frederick County, Virginia — about one every 10.0 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Isabel (2003), which passed 49 miles away on 19 September 2003.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentIsabel (2003) — 49 mi away, 19 September 2003
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 65 kt (75 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBeryl (1994) — 4.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles6 of 15
- Peak monthAugust and September — 6 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1890s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1876–2003
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isabel (2003) | 19 Sep 2003 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 7 Sep 1999 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 18 Aug 1994 | 4.3 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| David (1979) | 6 Sep 1979 | 12.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 18 Aug 1955 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 35.7 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 29 Aug 1949 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 4 Oct 1927 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 46.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 23 Oct 1893 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 14 Oct 1893 | 17.4 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 13 Sep 1883 | 49.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 18 Sep 1876 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | Post-tropical | 9 Aug 2024 | 48.3 mi | 30 kt |
| Ida (2021) | Post-tropical | 1 Sep 2021 | 14.1 mi | 31 kt |
| Cindy (2017) | Remnant low | 24 Jun 2017 | 24.5 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 27.2 mi | 20 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 46.7 mi | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 19 Jun 1934 | 22.7 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 20 Sep 1928 | 23.6 mi | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1896 | 24.1 mi | 60 kt |
How Frederick County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Frederick County, Virginia ranks #1,025 — more exposed than 53.6% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #101 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed (October 1893) passed 17 miles away on 14 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1876) passed 36 miles away on 18 September 1876 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed (August 1893) passed 42 miles away on 29 August 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 24 miles away on 29 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
14 of the 15 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 10.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 15 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 24 years, between 1955 and 1979. It has been 22 years since the last one; 1 of the 12 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Frederick County, Virginia?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Frederick County, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1876. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 15.
When was the last hurricane in Frederick County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1893), on 14 October 1893, passing 17 miles away — 133 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Isabel (2003) in 2003.
What was the strongest storm to affect Frederick County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 17 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Frederick County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 10.0 years — 15 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
Frederick County, Virginia borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Warren County, Virginia has 16 on record.