Wythe County, Virginia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1920, 13 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Wythe County, Virginia — about one every 8.2 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 26 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 26 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormHugo (1989) — 50 kt (58 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1920) — 8.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles3 of 13
- Peak monthAugust — 5 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year2020 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1920s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 2020s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1920–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 26.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bertha (2020) | 28 May 2020 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 11.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 20 Aug 1969 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 9 Jun 1968 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 29 Aug 1949 | 43.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 14 Aug 1940 | 40.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 24 Sep 1920 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 7 Jul 2005 | 33.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Bill (2003) | Post-tropical | 2 Jul 2003 | 10.3 mi | 20 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1975 | 47.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 18 Oct 1932 | 48.2 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1905 | 7.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 1902 | 47.3 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 41.5 mi | 32 kt |
How Wythe County, Virginia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Wythe County, Virginia ranks #1,130 — more exposed than 48.8% of them. Within Virginia it ranks #109 of 133, against a state average of 23.5 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Hugo (1989) passed 37 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 44 miles away on 29 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 26 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Gracie (1959) passed 32 miles away on 30 September 1959 as a tropical storm, reaching 33 kt (38 mph) while within 50 miles.
13 of the 13 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 13 storms spread over the 106 years from 1920 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 20 years, between 1969 and 1989. It has been 5 years since the last one; 8 of the 11 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Wythe County, Virginia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Wythe County, Virginia while at hurricane strength. 13 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1920, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Hugo (1989).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Wythe County, Virginia?
Zeta (2020), on 29 October 2020, passing 26 miles away — 6 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Wythe County, Virginia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Wythe County, Virginia?
Hugo (1989), which reached 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 37 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Wythe County, Virginia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.2 years — 13 storms over the 106 years from 1920 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Wythe County, Virginia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Galax city, Virginia has 14 on record.