Norfolk city, Virginia Hurricane History
Since 1851, 50 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Norfolk city, Virginia — about one every 3.5 years. Of those, 9 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 40 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 40 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1879) — 93 kt (107 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBob (1979) — 4.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles24 of 50
- Peak monthSeptember — 21 storms (42% of all)
- Most active year1882 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1960s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 40.4 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 33.8 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 27.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 16 Jun 2001 | 18.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 24 Sep 2000 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 11.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 23.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danielle (1992) | 25 Sep 1992 | 46.9 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Charley (1986) | 18 Aug 1986 | 35.5 mi | Cat 1 | 69 kt |
| Dean (1983) | 30 Sep 1983 | 46.7 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Bret (1981) | 1 Jul 1981 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 15 Jul 1979 | 4.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 3 Oct 1971 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 6.9 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 20 Aug 1969 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Doria (1967) | 16 Sep 1967 | 31.7 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 19 Jun 1967 | 22.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 1 Sep 1964 | 43.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 14.5 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 14 Sep 1961 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Ione (1955) | 20 Sep 1955 | 37.5 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 7.5 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Barbara (1953) | 14 Aug 1953 | 37.5 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 3 Sep 1934 | 42.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Aug 1933 | 9.1 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 17 Jun 1893 | 37.5 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 25 Sep 1889 | 23.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 40.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 10 Sep 1881 | 6.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 18 Aug 1879 | 34.4 mi | Cat 2 | 92 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 46.2 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 32.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 25 Oct 1872 | 25.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 14.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1857) | 14 Sep 1857 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 19 Aug 1856 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 10 Sep 1854 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 42.4 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 | 41.2 mi | 23 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 12.1 mi | 40 kt |
| Michael (2018) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 2018 | 6.0 mi | 55 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2013 | 21.0 mi | 40 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 43.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Charley (2004) | Post-tropical | 15 Aug 2004 | 19.1 mi | 40 kt |
| Danny (1985) | Post-tropical | 19 Aug 1985 | 18.5 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1956) | Post-tropical | 18 Oct 1956 | 39.7 mi | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 7.2 mi | 63 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Norfolk city, Virginia more than once.
- Doria — 2 passes (1967, 1971)
How Norfolk city, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Norfolk city, Virginia ranks #207 — more exposed than 90.6% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #5 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 34 miles away on 18 August 1879 as a hurricane, reaching 93 kt (107 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 46 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 86 kt (99 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Barbara (1953) passed 38 miles away on 14 August 1953 as a hurricane, reaching 76 kt (87 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Connie (1955) passed 7 miles away on 13 August 1955 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
45 of the 50 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 50 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 4 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 4 years since the last one; 8 of the 45 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Norfolk city, Virginia?
9 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Norfolk city, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 50.
When was the last hurricane in Norfolk city, Virginia?
Irene (2011), on 28 August 2011, passing 34 miles away — 15 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Norfolk city, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1879), which reached 93 kt (107 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 34 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Norfolk city, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.5 years — 50 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Norfolk city, Virginia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Chesapeake city, Virginia has 53 on record.