Washington County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51191 · population 53,894 · 561 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 406 records for Washington County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 297 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (203 records). The deadliest single record is the April 28, 2011 tornado: 4 deaths, 50 injuries and $4.6 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1976, 18 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
- 406on 297 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 755 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $124Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 20latest 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 Washington County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 203 since 1956. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 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 | 203 | 157 | 1956-2025 | 2 | 4 | $2.5M | 56 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 91 | 77 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $231K | 82 of 96 |
| Floods | 44 | 35 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $113M | 72 of 96 |
| Hail | 42 | 30 | 1995-2026 | 0 | 0 | $329K | 77 of 96 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 10 | 1953-2012 | 5 | 51 | $6.8M | 50 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 11 | 11 | 2006-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 62 of 96 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2006-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 2022-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 93 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 Washington County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Washington County from 1953 to 2012, the strongest rated EF3, with 5 deaths and 51 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Washington County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 4 people, 5 of them in Washington County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 23:01, as SPC files it | Glade Spring to Chilhowie | EF3 | 19.63 mi | 3 |
| 1974-04-04 03:00, as SPC files it | Saltville | F3 | 8.4 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Virginia.
Every tornado record filed for Washington County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-01 | Haskell, Washington County | EF0 0.6 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $64K |
| 2011-04-28 | Clip, Washington County | EF3 16.9 mi x 1,320 yd | 4 | 50 | $4.6M |
| 2011-04-27 | Haskell, Washington County | EF0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2011-04-27 | Green Cove, Washington County | EF1 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2011-04-27 | Vance, Washington County | EF1 3.9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 2009-06-16 | Watauga, Washington County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 1990-04-30 | Washington County | F0 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1975-01-25 | Washington County | F2 1.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1974-04-04 | Washington County | F3 5.4 mi x 177 yd | 1 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1962-06-03 | Washington County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1953-06-10 | Washington County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1953-04-30 | Washington County | F0 1 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Washington County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the January 24, 2026 winter storm ($200,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | HailWhite Mill, Washington County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherWashington County and Bristol (city) · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter WeatherWashington County and Bristol (city) · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-04 | Winter WeatherWashington County and Bristol (city) · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowWashington County and Bristol (city) · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormWashington County and Bristol (city) · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | $200K | |
| 2025-12-19 | Thunderstorm WindGlade Spg, Washington County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-19 | Thunderstorm WindAbingdon, Washington County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-11 | Winter WeatherWashington County and Bristol (city) · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-08 | Winter WeatherWashington County and Bristol (city) · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-10 | Winter WeatherWashington County and Bristol (city) · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-30 | Flash FloodEmory, Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-28 | TornadoClip, Washington County Glade Spring Tornado. An NWS storm survey reported an EF3 tornado formed south of Abingdon and tracked northeast to the Glade Spring area then moved into Smyth County Virginia. The 140 mph wind speed associated with the tornado, destroyed a small church as well as producing extensive damage to many residences and ... | EF3 16.9 mi x 1,320 yd | 4 | 50 | $4.6M |
| 1996-08-07 | Thunderstorm WindBristol, Washington County Numerous trees and powerlines were downed around Bristol and Abingdon. A tree limb, nearly three feet in diameter fell onto a car killing the driver and injuring a passenger. | 1 | 1 | $15K | |
| 1974-04-04 | TornadoWashington County | F3 5.4 mi x 177 yd | 1 | 1 | $250K step |
| 2014-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindAbingdon, Washington County Broadcast media personnel reported a pedestrian was struck by a falling tree in the 100 block of West Main street in Abingdon. The victim was a 56 year old at the time of the event. At the time of the event the peak wind gusts were only recorded at 24 mph via the CWOP station 1 mile south of Abingdon. | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 1998-11-25 | Thunderstorm WindDamascus, Washington County Straight line winds blew off many barn roofs, downed power lines and demolished outbuildings. One person was injured when a mobile home was moved off its foundation. Initially this event was thought to be a tornado. However, after an aerial survey it was deemed straight line wind damage. | 0 | 1 | $100K | |
| 1995-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindBristol, Washington County A severe thunderstorm uprooted several trees and downed power lines in Bristol. A large locust tree fell on a 9-year-old girl viewing a softball game, causing critical injuries. Power was knocked out to 1,500 customers in Bristol alone. | 0 | 1 | $97K | |
| 1985-07-10 | Thunderstorm WindWashington County | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Flash FloodKonnarock, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $113M | |
| 2011-04-28 | TornadoClip, Washington County | EF3 16.9 mi x 1,320 yd | 4 | 50 | $4.6M |
| 2009-12-09 | High WindWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2004-06-12 | Flash FloodMeadowview, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $391K | |
| 1995-06-16 | HailBristol, Washington County | 0.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $290K |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormWashington County and Bristol (city) · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | $200K | |
| 1998-11-25 | Thunderstorm WindDamascus, Washington County | 0 | 1 | $100K | |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoVance, Washington County | EF1 3.9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
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 4, 1974 (tornado, Washington County, 1 killed).
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 Washington 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 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 90 | 47 | 27 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 26 | 36 | 19 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 16 | 12 | 13 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
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 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 36 · Feb 36 · Mar 27 · Apr 55 · May 46 · Jun 64 · Jul 56 · Aug 31 · Sep 10 · Oct 3 · Nov 9 · Dec 33 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Washington County
FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Washington County: 12 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (4) and flood (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3631 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-04 | DR-4863 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2024-10-01 | DR-4831 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2024-09-29 | EM-3621 | Tropical Storm | Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| 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 |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002-04-02 | DR-1406 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-07-12 | DR-1386 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1318 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 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) |
| 1994-03-10 | DR-1014 | Snowstorm | Severe Ice Storms, Flooding |
| 1993-03-25 | EM-3112 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1984-05-23 | DR-707 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-11-12 | DR-543 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-04-07 | DR-530 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1976-10-15 | EM-3018 | Drought | Drought |
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 Washington County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 44 flood or flash flood records for Washington County from 1997 to 2025, on 35 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Washington County ranks 1419th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Helene | 2024-09-27 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.7 million on 80 claims filed in Washington County; the most in one year was 13 in 2002. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 6 · 1984: 11 · 1994: 1 · 1998: 4 · 2002: 13 · 2003: 6 · 2006: 1 · 2009: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 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 Washington County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Washington County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $12.4 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 | $93K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $934K | 2.8 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $256K | 49 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $803K | once in about 499 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $8.5M | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $153K | 12 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $878K | 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 Washington 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 Washington CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Washington County's FEMA declarations (CSV)20 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis