Heavy Rain in Virginia, January 27 to 28, 1998

Name: Heavy Rain in Virginia, January 27 to 28, 1998
Start: 1998-01-27T14:00
End: 1998-01-28T22:00
Location: Virginia

January 27 to 28, 1998 · NWS AKQ · 52 events in 52 counties and zones

A Nor'easter produced heavy rain and strong winds across central and eastern Virginia on Tuesday, January 27th and Wednesday, January 28th. Rainfall totals generally ranged from 2 to 4 inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 52 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 52

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS AKQ wrote it up.

A Nor'easter produced heavy rain and strong winds across central and eastern Virginia on Tuesday, January 27th and Wednesday, January 28th. Rainfall totals generally ranged from 2 to 4 inches. This rainfall caused street flooding and flooding of poor drainage areas throughout the region.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

52 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Accomack

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Accomack County, (Wal)wallops Is
Coordinates: 37.765, -75.757 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Amelia

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Amelia County, Amelia
Coordinates: 37.336, -77.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Brunswick

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Brunswick County, Brunswick
Coordinates: 36.765, -77.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Caroline

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Caroline County, Bowling Green
Coordinates: 38.027, -77.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Charles City (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Charles City (C) County, Charles City
Coordinates: 37.354, -77.059 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Chesapeake (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Chesapeake (C) County, Chesapeake
Coordinates: 36.688, -76.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Chesterfield

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Chesterfield County, Chesterfield
Coordinates: 37.379, -77.587 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Colonial Heights (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Colonial Heights (C) County, Colonial Hgts
Coordinates: 37.244, -77.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Cumberland

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Cumberland County, Cumberland
Coordinates: 37.512, -78.245 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Dinwiddie

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Dinwiddie County, Dinwiddie
Coordinates: 37.076, -77.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Emporia

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Emporia County, Emporia
Coordinates: 36.686, -77.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Essex

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Essex County, Tappahannock
Coordinates: 37.939, -76.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Fluvanna

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Fluvanna County, Palmyra
Coordinates: 37.842, -78.277 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Franklin (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Franklin (C) County, Franklin
Coordinates: 36.678, -76.922 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Gloucester

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Gloucester County, Gloucester
Coordinates: 37.401, -76.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Goochland

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Goochland County, Goochland
Coordinates: 37.722, -77.916 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Greensville

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Greensville County, Skippers
Coordinates: 36.676, -77.560 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Hampton (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Hampton (C) County, Hampton
Coordinates: 37.063, -76.333 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Hanover

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Hanover County, Ashland
Coordinates: 37.760, -77.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Henrico

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Henrico County, Short Pump
Coordinates: 37.458, -77.296 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Hopewell (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Hopewell (C) County, Hopewell
Coordinates: 37.304, -77.287 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Isle of Wight

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Isle of Wight County, Isle of Wight
Coordinates: 36.907, -76.709 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, James City

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: James City County, Jamestown
Coordinates: 37.313, -76.774 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, King and Queen

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: King and Queen County, King & Queen Church
Coordinates: 37.719, -76.895 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, King William

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: King William County, King William
Coordinates: 37.707, -77.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Lancaster

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Lancaster County, Lancaster
Coordinates: 37.702, -76.420 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Louisa

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Louisa County, Louisa
Coordinates: 37.978, -77.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Lunenburg

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Lunenburg County, Lunenburg
Coordinates: 36.946, -78.241 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Mathews

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Mathews County, Mathews
Coordinates: 37.417, -76.271 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Mecklenburg

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, South Hill
Coordinates: 36.680, -78.363 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Middlesex

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Middlesex County, Church View
Coordinates: 37.597, -76.578 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, New Kent

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: New Kent County, New Kent
Coordinates: 37.505, -76.997 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Newport News (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Newport News (C) County, Newport News
Coordinates: 37.063, -76.508 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Norfolk (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Norfolk (C) County, Norfolk
Coordinates: 36.891, -76.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Northampton

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Northampton County, Willis Wharf
Coordinates: 37.301, -75.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Northumberland

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Northumberland County, Heathsville
Coordinates: 37.882, -76.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Nottoway

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Nottoway County, Blackstone
Coordinates: 37.143, -78.051 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Petersburg (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Petersburg (C) County, Petersburg
Coordinates: 37.228, -77.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Portsmouth (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Portsmouth (C) County, Portsmouth
Coordinates: 36.837, -76.308 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Powhatan

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Powhatan County, Powhatan
Coordinates: 37.550, -77.915 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Prince Edward

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Prince Edward County, Farmville
Coordinates: 37.224, -78.441 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Prince George

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Prince George County, Prince George
Coordinates: 37.187, -77.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Richmond

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Richmond County, Warsaw
Coordinates: 37.937, -76.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Richmond (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Richmond (C) County, Richmond
Coordinates: 37.554, -77.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Southampton

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Southampton County, Courtland
Coordinates: 36.720, -77.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Suffolk (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Suffolk (C) County, Suffolk
Coordinates: 36.709, -76.608 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Surry

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Surry County, Surry
Coordinates: 37.117, -76.888 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Sussex

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Sussex County, Wakefield
Coordinates: 36.922, -77.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Virginia Beach (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Virginia Beach (C) County, Virginia Beach
Coordinates: 36.738, -76.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Westmoreland

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Westmoreland County, Westmoreland
Coordinates: 38.113, -76.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Williamsburg (C)

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Williamsburg (C) County, Williamsburg
Coordinates: 37.271, -76.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, York

When: January 27, 2:00 PM EST to January 28, 10:00 PM EST
Where: York County, Poquoson
Coordinates: 37.225, -76.520 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, January 1998

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: 5629635, 5629636, 5629637, 5629638, 5629639, 5629640, 5629641, 5629642, 5629643, 5629644, 5629645, 5629646, 5629647, 5629648, 5629649, 5629650, 5629651, 5629652, 5629653, 5629654, 5629655, 5629656, 5629657, 5629658, 5629659, 5629660, 5629661, 5629662, 5629663, 5629664, 5629665, 5629666, 5629667, 5629668, 5629669, 5629670, 5629671, 5629672, 5629673, 5629674, and more.