Norton city, Virginia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1896, 10 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Norton city, Virginia — about one every 13.0 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ida (2021), which passed 17 miles away on 1 September 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIda (2021) — 17 mi away, 1 September 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1896) — 30 kt (35 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFrances (2004) — 1.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles5 of 10
- Peak monthAugust — 5 storms (50% of all)
- Most active year1896 — 1 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1896–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | 1 Sep 2021 | 16.7 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 17 Sep 2018 | 9.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 1.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 2 Jul 2003 | 45.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 20 Aug 1969 | 43.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 35.2 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 14 Aug 1940 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 16 Aug 1928 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 9 Jul 1896 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 7 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.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred (2021) | Remnant low | 18 Aug 2021 | 13.1 mi | 22 kt |
| Fay (2008) | Post-tropical | 27 Aug 2008 | 44.2 mi | 15 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1975 | 2.5 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 18 Jun 1934 | 30.8 mi | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 18 Oct 1932 | 6.9 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1905 | 38.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 43.8 mi | 32 kt |
How Norton city, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Norton city, Virginia ranks #1,304 — more exposed than 40.9% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #128 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 41 miles away on 9 July 1896 as a tropical depression, reaching 30 kt (35 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Florence (2018) passed 10 miles away on 17 September 2018 as a tropical depression, reaching 25 kt (29 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Frances (2004) passed 2 miles away on 8 September 2004 as a tropical depression, reaching 25 kt (29 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Camille (1969) passed 43 miles away on 20 August 1969 as a tropical depression, reaching 25 kt (29 mph) while within 50 miles.
10 of the 10 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 13.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 10 storms spread over the 130 years from 1896 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 32 years, between 1896 and 1928. It has been 4 years since the last one; 7 of the 9 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Norton city, Virginia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Norton city, Virginia while at hurricane strength. 10 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1896, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1896).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Norton city, Virginia?
Ida (2021), on 1 September 2021, passing 17 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Norton city, Virginia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Norton city, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1896), which reached 30 kt (35 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 41 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Norton city, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 13.0 years — 10 storms over the 130 years from 1896 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Norton city, Virginia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Bristol city, Virginia has 12 on record.