Richmond County, Virginia Hurricane History
Since 1859, 30 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Richmond County, Virginia — about one every 5.6 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 28 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 28 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 85 kt (98 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordDean (1983) — 7.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles12 of 30
- Peak monthSeptember — 13 storms (43% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 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 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 28.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 10.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 47.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Dean (1983) | 30 Sep 1983 | 7.6 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Bret (1981) | 1 Jul 1981 | 13.4 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 14 Jul 1979 | 23.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 3 Oct 1971 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 31.8 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 25.3 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 1 Oct 1943 | 30.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 3 Sep 1934 | 19.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Aug 1933 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 25.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 13 Sep 1883 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 28.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 22.1 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 32.0 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 25.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 33.1 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 16 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 | 31.2 mi | 22 kt |
| Ophelia (2023) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 2023 | 33.0 mi | 20 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 23.1 mi | 45 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 47.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 3.1 mi | 40 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 27.8 mi | 24 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 4.0 mi | 23 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 28.7 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | Post-tropical | 4 Oct 1877 | 19.0 mi | 53 kt |
How Richmond County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Richmond County, Virginia ranks #535 — more exposed than 75.8% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #37 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 22 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1933) passed 11 miles away on 23 August 1933 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1876) passed 32 miles away on 17 September 1876 as a hurricane, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Connie (1955) passed 25 miles away on 13 August 1955 as a tropical storm, reaching 62 kt (71 mph) while within 50 miles.
26 of the 30 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.6 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 30 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 29 years, between 1904 and 1933. It has been 4 years since the last one; 11 of the 26 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Richmond County, Virginia?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Richmond County, Virginia at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 30.
When was the last hurricane in Richmond County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1933), on 23 August 1933, passing 11 miles away — 93 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Richmond County, Virginia?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 22 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Richmond County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.6 years — 30 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
Richmond County, Virginia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Middlesex County, Virginia has 41 on record.