National Storms

Virginia tornado history

From 1950 through 2025, 838 tornadoes touched Virginia, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, the 27th most of the 48 contiguous states and DC. The National Weather Service rated 2 of them F4/EF4 or stronger; along their paths they killed 40 people and injured 973. The deadliest, on September 30, 1959, was rated F3 and killed 11 (Albemarle County). From 2016 to 2025, Virginia averaged 15 tornadoes a year. SPC has logged 3 preliminary tornado reports in Virginia in 2026 (latest September 12, 2026).

838tornadoes since 1950
1532016–2025
38F3/EF3 or stronger
40deaths
973injuries
Nov 9, 2025latest in final record

Map of every Virginia tornado path since 1950

Rating: 012345 unknown or preliminaryLines run from the start to the end point of each path; dots mark where each tornado touched down.

All 838 paths plus 3 preliminary 2026 reports (gray dots). Zoom in to your county; click a path for its date and rating.

1951: 4 F11951: 1 F21952: 1 F11952: 2 F21953: 1 F01953: 3 F11953: 2 F21954: 3 F01954: 2 F11955: 1 F11956: 4 F11957: 3 F11957: 1 F21958: 1 F11959: 1 F01959: 7 F11959: 1 F21959: 3 F31960: 3 F11960: 2 F21961: 1 F01961: 2 F11961: 1 F21962: 2 F01962: 2 F11962: 4 F21963: 1 F21964: 2 F21965: 1 F01965: 1 F11965: 1 F21966: 2 F11966: 2 F21966: 2 F31967: 2 F11967: 1 F31968: 2 F11969: 1 F01969: 1 F11969: 4 F21969: 1 F31970: 1 F01970: 1 F11970: 2 F21971: 2 F11972: 2 F11973: 2 F01973: 1 F11973: 1 F21973: 1 F31974: 3 F01974: 4 F11974: 2 F21974: 1 F31975: 6 F01975: 13 F11975: 3 F21976: 7 F11976: 1 F21976: 1 F31977: 9 F11977: 2 F21977: 1 F31978: 2 F11978: 1 F21978: 2 F31979: 5 F11979: 4 F21979: 2 F31980: 2 F01980: 3 F11980: 1 F21981: 2 F11981: 3 F21982: 1 F01983: 2 F01983: 3 F11983: 4 F21983: 1 F31984: 2 F11984: 2 F21984: 2 F31985: 2 F01985: 1 F31986: 2 F11986: 2 F21986: 2 F31987: 2 F01987: 2 F11988: 1 F01988: 1 F11988: 4 F21988: 1 F31989: 2 F01989: 6 F11989: 1 F21990: 8 F01990: 4 F11990: 2 F21990: 3 F31991: 1 F01991: 1 F11992: 3 F01992: 3 F11993: 7 F01993: 16 F11993: 3 F21993: 1 F31993: 1 F41994: 4 F01994: 3 F11994: 1 F21995: 3 F01995: 7 F11995: 1 F21996: 9 F01996: 11 F11996: 3 F21997: 6 F01997: 4 F11998: 7 F01998: 5 F11998: 1 F21998: 1 F31999: 1 F01999: 7 F11999: 1 F22000: 7 F02000: 4 F12001: 6 F02001: 6 F12001: 1 F42002: 2 F02002: 3 F12002: 2 F22003: 20 F02003: 11 F12004: 41 F02004: 30 F12004: 11 F22004: 1 F32005: 8 F02005: 16 F12006: 10 F02006: 6 F12007: 2 EF02008: 23 EF02008: 15 EF12008: 1 EF22008: 1 EF32009: 11 EF02009: 3 EF12009: 2 EF22010: 6 EF02010: 1 EF12010: 1 EF22011: 21 EF02011: 20 EF12011: 6 EF22011: 2 EF32012: 8 EF02012: 3 EF12013: 4 EF02013: 1 EF12014: 12 EF02014: 1 EF12015: 7 EF02016: 2 EF02016: 5 EF12016: 2 EF32017: 15 EF02017: 10 EF12017: 1 EF22018: 14 EF02018: 11 EF12018: 3 EF22018: 1 EF32019: 11 EF02019: 10 EF12019: 2 EF22019: 1 EF32020: 8 EF02020: 6 EF12020: 2 EF22021: 6 EF02021: 4 EF12021: 1 EF22022: 9 EF02022: 5 EF12022: 2 EF22023: 2 EF02023: 3 EF12023: 1 EF32024: 2 EF02024: 9 EF12024: 1 EF22025: 3 EF02025: 1 EF119501957196419711978198519921999200620132020max 83
Tornadoes per year in Virginia by rating, 1950–2025. Colors: F/EF0 (yellow) to F/EF5 (black); gray = unknown rating.

Source: National Storms (nationalstorms.com), CC BY 4.0, data from NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports.

Most recent tornadoes in Virginia

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Nov 9, 2025EF00.5 mi0 / 0Middlesex County, VA
Sep 4, 2025EF10.3 mi0 / 0Halifax County, VA
May 30, 2025EF00.8 mi0 / 0Page County, VA
Mar 5, 2025EF00.3 mi0 / 0Gloucester County, VA
Sep 27, 2024EF10.1 mi0 / 0Pittsylvania County, VA
Sep 27, 2024EF11.2 mi0 / 0Bedford County, VA
Sep 27, 2024EF26.8 mi0 / 1Pittsylvania County, VA
Aug 8, 2024EF14.8 mi0 / 0Loudoun County, VA
Aug 8, 2024EF16.9 mi0 / 0Stafford County, VA
Aug 8, 2024EF11.7 mi0 / 0Caroline County, VA
Jul 24, 2024EF19.3 mi0 / 0Halifax County, VA
Jun 5, 2024EF01.1 mi0 / 0Loudoun County, VA
May 26, 2024EF04.8 mi0 / 5Culpeper County, VA
May 26, 2024EF12.0 mi0 / 0Salem city, VA
Apr 11, 2024EF10.9 mi0 / 0Pittsylvania County, VA
Apr 3, 2024EF15.8 mi0 / 0Richmond County, VA
Jun 16, 2023EF08.5 mi0 / 0Isle of Wight County, VA
May 16, 2023EF10.6 mi0 / 0Scott County, VA
May 16, 2023EF10.6 mi0 / 0Lee County, VA
May 16, 2023EF10.1 mi0 / 0Lee County, VA
Apr 30, 2023EF34.5 mi0 / 0Virginia Beach city, VA
Jan 4, 2023EF02.2 mi0 / 0Southampton County, VA
Nov 11, 2022EF02.1 mi0 / 0Dinwiddie County, VA
Nov 11, 2022EF02.9 mi0 / 0King and Queen County, VA
Jul 5, 2022EF12.2 mi0 / 0Grayson County, VA

2026 preliminary tornado reports in Virginia

Reports from SPC's daily logs. A tornado often draws several reports; NOAA publishes confirmed tornadoes, paths and ratings with its final data.

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Sep 12, 2026Prelim. report––Surry County, VA
Jul 21, 2026Prelim. report––Rockingham County, VA
Jun 30, 2026Prelim. report––Wythe County, VA

Deadliest tornadoes in Virginia

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Sep 30, 1959F30.8 mi11 / 4Albemarle County, VA
Aug 6, 1993F41.0 mi4 / 246Dinwiddie County, VA
Feb 24, 2016EF18.9 mi3 / 8Sussex County, VA
Apr 27, 2011EF319.6 mi3 / 50Washington County, VA
Apr 16, 2011EF326.5 mi2 / 24Surry County, VA
Apr 1, 1998F35.0 mi2 / 0Hanover County, VA
May 4, 1990F27.0 mi2 / 10Augusta County, VA
Sep 17, 2018EF27.5 mi1 / 1Chesterfield County, VA
Feb 24, 2016EF316.9 mi1 / 7Appomattox County, VA
Apr 27, 2011EF218.1 mi1 / 7Halifax County, VA

F4, EF4, F5 and EF5 tornadoes in Virginia

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Sep 24, 2001F410.0 mi0 / 2Culpeper County, VA
Aug 6, 1993F41.0 mi4 / 246Dinwiddie County, VA

The 50 strongest Virginia tornadoes, ranked by rating, deaths and path length: Strongest tornadoes in Virginia history

Longest tornado paths in Virginia

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Aug 6, 1993F238.0 mi0 / 0Lunenburg County, VA
Apr 19, 1978F335.6 mi0 / 3Sussex County, VA
Apr 27, 2011EF233.5 mi0 / 0Rockingham County, VA
Feb 24, 2016EF330.3 mi0 / 25King and Queen County, VA
Apr 16, 2011EF326.5 mi2 / 24Surry County, VA
Apr 16, 2011EF226.2 mi0 / 6Person County, NC → VA
Apr 28, 2008EF324.0 mi0 / 200Suffolk city, VA
Jun 16, 2022EF023.5 mi0 / 0Fluvanna County, VA
Apr 16, 2011EF222.6 mi0 / 0Isle of Wight County, VA
Apr 30, 1968F122.5 mi0 / 0Norfolk city, VA

For tornadoes that crossed into another state, the path length, deaths and injuries are for the whole path.

Tornadoes by county

CountyTornadoes since 19502016–2025StrongestDeaths along pathsMost recent
Fauquier County294F4/EF40Aug 11, 2017
Loudoun County284F2/EF20Aug 8, 2024
Pittsylvania County254F2/EF20Sep 27, 2024
Suffolk city238F3/EF31Jul 8, 2021
Fairfax County235F3/EF31Mar 31, 2022
Halifax County215F3/EF32Sep 4, 2025
Stafford County201F2/EF20Aug 8, 2024
Southampton County207F2/EF20Jan 4, 2023
Chesterfield County202F4/EF45Sep 17, 2018
Virginia Beach city192F3/EF31Apr 30, 2023
Hanover County183F3/EF32May 27, 2022
Richmond city175F2/EF20Sep 17, 2018
Louisa County174F2/EF20Jun 16, 2022
Isle of Wight County175F2/EF20Jun 16, 2023
Gloucester County175F3/EF32Mar 5, 2025
Caroline County172F2/EF20Aug 8, 2024
Norfolk city160F3/EF31Jul 3, 2014
Chesapeake city164F3/EF31Oct 31, 2019
Prince William County150F3/EF31Jun 20, 2015
Orange County152F3/EF30May 5, 2017
Henrico County151F2/EF20Sep 17, 2018
Spotsylvania County140F2/EF20Jun 13, 2013
Nottoway County141F3/EF30Oct 11, 2018
Mecklenburg County144F2/EF20Oct 31, 2019
Dinwiddie County143F4/EF44Nov 11, 2022
Bedford County147F3/EF30Sep 27, 2024
Augusta County142F2/EF22Apr 26, 2022
Washington County130F3/EF34Feb 29, 2012
Prince George County132F4/EF44Apr 19, 2019
Brunswick County132F3/EF30Apr 19, 2019
Albemarle County132F3/EF311Aug 6, 2020
Richmond County123F3/EF30Apr 3, 2024
Greensville County124F2/EF20Apr 19, 2019
Frederick County120F2/EF20Apr 27, 2011
Clarke County122F2/EF20Aug 8, 2024
Northumberland County115F2/EF20Apr 3, 2024
Middlesex County114F3/EF30Nov 9, 2025
Lancaster County115F2/EF20Jul 5, 2022
Goochland County112F3/EF31Jun 16, 2022
Charles City County111F3/EF30Apr 19, 2019
Campbell County114F3/EF30May 11, 2019
Amelia County112F3/EF30Oct 11, 2018
Sussex County102F3/EF33Apr 19, 2019
Rockingham County101F2/EF20Oct 31, 2019
King George County101F2/EF20May 5, 2017
Fluvanna County103F3/EF30Jun 16, 2022
Culpeper County101F4/EF40May 26, 2024
Charlotte County101F3/EF30May 27, 2022
York County91F3/EF32Apr 19, 2019
Surry County92F3/EF35May 5, 2017
New Kent County91F3/EF31Oct 11, 2018
Madison County90F3/EF30Aug 30, 2005
Lee County92F3/EF31May 16, 2023
King William County91F3/EF31Oct 23, 2017
King and Queen County92F3/EF30Nov 11, 2022
James City County92F3/EF32Aug 3, 2020
Accomack County90F2/EF20Aug 4, 2015
Newport News city81F3/EF30Apr 19, 2019
Hampton city80F2/EF20Jan 11, 2014
Westmoreland County82F3/EF30May 28, 2021
Northampton County80F2/EF20Jul 24, 2014
Henry County80F2/EF20Oct 26, 2010
Smyth County70F3/EF34Apr 27, 2011
Mathews County70F3/EF32Feb 24, 2012
Greene County70F3/EF31Apr 19, 2013
Petersburg city60F4/EF44Jun 1, 2012
Russell County60F2/EF20May 24, 2011
Powhatan County63F3/EF31Jun 16, 2022
Page County61F2/EF20May 30, 2025
Montgomery County64F1/EF10Aug 31, 2021
Carroll County61F2/EF20Mar 23, 2022
Buckingham County60F3/EF30Sep 8, 2004
Portsmouth city50F3/EF30Apr 28, 2008
Shenandoah County50F2/EF20Apr 27, 2011
Patrick County51F1/EF10Feb 24, 2016
Lunenburg County51F2/EF20May 4, 2017
Franklin County51F3/EF30Apr 19, 2019
Appomattox County52F3/EF31Feb 24, 2016
Emporia city41F2/EF20Apr 19, 2019
Danville city41F1/EF10Apr 15, 2018
Alexandria city40F3/EF31Oct 15, 2014
Warren County40F1/EF10Sep 17, 2004
Scott County41F1/EF10May 16, 2023
Rappahannock County40F2/EF20Jul 23, 2008
Pulaski County42F2/EF20Aug 9, 2019
Prince Edward County40F1/EF10Apr 27, 2011
Grayson County42F1/EF10Jul 5, 2022
Arlington County42F1/EF10Jul 1, 2021
Amherst County42F3/EF30Apr 15, 2018
Waynesboro city31F1/EF10Apr 26, 2022
Manassas city30F1/EF10Jun 20, 2015
Hopewell city30F3/EF30Aug 30, 2004
Wise County30F2/EF20May 8, 2009
Rockbridge County31F0/EF00May 6, 2022
Roanoke County30F2/EF20Aug 4, 2003
Nelson County31F1/EF10Apr 19, 2019
Essex County31F3/EF30Feb 24, 2016
Cumberland County30F1/EF10Apr 27, 2011
Botetourt County31F1/EF10Aug 1, 2020
Salem city21F2/EF20May 26, 2024
Roanoke city20F2/EF20Jun 3, 2008
Poquoson city20F0/EF00Aug 30, 2004
Martinsville city20F2/EF20Aug 16, 1994
Fredericksburg city20F1/EF10Sep 17, 2004
Franklin city20F1/EF10Sep 26, 2008
Falls Church city20F3/EF31Oct 13, 1983
Bristol city20F2/EF20Apr 3, 1974
Floyd County20F1/EF10May 3, 2009
Dickenson County20F1/EF10May 8, 2009
Winchester city10F2/EF20Sep 17, 2004
Williamsburg city10F1/EF10Aug 6, 1993
Staunton city10F1/EF10Apr 3, 1974
Norton city10F0/EF00Apr 9, 2011
Manassas Park city10F1/EF10Sep 17, 2004
Lynchburg city11F3/EF30Apr 15, 2018
Fairfax city10F0/EF00Oct 13, 1983
Colonial Heights city10F1/EF10Apr 28, 2008
Charlottesville city10F1/EF10May 13, 2000
Highland County10F1/EF10Apr 28, 1959
Craig County11F1/EF10Apr 15, 2018
Buchanan County10F1/EF10Apr 3, 1974
Wythe County00unknown0–

Cities with 5 or more tornadoes within 10 miles

Abingdon Alexandria Altavista Ashland Bedford Berryville Blacksburg Blackstone Bristol Broadway Charlottesville Chesapeake Colonial Beach Colonial Heights Culpeper Danville Dublin Dumfries Elkton Emporia Fairfax Falls Church Farmville Franklin Fredericksburg Front Royal Galax Grottoes Hampton Harrisonburg Herndon Hopewell Lebanon Leesburg Lovettsville Lynchburg Manassas Manassas Park Martinsville Newport News Norfolk Orange Petersburg Poquoson Portsmouth Purcellville Radford Richmond Roanoke Salem Smithfield South Boston South Hill Staunton Strasburg Suffolk Timberville Vienna Vinton Virginia Beach Warrenton Waynesboro West Point Williamsburg Winchester Windsor

Tornadoes in Virginia by year

YearTornadoesF/EF012345UnknownDeathsInjuries
20263 preliminary tornado reports so far (not a tornado count; ratings come with NOAA's final data)
20254310000000
202412291000006
20236230100000
202216952000003
202111641000000
202016862000005
20192411102100000
201829141131000113
20172615101000000
201692502000440
20157700000000
20141312100000015
20135410000000
201211830000006
2011492120620006103
20108611000002
2009161132000000
2008402315110000223
20072200000000
2006161060000003
2005248160000000
2004834130111000014
20033120110000003
200272320000017
200113660010004
200011740000001
199991710000023
199814751100023
199710640000000
19962391130000010
199511371000001
199484310000010
199328716311004258
19926330000000
19912110000000
1990178423000313
19899261000000
198871141000117
19874220000000
19866022200001
19853200100000
198460222000015
198310234100006
19821100000000
19815023000011
19806231000001
1979110542000119
197850212000113
197712092100003
19769071100000
1975226133000006
1974103421000113
197352111000037
19722020000002
19712020000004
19704112000000
19697114100015
19682020000000
19673020100006
19666022200002
19653111000005
19642002000003
19631001000000
19628224000023
19614121000003
19605032000000
19591217130001213
19581010000000
19574031000005
19564040000000
19551010000000
19545320000000
19536132000000
19523012000002
195150410000012

More for Virginia: strongest tornadoes · damaging wind history · hail history · all states

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Severe Weather Database (SVRGIS) tornado file, 1950–2025, and SPC preliminary storm reports for 2026 (data through November 6, 2026). Ratings are the ones the National Weather Service assigned: Fujita (F) scale before Feb 1, 2007, Enhanced Fujita (EF) after. Paths are drawn as straight lines from the start to the end point SPC records; real paths curve. City and county boundaries: US Census Bureau.