Richmond County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51159 · population 8,918 · 191 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 376 records for Richmond County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 261 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (139 records). The deadliest single record is the June 13, 2013 thunderstorm wind: 1 death and $6,334 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1969, 22 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
- 376on 261 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 15 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $14Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 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 Richmond County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 139 since 1958. 58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 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 | 139 | 90 | 1958-2026 | 1 | 0 | $428K | 18 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 82 | 82 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $114K | 16 of 96 |
| Floods | 70 | 36 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | $4.1M | 16 of 96 |
| Hail | 32 | 24 | 1965-2022 | 0 | 0 | $16K | 21 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 24 | 21 | 1998-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 9 | 1966-2024 | 0 | 2 | $4.6M | 11 of 96 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4 | 4 | 2011-2018 | 0 | 3 | $57K | 60 of 96 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 2000-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 96 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | $3.6M | 55 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 2003-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 63 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2003-2011 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 19 of 96 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2011-2018 | 0 | 0 | $5K | 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 Richmond County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Richmond County from 1966 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries recorded in the county. That is 11th 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Richmond County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-02-24 17:34, as SPC files it | Tappahannock | EF3 | 30.34 mi | 0 |
| 1966-11-02 15:00, as SPC files it | Warsaw | F3 | 0.1 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Richmond County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-03 | Farnham, Richmond County | EF0 1.25 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2016-02-24 | Havelock, Richmond County | EF2 7.47 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $4.1M |
| 2015-06-18 | Ivandale, Richmond County | EF0 3.06 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 2015-06-18 | Ramey Ft, Richmond County | EF0 5.56 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 2005-01-14 | Warsaw, Richmond County | F1 7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2003-08-26 | Newland, Richmond County | F0 0.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 1996-01-19 | Newland, Richmond County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
| 1983-08-31 | Richmond County | F2 0.2 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1975-04-25 | Richmond County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1966-11-02 | Richmond County | F3 | 0 | 2 | $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 Richmond County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindEmmerton, Richmond County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindHaynesville, Richmond County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindFarmers Fork, Richmond County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindFarmers Fork, Richmond County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindRamey Ft, Richmond County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindFoneswood, Richmond County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-10-28 | Coastal FloodRichmond County · forecast zone Richmond | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-12 | Coastal FloodRichmond County · forecast zone Richmond | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-01 | Coastal FloodRichmond County · forecast zone Richmond | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-22 | Coastal FloodRichmond County · forecast zone Richmond | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-27 | Thunderstorm WindFarnham, Richmond County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-27 | Thunderstorm WindHavelock, Richmond County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindWellford, Richmond County Winds gusts up to 60 mph (52 knots) downed several trees throughout the City of Richmond. Trees were blocking the right lane of Chippenham Parkway East and additional trees were downed on Chippenham near Forest Hill Avenue. A tree also fell on a four-year-old boy and his father in Maymont park, killing the boy and ... | 52 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $6K |
| 2018-03-02 | High WindRichmond County · forecast zone Richmond The very strong winds downed trees, and caused widespread power outages. Winds caused a tractor trailer to overturn onto a car on the Downing Bridge. Three people were injured. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $35K |
| 1966-11-02 | TornadoRichmond County | F3 | 0 | 2 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-02-24 | TornadoHavelock, Richmond County | EF2 7.47 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $4.1M |
| 2006-09-01 | Coastal FloodRichmond County · forecast zone Richmond | 0 | 0 | $2.5M | |
| 1999-09-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Richmond County | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2011-08-27 | Tropical StormRichmond County · forecast zone Richmond | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2018-03-02 | High WindRichmond County · forecast zone Richmond | 55 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $35K |
| 1996-01-19 | TornadoNewland, Richmond County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
| 2005-01-14 | TornadoWarsaw, Richmond County | F1 7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2015-06-18 | TornadoRamey Ft, Richmond County | EF0 5.56 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
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: November 2, 1966 (tornado, Richmond County); April 25, 1975 (tornado, Richmond County); August 31, 1983 (tornado, Richmond 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 Richmond 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 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 20 | 65 | 38 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 33 | 31 | 10 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 30 | 38 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 2 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 4 | 11 | 7 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 39 · Feb 30 · Mar 21 · Apr 18 · May 54 · Jun 74 · Jul 52 · Aug 35 · Sep 14 · Oct 18 · Nov 9 · Dec 12 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Richmond County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Richmond County: 15 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (11) 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 |
| 2018-09-11 | EM-3403 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 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 |
| 1977-07-23 | EM-3046 | Drought | Drought |
| 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 Richmond County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 70 flood or flash flood records for Richmond County from 1999 to 2025, on 36 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Richmond County ranks 1612th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-27 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Depression Ernesto | 2006-09-01 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-16 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.3 million on 56 claims filed in Richmond County; the most in one year was 21 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1985: 2 · 1991: 1 · 1996: 2 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 3 · 2003: 21 · 2004: 1 · 2006: 13 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 3 · 2011: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2023: 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 Richmond County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Richmond County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $3.9 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 Moderate | $919K | 4.3 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $1.4M | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Low | $57K | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $229K | 3.1 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $24K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $330 | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $78K | once in about 693 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $82K | 4.9 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 Richmond 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 Richmond CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Richmond County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis