Rip Current in Virginia
Every rip current event the National Weather Service has filed in Virginia, year by year, with the most significant episodes. A narrow, fast current flowing away from the beach that caused a drowning or rescue.
The most significant on the map
The most significant rip current 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
- 9
- Deaths
- 9
- Injuries
- 2
- Damage
- None recorded
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Rip Currents in Virginia, October 7, 2018Two men visiting Assateague Island drown in rip currents.
- Rip Current in Virginia, July 24, 2025Two swimmers were caught in a rip current while swimming near the southern end of the Chincoteague Beach Parking Lot at Assateague Island National Seashore on July 24.
- Rip Current in Virginia, May 23, 2009A body boarder who got caught in a rip current drowned in Virginia Beach.
- Rip Current in Virginia, August 25, 2011A surfer who got caught in a rip current drowned in Virginia Beach.
- Rip Current in Virginia, June 16, 2012A man was caught up in a rip current and drowned in Virginia Beach.
- Rip Current in Virginia, July 9, 2019A 35 year old male drown after being caught in a rip current while trying to save a child at False Cape State Park.
- Rip Current in Virginia, September 11, 2021A man died while swimming at Dam Neck Beach due to a rip current.
- Rip Current in Virginia, October 5, 2025A swimmer drowned in the water off of Virginia Beach on October 5.
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.