Newport News city, Virginia Hurricane History
Since 1854, 43 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Newport News city, Virginia — about one every 4.0 years. Of those, 5 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 22 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 22 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 86 kt (99 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBrenda (1960) — 5.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles21 of 43
- Peak monthSeptember — 19 storms (44% of all)
- Most active year1882 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 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 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 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 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 22.3 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 29.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 34.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 9.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 16 Jun 2001 | 36.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 30.4 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 39.3 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 14.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Dean (1983) | 30 Sep 1983 | 43.2 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Bret (1981) | 1 Jul 1981 | 35.5 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 15 Jul 1979 | 8.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 3 Oct 1971 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 27 May 1970 | 47.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 20 Aug 1969 | 7.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 19 Jun 1967 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 29.3 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 14 Sep 1961 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 13.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 21.2 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 3 Sep 1934 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Aug 1933 | 7.6 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 7 Sep 1916 | 47.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 23.2 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 34.4 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 25 Sep 1889 | 8.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 22.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 23.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 10 Sep 1881 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 35.6 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 42.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 13.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 25 Oct 1872 | 8.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 24.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 23.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 20 Aug 1856 | 29.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 10 Sep 1854 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 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 9 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | Remnant low | 7 Jul 2025 | 23.2 mi | 24 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 10.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Michael (2018) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 2018 | 15.4 mi | 55 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2013 | 5.2 mi | 40 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 25.6 mi | 40 kt |
| Charley (2004) | Post-tropical | 15 Aug 2004 | 36.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Danny (1985) | Post-tropical | 19 Aug 1985 | 4.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | Post-tropical | 21 Oct 1944 | 15.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 11.7 mi | 63 kt |
How Newport News city, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Newport News city, Virginia ranks #281 — more exposed than 87.3% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #14 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 36 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 86 kt (99 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Connie (1955) passed 21 miles away on 13 August 1955 as a hurricane, reaching 72 kt (83 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1933) passed 8 miles away on 23 August 1933 as a hurricane, reaching 71 kt (82 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Floyd (1999) passed 30 miles away on 16 September 1999 as a hurricane, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
37 of the 43 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 43 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 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 20 years, between 1935 and 1955. It has been 4 years since the last one; 10 of the 40 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Newport News city, Virginia?
5 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Newport News city, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 43.
When was the last hurricane in Newport News city, Virginia?
Floyd (1999), on 16 September 1999, passing 30 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 Newport News city, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 86 kt (99 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 36 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Newport News city, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.0 years — 43 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
Newport News city, Virginia borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Suffolk city, Virginia has 54 on record.