Since 1851, 122 tropical or subtropical cyclones have either directly or indirectly affected the state of Virginia, with the most recent being Helene in 2024. On average, around one tropical storm or its associated remnants can be expected to impact the state annually, with hurricane impacts averaging once every 2.3 years. Regardless of the month, most systems that affect Virginia move from the southwest in a northeasterly direction as a result of complex steering currents driven by the Azores High. Consequently, few tropical cyclones make landfall in Virginia, with the vast majority passing through the state after already being over land.
Events
Pre-1900 September 10, 1854 – A tropical storm moved through far southeastern Virginia. August 19–20, 1856 – A tropical storm moved through eastern Virginia. September 17, 1859 – A tropical storm moved through the state. September 27, 1861 – A tropical storm moved through eastern Virginia. September 18, 1863 – A tropical storm moved through eastern Virginia. October 25–26, 1872 – A tropical storm moved through eastern Virginia, producing heavy rainfall. September 29, 1874 – A tropical storm moved through the state. September 17–18, 1876 – A Category 1 hurricane moved through the state, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. October 4, 1877 – The extratropical remnants of a former hurricane moved through the state, bringing flooding. September 13, 1878 – A tropical storm moved through the state, producing multiple tornadoes. October 23, 1878 – A Category 2 hurricane moved through eastern Virginia. The hurricane brought destructive winds to much of the state, and resulted in numerous shipwrecks. At least 19 deaths were reported. August 18, 1879 – A Category 2 hurricane paralleled the Virginia coastline, bringing heavy rain and destructive winds to eastern portions of the state. September 10, 1881 – A tropical storm moved through far southeastern Virginia. September 11, 1882 – A tropical storm moved through the state. September 23, 1882 – A tropical storm moved through eastern Virginia, producing heavy rainfall. September 12–13, 1883 – A tropical storm moved through the state. October 13, 1885 – The extratropical remnants of a tropical storm moved through the state. June 23, 1886 – A tropical storm moved through the state. July 2, 1886 – A tropical storm moved through the state. October 31, 1887 – While passing well offshore, a tropical storm brought destructive winds to coastal Virginia. Numerous shipwrecks occurred, and in total, at least two deaths were reported. September 11, 1888 – A tropical storm moved through the state, bringing heavy rainfall. September 24–25, 1889 – A tropical storm moved through the state. August 29, 1893 – A tropical storm moved through the state. October 14, 1893 – A Category 1 hurricane moved through the state, producing heavy rain and strong winds. October 23, 1893 – A tropical storm made landfall on the eastern shore of the Delmarva Peninsula. October 10, 1894 – A tropical storm moved through the state. July 9, 1896 – A tropical depression moved through western Virginia, producing heavy rain and several tornadoes. In total, six deaths were reported. September 30, 1896 – A Category 1 hurricane moved through the state, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. In total, seven deaths were reported. October 31, 1899 – A tropical storm moved through the state. The storm produced heavy rainfall and brought high tides to coastal areas.
1900–1949 September 28, 1901 – The extratropical remnants of a tropical storm moved through western Virginia. June 16, 1902 – The extratropical remnants of a tropical storm moved through the state. October 12, 1902 – The extratropical remnants of a former hurricane moved through the state. October 8–10, 1903 – A distant tropical storm brought strong winds and dangerous ocean conditions to the state whilst remaining far offshore, resulting in three deaths. September 15, 1904 – A tropical storm moved through the state. October 11, 1905 – The extratropical remnants of a tropical storm moved through the state. June 30, 1907 – The extratropical remnants of a tropical storm briefly moved through far southeastern Virginia. August 4, 1915 – A tropical storm moved through the state. May 16, 1916 – The extratropical remnants of a tropical storm moved through eastern Virginia. September 24, 1920 – A tropical depression briefly entered western Virginia, dissipating shortly after. September 30, 1924 – The extratropical remnants of a tropical storm moved through eastern Virginia. October 4, 1927 – A tropical depression moved through the state. August 11–12, 1928 – The extratropical remnants of a former hurricane moved through the state, dropping heavy rain. August 16, 1928 – A tropical depression briefly moved through western Virginia. September 19–20, 1928 – The extratropical remnants of a former hurricane moved through the state, producing moderately heavy rainfall and strong winds. October 2, 1929 – The extratropical remnants of a former hurricane moved through the state. October 18, 1932 – The extratropical remnants of a tropical storm entered western Virginia, dissipating shortly after. August 23–24, 1933 – A Category 1 hurricane moved through eastern Virginia, bringing heavy rainfall and damaging winds, as well as a significant storm surge in coastal areas. Cape Henry recorded sustained winds of , while up to of rain fell in Chesapeake. 18 deaths were reported. September 16, 1933 – A Category 2 hurricane paralleled the Virginia coastline, bringing destructive high tides and powerful winds to eastern portions of the state. June 19, 1934 – The extratropical remnants of a former hurricane moved through northern Virginia. September 3–4, 1934 – A tropical depression moved through the state. September 6, 1935 – A tropical storm moved through southeastern Virginia, bringing strong winds and multiple tornadoes. In total, three deaths were reported. September 18, 1936 – A Category 1 hurricane paralleled the Virginia coastline, producing high winds and destructive flooding, particularly in Norfolk. One death was reported. September 21, 1938 – A fast-moving Category 3 hurricane brought moderate rainfall and strong winds to areas of coastal Virginia while passing offshore. August 19, 1939 – A tropical depression moved through northern Virginia. August 14, 1940 – A tropical depression briefly moved into western Virginia, quickly dissipating shortly after. October 1, 1943 – A tropical storm made landfall on the eastern shore of the Delmarva Peninsula. August 2, 1944 – A tropical storm moved through the state. September 14, 1944 – A Category 3 hurricane closely paralleled the Virginia coastline, resulting in highly destructive hurricane force winds and major flooding. Sustained winds of lashed Cape Henry, with gusts potentially reaching up to . At least 46 deaths were reported in the state. October 21, 1944 – The extratropical remnants of a former hurricane moved through the state, producing minor damage. September 18, 1945 – The extratropical remnants of a former hurricane moved through the state. August 28–29, 1949 – A tropical storm moved through the state, bringing heavy rain.
1950–1999 August 28, 1952 – A tropical depression moved through western Virginia. September 1, 1952 – Former Hurricane Able moved through the state as a tropical storm, producing light rainfall and winds. October 15, 1954 – The extratropical remnants of Hurricane Hazel moved through the state, producing high winds and significant high tides. In total, 12 deaths were reported. August 13, 1955 – Hurricane Connie entered southeastern Virginia as a Category 1 hurricane, producing heavy rain and high winds. A boat capsized in Chesapeake Bay as a result of the system, killing 11 people. In total, 15 deaths were reported. August 18, 1955 – Former Hurricane Diane moved through the state as a tropical storm, producing heavy rainfall and significant flooding. July 10, 1959 – Former Hurricane Cindy moved through southeastern Virginia as a tropical storm, producing several tornadoes. September 30, 1959 – Former Hurricane Gracie moved through western Virginia as a tropical storm, producing heavy rainfall and multiple destructive tornadoes. In total, 12 deaths were reported. July 30, 1960 – Tropical Storm Brenda moved through eastern Virginia as a tropical storm, producing heavy rainfall. September 12, 1960 – Hurricane Donna paralleled the Virginia coastline as a Category 2 hurricane, bringing destructive hurricane force winds to eastern portions of the state, as well as heavy rain. In total, three deaths were reported. September 14, 1961 – A tropical storm moved through eastern portions of Virginia. June 3, 1963 – A tropical storm moved through eastern portions of Virginia. June 19, 1967 – A tropical depression briefly moved through far southeastern Virginia. September 16–17, 1967 – Former Hurricane Doria paralleled the Virginia coastline as a tropical storm, producing moderately heavy rainfall and strong winds.
August 20, 1969 – Former Hurricane Camille entered the western portion of Virginia as a tropical depression and moved across the state. Enhanced by an approaching cold front, Camille dropped torrential rainfall along the Blue Ridge Mountains, including of rain in just eight hours in Nelson County. This made it the wettest known tropical cyclone in the state. The rains caused flash flooding that killed 153 people and left US$140 million in damage. Camille wrecked or damaged 2,598 houses in the state. August 28, 1971 – Tropical Storm Doria moved through southeastern Virginia as a tropical storm, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. One death was reported. October 2–3, 1971 - Former Hurricane Ginger moved through the state as a tropical depression, bringing heavy rainfall and significant beach erosion along the coast. September 24, 1975 – The extratropical remnants of Hurricane Eloise moved through western Virginia, bringing significant flooding. September 16–17, 1976 – A subtropical depression briefly entered southern Virginia, dissipating shortly after. July 14–15, 1979 – Former Hurricane Bob slowly moved through the state as a weak tropical depression. September 5–6, 1979 – Former Hurricane David moved through the state as a tropical storm, producing significant flooding and winds, as well as several tornadoes. One death was reported. July 1, 1981 – Tropical Storm Bret made landfall on the eastern shore of the Delmarva Peninsula as a tropical storm, producing only minor damage. September 30, 1983 – Tropical Storm Dean made landfall on the eastern shore of the Delmarva Peninsula as a tropical storm, producing localized and overall minor damage. July 25–26, 1985 – Former Hurricane Bob moved through the state as a tropical depression, producing strong winds and multiple tornadoes, including a powerful F3 tornado in Greene County. August 19, 1985 – The extratropical remnants of Hurricane Danny moved through the state, producing heavy rainfall in the Roanoke Valley region. Precipitation amounts ranged from , with estimates of in isolated locations. August 29, 1988 – The extratropical remnants of Tropical Storm Chris moved through the state, producing little damage. September 22, 1989 – Former Hurricane Hugo moved through western Virginia as a tropical storm, producing strong wind gusts that caused sporadic damage. In total, six deaths were reported. August 18-19, 1991 – Hurricane Bob brushed the Outer Banks. September 25, 1992 – Tropical Storm Danielle made landfall on the eastern shore of the Delmarva Peninsula as a tropical storm, bringing minor flooding and wind damage. August 17–18, 1994 – Tropical Storm Beryl moved through the state as a tropical depression, dropping up to of rain in Carroll and Grayson counties.