Patrick County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51141 · population 17,604 · 483 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 583 records for Patrick County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 403 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (190 records). The deadliest single record is the September 28, 2004 flash flood: 1 death. FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1976, 17 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
- 583on 403 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 11 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $33Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 19latest 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 Patrick County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 190 since 1976. 47% 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 | 190 | 130 | 1976-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 63 of 96 |
| Hail | 125 | 90 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 0 | $11K | 8 of 96 |
| Floods | 75 | 48 | 1996-2024 | 1 | 0 | $7.7M | 50 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 73 | 73 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $134K | 76 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 51 | 50 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 1 | $850K | 16 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 26 | 14 | 2017-2023 | 0 | 0 | $529K | 54 of 96 |
| Drought | 23 | 23 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $15M | 14 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 9 | 8 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $526K | 42 of 96 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $136K | 48 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 3 | 1999-2016 | 0 | 0 | $779K | 82 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2003-2020 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 41 of 96 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | $5.7M | 15 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 Patrick County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Patrick County from 1999 to 2016, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 0 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 4 tornadoes whose track touched Patrick County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Patrick County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-02-24 | Ararat, Patrick County | EF1 1.4 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | $424K |
| 2005-07-07 | Ararat, Patrick County | F1 0.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-09-29 | Ararat, Patrick County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $248K |
| 1999-09-29 | Ararat, Patrick County | F1 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $106K |
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 Patrick County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 19, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtPatrick County · forecast zone Patrick | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtPatrick County · forecast zone Patrick | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-21 | DroughtPatrick County · forecast zone Patrick | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Winter StormPatrick County · forecast zone Patrick | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormPatrick County · forecast zone Patrick | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-06 | DroughtPatrick County · forecast zone Patrick | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindWoolwine, Patrick County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-05-08 | HailCarters Mills, Patrick County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-05 | Thunderstorm WindVesta, Patrick County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-02-16 | High WindPatrick County · forecast zone Patrick | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-02-11 | Winter StormPatrick County · forecast zone Patrick | 0 | 0 | $50K | |
| 2025-01-10 | Winter StormPatrick County · forecast zone Patrick | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-28 | Flash FloodStuart, Patrick County The Remnants of Hurricane Jeanne resulted in heavy rains which created widespread flash flooding on 28th of September in Floyd, Franklin, Patrick, Bedford and Roanoke counties and the City of Salem. One Fatality occurred 7 miles southwest of Stuart in Patrick county at Dry Pond near the North Carolina border. A Mobile ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2000-01-13 | High WindPatrick County · forecast zone Patrick High winds during the afternoon of the 13th downed large trees, tree limbs, and power lines. Some roads were blocked by trees and power lines. The high winds caused minor property damage in all counties and downed power lines started several brush fires.High winds tore the roof off of a house in Cave Springs in ... | 0 | 1 | $43K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-04-14 | WildfirePatrick County · forecast zone Patrick | 0 | 0 | $5.7M | |
| 2015-09-29 | Flash FloodMeadows Of Dan, Patrick County | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | |
| 2015-09-29 | FloodVesta, Patrick County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2018-09-17 | Flash FloodKibler, Patrick County | 0 | 0 | $547K | |
| 2020-05-20 | Heavy RainWoolwine, Patrick County | 0 | 0 | $529K | |
| 2007-04-09 | Frost/FreezePatrick County · forecast zone Patrick | 0 | 0 | $498K | |
| 2016-02-24 | TornadoArarat, Patrick County | EF1 1.4 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | $424K |
| 2020-05-21 | FloodElamsville, Patrick County | 0 | 0 | $285K |
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 Patrick 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 | 8 | 14 | 53 | 78 | 34 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 38 | 59 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 23 | 26 | 20 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 25 | 27 | 10 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 19 | 20 | 6 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 7 | 19 |
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 1976 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 41 · Feb 45 · Mar 36 · Apr 44 · May 67 · Jun 98 · Jul 70 · Aug 71 · Sep 46 · Oct 12 · Nov 18 · Dec 35 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Patrick County
FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Patrick County: 11 major disasters, 7 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for hurricane (4) and snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3631 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-10-01 | DR-4831 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 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 |
| 2018-10-15 | DR-4401 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2018-09-11 | EM-3403 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2016-03-07 | DR-4262 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2006-04-15 | FM-2637 | Fire | Bull Mountain Fire |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-10-18 | DR-1570 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane Jeanne |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1318 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1086 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1994-04-11 | DR-1021 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 1993-03-25 | EM-3112 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1992-05-19 | DR-944 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1979-09-29 | DR-606 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1976-10-15 | EM-3018 | Drought | Drought |
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 Patrick County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 75 flood or flash flood records for Patrick County from 1996 to 2024, on 48 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Patrick County ranks 1710th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Jeanne | 2004-09-28 | 1 | 1 |
| Hurricane Florence | 2018-09-17 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.1 million on 45 claims filed in Patrick County; the most in one year was 19 in 1985. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 6 · 1985: 19 · 1992: 12 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 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 Patrick County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Patrick County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $7K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $4K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $278K | once in about 16 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $279K | 9.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $55K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $637K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.5M | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $168K | 3.2 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 Patrick 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 Patrick CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Patrick County's FEMA declarations (CSV)19 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis