Roanoke (city), Virginia
City storm and disaster record · FIPS 51770 · population 99,966 · 43 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 200 records for Roanoke (city), Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 130 days; the most frequent are floods and flash floods (69 records). The deadliest single record is the May 13, 2002 thunderstorm wind: 1 death and 2 injuries. FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1972, 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
- 200on 130 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 26 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $5.7Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest EF0
- 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 Roanoke (city) most?
The most frequent records are floods and flash floods: 69 since 1997. 51% of its floods and flash floods since 1997 fell in July and August. Census land area gives no figure for Roanoke (city) under this code, so it carries no per-area rank.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | 69 | 41 | 1997-2025 | 1 | 0 | $2.6M | – |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 51 | 45 | 1978-2026 | 1 | 2 | $1.7M | – |
| Hail | 39 | 23 | 1998-2023 | 0 | 0 | $138K | – |
| Heavy rain | 12 | 9 | 2013-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| High wind and dust storms | 12 | 12 | 2024-2026 | 0 | 1 | $34K | – |
| Lightning | 6 | 6 | 1999-2022 | 0 | 3 | $680K | – |
| Winter storms | 6 | 6 | 2024-2026 | 0 | 0 | $15K | – |
| Drought | 3 | 3 | 2026-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | $27K | – |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | $480K | – |
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 Roanoke (city) had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Roanoke (city) from 2008 to 2008, the strongest rated EF0, 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 2 tornadoes whose track touched Roanoke (city) since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1: 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 Roanoke (city) (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-06-03 | Roanoke (city) | EF0 1.62 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $480K |
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 Roanoke (city)?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 12, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,500 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | Strong WindRoanoke County and 2 more · forecast zone Roanoke | 49 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindRoanoke (city) | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindRoanoke (city) | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindWoodrum Field Roa, Roanoke (city) | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtRoanoke County and 2 more · forecast zone Roanoke | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtRoanoke County and 2 more · forecast zone Roanoke | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-21 | DroughtRoanoke County and 2 more · forecast zone Roanoke | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormRoanoke County and 2 more · forecast zone Roanoke | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-29 | High WindRoanoke County and 2 more · forecast zone Roanoke | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-19 | High WindRoanoke County and 2 more · forecast zone Roanoke | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-12-08 | Winter StormRoanoke County and 2 more · forecast zone Roanoke | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-04 | Heavy SnowRoanoke County and 2 more · forecast zone Roanoke | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindRoanoke (city) Thunderstorms during the morning and afternoon of the 13th produced damaging winds.Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Northern Halifax County, Charlotte Court House, Sugar Grove, Danville, Graysontown, Indian Valley, Christiansburg, 3 miles west of Ferum, Gladys, 6 miles northeast of Appomattox, trees and power lines ... | 1 | 2 | $820 | |
| 2018-09-17 | FloodRoanoke (city) A 53-year old woman was reported to have drowned in the Roanoke River during flooding from Florence although details were lacking in terms of location and timing. The Roanoke River at Roanoke (RONV2) crested at 11.41 feet (10,200 cfs) around mid-day on the 17th. Minor flood stage is 10 feet. Several low water bridges ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-09-27 | High WindRoanoke County and 2 more · forecast zone Roanoke A few trees were downed by high winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Helene. Over 12,000 customers were reported without power by the peak of the high winds, late Friday morning. One postal worker was injured when a tree fell on him on Quails Place in Hollins, Virginia. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $2K |
| 2016-07-12 | LightningRoanoke (city) A lightning strike caused a home to catch fire. | 0 | 1 | $492K | |
| 2003-05-09 | LightningRoanoke (city) Thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours on the 9th produced hail up to golf ball size, damaging winds, and dangerous lightning.A severe thunderstorm during the afternoon of the 9th tracked from about 7 miles northeast of Centenery to 7 miles east northeast of Dillwyn. At times the damage path was 2 miles ... | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2002-05-02 | LightningRoanoke (city) Thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of the 2nd produced damaging winds, flash flooding, hail up to 3 inches in diameter, and dangerous lightning.A woman in Roanoke was struck by lightning and injured while using the phone.Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Floyd, in Seaboard ... | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-07-23 | Flash FloodRoanoke (city) | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 2018-05-27 | Flash FloodCave Spg, Roanoke (city) | 0 | 0 | $588K | |
| 2016-07-12 | LightningRoanoke (city) | 0 | 1 | $492K | |
| 2008-06-03 | TornadoRoanoke (city) | EF0 1.62 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $480K |
| 1998-03-20 | Flash FloodSouthwest Portion, Roanoke (city) | 0 | 0 | $362K | |
| 2006-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindRoanoke (city) | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $293K |
| 2011-07-04 | Thunderstorm WindRoanoke (city) | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 2006-04-03 | Thunderstorm WindRoanoke (city) | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $22K |
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 Roanoke (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 30 | 17 | 17 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 29 | 1 | 1 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
51% of its floods and flash floods since 1997 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 9 · Feb 5 · Mar 6 · Apr 12 · May 28 · Jun 36 · Jul 44 · Aug 36 · Sep 13 · Oct 3 · Nov 3 · Dec 5 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Roanoke (city)
FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Roanoke (city): 13 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (4) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3631 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-10-01 | DR-4831 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 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 |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-07-27 | DR-4072 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2010-02-16 | DR-1874 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 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 |
| 2003-03-27 | DR-1458 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and Mudslide |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1086 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1995-07-01 | DR-1059 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1985-11-09 | DR-755 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Roanoke (city) had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 69 flood or flash flood records for Roanoke (city) from 1997 to 2025, on 41 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Roanoke (city) ranks 293rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Florence | 2018-09-17 | 1 | 1 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $20.2 million on 1,184 claims filed in Roanoke (city); the most in one year was 216 in 1985. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 124 · 1979: 14 · 1980: 10 · 1981: 6 · 1982: 9 · 1983: 17 · 1984: 15 · 1985: 216 · 1986: 2 · 1987: 35 · 1989: 89 · 1990: 3 · 1991: 6 · 1992: 150 · 1993: 7 · 1994: 13 · 1995: 20 · 1996: 22 · 1997: 3 · 1998: 13 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 10 · 2003: 64 · 2004: 136 · 2005: 7 · 2006: 3 · 2008: 3 · 2009: 9 · 2010: 5 · 2011: 12 · 2013: 81 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 6 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 44 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 12 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 8; 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 Roanoke (city)
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Roanoke (city) Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $24.5 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 | $1.5M | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $19M | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $591K | 44 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $120K | 9.5 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $872K | once in about 733 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $727K | once in about 19 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.0M | 2.9 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $182K | 4.1 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 Roanoke (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
- Floods in VirginiaThe state's floods and flash floods, 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 Roanoke (city)The hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Roanoke (city)'s FEMA declarations (CSV)19 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis