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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Painter, 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

78 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Painter, Virginia since 1851, 15 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 14 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
15

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
63

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
14

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
0

no recorded deaths

What the records show for Painter

The strongest storm to pass near Painter was an unnamed storm in 1944, a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds when its centre passed 69 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1924, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near Painter begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 26 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 8 systems. Of the 78 systems, 14 have come since 2000. Painter has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 96% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 14 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2, reached 2 times; the most recent, on October 2, 1973, came within 8 miles. Of the 14, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 6 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 3. The most recent tornado was on August 4, 2015. Of the 364 Virginia cities, 88% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Painter. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 12 times since 1957, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 364 Virginia cities, 96% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Painter.

Compare Painter's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Painter

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Painter, Virginia, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2021ElsaJul 926 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 1
2020ZetaOct 2955 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 3
2020IsaiasAug 453 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
2020FayJul 1059 miTropical storm (56 mph)Tropical storm
2019NestorOct 2026 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2018MichaelOct 1234 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 5
2013AndreaJun 89 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2011IreneAug 2828 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 3
2008HannaSep 648 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
2007BarryJun 470 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2006ErnestoSep 254 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
2004GastonAug 31overheadTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
2004CharleyAug 1523 miTropical storm (45 mph)Category 4
2000HeleneSep 2457 miTropical storm (49 mph)Tropical storm
1999FloydSep 1611 miTropical storm (71 mph)Category 4
1997DannyJul 2456 miTropical storm (51 mph)Category 1
1996JosephineOct 869 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1996BerthaJul 1335 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1992DanielleSep 2518 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1986CharleyAug 1835 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 1
1985GloriaSep 2754 miCategory 2 (100 mph)Category 4
1983DeanSep 306 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1971DoriaAug 28overheadTropical storm (69 mph)Tropical storm
1969CamilleAug 2037 miTropical storm (47 mph)Category 5
1967DoriaSep 1634 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 2
1963Unnamed 1963 stormJun 316 miTropical storm (51 mph)Tropical storm
1961Unnamed 1961 stormSep 144 miTropical storm (54 mph)Tropical storm
1960DonnaSep 1256 miCategory 2 (98 mph)Category 4
1960BrendaJul 3014 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1959CindyJul 1018 miTropical storm (48 mph)Category 1
1956Unnamed 1956 stormOct 1854 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1956FlossySep 2862 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1955IoneSep 2065 miCategory 1 (76 mph)Category 4
1955ConnieAug 1321 miTropical storm (70 mph)Category 4
1953BarbaraAug 1441 miCategory 1 (90 mph)Category 1
1944Unnamed 1944 stormOct 2111 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 4
1944Unnamed 1944 stormSep 1469 miCategory 3 (115 mph)Category 5
1944Unnamed 1944 stormAug 264 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1943Unnamed 1943 stormSep 309 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1936Unnamed 1936 stormSep 1864 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 3
1935Unnamed 1935 stormSep 625 miTropical storm (72 mph)Category 5
1933Unnamed 1933 stormAug 2349 miCategory 1 (76 mph)Category 4
1928Unnamed 1928 stormAug 1234 miTropical storm (53 mph)Category 2
1925Unnamed 1925 stormDec 369 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 1
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 302 miCategory 1 (74 mph)Category 1
1916Unnamed 1916 stormMay 175 miTropical storm (47 mph)Tropical storm
1907Unnamed 1907 stormJun 3038 miTropical storm (51 mph)Tropical storm
1904Unnamed 1904 stormSep 1531 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1903Unnamed 1903 stormSep 1667 miCategory 1 (87 mph)Category 2
1902Unnamed 1902 stormOct 1234 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 2
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 1625 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1900Unnamed 1900 stormOct 1360 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1897Unnamed 1897 stormOct 2567 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1894Unnamed 1894 stormOct 1021 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 3
1894Unnamed 1894 stormSep 2960 miCategory 1 (85 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormOct 2318 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1893Unnamed 1893 stormJun 1756 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 1
1889Unnamed 1889 stormSep 254 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormOct 1258 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 1146 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1887Unnamed 1887 stormOct 2160 miTropical storm (44 mph)Category 1
1886Unnamed 1886 stormJul 218 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 2
1882Unnamed 1882 stormSep 23overheadTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1882Unnamed 1882 stormSep 1121 miTropical storm (54 mph)Category 3
1881Unnamed 1881 stormSep 1023 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1879Unnamed 1879 stormAug 1829 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 3
1878Unnamed 1878 stormOct 2372 miCategory 2 (97 mph)Category 2
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 437 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 3
1874Unnamed 1874 stormSep 2930 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormOct 2631 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1866Unnamed 1866 stormOct 3068 miTropical storm (69 mph)Tropical storm
1863Unnamed 1863 stormSep 187 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1861Unnamed 1861 stormNov 258 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1861Unnamed 1861 stormSep 272 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1859Unnamed 1859 stormSep 1715 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 1
1856Unnamed 1856 stormAug 2010 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1854Unnamed 1854 stormSep 1042 miTropical storm (49 mph)Category 3
1851Unnamed 1851 stormAug 2566 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Painter: 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 Painter

By decade

  • 2010s5
  • 2000s1
  • 1990s1
  • 1970s4
  • 1960s3
Strongest tornadoes near Painter, Virginia
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Oct 2, 1973F28 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Jun 21, 1969F223 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Jul 24, 2014EF121 mi7.69 mi0 / 5
Nov 11, 1995F115 mi2 mi0 / 0
Apr 5, 1977F19 mi2 mi0 / 0
Aug 17, 1974F19 mi0.5 mi0 / 0
May 7, 1967F12 mi0.1 mi0 / 1
Aug 4, 2015EF023 mi1.76 mi0 / 0
Jul 14, 2012EF09 mi0.58 mi0 / 0
Jun 1, 2012EF022 mi0.73 mi0 / 0
Sep 27, 2010EF015 mi0.45 mi0 / 1
Sep 14, 2007EF06 mi6.49 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 14, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Painter

The Storm Prediction Center has 12 hail reports within 10 miles of Painter since 1957, made on 11 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 June 30, 1957. The most recent report is from August 5, 2022. April has the most reports, 3.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Weather by month in Painter

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Painter 2 W, VA, 1 mile west of Painter at 30 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 88°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 48°F and 30°F. July is the wettest at 5.0 inches of precipitation on average and February and November the driest at 3.1 inches; the year adds up to 47.4 inches over 76 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (25.8 of 47.4 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 78 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (30); a normal September there has highs of 80°F and 4.5 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 61 nights a year. Snowfall averages 6.6 inches a year, most of it in January. That 47.4 inches is more than at 78 of the 109 Virginia stations used on this site (72%). Parksley, 16 miles northeast, has its own station (Wallops Island Flight Fac, VA): 43.3 inches a year, 4.1 less than here, and a July average high of 86°F against 88°F.

Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Wachapreague, VA, 6 miles east, averaged 83°F in July and 42°F in January over 2021–2025. It averaged 80°F or warmer from July to August. Sea level at the Wachapreague tide gauge, 6 miles from Painter, has risen 2.24 ± 0.12 inches per decade from 1978 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 22.4 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 127 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Painter 2 W, VA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Snow inWater °F
Jan48303.673.442
Feb51313.161.544
Mar58374.070.552
Apr68473.360.061
May76563.770.069
Jun83654.470.078
Jul88695.070.083
Aug86674.570.081
Sep80624.550.076
Oct71514.350.066
Nov60413.150.055
Dec52343.971.245
Year684947.4766.663

Averages for 1991–2020 at Painter 2 W, VA (30 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Wachapreague, VA, from NOAA Tides & Currents. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.

Virginia weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Painter

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 83 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Painter: 51 thunderstorm wind reports, 17 heavy rain events, 11 flash floods, 3 floods and 1 lightning strike. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $630,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 63 mph, on August 19, 2024. August has had the most flash floods, 7 of 11. Of the 364 Virginia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 81 have had fewer than Painter.

  • August 25, 2012: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Painter — 1 injured, $10,000 damage.

  • October 8, 2016: flood 6 miles from the centre of Painter — $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

Flood insurance policyholders in Painter's ZIP code 23420 have filed 17 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1985, and were paid $48,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 94% 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, 34 have fewer than Painter.

Accomack County, which includes Painter, 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.

Cities near Painter