Culpeper County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51047 · population 52,534 · 379 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 881 records for Culpeper County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 652 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (260 records). The deadliest single record is the January 19, 1996 flood, filed for the forecast zone Culpeper, which covers the county: 4 deaths. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1972, 21 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
- 881on 652 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 516 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $33Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 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 Culpeper County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 260 since 1959. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1959 fell in July and August. 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 | 260 | 165 | 1959-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 20 of 96 |
| Floods | 156 | 90 | 1996-2025 | 4 | 0 | $2.9M | 10 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 144 | 142 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.5M | 23 of 96 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 103 | 100 | 2001-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 96 |
| Heat | 55 | 55 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 52 | 49 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $18K | 13 of 96 |
| Hail | 52 | 37 | 1992-2023 | 0 | 0 | $200K | 41 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 19 | 19 | 1996-2018 | 0 | 2 | $3.2M | 42 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 14 | 14 | 1998-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 of 96 |
| Drought | 11 | 11 | 1998-2007 | 0 | 0 | $9.2M | 32 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 9 | 1983-2024 | 0 | 13 | $13M | 37 of 96 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1996-2003 | 1 | 1 | $55K | 40 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 65 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 Culpeper County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Culpeper County from 1983 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries recorded in the county. That is 37th 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Culpeper County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-09-24 13:03, as SPC files it | Warrenton | F4 | 10 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Culpeper County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-26 | Cordova, Culpeper County | EF0 4.75 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 5 | $235K |
| 2008-06-04 | Stevensburg, Culpeper County | EF0 4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $21K |
| 2005-08-30 | Rixeyville, Culpeper County | F0 0.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2004-09-17 | Mitchells, Culpeper County | F1 0.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 2004-09-17 | Catalpa, Culpeper County | F1 0.1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $234K |
| 2004-09-08 | Elkwood, Culpeper County | F1 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $78K |
| 2003-07-10 | Reva, Culpeper County | F0 7 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-09-24 | Rixeyville, Culpeper County | F4 7 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 2 | $3.3M |
| 2001-09-20 | Culpeper County | F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1983-10-13 | Culpeper County | F2 1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 6 | $2.5M 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 Culpeper County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 22, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindKellys Ford, Culpeper County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindRapidan, Culpeper County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindRichardsville, Culpeper County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindLignum, Culpeper County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-02 | Winter WeatherCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | Cold/Wind ChillCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-05 | Winter WeatherCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-05 | Winter WeatherCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-02 | Winter WeatherCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-01-19 | FloodCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper ***River Flooding***High dewpoint temperatures melted most of the snow on the ground within 12 hours. The snow pack had a liquid equivalent between 2 to 3 inches. Snowmelt, combined with 1 to 3 inches of rain (some locations received nearly 5 inches), caused the worst regional flooding in over 10 years. River flooding ... | 4 | 0 | – | |
| 1999-04-04 | LightningJeffersonton, Culpeper County Man struck by lightning on golf course | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1983-10-13 | TornadoCulpeper County | F2 1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 6 | $2.5M step |
| 2024-05-26 | TornadoCordova, Culpeper County The National Weather Service conducted a ground survey of storm damage in the Rixeyville area that occurred on Sunday night, May 26, 2024. NWS Doppler Weather Radar in Sterling, Virginia showed a rotating severe thunderstorm that developed a tornado. Radar also showed a tornado damage signature due to lofted debris ... | EF0 4.75 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 5 | $235K |
| 2003-09-18 | High WindCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper By 9 pm on September 18, a rain band associated with Isabel had set up over the Shenandoah Valley and showers were training southward into the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east side of Augusta County. The rain gauge located at Upper Sherando had recorded over 6 inches of rain and more was to come. County officials ... | 50 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $2.2M |
| 2001-09-24 | TornadoRixeyville, Culpeper County A tornado damaged several buildings and destroyed one home before crossing into Fauquier County. Two people were injured when the tornado damaged a trailer park. | F4 7 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 2 | $3.3M |
| 2003-03-21 | LightningCulpeper County A deputy sheriff was struck by lightning while walking to his car. | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-08-01 | DroughtCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | $9.2M | |
| 2003-02-14 | Winter StormCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | $3.4M | |
| 2001-09-24 | TornadoRixeyville, Culpeper County | F4 7 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 2 | $3.3M |
| 1996-09-06 | FloodCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2004-09-17 | TornadoMitchells, Culpeper County | F1 0.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 1996-09-06 | Flash FloodCountywide, Culpeper County | 0 | 0 | $828K | |
| 1996-09-06 | High WindCulpeper County · forecast zone Culpeper | 0 | 0 | $762K | |
| 2022-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindJeffersonton, Culpeper County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $252K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: October 13, 1983 (tornado, Culpeper 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 Culpeper 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 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 29 | 42 | 117 | 60 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 12 | 21 | 83 | 40 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 18 | 39 | 58 | 29 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | – | – | – | – | 0 | 27 | 57 | 19 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 8 | 19 | 24 | 4 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 1 | 16 | 25 | 10 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1959 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 84 · Feb 64 · Mar 52 · Apr 45 · May 64 · Jun 135 · Jul 113 · Aug 120 · Sep 66 · Oct 47 · Nov 18 · Dec 73 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Culpeper County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Culpeper County: 16 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (6) and severe storm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3631 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2022-03-11 | DR-4644 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 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 |
| 2016-03-07 | DR-4262 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2012-11-26 | DR-4092 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-07-27 | DR-4072 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2011-11-04 | DR-4042 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
| 2010-04-27 | DR-1905 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms |
| 2010-02-16 | DR-1874 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 1995-07-01 | DR-1059 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1994-04-11 | DR-1021 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 1993-03-25 | EM-3112 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1977-07-23 | EM-3046 | Drought | Drought |
| 1972-10-10 | DR-359 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Culpeper County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 156 flood or flash flood records for Culpeper County from 1996 to 2025, on 90 days, with 4 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Culpeper County ranks 1731st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Fran | 1996-09-06 | 2 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $722,000 on 43 claims filed in Culpeper County; the most in one year was 6 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 3 · 1984: 1 · 1985: 4 · 1987: 3 · 1989: 2 · 1995: 2 · 1996: 6 · 2002: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2011: 4 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 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 Culpeper County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Culpeper County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $14.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $1.0M | 2.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $548K | 41 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $742K | 5.8 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $657K | once in about 11 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $622K | once in about 570 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $9.8M | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $598K | 4.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $210K | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Culpeper 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 Culpeper CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Culpeper County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis