Newport News (city), Virginia
City storm and disaster record · FIPS 51700 · population 186,209 · 69 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 351 records for Newport News (city), Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 258 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (111 records). The deadliest single record is the August 27, 2011 tropical storm, filed for the forecast zone Newport News, which covers the county: 1 death and $787,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1972, 19 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
- 351on 258 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 22 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $350Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 7strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Newport News (city) most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 111 since 1961. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 fell in June and July. Census land area gives no figure for Newport News (city) under this code, so it carries no per-area rank.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 111 | 82 | 1961-2026 | 1 | 0 | $334K | – |
| Winter storms | 63 | 63 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $23K | – |
| Floods | 59 | 42 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $21M | – |
| Heavy rain | 49 | 36 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Hail | 26 | 19 | 1974-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | – |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 13 | 13 | 1998-2023 | 1 | 0 | $310M | – |
| High wind and dust storms | 12 | 12 | 2000-2018 | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | – |
| Tornadoes | 7 | 7 | 1951-2019 | 0 | 2 | $13M | – |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1996-2016 | 0 | 0 | $288K | – |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
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 Newport News (city) had?
NOAA records 7 tornadoes in Newport News (city) from 1951 to 2019, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries recorded in the county. 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 8 tornadoes whose track touched Newport News (city) since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 7: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-09-05 15:00, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 2.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Newport News (city) (7)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-04-19 | Menchville, Newport News (city) | EF0 1.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $58K |
| 2001-08-11 | Denbigh, Newport News (city) | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $83K |
| 1982-06-01 | Newport News (city) | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1979-09-05 | Newport News (city) | F3 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.5M step |
| 1965-10-07 | Newport News (city) | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1958-04-06 | Newport News (city) | F1 1 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1951-06-27 | Newport News (city) | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Newport News (city)?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 23, 2026 hail ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-23 | HailOyster Pt, Newport News (city) | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-23 | HailOyster Pt, Newport News (city) | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindNewport News (city) | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindHarpersville, Newport News (city) | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindNewport News (city) | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindNewport News (city) | 68 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2026-06-14 | HailNewport News (city) | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindNewport News (city) | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-04-05 | Thunderstorm WindNorth Newport News, Newport News (city) | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindPatrick Henry Field, Newport News (city) | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-28 | Coastal FloodNewport News (city) · forecast zone Newport News | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-12 | Coastal FloodNewport News (city) · forecast zone Newport News | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-08-27 | Tropical StormHampton (city) and Newport News (city) · forecast zone Newport News Tropical storm force winds knocked down several trees and power lines, as well as caused some significant property damage. The highest sustained wind of 35 knots (40 mph) with a peak gust of 52 knots (60 mph) was recorded at PHF (Newport News/Patrick Henry Field). Storm total rainfall generally ranged from five to ten ... | 1 | 0 | $787K | |
| 1984-05-08 | Thunderstorm WindNewport News (city) | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1979-09-05 | TornadoNewport News (city) | F3 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-09-18 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Hampton (city) and Newport News (city) · forecast zone Newport News | 0 | 0 | $252M | |
| 1999-09-15 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Hampton (city) and Newport News (city) · forecast zone Newport News | 0 | 0 | $57M | |
| 2009-11-12 | Coastal FloodHampton (city) and Newport News (city) · forecast zone Newport News | 0 | 0 | $19M | |
| 2006-09-01 | High WindHampton (city) and Newport News (city) · forecast zone Newport News | 39 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.9M |
| 2012-08-25 | Flash FloodMenchville, Newport News (city) | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2011-08-27 | Tropical StormHampton (city) and Newport News (city) · forecast zone Newport News | 1 | 0 | $787K | |
| 2012-10-28 | Coastal FloodHampton (city) and Newport News (city) · forecast zone Newport News | 0 | 0 | $257K | |
| 2001-08-11 | TornadoDenbigh, Newport News (city) | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $83K |
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: September 5, 1979 (tornado, Newport News (city)).
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 Newport News (city)'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 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 34 | 28 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 22 | 28 | 8 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 13 | 15 | 25 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | 32 | 12 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 37 · Feb 30 · Mar 22 · Apr 19 · May 28 · Jun 52 · Jul 40 · Aug 57 · Sep 25 · Oct 20 · Nov 9 · Dec 12 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Newport News (city)
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Newport News (city): 13 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (11) and severe storm (3).
| 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 |
| 2018-10-15 | DR-4401 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2018-09-11 | EM-3403 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2016-11-02 | DR-4291 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-09-03 | DR-4024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-26 | EM-3329 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2009-12-09 | DR-1862 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Ida and A Nor'east |
| 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 |
| 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 Newport News (city) had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 59 flood or flash flood records for Newport News (city) from 1997 to 2025, on 42 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Newport News (city) ranks 318th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-27 | 1 | 1 |
| Hurricane Sandy | 2012-10-28 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Depression Ida | 2009-11-12 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Isabel | 2003-09-18 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-15 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $23.9 million on 1,065 claims filed in Newport News (city); the most in one year was 186 in 2012. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 6 · 1979: 13 · 1980: 2 · 1981: 6 · 1982: 10 · 1984: 1 · 1985: 3 · 1987: 1 · 1988: 2 · 1989: 2 · 1990: 3 · 1992: 4 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 3 · 1998: 23 · 1999: 146 · 2000: 6 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 4 · 2003: 168 · 2004: 10 · 2005: 4 · 2006: 63 · 2009: 117 · 2010: 24 · 2011: 70 · 2012: 186 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 73 · 2015: 4 · 2016: 60 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 11 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 16 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 2; 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 Newport News (city)
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Newport News (city) Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $31.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $296K | 3.8 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $5.9M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.9M | 6.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $446K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $642K | 42 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.0M | once in about 16 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 962 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Newport News (city)
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 Newport News (city)The hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Newport News (city)'s FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis