High Surf in Virginia
Every high surf event the National Weather Service has filed in Virginia, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties.
The most significant on the map
The most significant high surf 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
- 2
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Damage
- $80,000
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- High Surf in Virginia, January 29, 2005A small boat with 2 men on board was heading out of Rudee Inlet. They made it through the first set of breakers then stopped the boat. A wave overtook them and flipped the boat. One man climbed onto and stayed with the overturned boat, and was rescued.
- Storm Surge and High Surf in Virginia, September 1 to 2, 2006Storm surge tidal flooding occurred along the Tidal Potomac River from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto, causing extensive flooding in Alexandria and isolated spots along the shores of the Tidal Potomac River.
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.