Blizzard in Virginia
Every blizzard event the National Weather Service has filed in Virginia, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
The most significant on the map
The most significant blizzard episodes in Virginia.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 64
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Damage
- $350,000
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Blizzard in Virginia, January 6 to 8, 1996An historic winter storm, known as the "Blizzard of '96", crippled all of northern Virginia during the first full weekend of January.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Virginia, February 9 to 11, 2010An area of low pressure moved from the Mississippi coast to off the Carolina coast. At the same time another low moved through the Ohio Valley, putting southwest Virginia in the middle of the two.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Virginia, January 3 to 4, 2018Strong low pressure tracking northward just off the East Coast produced between three inches and fourteen inches of snow across Eastern Virginia.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Virginia, February 9 to 11, 2010A potent area of low pressure tracked through the Midwest on the 9th. As the low approached the Mid-Atlantic coast, this system phased with energy in the southern branch of the jet stream to cause strong low pressure to develop just off the Delmarva peninsula.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Virginia, January 22 to 24, 2016Coastal low pressure rapidly intensified as it tracked up the Mid-Atlantic coast. At the same time, high pressure to the north was funneling cold air into the region.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Virginia, March 12, 2022A very strong cold front passed through the area during the early morning hours of the 12th. Arctic air behind the boundary combined with low pressure and an upper-level disturbance to bring a period of snow during the morning and midday hours of the 12th.
- Blizzard in Virginia, October 29 to 30, 2012Hurricane Sandy moved up the Atlantic coast and then turned Northwest and made landfall northeast of MD. Heavy rain and high winds over spread coastal regions and most of Maryland. Heavy rain caused flood and river flooding.
- Blizzard in Virginia, January 6 to 7, 2017Low pressure tracking northeast just off the Southeast and Mid Atlantic Coasts produced between two inches and twelve inches of snow, some sleet, and very strong winds across Hampton Roads and the Virginia Eastern Shore.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Virginia, December 4 to 5, 2010An area of low pressure passed across the southern Appalachians. Abundant moisture on the north side of the system combined with cold air over southwest Virginia to produce five to eight inches of snow.
- Blizzard and Ice Storm in Virginia, March 4 to 5, 2015A deep moist southerly flow aloft continued for an extended period across the Southern Appalachian region March 4th and 5th. Problems ensued as this warm and humid air mass was undercut by an arctic intrusion throughout the day on March 5th.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Virginia, February 25 to 28, 2010An upper-level low passed through the Mid-Atlantic on the night of the 24th. The upper-level low combined with energy in the southern branch of the jet stream, causing low pressure to rapidly intensify over New England on the 25th into the 26th.
- Blizzard in Virginia, February 9 to 10, 2010Strong low pressure moving off the northern Mid Atlantic Coast produced blizzard conditions across Accomack County on the Virginia Eastern Shore from Tuesday afternoon, February 9th, into Wednesday evening February 10th.
- Blizzard in Virginia, December 21 to 22, 2012Intensifying low pressure over the Great Lakes with an associated cold front brought below freezing temperatures and snow to the Potomac Highlands. Windy northwest flow behind the cold front produced upslope snow showers and blizzard conditions.
More
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.