Rockbridge County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51163 · population 22,631 · 597 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 560 records for Rockbridge County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 405 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (205 records). The most damaging was the September 6, 1996 flash flood ($5.3 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1969, 21 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
- 560on 405 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 02 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $18Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest EF0
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 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 Rockbridge County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 205 since 1958. 55% 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 | 205 | 132 | 1958-2025 | 0 | 1 | $3.1M | 74 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 109 | 102 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $75K | 67 of 96 |
| Floods | 76 | 57 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 52 of 96 |
| Hail | 65 | 48 | 1968-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 57 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 43 | 42 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $909K | 34 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 20 | 19 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 27 of 96 |
| Drought | 16 | 16 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $579K | 37 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 13 | 10 | 2017-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 68 of 96 |
| Lightning | 6 | 6 | 1998-2020 | 0 | 1 | $149K | 42 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 1975-2022 | 0 | 0 | $16K | 87 of 96 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 64 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 73 of 96 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 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 Rockbridge County had?
NOAA records 3 tornadoes in Rockbridge County from 1975 to 2022, 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Rockbridge County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 3, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Rockbridge County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-06 | Fairfield, Rockbridge County | EF0 0.1 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2011-04-16 | Vesuvius, Rockbridge County | EF0 1.31 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 1975-06-05 | Rockbridge County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
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 Rockbridge County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 14, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($15,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtRockbridge County and 2 more · forecast zone Rockbridge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtRockbridge County and 2 more · forecast zone Rockbridge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-21 | DroughtRockbridge County and 2 more · forecast zone Rockbridge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Winter WeatherAlbemarle County and 4 more · forecast zone Central Virginia Blue Ridge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-02 | Winter WeatherAlbemarle County and 4 more · forecast zone Central Virginia Blue Ridge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter StormAlbemarle County and 4 more · forecast zone Central Virginia Blue Ridge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillAlbemarle County and 4 more · forecast zone Central Virginia Blue Ridge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillAlbemarle County and 4 more · forecast zone Central Virginia Blue Ridge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormRockbridge County and 2 more · forecast zone Rockbridge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormAlbemarle County and 4 more · forecast zone Central Virginia Blue Ridge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillAlbemarle County and 4 more · forecast zone Central Virginia Blue Ridge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-19 | Cold/Wind ChillAlbemarle County and 4 more · forecast zone Central Virginia Blue Ridge | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-08-06 | LightningCollierstown, Rockbridge County A camper was slightly injured when a lightning struck a nearby tree at a campground at Lake Robertson. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1995-06-03 | Thunderstorm WindRockbridge County Thunderstorms during the afternoon and early evening hours on the 3rd produced damaging lightning and wind and hail up to nickel-size. Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees in Lexington. Some trees blocked roads for more than one hour. Thunderstorm winds knocked a tree on top of a car two miles southeast of ... | 0 | 1 | $6K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-09-06 | Flash FloodCountywide, Rockbridge County | 0 | 0 | $5.3M | |
| 1996-01-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Rockbridge County | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | |
| 2007-04-09 | Frost/FreezeRockbridge County · forecast zone Rockbridge | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2003-09-18 | FloodRockbridge County · forecast zone Rockbridge | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 1994-08-25 | Thunderstorm WindBuena Vista, Rockbridge County | 0 | 0 | $996K | |
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindGoshen, Rockbridge County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $964K |
| 1998-01-08 | Flash FloodCountywide, Rockbridge County | 0 | 0 | $634K | |
| 2003-11-19 | Flash FloodLexington, Rockbridge County | 0 | 0 | $401K |
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 Rockbridge 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 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 58 | 71 | 51 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 16 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 19 | 28 | 19 | 10 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 24 | 9 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 18 | 15 | 6 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
55% 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 56 · Feb 55 · Mar 31 · Apr 43 · May 53 · Jun 88 · Jul 78 · Aug 62 · Sep 28 · Oct 10 · Nov 13 · Dec 43 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Rockbridge County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Rockbridge County: 16 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (6) and flood (5).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2006-07-13 | DR-1655 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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 |
| 1996-09-06 | DR-1135 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm Cond |
| 1996-01-27 | DR-1098 | Flood | Flooding, High Winds, and Wind Driven Rain |
| 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 |
| 1977-07-23 | EM-3046 | Drought | Drought |
| 1972-10-10 | DR-359 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Rockbridge County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 76 flood or flash flood records for Rockbridge County from 1996 to 2025, on 57 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Rockbridge County ranks 719th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Isabel | 2003-09-18 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Fran | 1996-09-06 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $5.1 million on 313 claims filed in Rockbridge County; the most in one year was 84 in 1995. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1985: 35 · 1987: 9 · 1989: 2 · 1992: 31 · 1993: 4 · 1995: 84 · 1996: 71 · 1998: 14 · 2000: 2 · 2001: 1 · 2003: 26 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 11 · 2010: 4 · 2011: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2018: 7 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 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 Rockbridge County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Rockbridge County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.1 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 Moderate | $59K | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $532K | 43 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $5K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $460K | once in about 18 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $6.7M | 2 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $69K | 3.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $360K | 2.9 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $33K | 12 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 Rockbridge 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 Rockbridge CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Rockbridge County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis