Northumberland County, Virginia Hurricane History
Since 1856, 38 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Northumberland County, Virginia — about one every 4.5 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 13 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 13 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 83 kt (96 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1904) — 5.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles15 of 38
- Peak monthSeptember — 17 storms (45% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1856–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 13.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 42.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 27.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 28.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 6.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danielle (1992) | 25 Sep 1992 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Dean (1983) | 30 Sep 1983 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Bret (1981) | 1 Jul 1981 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 15 Jul 1979 | 25.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 3 Oct 1971 | 41.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 36.0 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 12.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 14 Sep 1961 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 30.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 1 Oct 1943 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 3 Sep 1934 | 38.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Aug 1933 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 5.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 23 Oct 1893 | 45.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 25 Sep 1889 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 36.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 41.2 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 6.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 29.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 22.0 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 20 Aug 1856 | 46.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 17 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 | 14.5 mi | 22 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 39.9 mi | 45 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 33.1 mi | 40 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 20.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 41.4 mi | 25 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 21.7 mi | 23 kt |
| Danny (1985) | Post-tropical | 19 Aug 1985 | 44.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 45.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 35.4 mi | 64 kt |
How Northumberland County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Northumberland County, Virginia ranks #372 — more exposed than 83.1% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #23 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 41 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 83 kt (96 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1933) passed 27 miles away on 23 August 1933 as a hurricane, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Connie (1955) passed 8 miles away on 13 August 1955 as a tropical storm, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Floyd (1999) passed 48 miles away on 16 September 1999 as a hurricane, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
33 of the 38 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 38 storms spread over the 170 years from 1856 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; 12 of the 32 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Northumberland County, Virginia?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Northumberland County, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1856. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 38.
When was the last hurricane in Northumberland County, Virginia?
Floyd (1999), on 16 September 1999, passing 48 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 Northumberland County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 83 kt (96 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 41 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Northumberland County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.5 years — 38 storms over the 170 years from 1856 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Northumberland County, Virginia borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Accomack County, Virginia has 41 on record.