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Tornado History

Virginia Tornado History

This page summarizes tornado history for Virginia. The local dataset contains 861 tornado records from 1951 through 2025, with a strongest listed rating of F4 (Devastating damage) and at least $492.2M in reported property damage. The latest tornado record in this group is November 9, 2025. Across these records, NOAA lists 38 deaths and 930 injuries.

Key Tornado Statistics

Total Tornadoes861
Total Deaths38
Total Injuries930
Property Damage$492.2M
Avg Length2.9 mi
Avg Width120 yd

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Key Tornado Facts for Virginia

Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.

Average 11.5 tornadoes per year (17.5/yr in last decade)
April is the peak tornado month with 163 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F3 in Virginia with 11 deaths
2004 was the most active year with 92 tornadoes
The 2000s had the most tornado activity (264 events)
Longest tornado: 38 miles in Virginia
Widest tornado: 2,500.0 yards in Virginia
Most tornadoes in one day: 43 on Sep 17, 2004

Monthly Distribution

Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Summary: In Virginia, April is the most active month with 163 tornadoes.

Annual Tornado Trend

Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.

9262310

Summary: 2004 was the most active year with 92 recorded tornadoes.

Tornado Intensity Distribution

Shows the breakdown of tornadoes by EF/F rating.

F0
EF0
F1
EF1
F2
EF2
F3
EF3
F4
Unknown

Summary: F1 tornadoes are the most common in this group, with 217 recorded events.

Property Damage Trends

Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.

$69.8M$7.0M$698K$0

Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 2004 with at least $69.8M in NOAA-listed property damage.

Tornado Count By County

Compares the counties with the most tornado records in this state dataset.

Loudoun
Pittsylvania
Fauquier
Suffolk (c)
Fairfax
Southampton
Hanover
Gloucester
Halifax
Isle of Wight
Chesterfield
Louisa
Caroline
Stafford
Richmond (c)
Augusta
Brunswick
Orange
Nottoway
Virginia Beach (c)

Summary: Loudoun County has the highest count in this state group with 26 tornado records.

Historical Track Sketch

F4 August 6, 19931993F4 September 24, 20012001EF3 April 28, 20082008F3 April 1, 19731973F3 May 8, 19841984EF3 April 30, 20232023EF3 February 24, 20162016EF3 April 16, 20112011EF3 February 24, 20162016EF3 April 15, 20182018EF3 April 28, 20112011F3 September 5, 19791979F3 September 5, 19791979F3 May 8, 19841984F3 October 14, 1986F3 May 4, 1990F3 October 18, 1990F3 October 18, 1990F3 April 1, 1998EF3 April 19, 2019F3 September 30, 1959F3 September 30, 1959F3 April 4, 1974F3 April 4, 1974F3 April 19, 1978F3 April 19, 1978F3 January 26, 1978F3 May 22, 1983F3 May 22, 1983F3 July 25, 1985F3 July 25, 1985F3 October 14, 1986F3 September 17, 2004EF3 April 16, 2011EF3 April 16, 2011F3 September 30, 1959F3 November 2, 1966F3 July 4, 1967F3 April 1, 1973EF3 April 16, 2011EF3 April 16, 2011F3 June 16, 1966F2 September 17, 2004EF2 May 8, 2008EF2 April 15, 2018EF2 August 4, 2020F2 September 4, 1999EF2 April 15, 2018EF2 April 16, 2011F2 August 6, 1993F2 June 24, 1996EF2 March 31, 2017EF2 April 8, 2011EF2 March 31, 2017EF2 February 24, 2016F2 April 28, 2002F2 April 28, 2002F2 September 17, 2004F2 September 17, 2004EF2 August 4, 2020F2 April 4, 1974F2 October 13, 1983F2 October 13, 1983F2 May 8, 1984F2 May 29, 1984F2 August 29, 1988F2 April 2, 1990F2 May 4, 1990F2 September 17, 2004EF2 April 28, 2011F2 April 28, 2002F2 September 17, 2004EF2 September 17, 2018EF2 May 27, 2022EF2 September 27, 2024F2 September 17, 2004EF2 April 16, 2011F2 September 27, 1993F2 September 17, 2004EF2 November 2, 2018© OpenStreetMap contributors

Notable Tornado Records

The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.

DateRatingAreaLengthWidthDeathsInjuriesMin. property damage
August 6, 1993F4Dinwiddie, Prince George and Chesterfield, Virginia12 mi250 yd4246$50.0M
September 24, 2001F4Culpeper, Virginia7 mi75 yd02$2.0M
April 28, 2008EF3Suffolk (c), Virginia16 mi400 yd0200$30.0M
April 1, 1973F3Fairfax, Virginia7.1 mi100 yd037$25.0M
May 8, 1984F3Petersburg (c), Virginia2 mi1500 yd00$25.0M
April 30, 2023EF3Virginia Beach (c), Virginia4.5 mi350 yd00$20.0M
February 24, 2016EF3Appomattox, Virginia16.89 mi400 yd17$11.2M
April 16, 2011EF3Gloucester, Virginia13 mi800 yd224$7.7M
February 24, 2016EF3Essex, Virginia10.7 mi500 yd025$4.5M
April 15, 2018EF3Amherst, Virginia10.7 mi400 yd07$4.3M
April 28, 2011EF3Washington, Virginia16.9 mi1320 yd450$3.0M
September 5, 1979F3Fairfax, Virginia17.9 mi300 yd16$2.5M

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Top County Pages

Top Location Pages

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Source And Limits

Data source: NOAA/NCEI. TornadoTrace summarizes historical records for screening and research. Coordinates, damage estimates, narratives, and event details can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. Do not use this page as legal, insurance, engineering, real estate, emergency management, or safety advice.