Northampton County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51131 · population 12,215 · 212 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 262 records for Northampton County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 207 days; the most frequent are floods and flash floods (61 records). The deadliest single record is the July 24, 2014 thunderstorm wind: 3 deaths, 31 injuries and $935,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1972, 20 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
- 262on 207 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 338 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $44Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 8strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 22latest 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 Northampton County most?
The most frequent records are floods and flash floods: 61 since 1998. 54% of its floods and flash floods since 1998 fell in September and October. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | 61 | 45 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | 14 of 96 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 59 | 50 | 1958-2025 | 3 | 32 | $1.1M | 71 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 54 | 54 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 43 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 26 | 20 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 96 |
| Hail | 22 | 18 | 1995-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 50 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 13 | 13 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | $9.4M | 3 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 11 | 11 | 2003-2026 | 0 | 0 | $7.5M | 40 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 8 | 8 | 1969-2014 | 0 | 6 | $641K | 19 of 96 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 96 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | $21M | 71 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 92 of 96 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 63 of 96 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2017-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 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 Northampton County had?
NOAA records 8 tornadoes in Northampton County from 1969 to 2014, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries recorded in the county. That is 19th 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 8 tornadoes whose track touched Northampton County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 8, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Northampton County (8)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-07-24 | Cape Charles, Northampton County | EF1 7.69 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 5 | $249K |
| 2012-06-01 | Cape Charles, Northampton County | EF0 0.73 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2010-09-27 | Kendall Grove, Northampton County | EF0 0.45 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 1 | $27K |
| 2007-09-14 | Silver Beach, Northampton County | EF0 6.49 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $43K |
| 1993-08-06 | Kiptopoke, Northampton County | F1 0.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1974-08-17 | Northampton County | F1 0.5 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1974-07-05 | Northampton County | F0 0.2 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1969-06-21 | Northampton County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $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.
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 Northampton County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 19, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-22 | Heavy SnowNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | High WindNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-28 | Coastal FloodNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-12 | Strong WindNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 46 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-12 | Coastal FloodNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-16 | Coastal FloodNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-16 | Flash FloodCedar Grove, Northampton County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-10 | Coastal FloodNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-21 | Coastal FloodNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-19 | Flash FloodExmore, Northampton County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-19 | Flash FloodNassawadox, Northampton County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-23 | Excessive HeatNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-07-24 | Thunderstorm WindCape Charles, Northampton County Downburst straight line wind damage occurred from the southern portions of Cherrystone Campground southward into Cape Charles, then eastward through Cheriton to Oyster. The most significant damage occurred from Cherrystone Campground eastward to just east of Route 13 in Cheriton and southward to just north of the ... | 65 kt wind | 3 | 31 | $935K |
| 2014-07-24 | TornadoCape Charles, Northampton County The tornado began in the Chesapeake Bay, a few miles west of Cherrystone Campground. The tornado then tracked eastward affecting the northern portions of Cherrystone Campground. The tornado then continued eastward across Old Cherrystone Road and Route 13 before lifting near Seaside Road close to the Northampton ... | EF1 7.69 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 5 | $249K |
| 2024-08-02 | Thunderstorm WindCape Charles, Northampton County Strong outflow winds resulted in an awning breaking free from a camper and striking a woman in the head. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $941 |
| 2010-09-27 | TornadoKendall Grove, Northampton County Weak EF0 tornado blew over a shed, downed trees, and severely damaged a mobile home. There was also one minor injury. | EF0 0.45 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 1 | $27K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-09-01 | DroughtNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | $21M | |
| 1999-09-15 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | $8.2M | |
| 2006-09-01 | High WindNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $7.3M |
| 2014-07-24 | HailCheriton, Northampton County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.7M |
| 2009-11-12 | Coastal FloodNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2014-07-24 | Thunderstorm WindCape Charles, Northampton County | 65 kt wind | 3 | 31 | $935K |
| 2011-08-27 | Tropical StormNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | $820K | |
| 2012-10-28 | Coastal FloodNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | $681K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 21, 1969 (tornado, Northampton 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 Northampton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 4 | 16 | 38 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 19 | 11 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 17 | 23 | 9 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | 13 | 8 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 1 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
54% of its floods and flash floods since 1998 fell in September and October. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 31 · Feb 21 · Mar 14 · Apr 18 · May 26 · Jun 24 · Jul 17 · Aug 28 · Sep 32 · Oct 26 · Nov 14 · Dec 11 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Northampton County
FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Northampton County: 14 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 |
| 2018-12-18 | DR-4411 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| 2018-09-11 | EM-3403 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2012-11-26 | DR-4092 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-11-04 | DR-4042 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
| 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 Northampton County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 61 flood or flash flood records for Northampton County from 1998 to 2025, on 45 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Northampton County ranks 1317th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Sandy | 2012-10-28 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-27 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Depression Ida | 2009-11-12 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-15 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.1 million on 98 claims filed in Northampton County; the most in one year was 24 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 3 · 1984: 1 · 1985: 6 · 1987: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1998: 6 · 1999: 6 · 2000: 1 · 2003: 24 · 2006: 5 · 2009: 12 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 11 · 2012: 12 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2018: 3; 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 Northampton County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Northampton County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.4 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 High | $1.3M | 1.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $1.4M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $4.7M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Low | $245K | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $98K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $247K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $18K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $104K | 4.4 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Northampton 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
- Floods in VirginiaThe state's floods and flash floods, 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 Northampton CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Northampton County's FEMA declarations (CSV)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis