NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Culpeper, VA
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
24 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Culpeper, Virginia since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 59 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 21
- Tornadoes
- 59
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Culpeper
The strongest storm to pass near Culpeper was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 1 hurricane with 94 mph winds when its centre passed 45 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 7 miles. The record near Culpeper begins with an unnamed storm in 1876; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a tropical storm 40 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 4 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 24 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Culpeper has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 33% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The strongest of the 59 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on September 24, 2001; its path came within 8 miles. Of the 59, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 39 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 18. The most recent tornado was on August 8, 2024. Culpeper has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 64% of the 364 Virginia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 39 times since 1992, with stones up to 4.5 inches (grapefruit size). Of the 364 Virginia cities, 56% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Culpeper.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Culpeper
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 2 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 19 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 18 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 23 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 20 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 12 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 7 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 45 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 18 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Culpeper: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Culpeper
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s7
- 2000s30(2 EF3+)
- 1990s10(1 EF3+)
- 1980s3
- 1970s4(1 EF3+)
- 1960s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24, 2001 | F4 | 8 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F3 | 12 mi | 9 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | F3 | 10 mi | 3.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 21, 1976 | F3 | 15 mi | 5.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F2 | 8 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F2 | 21 mi | 13 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F2 | 16 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F2 | 23 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 8, 2004 | F2 | 13 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 13, 1983 | F2 | 7 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Jun 19, 1978 | F2 | 15 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1976 | F2 | 17 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 59, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Culpeper
The Storm Prediction Center has 39 hail reports within 10 miles of Culpeper since 1992, made on 30 separate days. Of these, 26 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 4.5 inches (grapefruit size), fell on May 4, 1996. The most recent report is from July 18, 2025. June has the most reports, 16.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Culpeper
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Piedmont Rsch Stn, VA, 17 miles southwest of Culpeper at 520 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 87°F and low of 67°F; January is the coolest, at 44°F and 25°F. June is the wettest at 4.8 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 43.8 inches over 72 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (23.8 of 43.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 24 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (8); a normal September there has highs of 79°F and 4.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 26 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 92 nights a year. Snowfall averages 16.4 inches a year, most of it in February. That 43.8 inches is more than at 31 of the 109 Virginia stations used on this site (28%). Rixeyville, 9 miles north, has its own station (Sperryville, VA): 48.9 inches a year, 5.1 more than here, and a July average high of 85°F against 87°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44 | 25 | 2.9 | 5 | 4.6 |
| Feb | 48 | 28 | 2.6 | 5 | 5.6 |
| Mar | 56 | 34 | 3.6 | 6 | 2.7 |
| Apr | 67 | 44 | 3.4 | 6 | 0.1 |
| May | 74 | 54 | 4.1 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 83 | 63 | 4.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 87 | 67 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 85 | 65 | 3.4 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 79 | 59 | 4.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 68 | 46 | 3.6 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 57 | 37 | 3.4 | 5 | 0.2 |
| Dec | 48 | 29 | 3.4 | 6 | 3.2 |
| Year | 66 | 46 | 43.8 | 72 | 16.4 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Piedmont Rsch Stn, VA (520 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Culpeper
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 329 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Culpeper: 197 thunderstorm wind reports, 96 floods and 36 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $675,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on May 25, 2004. September has had the most flash floods, 9 of 36. Of the 364 Virginia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 275 have had fewer than Culpeper.
May 25, 2004: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Culpeper — $100,000 damage.
June 22, 2018: flood 10 miles from the centre of Culpeper — $100,000 damage.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Flood insurance policyholders in Culpeper's ZIP code 22701 have filed 30 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $601,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 13% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 183 Virginia cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 68 have fewer than Culpeper.
Culpeper County, which includes Culpeper, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 6 hurricanes, 5 severe storms, 5 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, on March 11, 2022. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Culpeper County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $14.9 million a year, the 37th highest of 133 Virginia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $9.8 million (66%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Culpeper
- Rixeyville, VA9 mi
- Remington, VA12 mi
- Rhoadesville, VA13 mi
- Jeffersonton, VA13 mi
- Bealeton, VA15 mi
- Locust Grove, VA15 mi
- Amissville, VA15 mi
- Madison, VA16 mi
- Unionville, VA16 mi
- Orange, VA16 mi
- Midland, VA18 mi
- Warrenton, VA22 mi
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