Portsmouth (city), Virginia
City storm and disaster record · FIPS 51740 · population 97,881 · 33 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 213 records for Portsmouth (city), Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 167 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (55 records). The most damaging was the October 8, 2016 flood ($3.7 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1972, 16 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
- 213on 167 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 05 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $24Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 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 Portsmouth (city) most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 55 since 1977. 56% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1977 fell in May and June. Census land area gives no figure for Portsmouth (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 | 55 | 43 | 1977-2026 | 0 | 1 | $192K | – |
| Floods | 53 | 49 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5.1M | – |
| Heavy rain | 30 | 27 | 1998-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Hail | 25 | 21 | 1996-2016 | 0 | 0 | $46K | – |
| Winter storms | 16 | 16 | 2015-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1K | – |
| High wind and dust storms | 15 | 10 | 2016-2026 | 0 | 0 | $158K | – |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 6 | 6 | 2016-2025 | 0 | 0 | $320K | – |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $242K | – |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 4 | 1959-2008 | 0 | 4 | $18M | – |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2025-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 1997-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 2026-2026 | 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 Portsmouth (city) had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Portsmouth (city) from 1959 to 2008, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 4 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Portsmouth (city) since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-04-28 14:05, as SPC files it | Suffolk | EF3 | 24 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Portsmouth (city) (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-04-28 | Portsmouth (city) | EF1 4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $82K |
| 2006-08-11 | Portsmouth (city) | F0 0.3 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1971-11-03 | Portsmouth (city) | F1 11.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 4 | $2.5M step |
| 1959-07-10 | Portsmouth (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 Portsmouth (city)?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($4,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-23 | Flash FloodPortsmouth (city) | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindPortsmouth (city) | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillNorfolk (city) and Portsmouth (city) · forecast zone Norfolk | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | High WindNorfolk (city) and Portsmouth (city) · forecast zone Norfolk | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-28 | Strong WindNorfolk (city) and Portsmouth (city) · forecast zone Norfolk | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-28 | Coastal FloodNorfolk (city) and Portsmouth (city) · forecast zone Norfolk | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-12 | Strong WindNorfolk (city) and Portsmouth (city) · forecast zone Norfolk | 42 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-12 | Coastal FloodNorfolk (city) and Portsmouth (city) · forecast zone Norfolk | 0 | 0 | $100K | |
| 2025-09-27 | Flash FloodPortsmouth (city) | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-16 | Coastal FloodNorfolk (city) and Portsmouth (city) · forecast zone Norfolk | 0 | 0 | $80K | |
| 2025-09-16 | Strong WindNorfolk (city) and Portsmouth (city) · forecast zone Norfolk | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-10 | Coastal FloodNorfolk (city) and Portsmouth (city) · forecast zone Norfolk | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-11-03 | TornadoPortsmouth (city) | F1 11.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 4 | $2.5M step |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindPortsmouth (city) A tree fell on a car heading east of I-264 near the intersection with Fredrick Blvd. There were minor injuries to the person. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $5K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-10-08 | FloodPortsmouth (city) | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | |
| 2015-10-02 | Coastal FloodChesapeake (city) and 2 more · forecast zone Norfolk | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2025-10-12 | Coastal FloodNorfolk (city) and Portsmouth (city) · forecast zone Norfolk | 0 | 0 | $100K | |
| 2008-04-28 | TornadoPortsmouth (city) | EF1 4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $82K |
| 2023-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindPortsmouth (city) | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2006-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindPortsmouth (city) | 75 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2025-03-05 | LightningPortsmouth (city) | 0 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2025-02-16 | High WindNorfolk (city) and Portsmouth (city) · forecast zone Norfolk | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
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: November 3, 1971 (tornado, Portsmouth (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 Portsmouth (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 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 11 | 17 | 20 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | 20 | 5 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 10 | 6 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
56% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1977 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 13 · Feb 16 · Mar 12 · Apr 13 · May 22 · Jun 35 · Jul 28 · Aug 21 · Sep 26 · Oct 18 · Nov 6 · Dec 3 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Portsmouth (city)
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Portsmouth (city): 10 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (10) and biological (2).
| 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 |
| 2018-09-11 | 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 |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-09-18 | DR-1491 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 1999-09-18 | DR-1293 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1999-09-16 | EM-3147 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations |
| 1998-09-04 | DR-1242 | Hurricane | Hurricane Bonnie |
| 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 Portsmouth (city) had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 53 flood or flash flood records for Portsmouth (city) from 1999 to 2026, on 49 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Portsmouth (city) ranks 207th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Matthew | 2016-10-08 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $20.0 million on 1,748 claims filed in Portsmouth (city); the most in one year was 379 in 2009. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 12 · 1979: 1 · 1980: 4 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 5 · 1985: 4 · 1986: 1 · 1987: 11 · 1988: 5 · 1989: 5 · 1990: 6 · 1991: 4 · 1992: 7 · 1993: 1 · 1994: 3 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 6 · 1997: 6 · 1998: 78 · 1999: 227 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 337 · 2004: 7 · 2005: 15 · 2006: 55 · 2007: 2 · 2008: 4 · 2009: 379 · 2010: 12 · 2011: 138 · 2012: 33 · 2013: 4 · 2014: 60 · 2015: 12 · 2016: 239 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 11; 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 Portsmouth (city)
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Portsmouth (city) Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $18.2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $4.7M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $177K | 2.8 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $467K | 41 a year (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $734K | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $1.1M | 6.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $613K | once in about 1,130 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $127K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $7.4M | 1.1 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 Portsmouth (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 Portsmouth (city)The hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Portsmouth (city)'s FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis