Scott County, Virginia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1896, 11 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Scott County, Virginia — about one every 11.8 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ida (2021), which passed 27 miles away on 1 September 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIda (2021) — 27 mi away, 1 September 2021
- Strongest stormHugo (1989) — 50 kt (58 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFlorence (2018) — 7.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles4 of 11
- Peak monthSeptember — 5 storms (45% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 3 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 | 4 | 5 | 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 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | 1 Sep 2021 | 27.2 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 17 Sep 2018 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 2 Jul 2003 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 48.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 14 Aug 1940 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 16 Aug 1928 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 9 Jul 1896 | 39.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 6 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 | 19.6 mi | 22 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1975 | 14.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 18 Jun 1934 | 45.1 mi | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 18 Oct 1932 | 8.4 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1905 | 24.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 36.2 mi | 32 kt |
How Scott County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Scott County, Virginia ranks #1,227 — more exposed than 44.4% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #119 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Hugo (1989) passed 49 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 39 miles away on 9 July 1896 as a tropical depression, reaching 30 kt (35 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Florence (2018) passed 7 miles away on 17 September 2018 as a tropical depression, reaching 25 kt (29 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Frances (2004) passed 13 miles away on 8 September 2004 as a tropical depression, reaching 25 kt (29 mph) while within 50 miles.
11 of the 11 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 11.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 11 storms spread over the 130 years from 1896 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 37 years, between 1952 and 1989. 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 Scott County, Virginia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Scott County, Virginia while at hurricane strength. 11 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1896, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Hugo (1989).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Scott County, Virginia?
Ida (2021), on 1 September 2021, passing 27 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Scott County, Virginia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Scott County, Virginia?
Hugo (1989), which reached 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 49 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Scott County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 11.8 years — 11 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
Scott County, Virginia borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Russell County, Virginia has 12 on record.