Nottoway County, Virginia Hurricane History
Since 1859, 23 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Nottoway County, Virginia — about one every 7.3 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 33 miles away on 7 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 33 mi away, 7 July 2025
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 72 kt (83 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1886) — 9.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 23
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (48% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2025
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 7 Jul 2025 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 22.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 45.7 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 30 Aug 2004 | 48.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Isabel (2003) | 19 Sep 2003 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 17 Sep 1976 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 2 Oct 1971 | 12.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 20 Aug 1969 | 12.9 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 18 Aug 1955 | 38.3 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 19.5 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 25.4 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 42.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 26.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 9.0 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 13 Oct 1885 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 12 Sep 1883 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 41.6 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 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 8 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophelia (2023) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 2023 | 25.0 mi | 26 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 46.2 mi | 45 kt |
| Michael (2018) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 2018 | 48.4 mi | 50 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 47.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 12.7 mi | 20 kt |
| Danny (1985) | Post-tropical | 19 Aug 1985 | 31.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 19.1 mi | 77 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 11.4 mi | 38 kt |
How Nottoway County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Nottoway County, Virginia ranks #698 — more exposed than 68.4% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #48 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 25 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 72 kt (83 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Isabel (2003) passed 12 miles away on 19 September 2003 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1876) passed 42 miles away on 17 September 1876 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 20 miles away on 31 October 1899 as a tropical storm, reaching 54 kt (62 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 23 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 23 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 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 45 years, between 1899 and 1944. It has been 0 years since the last one; 19 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Nottoway County, Virginia?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Nottoway County, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 23.
When was the last hurricane in Nottoway County, Virginia?
Isabel (2003), on 19 September 2003, passing 12 miles away — 23 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Nottoway County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 72 kt (83 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 25 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Nottoway County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.3 years — 23 storms over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Nottoway County, Virginia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Brunswick County, Virginia has 35 on record.