NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit New Church, 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
74 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of New Church, Virginia since 1851, 13 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 20 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 13
- Tropical storms
- 61
- Tornadoes
- 20
- EF3 or stronger
- 0
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for New Church
The strongest storm to pass near New Church was an unnamed storm in 1944, a Category 3 hurricane with 113 mph winds when its centre passed 65 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1924, whose centre crossed the city. The record near New Church begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 19 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 8 systems. Of the 74 systems, 15 have come since 2000. New Church has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 92% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 20 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2 or EF2, reached 2 times; the most recent, on August 4, 2020, came within 10 miles. Of the 20, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 9 have come since 2000. May and August have had the most tornadoes, 5 each. Of the 364 Virginia cities, 76% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than New Church. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 12 times since 1960, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 364 Virginia cities, 96% have more hail reports within 10 miles than New Church.
Compare New Church's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near New Church
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | FayJul 10 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 12 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 24 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 4 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 2 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 29 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | GastonAug 31 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 15 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2000 | HeleneSep 24 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1997 | DannyJul 24 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1992 | DanielleSep 25 | overhead | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1986 | CharleyAug 18 | 41 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 46 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1983 | DeanSep 30 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 20 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1967 | DoriaSep 16 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1963 | Unnamed 1963 stormJun 3 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 14 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 55 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 10 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormOct 18 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 28 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 13 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1953 | BarbaraAug 14 | 43 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 21 | overhead | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 14 | 65 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 3 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormOct 1 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormSep 18 | 66 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 40 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 23 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 12 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | overhead | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | overhead | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 16 | 51 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 13 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 23 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 22 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 29 | 64 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 23 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 17 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 25 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 12 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 21 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 23 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormSep 10 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 18 | 33 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 26 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 18 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 2 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 27 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | overhead | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 20 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 10 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in New Church: 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 New Church
By decade
- 2020s1
- 2010s3
- 2000s5
- 1990s2
- 1980s2
- 1970s4
- 1960s1
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 10 mi | 3.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 2, 1973 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 13, 2002 | F1 | 11 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 13, 2002 | F1 | 6 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 11, 1995 | F1 | 15 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 8, 1981 | F1 | 17 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 4, 1980 | F1 | 7 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 5, 1977 | F1 | 21 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 4, 1975 | F1 | 25 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 23, 1974 | F1 | 11 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 4, 1958 | F1 | 19 mi | 1.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 4, 1958 | F1 | 17 mi | 1.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 20, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in New Church
The Storm Prediction Center has 12 hail reports within 10 miles of New Church since 1960, made on 10 separate days. Of these, 7 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on September 5, 1960. The most recent report is from May 31, 2025. May has the most reports, 5.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in New Church
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Wallops Island Flight Fac, VA, 4 miles southeast of New Church at 38 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 86°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 46°F and 30°F. July is the wettest at 4.4 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 43.3 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 (23.3 of 43.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 74 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (30); a normal September there has highs of 79°F and 4.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 19 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 69 nights a year. Snowfall averages 8.4 inches a year, most of it in January. That 43.3 inches is more than at 23 of the 109 Virginia stations used on this site (21%). Snow Hill, MD, 17 miles northeast, has its own station (Snow Hill 4 N, MD): 47.6 inches a year, 4.3 more than here, and a July average high of 89°F against 86°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46 | 30 | 3.2 | 6 | 3.5 |
| Feb | 49 | 31 | 2.8 | 6 | 2.3 |
| Mar | 55 | 37 | 3.9 | 7 | 0.7 |
| Apr | 64 | 46 | 3.1 | 6 | 0.2 |
| May | 73 | 56 | 3.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 81 | 65 | 3.4 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 86 | 70 | 4.4 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 84 | 69 | 4.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 79 | 63 | 4.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 69 | 51 | 4.0 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 59 | 41 | 2.9 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 51 | 34 | 3.8 | 7 | 1.7 |
| Year | 66 | 49 | 43.3 | 72 | 8.4 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Wallops Island Flight Fac, VA (38 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 New Church
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 67 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of New Church: 37 thunderstorm wind reports, 21 heavy rain events, 4 floods, 3 flash floods and 2 lightning strikes. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $1.1 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 77 mph, on June 12, 2026.
October 8, 2016: flood 4 miles from the centre of New Church — $500,000 damage.
NWS: “Heavy rain caused an extended period of significant flooding across portions of the county. Several roads were impassable or closed for a couple of days, and some homes and businesses were impacted.”
October 9, 2016: flood 7 miles from the centre of New Church — $500,000 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
Accomack County, which includes New Church, has been named in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods, 2 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on April 2, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Accomack County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for coastal flooding; Relatively High for hurricanes; Relatively Low for inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Very Low for tornadoes, hail and lightning. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $31.2 million a year, the 15th highest of 133 Virginia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $13.2 million (42%), is from hurricanes.
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.