Northumberland County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51133 · population 11,831 · 191 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 318 records for Northumberland County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 256 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (99 records). The most damaging was the September 1, 2006 coastal flood ($28.8 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 25 declarations naming the county since 1969, 23 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
- 318on 256 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 011 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $63Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 11strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 25latest 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 Northumberland County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 99 since 1976. 48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1976 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 | 99 | 71 | 1976-2026 | 0 | 2 | $353K | 28 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 84 | 84 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $61K | 15 of 96 |
| Floods | 51 | 44 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | $30M | 12 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 39 | 30 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 96 |
| Hail | 13 | 11 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 74 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 11 | 9 | 1969-2024 | 0 | 9 | $2.3M | 10 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 8 | 8 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | 7 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 5 | 2003-2018 | 0 | 0 | $22M | 58 of 96 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 96 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | $5.4M | 54 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 2003-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 62 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 Northumberland County had?
NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Northumberland County from 1969 to 2024, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries recorded in the county. That is 10th 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Northumberland County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Northumberland County (11)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-03 | Luttrellville, Northumberland County | EF1 4.53 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $276K |
| 2021-05-03 | Luttrellville, Northumberland County | EF2 4.41 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $545K |
| 2020-08-04 | Fleeton, Northumberland County | EF1 2.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $714K |
| 2020-08-04 | Browns Store, Northumberland County | EF1 1.4 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2019-04-15 | Walmsley, Northumberland County | EF0 1.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $17K |
| 2005-01-14 | Ditchley, Northumberland County | F1 1 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 1997-09-10 | Wicomico Church, Northumberland County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $276K |
| 1996-07-12 | Edwardsville, Northumberland County | F1 4.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 9 | $470K |
| 1989-05-02 | Northumberland County | F1 0.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-05-02 | Northumberland County | F2 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1969-08-10 | Northumberland County | F0 0.1 mi x 23 yd | 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 Northumberland County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 22, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindWalmsley, Northumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindLara, Northumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindTibitha, Northumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $250 |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindLilian, Northumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindLilian, Northumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindBurgess Store, Northumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindBurgess Store, Northumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $3K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindHeathsville, Northumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindRainswood, Northumberland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-02-22 | Heavy SnowNorthumberland County · forecast zone Northumberland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-29 | Coastal FloodNorthumberland County · forecast zone Northumberland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-12 | Coastal FloodNorthumberland County · forecast zone Northumberland | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-07-12 | TornadoEdwardsville, Northumberland County Tornado damage occurred from Burgess to Oyster Cove. The most significant damage was found in the Edwardsville area, where nearly 20 mobile homes were severely damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees were downed or suffered damage. Nine, mostly minor, injuries were reported. | F1 4.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 9 | $470K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindBurgess Store, Northumberland County A tree fell down onto a vehicle on Dupont Memorial Highway in Heathsville. Two injuries were reported. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $3K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-09-01 | Coastal FloodNorthumberland County · forecast zone Northumberland | 0 | 0 | $29M | |
| 2006-09-01 | High WindNorthumberland County · forecast zone Northumberland | 37 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $22M |
| 2011-08-27 | Tropical StormNorthumberland County · forecast zone Northumberland | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 1999-09-15 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northumberland County · forecast zone Northumberland | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2020-08-04 | TornadoFleeton, Northumberland County | EF1 2.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $714K |
| 2021-05-03 | TornadoLuttrellville, Northumberland County | EF2 4.41 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $545K |
| 1996-07-12 | TornadoEdwardsville, Northumberland County | F1 4.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 9 | $470K |
| 2024-04-03 | TornadoLuttrellville, Northumberland County | EF1 4.53 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $276K |
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 $250, in the dollars of the day) holds: August 10, 1969 (tornado, Northumberland 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 Northumberland 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 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 27 | 38 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 30 | 33 | 12 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 4 | 12 | 32 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | 12 | 22 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1976 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 38 · Feb 33 · Mar 20 · Apr 25 · May 29 · Jun 30 · Jul 53 · Aug 22 · Sep 23 · Oct 23 · Nov 9 · Dec 13 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Northumberland County
FEMA's register lists 25 declarations that include Northumberland County: 17 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (13) and snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3631 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021-05-10 | DR-4602 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 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 |
| 2018-10-15 | DR-4401 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 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) |
| 1994-03-10 | DR-1014 | Snowstorm | Severe Ice Storms, Flooding |
| 1993-03-25 | EM-3112 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1985-11-09 | DR-755 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-01-26 | DR-525 | Freezing | Ice Conditions |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-339 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
| 1969-08-23 | DR-274 | Hurricane | Severe Storms & Flooding |
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 Northumberland County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 51 flood or flash flood records for Northumberland County from 1998 to 2025, on 44 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Northumberland County ranks 620th 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 |
| Tropical Depression Ernesto | 2006-09-01 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-15 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $6.9 million on 385 claims filed in Northumberland County; the most in one year was 131 in 2006. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1982: 2 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 1 · 1985: 9 · 1991: 1 · 1993: 2 · 1994: 5 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 7 · 1998: 9 · 1999: 12 · 2000: 1 · 2003: 122 · 2005: 3 · 2006: 131 · 2008: 12 · 2009: 14 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 21 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 11 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 6; 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 Northumberland County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Northumberland County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $1.1M | 2.2 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $938K | 3.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $3.3M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $668K | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $43K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $262K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $286K | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $97K | once in about 808 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Northumberland 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 Northumberland CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Northumberland County's FEMA declarations (CSV)25 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis