Rappahannock County, Virginia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1876, 17 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rappahannock County, Virginia — about one every 8.8 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Isabel (2003), which passed 40 miles away on 19 September 2003.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentIsabel (2003) — 40 mi away, 19 September 2003
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 67 kt (77 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1893) — 3.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 17
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (41% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1876–2003
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isabel (2003) | 19 Sep 2003 | 39.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 7 Sep 1999 | 14.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 18 Aug 1994 | 29.9 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Bret (1981) | 1 Jul 1981 | 22.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| David (1979) | 6 Sep 1979 | 31.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 14 Jul 1979 | 38.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 18 Aug 1955 | 4.4 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 8.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 29 Aug 1949 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 4 Oct 1927 | 49.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 30 Sep 1896 | 27.2 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 14 Oct 1893 | 3.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 13 Sep 1883 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 18 Sep 1876 | 39.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | Post-tropical | 1 Sep 2021 | 28.2 mi | 30 kt |
| Cindy (2017) | Remnant low | 24 Jun 2017 | 23.2 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 5.0 mi | 20 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 33.4 mi | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 19 Jun 1934 | 17.7 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 20 Sep 1928 | 25.3 mi | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1905 | 27.0 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | Post-tropical | 13 Oct 1885 | 6.5 mi | 40 kt |
How Rappahannock County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Rappahannock County, Virginia ranks #925 — more exposed than 58.1% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #87 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed (October 1893) passed 4 miles away on 14 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 67 kt (77 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 27 miles away on 30 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1876) passed 40 miles away on 18 September 1876 as a tropical storm, reaching 58 kt (67 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed (August 1893) passed 18 miles away on 29 August 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
14 of the 17 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 17 storms spread over the 150 years from 1876 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 24 years, between 1955 and 1979. It has been 22 years since the last one; 1 of the 14 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Rappahannock County, Virginia?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rappahannock County, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1876. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 17.
When was the last hurricane in Rappahannock County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1896), on 30 September 1896, passing 27 miles away — 130 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Isabel (2003) in 2003.
What was the strongest storm to affect Rappahannock County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 67 kt (77 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 4 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Rappahannock County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.8 years — 17 storms over the 150 years from 1876 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Rappahannock County, Virginia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Culpeper County, Virginia has 21 on record.