Isle of Wight County, Virginia Hurricane History
Since 1854, 47 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Isle of Wight County, Virginia — about one every 3.7 years. Of those, 5 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 24 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 24 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 88 kt (101 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1872) — 5.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles17 of 47
- Peak monthSeptember — 21 storms (45% of all)
- Most active year1882 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s and 1960s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1854–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 29.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 12.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 30 Aug 2004 | 12.5 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 16 Jun 2001 | 34.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 24 Sep 2000 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 36.5 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 34.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 9.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Bret (1981) | 1 Jul 1981 | 49.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 15 Jul 1979 | 20.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 3 Oct 1971 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 27 May 1970 | 32.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 20 Aug 1969 | 16.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 19 Jun 1967 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 1 Sep 1964 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 14 Sep 1961 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 12.0 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 31.5 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 14 Sep 1949 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 11.2 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 3 Sep 1934 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Aug 1933 | 17.6 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 7 Sep 1916 | 32.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 25.5 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 34.0 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 40.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 26.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 29.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 35.7 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 10 Sep 1881 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 21.1 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 34.8 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 17.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 25 Oct 1872 | 5.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 28.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 33.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 19 Aug 1856 | 36.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 10 Sep 1854 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 13 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 9 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | Remnant low | 7 Jul 2025 | 26.2 mi | 25 kt |
| Ophelia (2023) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 2023 | 49.4 mi | 28 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 6.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Michael (2018) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 2018 | 10.6 mi | 53 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2013 | 10.9 mi | 40 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 1 Sep 2006 | 19.7 mi | 40 kt |
| Danny (1985) | Post-tropical | 19 Aug 1985 | 10.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | Post-tropical | 21 Oct 1944 | 17.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 21.8 mi | 63 kt |
How Isle of Wight County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Isle of Wight County, Virginia ranks #236 — more exposed than 89.3% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #10 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 21 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 88 kt (101 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Connie (1955) passed 32 miles away on 13 August 1955 as a hurricane, reaching 72 kt (83 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1933) passed 18 miles away on 23 August 1933 as a hurricane, reaching 71 kt (82 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1876) passed 35 miles away on 17 September 1876 as a hurricane, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
42 of the 47 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 47 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025. 4 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 17 years, between 1916 and 1933. It has been 4 years since the last one; 11 of the 42 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Isle of Wight County, Virginia?
5 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Isle of Wight County, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 47.
When was the last hurricane in Isle of Wight County, Virginia?
Floyd (1999), on 16 September 1999, passing 37 miles away — 27 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Isle of Wight County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 88 kt (101 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 21 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Isle of Wight County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.7 years — 47 storms over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Isle of Wight County, Virginia borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Suffolk city, Virginia has 54 on record.