Accomack County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51001 · population 33,367 · 449 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 365 records for Accomack County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 270 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (116 records). The deadliest day on its record was October 7, 2018: rip current records filed for Accomack County that day count 2 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1972, 18 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 23, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 365on 270 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 64 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $63Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 9strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 20latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Accomack County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 116 since 1970. 58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1970 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Virginia's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 116 | 86 | 1970-2026 | 0 | 1 | $283K | 82 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 74 | 73 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 73 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 48 | 30 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 96 |
| Floods | 46 | 35 | 1998-2025 | 1 | 0 | $18M | 62 of 96 |
| Hail | 26 | 22 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 0 | $6K | 85 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 21 | 20 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4.6M | 45 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 11 | 11 | 1999-2023 | 2 | 0 | $24M | 11 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 9 | 1962-2015 | 0 | 1 | $1.9M | 45 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 2003-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 68 of 96 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 58 of 96 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 3 | 2 | 2018-2025 | 3 | 2 | – | 5 of 96 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2000-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 43 of 96 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | $14M | 79 of 96 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Accomack County had?
NOAA records 9 tornadoes in Accomack County from 1962 to 2015, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 1 injury recorded in the county. That is 45th of 96 Virginia counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 9 tornadoes whose track touched Accomack County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 9, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Accomack County (9)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-08-04 | Saxis, Accomack County | EF0 1.76 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2012-07-14 | Daugherty, Accomack County | EF0 0.58 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 2011-08-27 | Chincoteague, Accomack County | EF0 0.47 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $33K |
| 2000-07-30 | Horntown, Accomack County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-11-11 | Parksley To, Accomack County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $387K |
| 1977-04-05 | Accomack County | F1 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-10-02 | Accomack County | F2 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-05-07 | Accomack County | F1 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1962-05-31 | Accomack County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Accomack County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 12, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindNew Church, Accomack County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindAtlantic, Accomack County | 67 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindJenkins Bridge, Accomack County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindWhithams, Accomack County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-02-22 | Heavy SnowAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2026-02-08 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | High WindAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-29 | Coastal FloodAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-12 | Strong WindAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 46 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-12 | Coastal FloodAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 0 | 0 | $60K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-24 | Rip CurrentAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack Two 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. One was rescued while the other, an 18 year old male, was pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive and was later pronounced dead upon arrival ... | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2018-10-07 | Rip CurrentAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack A 57 year old male drown in a rip current around 2 pm. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2018-10-07 | Rip CurrentAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack An 18 year old male drown in a rip current around 2 pm. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-07-01 | FloodParksley, Accomack County Heavy rainfall from earlier thunderstorms continued to produce numerous reports of flooding and road closures across central Accomack county. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2003-09-18 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Accomack County · forecast zone Accomack Hurricane Isabel was a Category 1 hurricane as it crossed the Wakefield WFO county warning area. Sustained tropical storm force winds with frequent gusts to hurricane force occurred over Eastern Virginia, along and near the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Waters. Isabel made landfall near Ocracoke Inlet in North ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1999-09-15 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Accomack County · forecast zone Accomack Hurricane Floyd was a Category 1 hurricane as it crossed the Wakefield WFO county warning area. Sustained tropical storm force winds with gusts to near hurricane force occurred over the northwest quadrant of the storm over interior portions of northeast North Carolina and along the coastal waters of the Wakefield ... | 1 | 0 | $19M | |
| 2012-08-25 | Thunderstorm WindMappsburg, Accomack County Trailer home was damaged by straight line winds. One minor injury was reported. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $13K |
| 1967-05-07 | TornadoAccomack County | F1 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-09-15 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Accomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 1 | 0 | $19M | |
| 1997-09-01 | DroughtAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 2006-09-01 | Coastal FloodAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 0 | 0 | $8.2M | |
| 2012-10-28 | Coastal FloodAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 0 | 0 | $7.7M | |
| 2011-08-27 | Tropical StormAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 0 | 0 | $4.7M | |
| 2006-09-01 | High WindAccomack County · forecast zone Accomack | 49 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4.4M |
| 2016-10-08 | FloodWhithams, Accomack County | 0 | 0 | $615K | |
| 1995-11-11 | TornadoParksley To, Accomack County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $387K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 5, 1977 (tornado, Accomack County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Accomack County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 20 | 40 | 30 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 26 | 31 | 12 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | 36 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 12 | 17 | 15 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 9 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1970 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 43 · Feb 36 · Mar 23 · Apr 17 · May 26 · Jun 52 · Jul 50 · Aug 51 · Sep 19 · Oct 23 · Nov 11 · Dec 14 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Accomack County
FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Accomack County: 12 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (10) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3631 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4512 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3448 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-09-11 | EM-3403 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2012-11-26 | DR-4092 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-09-03 | DR-4024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-26 | EM-3329 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2006-09-22 | DR-1661 | Severe Storm | Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-09-18 | DR-1491 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1318 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1999-09-18 | DR-1293 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1999-09-16 | EM-3147 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations |
| 1996-09-06 | DR-1135 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm Cond |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1086 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-25 | EM-3112 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1992-05-19 | DR-944 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-01-26 | DR-525 | Freezing | Ice Conditions |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-339 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Accomack County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 46 flood or flash flood records for Accomack County from 1998 to 2025, on 35 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Accomack County ranks 304th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Isabel | 2003-09-18 | 1 | 1 |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-15 | 1 | 1 |
| Hurricane Sandy | 2012-10-28 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-27 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Depression Ida | 2009-11-12 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Depression Ernesto | 2006-09-01 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $12.6 million on 1,114 claims filed in Accomack County; the most in one year was 271 in 2012. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 2 · 1979: 1 · 1980: 8 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 13 · 1985: 48 · 1987: 1 · 1988: 3 · 1989: 6 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 16 · 1992: 77 · 1993: 9 · 1994: 3 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 2 · 1998: 47 · 1999: 237 · 2000: 5 · 2001: 3 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 56 · 2004: 5 · 2005: 2 · 2006: 54 · 2008: 7 · 2009: 90 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 46 · 2012: 271 · 2013: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2016: 24 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 31 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Accomack County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Accomack County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $31.2 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flooding | Very High | $11M | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively High | $13M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $276K | once in about 885 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $195K | 2 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $845K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $296K | 5 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.8M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $58K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Accomack County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in VirginiaEvery Virginia tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in VirginiaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Virginia recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Accomack CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Accomack County's FEMA declarations (CSV)20 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis