NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Emporia, 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
61 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Emporia, Virginia since 1851, 7 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ophelia in 2023. Since 1950, 54 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 7
- Tropical storms
- 54
- Tornadoes
- 54
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Emporia
The strongest storm to pass near Emporia was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds when its centre passed 28 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Isabel in 2003, whose centre came within 6 miles. The record near Emporia begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ophelia in 2023, a tropical storm 27 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 9 systems. Of the 61 systems, 13 have come since 2000. Emporia has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 87% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The strongest of the 54 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on November 27, 1988; its path came within 18 miles, and it killed 4 people. Of the 54, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 28 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 16. The most recent tornado was on January 4, 2023. Emporia has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 60% of the 364 Virginia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 22 times since 1989, with stones up to 4.25 inches. Of the 364 Virginia cities, 83% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Emporia.
Compare Emporia's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Emporia
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | OpheliaSep 23 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | overhead | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 21 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 12 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 1 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | GastonAug 31 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 18 | 6 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2000 | HeleneSep 23 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 69 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 4 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1997 | DannyJul 24 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 27 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | CleoSep 1 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 14 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 10 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 30 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 23 | 66 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 19 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 12 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 45 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 21 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 12 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 23 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormSep 10 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 28 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 17 | 15 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 25 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 18 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 27 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 10 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 25 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Emporia: 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 Emporia
By decade
- 2020s3
- 2010s11
- 2000s14
- 1990s10
- 1980s8(2 EF3+)
- 1970s4(1 EF3+)
- 1960s2
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 27, 1988 | F4 | 18 mi | 83 mi | 4 / 154 |
| Oct 14, 1986 | F3 | 13 mi | 12 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 1978 | F3 | 13 mi | 35.6 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF2 | 15 mi | 8.18 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 30, 1989 | F2 | 22 mi | 22 mi | 0 / 11 |
| Nov 28, 1988 | F2 | 19 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 14, 1986 | F2 | 22 mi | 16 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Sep 15, 1981 | F2 | 15 mi | 1.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 2, 1969 | F2 | 24 mi | 5.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 1953 | F2 | 6 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF1 | 6 mi | 8.59 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF1 | 8 mi | 15.96 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 54, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Emporia
The Storm Prediction Center has 22 hail reports within 10 miles of Emporia since 1989, made on 18 separate days. Of these, 17 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 4.25 inches, fell on May 9, 2003. The most recent report is from June 8, 2025.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Emporia
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Emporia 1 WNW, VA, in Emporia at 100 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 51°F and 29°F. August is the wettest at 5.1 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 46.4 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 55% of the year's precipitation (25.6 of 46.4 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 61 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (26); a normal September there has highs of 83°F and 4.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 42 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 83 nights a year. Snowfall averages 1.4 inches a year, most of it in January. That 46.4 inches is more than at 59 of the 109 Virginia stations used on this site (54%). Gaston, NC, 15 miles southwest, has its own station (Roanoke Rapids, NC): 49.5 inches a year, 3.1 more than here, and a July average high of 89°F against 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | 29 | 3.4 | 7 | 0.6 |
| Feb | 54 | 31 | 2.6 | 6 | 0.3 |
| Mar | 62 | 37 | 4.1 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Apr | 72 | 46 | 3.4 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 79 | 56 | 3.7 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 86 | 65 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 4.9 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 5.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 4.9 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 73 | 49 | 3.5 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 63 | 38 | 3.2 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 54 | 32 | 3.6 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Year | 71 | 48 | 46.4 | 78 | 1.4 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Emporia 1 WNW, VA (100 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 Emporia
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 138 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Emporia: 79 thunderstorm wind reports, 44 heavy rain events, 9 floods and 6 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $519,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on July 10, 2014. July has had the most flash floods, 3 of 6. Of the 364 Virginia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 25 have had fewer than Emporia.
October 8, 2016: flood 2 miles from the centre of Emporia — $200,000 damage.
NWS: “Heavy rain caused an extended period of significant flooding across much of the city. Numerous roads were impassable or closed for several days, and many homes and businesses were impacted.”
October 9, 2016: flood 8 miles from the centre of Emporia — $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 Emporia's ZIP code 23847 have filed 23 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $78,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 39% 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, 54 have fewer than Emporia.
Greensville County, which includes Emporia, has been named in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 10 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 hurricanes, 3 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 snowstorms). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storms, on May 10, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Greensville County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes and heat waves; Very Low for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $4.2 million a year, the 108th highest of 133 Virginia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $1.2 million (29%), 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 Emporia
- Jarratt, VA10 mi
- Lawrenceville, VA14 mi
- Gaston, NC15 mi
- Garysburg, NC16 mi
- Roanoke Rapids, NC18 mi
- Weldon, NC18 mi
- Capron, VA19 mi
- Jackson, NC23 mi
- Mc Kenney, VA24 mi
- Brodnax, VA24 mi
- Littleton, NC25 mi
- Dinwiddie, VA26 mi
All Virginia cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Emporia with another place →