Surry County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51181 · population 6,561 · 279 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 271 records for Surry County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 225 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (88 records). The most damaging was the September 15, 1999 hurricane ($12.9 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1972, 19 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
- 271on 225 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 00 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $20Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 9strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Surry County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 88 since 1974. 59% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1974 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 | 88 | 73 | 1974-2025 | 0 | 0 | $218K | 65 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 62 | 62 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $62K | 50 of 96 |
| Floods | 46 | 35 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | 38 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 35 | 33 | 1998-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 96 |
| Hail | 12 | 11 | 1974-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 92 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 8 | 1978-2017 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 29 of 96 |
| Heat | 6 | 5 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 34 of 96 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 6 | 6 | 1999-2020 | 0 | 0 | $14M | 13 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 2003-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 59 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 2 | 2 | 2018-2018 | 0 | 0 | $35K | 86 of 96 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 1 | 1 | 2025-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 96 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2024-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 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 Surry County had?
NOAA records 9 tornadoes in Surry County from 1978 to 2017, the strongest rated EF3, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 29th 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 9 tornadoes whose track touched Surry County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 9, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 5 people, 0 of them in Surry County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-02-24 13:31, as SPC files it | Waverly | EF1 | 8.86 mi | 3 |
| 2011-04-16 16:45, as SPC files it | Gloucester Courthouse | EF3 | 26.47 mi | 2 |
| 1978-04-19 18:15, as SPC files it | Waverly | F3 | 35.6 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Surry County (9)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-05-05 | Runnymede, Surry County | EF0 0.97 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2016-02-24 | Barham, Surry County | EF1 2.67 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $18K |
| 2011-04-16 | Homewood, Surry County | EF3 3.8 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $328K |
| 2008-04-28 | Claremont, Surry County | EF1 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $101K |
| 2005-05-23 | Claremont, Surry County | F0 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-08-30 | Claremont, Surry County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 1993-08-06 | Grove, Surry County | F1 5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1993-08-06 | Spring, Surry County | F1 2.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1978-04-19 | Surry County | F3 3.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K 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 Surry County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 27, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-28 | Coastal FloodSurry County · forecast zone Surry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-12 | Coastal FloodSurry County · forecast zone Surry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-01 | Coastal FloodSurry County · forecast zone Surry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-21 | Astronomical Low TideSurry County · forecast zone Surry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-27 | Excessive HeatSurry County · forecast zone Surry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-27 | Thunderstorm WindDendron, Surry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-07-15 | Flash FloodElberon, Surry County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-15 | Flash FloodDendron, Surry County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-15 | Flash FloodCabin Pt, Surry County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-15 | Flash FloodDendron, Surry County | 0 | 0 | $15K | |
| 2025-07-15 | Flash FloodSpring Grove, Surry County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-15 | Flash FloodBarham, Surry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-09-15 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Surry County · forecast zone Surry | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 2006-10-07 | Flash FloodSpring Grove, Surry County | 0 | 0 | $2.2M | |
| 2011-08-27 | Tropical StormSurry County · forecast zone Surry | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2011-04-16 | TornadoHomewood, Surry County | EF3 3.8 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $328K |
| 2008-04-28 | TornadoClaremont, Surry County | EF1 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $101K |
| 2025-05-14 | Flash FloodSurry County | 0 | 0 | $50K | |
| 2016-02-24 | TornadoBarham, Surry County | EF1 2.67 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $18K |
| 2025-07-15 | Flash FloodDendron, Surry County | 0 | 0 | $15K |
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: April 19, 1978 (tornado, Surry 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 Surry 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 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 18 | 27 | 16 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 20 | 27 | 10 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 9 | 9 | 26 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 5 | 17 | 11 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
59% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1974 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 32 · Feb 22 · Mar 12 · Apr 12 · May 19 · Jun 41 · Jul 46 · Aug 26 · Sep 23 · Oct 20 · Nov 8 · Dec 10 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Surry County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Surry County: 14 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (9) and severe storm (3).
| 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 |
| 2012-11-26 | DR-4092 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 1977-01-26 | 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 Surry County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 46 flood or flash flood records for Surry County from 1996 to 2025, on 35 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Surry County ranks 1488th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-27 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Depression Ida | 2009-11-12 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-15 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.7 million on 70 claims filed in Surry County; the most in one year was 35 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1985: 1 · 1996: 3 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 3 · 2003: 35 · 2004: 1 · 2006: 10 · 2009: 7 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2020: 2; 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 Surry County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Surry County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $2.8 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 | $949K | 3.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $522K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | $23K | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $57K | once in about 685 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $20K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $64K | 6.3 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Very Low | $71K | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | $15K | 4.2 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 Surry 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 Surry CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Surry County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis