Halifax County, Virginia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 29 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Halifax County, Virginia — about one every 5.8 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 44 miles away on 7 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 44 mi away, 7 July 2025
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 75 kt (86 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFran (1996) — 5.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 29
- Peak monthSeptember — 14 storms (48% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 5 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 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 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 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 7 Jul 2025 | 44.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 16.1 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 50.0 mi | TS / TD | 17 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 5 Sep 1999 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Fran (1996) | 6 Sep 1996 | 5.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 48.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 16 Sep 1976 | 35.1 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 2 Oct 1971 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 20 Aug 1969 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 31 Aug 1964 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 18 Aug 1955 | 12.8 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 18 Sep 1945 | 20.5 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 34.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 16 Jun 1902 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 30 Sep 1896 | 13.9 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 33.1 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 31.4 mi | TS / TD | 59 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 13 Oct 1885 | 13.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 13 Sep 1878 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 33.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 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 | 45.0 mi | 30 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 47.7 mi | 20 kt |
| Bill (2003) | Post-tropical | 3 Jul 2003 | 48.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 34.3 mi | 20 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 45.8 mi | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 44.1 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 2.4 mi | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 36.6 mi | 30 kt |
How Halifax County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Halifax County, Virginia ranks #552 — more exposed than 75.0% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #39 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed (October 1893) passed 33 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 14 miles away on 30 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed (August 1893) passed 31 miles away on 29 August 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 50 miles away on 31 October 1899 as a tropical storm, reaching 54 kt (62 mph) while within 50 miles.
26 of the 29 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 29 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 30 years, between 1915 and 1945. It has been 0 years since the last one; 26 of the 26 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Halifax County, Virginia?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Halifax County, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 29.
When was the last hurricane in Halifax County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1896), on 30 September 1896, passing 14 miles away — 130 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Halifax County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 33 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Halifax County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.8 years — 29 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
Halifax County, Virginia borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Mecklenburg County, Virginia has 32 on record.