Virginia, 1997

Waterspouts in Virginia, July 30, 1997

July 30, 1997 · NWS AKQ · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

7 waterspout, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:01 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 waterspout. Local standard time, as filed.

Waterspout, Norfolk (C)

When
July 30, 12:00 PM EST to 5:30 PM EST
Where
Norfolk (C) County, Norfolk
Coordinates
36.891, -76.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several waterspouts were reported just north of Norfolk over the southern Chesapeake Bay.

Waterspout, Virginia Beach (C)

When
July 30, 12:00 PM EST to 5:30 PM EST
Where
Virginia Beach (C) County, Virginia Beach
Coordinates
36.738, -76.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several waterspouts were reported just north of Virginia Beach over the southern Chesapeake Bay.

Waterspout, Hampton (C)

When
July 30, 12:00 PM EST to 5:30 PM EST
Where
Hampton (C) County, Hampton
Coordinates
37.063, -76.333 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several waterspouts were reported near Langley Air Force Base over the southern Chesapeake Bay.

Waterspout, Portsmouth (C)

When
July 30, 12:00 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Portsmouth (C) County, Portsmouth
Coordinates
36.837, -76.308 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several waterspouts were reported just north of Portsmouth at the intersection of the southern Chesapeake Bay and the James River.

Waterspout, Suffolk (C)

When
July 30, 12:00 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Suffolk (C) County, Huntersville
Coordinates
36.709, -76.608 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several waterspouts were reported over the James River.

Waterspout, Newport News (C)

When
July 30, 12:00 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Newport News (C) County, Newport News
Coordinates
37.063, -76.508 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several waterspouts were reported over the James River.

Waterspout, Isle of Wight

When
July 30, 12:00 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Isle of Wight County, Smithfield
Coordinates
36.907, -76.709 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several waterspouts were reported over the James River.

What these are

Waterspout
A tornado over water. One that moves ashore is filed as a tornado from the coastline on.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Virginia in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, July 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5616377, 5616378, 5616379, 5616380, 5616381, 5616382, 5616383.