Southampton County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51175 · population 17,985 · 599 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 373 records for Southampton County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 275 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (154 records). The deadliest single record is the September 9, 2011 flood: 1 death and 1 injury. FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1993, 11 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
- 373on 275 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 15 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $25Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 18strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 13latest 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 Southampton County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 154 since 1955. 46% 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 | 154 | 115 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 4 | $478K | 81 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 63 | 63 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $40K | 90 of 96 |
| Hail | 46 | 34 | 1959-2025 | 0 | 0 | $23K | 75 of 96 |
| Floods | 38 | 25 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 1 | $3.5M | 87 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 32 | 30 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 18 | 17 | 1961-2023 | 0 | 0 | $11M | 30 of 96 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 61 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 5 | 1999-2010 | 0 | 0 | $39K | 82 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 4 | 4 | 2003-2023 | 0 | 0 | $9.3M | 29 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 2003-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 90 of 96 |
| Lightning | 3 | 2 | 2009-2021 | 0 | 0 | $15K | 69 of 96 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2008-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 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 Southampton County had?
NOAA records 18 tornadoes in Southampton County from 1961 to 2023, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 30th 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 17 tornadoes whose track touched Southampton County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 18: 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 Southampton County (18)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-04 | Little Texas, Southampton County | EF0 2.16 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $48K |
| 2021-08-07 | Boykins, Southampton County | EF0 1.39 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2020-09-29 | Sedley, Southampton County | EF0 1.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 2020-08-04 | Delaware, Southampton County | EF2 15.9 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $9.1M |
| 2019-04-19 | Green Plain, Southampton County | EF1 2.82 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2017-05-05 | Camp Corner, Southampton County | EF0 3.94 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2011-04-16 | Manry, Southampton County | EF0 1.75 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2011-04-16 | Drewryville, Southampton County | EF1 1.86 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $39K |
| 2010-10-27 | Courtland, Southampton County | EF0 0.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $68K |
| 2008-04-28 | Capron, Southampton County | EF0 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2005-07-08 | Capron, Southampton County | F1 1 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2005-07-02 | Saddlers Xrds, Southampton County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-06-25 | Courtland, Southampton County | F1 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2003-05-09 | Drewryville, Southampton County | F0 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 1994-05-26 | Southampton County | F1 1 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 1993-08-06 | Courtland, Southampton County | F1 1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1988-11-28 | Southampton County | F2 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1961-06-26 | Southampton County | F0 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Southampton County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 27, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindNewsoms, Southampton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindIvor, Southampton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindCapron, Southampton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-04-25 | Thunderstorm WindNewsoms, Southampton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-04-25 | Thunderstorm WindNewsoms, Southampton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindSaddlers Xrds, Southampton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-02-01 | Heavy SnowSouthampton County and Franklin (city) · forecast zone Southampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Winter StormSouthampton County and Franklin (city) · forecast zone Southampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-27 | Excessive HeatSouthampton County and Franklin (city) · forecast zone Southampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-27 | Thunderstorm WindDrake Corners, Southampton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-07-27 | Thunderstorm WindBerlin, Southampton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2025-07-27 | Flash FloodBoykins, Southampton County | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-09-09 | FloodSebrell, Southampton County The driver of a vehicle drowned after the vehicle struck standing water, hydroplaned, went off Route 35 and into a swamp just southeast of Sebrell. The vehicle became submerged into the water. There was ten to twelve inches of water on the road at the time of the accident. The passenger was able to escape from the ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 1987-06-03 | Thunderstorm WindSouthampton County | 0 | 4 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-08-27 | Tropical StormSouthampton County · forecast zone Southampton | 0 | 0 | $9.3M | |
| 2020-08-04 | TornadoDelaware, Southampton County | EF2 15.9 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $9.1M |
| 2016-10-08 | FloodBranchville, Southampton County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2006-10-07 | Flash FloodCamp Corner, Southampton County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 1994-05-26 | TornadoSouthampton County | F1 1 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 1993-08-06 | TornadoCourtland, Southampton County | F1 1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 2024-08-04 | Thunderstorm WindIsaac, Southampton County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $94K |
| 2010-10-27 | TornadoCourtland, Southampton County | EF0 0.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $68K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: November 28, 1988 (tornado, Southampton 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 Southampton 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 | 1 | 5 | 30 | 27 | 46 | 44 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 21 | 25 | 11 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 4 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 10 | 6 | 19 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 3 | 5 | 12 | 12 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% 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 34 · Feb 26 · Mar 18 · Apr 18 · May 57 · Jun 47 · Jul 63 · Aug 35 · Sep 45 · Oct 8 · Nov 9 · Dec 13 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Southampton County
FEMA's register lists 13 declarations that include Southampton County: 7 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) 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 |
| 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 |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1086 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-25 | EM-3112 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
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 Southampton County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 38 flood or flash flood records for Southampton County from 1996 to 2025, on 25 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Southampton County ranks 1352nd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Matthew | 2016-10-08 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-27 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.5 million on 91 claims filed in Southampton County; the most in one year was 49 in 1999. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1999: 49 · 2003: 11 · 2004: 1 · 2006: 22 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2020: 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 Southampton County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Southampton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | 3.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $3.1M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $58K | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $259K | 6.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $27K | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $187K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $161K | once in about 808 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Very Low | $122K | 2.3 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 Southampton 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 Southampton CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Southampton County's FEMA declarations (CSV)13 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis