Pittsylvania County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51143 · population 60,500 · 969 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,051 records for Pittsylvania County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 560 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (563 records). The deadliest single record is the January 24, 2026 winter storm, filed for the forecast zone Pittsylvania, which covers the county: 1 death and 1 injury. FEMA has issued 27 declarations naming the county since 1972, 25 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
- 1,051on 560 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 511 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $54Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 24strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 27latest 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 Pittsylvania County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 563 since 1955. 53% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 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 | 563 | 298 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 1 | $6.0M | 47 of 96 |
| Hail | 199 | 118 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 23 of 96 |
| Floods | 111 | 69 | 1996-2024 | 2 | 0 | $23M | 67 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 55 | 54 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 2 | $1.2M | 95 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 33 | 33 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | 54 of 96 |
| Drought | 27 | 27 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $11M | 34 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 24 | 20 | 1953-2024 | 0 | 5 | $6.2M | 43 of 96 |
| Lightning | 17 | 13 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 1 | $286K | 25 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 8 | 7 | 2013-2020 | 0 | 0 | $11K | 87 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 7 | 7 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | $439K | 78 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 3 | 3 | 2003-2020 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 58 of 96 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 2 | 2007-2008 | 0 | 2 | $55K | 16 of 96 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 1 | 0 | – | 73 of 96 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2019-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 66 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 Pittsylvania County had?
NOAA records 24 tornadoes in Pittsylvania County from 1953 to 2024, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries recorded in the county. That is 43rd 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 23 tornadoes whose track touched Pittsylvania County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 24: 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.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Pittsylvania County (24)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Pickaway, Pittsylvania County | EF1 0.15 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2024-09-27 | Dry Fork, Pittsylvania County | EF2 6.85 mi x 225 yd | 0 | 1 | $790K |
| 2024-04-11 | Swansonville, Pittsylvania County | EF1 0.89 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2018-04-15 | Westover Hills, Pittsylvania County | EF1 8.7 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2018-04-15 | Vandola, Pittsylvania County | EF1 3.1 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | $59K |
| 2011-11-16 | Whiteoak, Pittsylvania County | EF1 2.59 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $656K |
| 2010-10-26 | Cascade, Pittsylvania County | EF0 5.44 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $27K |
| 2009-07-17 | Hurt, Pittsylvania County | EF1 0.59 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $784K |
| 2009-07-17 | Brights, Pittsylvania County | EF1 0.52 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $103K |
| 2008-05-08 | Pullens, Pittsylvania County | EF1 0.84 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $159K |
| 2006-05-26 | Climax, Pittsylvania County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2006-02-04 | Callands, Pittsylvania County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2006-02-04 | Callands, Pittsylvania County | F1 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $138K |
| 2004-09-28 | Cascade, Pittsylvania County | F1 12.4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2004-09-17 | Straightstone, Pittsylvania County | F0 0.3 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-05-07 | Blairs, Pittsylvania County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $272K |
| 1998-03-20 | Cascade, Pittsylvania County | F1 9 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 1996-06-10 | Renan, Pittsylvania County | F1 1.1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $169K |
| 1990-04-02 | Pittsylvania County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1977-06-25 | Pittsylvania County | F2 3.6 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1976-05-15 | Pittsylvania County | F1 1.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1972-09-29 | Pittsylvania County | F1 5.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1964-07-12 | Pittsylvania County | F2 4.9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1953-06-13 | Pittsylvania County | F1 4.5 mi x 33 yd | 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 Pittsylvania County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 22, 2026 thunderstorm wind.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindHurt, Pittsylvania County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindRinggold, Pittsylvania County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindWestover Hills, Pittsylvania County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindRenan, Pittsylvania County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindBerry Hill, Pittsylvania County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtPittsylvania County and Danville (city) · forecast zone Pittsylvania | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtPittsylvania County and Danville (city) · forecast zone Pittsylvania | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-21 | DroughtPittsylvania County and Danville (city) · forecast zone Pittsylvania | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Winter StormPittsylvania County and Danville (city) · forecast zone Pittsylvania | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormPittsylvania County and Danville (city) · forecast zone Pittsylvania | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2026-01-06 | DroughtPittsylvania County and Danville (city) · forecast zone Pittsylvania | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-08 | Winter StormPittsylvania County and Danville (city) · forecast zone Pittsylvania | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormPittsylvania County and Danville (city) · forecast zone Pittsylvania A wintry mix occurred with reports of up to 2.0 inches of snow, up to 3.8 inches of sleet, and up to a trace of freezing rain. One traffic accident resulted in the death of a boy as he was partially ejected from a vehicle that overturned due to the slick roads. The driver of this vehicle was also injured. Key Impacts: ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2018-10-11 | Flash FloodBrosville, Pittsylvania County Pittsylvania County was included in a Presidential Major Disaster declaration due mainly to the severe flooding associated with Tropical Storm Michael. Rainfall of 4 to 8 inches in several hours triggered widespread flash flooding across the county with numerous roads closed and extensive damage. A man lost his life ... | 1 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2015-02-16 | Winter StormPittsylvania County · forecast zone Pittsylvania An observer measured 5.0 inches of snow in Pittsville while a spotter measured 4.5 inches of snow 2SE of Motley. However, across the remainder of the county snowfall amounts were generally 4.0 inches of less, with just 2.0 to 3.0 inches falling in Danville City. The extended period of extreme cold that preceded this ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2011-06-21 | HeatPittsylvania County · forecast zone Pittsylvania One female adult, one female toddler, and one male infant were found passed out in an enclosed car in Danville on a day when the heat index reached the middle 90s. All passengers were taken to hospitals. The two females survived but the male infant died four days later. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1996-09-06 | Flash FloodCountywide, Pittsylvania County | 1 | 0 | $8.8M | |
| 2007-09-12 | WildfirePittsylvania County · forecast zone Pittsylvania A wildfire located two miles north of Shockoe charred eighty one acres of land and injured two firefighters. | 0 | 2 | $14K | |
| 1998-05-07 | TornadoBlairs, Pittsylvania County Thunderstorms during the evening hours on the 7th produced a tornado, flash flooding, damaging lightning, and hail up to quarter size.A tornado touched down two and a half miles west of Blairs. The tornado ripped the roof off a house, damaged 25 other homes and a garage, broke off tree limbs, and toppled trees. Two ... | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $272K |
| 2024-09-27 | TornadoDry Fork, Pittsylvania County An EF 2 tornado associated with the remnants of Hurricane Helene initially touched down about three miles west-southwest of Dry Fork, and traveled 6.85 miles over about 18 minutes. Around 30 structures were damaged, including one mobile home that was completely destroyed and where one injury was sustained. Numerous ... | EF2 6.85 mi x 225 yd | 0 | 1 | $790K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-09-01 | DroughtPittsylvania County · forecast zone Pittsylvania | 0 | 0 | $10.0M | |
| 1996-09-06 | Flash FloodCountywide, Pittsylvania County | 1 | 0 | $8.8M | |
| 1996-09-03 | FloodPittsylvania County · forecast zone Pittsylvania | 0 | 0 | $7.9M | |
| 1995-06-08 | Thunderstorm WindDanville, Pittsylvania County | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | |
| 1996-09-05 | High WindPittsylvania County · forecast zone Pittsylvania | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | |
| 2018-10-11 | Flash FloodBrosville, Pittsylvania County | 1 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2003-09-18 | Tropical StormPittsylvania County · forecast zone Pittsylvania / Danville | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 1996-09-03 | Flash FloodCountywide, Pittsylvania County | 0 | 0 | $1.5M |
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: September 29, 1972 (tornado, Pittsylvania County); June 25, 1977 (tornado, Pittsylvania 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 Pittsylvania 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 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 18 | 37 | 106 | 245 | 138 |
| Hail | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 33 | 71 | 64 | 20 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 25 | 33 | 34 | 19 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 18 | 17 | 10 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 6 | 11 | 0 | 10 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
53% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 54 · Feb 54 · Mar 61 · Apr 85 · May 167 · Jun 178 · Jul 222 · Aug 94 · Sep 72 · Oct 27 · Nov 12 · Dec 25 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Pittsylvania County
FEMA's register lists 27 declarations that include Pittsylvania County: 18 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (7) and hurricane (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3631 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-04 | DR-4863 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2024-10-01 | DR-4831 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2024-09-29 | EM-3621 | Tropical Storm | Post-Tropical Cyclone 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 |
| 2018-12-18 | DR-4411 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| 2018-10-15 | DR-4401 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2018-09-11 | EM-3403 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-07-27 | DR-4072 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-09-18 | DR-1491 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 2003-03-27 | DR-1458 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and Mudslide |
| 2002-05-05 | DR-1411 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1994-03-10 | DR-1014 | Snowstorm | Severe Ice Storms, Flooding |
| 1993-03-25 | EM-3112 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1992-05-19 | DR-944 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-07-23 | EM-3046 | Drought | Drought |
| 1976-10-15 | EM-3018 | Drought | Drought |
| 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 Pittsylvania County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 111 flood or flash flood records for Pittsylvania County from 1996 to 2024, on 69 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Pittsylvania County ranks 1976th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Michael | 2018-10-11 | 1 | 1 |
| Hurricane Fran | 1996-09-03 | 3 | 1 |
| Hurricane Florence | 2018-09-17 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Isabel | 2003-09-18 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $431,000 on 26 claims filed in Pittsylvania County; the most in one year was 4 in 2018. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1985: 2 · 1987: 2 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1993: 1 · 1995: 2 · 1996: 3 · 1998: 1 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 1 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 4; 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 Pittsylvania County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pittsylvania County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $16.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $12M | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $440K | 9.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $86K | 6.8 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $103K | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $219K | 44 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $991K | once in about 13 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $4K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $474K | once in about 752 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Pittsylvania 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 Pittsylvania CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Pittsylvania County's FEMA declarations (CSV)27 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis