Here are the nine wildest weather events that have impacted Virginia over the past century, from cyclones to hurricanes.
From hurricanes and tornadoes to blizzards and floods, Virginia has seen its fair share of severe weather events in its recorded history. Ranging from the Rye Cove Cyclone that devastated a small Scott County community in 1929 to the more recent Hurricane Helene flooding of Damascus in 2024, weather events have left their mark on Virginia’s landscape and people.
Here are the nine wildest weather events in Virginia’s history.
Rye Cove Cyclone
Year: 1929
The eastern half of the United States experienced an unprecedented string of tornadoes on May 2, 1929. The Rye Cove Cyclone, part of the string, hit Virginia and became the deadliest tornado to date.
Scott County was hit particularly hard when a tornado hit Rye Cove School. Twelve students and one teacher were killed. Another 54 people were injured.
A.P. Carter, part of the music group the Carter Family, helped with the recovery effort. The experience inspired the family’s recording of “The Cyclone of Rye Cove.”
The devastation was so great that the 1929-30 school year was canceled.
Largest Hailstone
Year: 1968
Surprisingly, Virginia experienced two separate hailstorms in 1968 that brought with them nearly 5-inch hailstones. The first hailstone fell in April in Lee County, followed by the second one in July in Loudoun County.
Caroline County came close to breaking the record in August 2023 when a severe storm dropped a 4.75-inch hailstone. It was the third-largest recorded hailstone in Virginia history, the largest since the 1960s. The storm also brought with it the threat of tornadoes.
Hurricane Camille
Year: 1969
Virginians remember 1969 as the year Hurricane Camille brought inconceivable levels of rainfall to the commonwealth. Remembered as one of the worst natural disasters in recorded Virginia history, the hurricane was only one of three category five storms to make landfall in the country at the time. It originally made landfall in Mississippi.
The effects clearly caught Virginia authorities by surprise, resulting in 124 deaths and $116 million in damages. More than 100 bridges were swept away by the storm.
Nelson County bore the brunt of the storm, receiving 27 inches of rain. Visitors to the county can find a marker and monument from the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission near Woods Mill that memorializes the devastation brought about by the storm.
Coldest Day on Record
Year: 1985
The coldest temperature recorded in Virginia was on Jan. 21, 1985, when Mountain Lake dropped to an astonishing 30 degrees below zero. The cold snap was part of a larger weather event that brought below-freezing temperatures all the way down to Miami.
The low temperature resulted in the deaths of over 160 people and the cancellation of Ronald Reagan’s second inaugural parade.
Other Virginia towns that dropped well below freezing that day include Wytheville and Hot Springs, both of which were 20 degrees below zero. Luckily, there have been only eight times since 1985 that the temperature has fallen below zero in the area.
Flood of 1985
Year: 1985
Hurricane Juan flooded Roanoke on Nov. 4, 1985, when it dumped 6.61 inches of rain within a 24-hour period, becoming known as the Flood of 1985 or the Election Day Flood.
It resulted in the deaths of at least 10 individuals in the Roanoke Valley and resulted in $225 million in damage due to flooded roads, homes, and businesses. Statewide, it caused $800 million in damage.
To commemorate the horrifying event on its 40th anniversary, the City of Roanoke’s stormwater staff collected stories from those who experienced the flood. It also used the opportunity to reflect on what has been done in the years since to better prepare the city for future severe weather events.
1993 Superstorm
Year: 1993
March 1993 was a cold month in Virginia, to say the least. The 1993 Superstorm, which was called “The Storm of the Century” at the time, impacted areas from Canada to Central America, but hit the eastern U.S. the hardest.
The storm was classified as a blizzard, dumping 1-3 feet of snow in parts of Virginia. Winds exceeded 35 miles per hour.
The storm resulted in the death of more than 300 people, including 13 Virginians.
Hurricane Isabel
Year: 2003
Hurricane Isabel lasted from Sept. 18-20 in 2003, making landfall near Drum Inlet in North Carolina before moving northwest into Virginia. Storm surge along the James River reached 9 feet.
Causing wind damage and flooding, it resulted in just shy of $2 billion in damage in the commonwealth. Nearly two million Virginians were without power following the storm.
The hurricane left a lasting impact on William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science campus, resulting in the destruction of research piers and damage to a workspace. The campus sustained $2-3 million in damage to the campus. As a result, research programs on blue crabs and benthic community ecology were set back because of lost samples.
Virginia State Parks also experienced damage. For example, Westmoreland State Park’s waterfront parking area and picnic grounds were destroyed. Leesylvania State Park also sustained damage to its marina area.
Good Friday Tornados
Year: 2019
Good Friday in Virginia wasn’t so good in 2019. The day brought with it at least 15 recorded tornadoes. Franklin County saw the strongest of the bunch when a tornado touched down at 10:25 a.m. with an EF-3 with winds of 159 miles per hour. Three structures were heavily damaged, and 10 outbuildings were destroyed.
The second strongest tornado, an EF-2, touched down in Louisa County.
Winds exceeding 90 miles per hour also caused widespread damage in towns like Disputana.
Hurricane Helene
Year: 2024
A Category 4 storm, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 26, 2024, but caused the most damage in the southern Appalachians, where it led to severe flooding.
In Southwest Virginia, more than 12 inches of rain fell, and wind gusts exceeded 60 miles per hour from Sept. 27-29. Many were left without power, including 181,500 Appalachian Power customers. It took 10 days for full service to be restored.
Damage in Virginia caused by the storm was estimated to be $4 billion. Unfortunately, three Virginians lost their lives.
The Town of Damascus was hit hard by the hurricane, destroying 140 structures and racking up $10-12 million in damage. As part of the cleanup effort, 12,086 cubic yards of debris were removed from the town. Luckily, FEMA Individual Assistance provided $21. Million to Damascus residents.
As time has gone on, the town’s economy has begun to recover. Traditionally, tourists came to the town for the Virginia Creeper Trail. However, significant portions of the trail were closed due to the damage. Estimates for the trail’s rebuilding ranged from $200 to $ 300 million. As a result, the town began looking for new ways to attract visitors by spotlighting other outdoor recreational activities and opening new businesses.
