Thunderstorm Wind in Virginia
Every thunderstorm wind event the National Weather Service has filed in Virginia, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
The most significant on the map
The most significant thunderstorm wind 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
- 20,677
- Deaths
- 36
- Injuries
- 284
- Damage
- $239 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Virginia, August 6, 1993The tornado first touched down 1 mile northeast of Kenbridge in Lunenburg County at 1243 EDT, where roofs were blown off of a briquet plant and a furniture company building. Damage estimates in Lunenburg County were $300,000.
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Virginia, April 28, 2008Severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced numerous tornadoes across central and eastern Virginia.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, April 27 to 28, 2011Favorable atmospheric conditions resulted in a deadly tornado outbreak across southwest Virginia on the 27th. The tornadoes produced from light to heavy damage to many homes and businesses across southeast Virginia.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, February 24, 2016Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds, large hail, and six tornadoes across portions of central and eastern Virginia.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Virginia, September 26 to 30, 2024Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 hurricane late Thursday, September 26, and moved quickly northward into the southeastern states, and then turned slightly northwestward towards the southern Appalachian Mountains overnight into Friday morning,…
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Virginia, October 11 to 15, 2018Hurricane Michael made landfall along the Florida panhandle as major hurricane (Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale) on Wednesday afternoon, October 10th, 2018, then tracked northeastward with the northern portion of the storm circulation tracking across portions of…
- Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, April 16, 2011Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds, large hail, and numerous tornadoes across portions of central and eastern Virginia.
- Tornado and Hail in Virginia, July 24, 2014Scattered severe thunderstorms associated with a cold front produced damaging winds, large hail, and one tornado across portions of southeast Virginia.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, June 29 to 30, 2012A strong upper-level disturbance passed through the region in a northwest flow aloft. Extremely hot and humid conditions caused high amounts of instability. The upper-level disturbance triggered a line of thunderstorms that moved through the area.
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 8, 1984
- Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, May 4, 1990
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Virginia, July 14 to 15, 2017Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds and heavy rain across portions of eastern Virginia.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, April 1, 1998Several trees down.
- Damaging Winds in Virginia, June 29, 2012A derecho of historic proportion rolled through the region and caused widespread, significant damage. Numerous power outages occurred. Some customers were without power for 12 days which coincided with a prolonged period of excessive heat.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, February 24, 2016A strong surface low was located over Western TN in the morning. A wedge was in place over the region and expected to be eroded by a strong low level jet.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, April 4, 1974
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Virginia, October 18, 1990
- Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, January 26, 1978
- Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, April 15, 2018A strong cold front with a negatively-tilted upper level trough approached southwest Virginia. Plenty of wind shear with modest instability made conditions ripe for large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Virginia, April 27 to 28, 2011Widespread severe weather impacted the area. A strong upper level trough approaching from the west provided strong winds aloft, and a weak upper level low pressure system moved across during the afternoon hours setting off scattered thunderstorms.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Virginia, April 15 to 16, 2011A strong closed upper level low pressure moved across the Ohio valley, producing a variety of extreme weather across southwest Virginia. In advance of this system,|strong southeast winds produced wind damage across the higher elevations.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 16 to 17, 2025A line of thunderstorms developed over western Maryland and eastern West Virginia, then significantly gathered strength as it moved east into the I-95 corridor. Destructive winds, very large hail, and a tornado were observed with some of the most intense storms.
- Tornadoes and Flood in Virginia, June 4, 2008A stalled front resided across the Mid Atlantic during the afternoon and evening of June 4th, allowing moisture and instability to pool along the boundary.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, June 12, 2026A cold front moved slowly southward through the Mid-Atlantic, triggering scattered thunderstorms with heavy rainfall rates and severe weather. While shear was not very high (<30 knots), the atmosphere was considerably unstable with SBCAPE values of at least 2000 J/kg.
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Virginia, September 17, 2018Scattered severe thunderstorms associated with tropical cyclone Florence produced damaging winds and ten tornadoes across portions of central and south central Virginia.
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.