NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Palmyra, 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
29 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Palmyra, Virginia since 1851, 4 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 34 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 4
- Tropical storms
- 25
- Tornadoes
- 34
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
11 deaths in all
What the records show for Palmyra
The strongest storm to pass near Palmyra was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 2 hurricane with 96 mph winds when its centre passed 64 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Palmyra begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a tropical storm 7 miles away. The 1880s and the 1890s were the busiest decades, with 4 systems each. Of the 29 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Palmyra has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 69% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 34 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on July 25, 1985, came within 24 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on September 30, 1959, killed 11 people. Of the 34, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 20 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 8. The most recent tornado was on June 16, 2022. Of the 364 Virginia cities, 54% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Palmyra. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 29 times since 1985, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 364 Virginia cities, 72% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Palmyra.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Palmyra
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 19 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 27 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 23 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 19 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 12 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 27 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 5 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 12 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 64 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 13 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 17 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Palmyra: 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 Palmyra
By decade
- 2020s5
- 2010s5
- 2000s10
- 1990s3
- 1980s3(1 EF3+)
- 1970s4(1 EF3+)
- 1960s2
- 1950s2(2 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 1959 | F3 | 21 mi | 0.8 mi | 11 / 4 |
| Jul 25, 1985 | F3 | 24 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 9, 1977 | F3 | 20 mi | 5.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 30, 1959 | F3 | in town | 6.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 1962 | F2 | 22 mi | 22.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 2022 | EF1 | 10 mi | 21.48 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 2022 | EF1 | 18 mi | 2.58 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 13, 2011 | EF1 | 13 mi | 0.88 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F1 | 19 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 2001 | F1 | 20 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 22, 2001 | F1 | 6 mi | 2.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 13, 2000 | F1 | 15 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 34, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Palmyra
The Storm Prediction Center has 29 hail reports within 10 miles of Palmyra since 1985, made on 21 separate days. Of these, 22 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 3 days, most recently May 9, 2003. The most recent report is from April 15, 2024. June has the most reports, 17.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Palmyra
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Palmyra 3S, VA, 5 miles southeast of Palmyra at 410 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 86°F and low of 65°F; January is the coolest, at 46°F and 25°F. September is the wettest at 4.3 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 43.7 inches over 75 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (23.2 of 43.7 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 29 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (12); a normal September there has highs of 78°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 112 nights a year. Snowfall averages 12.3 inches a year, most of it in February. That 43.7 inches is more than at 30 of the 109 Virginia stations used on this site (28%). Keswick, 11 miles north, has its own station (Monticello, VA): 47.0 inches a year, 3.3 more than here, and a July average high of 85°F against 86°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46 | 25 | 3.1 | 6 | 3.7 |
| Feb | 49 | 26 | 2.8 | 6 | 4.7 |
| Mar | 57 | 32 | 3.8 | 7 | 1.8 |
| Apr | 68 | 41 | 3.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| May | 75 | 51 | 3.9 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 82 | 61 | 4.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 86 | 65 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 85 | 64 | 3.5 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 78 | 57 | 4.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 68 | 44 | 3.7 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 58 | 33 | 3.4 | 5 | 0.1 |
| Dec | 49 | 28 | 3.6 | 6 | 2.0 |
| Year | 67 | 44 | 43.7 | 75 | 12.3 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Palmyra 3S, VA (410 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 Palmyra
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 188 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Palmyra: 145 thunderstorm wind reports, 24 heavy rain events, 10 flash floods and 9 floods. They killed 1 person and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $1.1 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on May 9, 2003. July has had the most flash floods, 4 of 10. Of the 364 Virginia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 69 have had fewer than Palmyra.
May 9, 2003: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Palmyra — 1 killed, $350,000 damage.
June 29, 2012: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Palmyra — $300,000 damage.
NWS: “Numerous trees and power lines were downed. Structural damage also occurred.”
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
Fluvanna County, which includes Palmyra, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 hurricanes, 4 severe storms, 4 snowstorms, 3 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, on March 11, 2022. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Fluvanna County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, strong wind and lightning; Very Low for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $6.2 million a year, the 85th highest of 133 Virginia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.3 million (54%), 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 Palmyra
- Troy, VA7 mi
- Scottsville, VA10 mi
- Keswick, VA11 mi
- Charlottesville, VA16 mi
- Louisa, VA17 mi
- Zion Crossroads, VA19 mi
- Barboursville, VA21 mi
- Goochland, VA21 mi
- Earlysville, VA21 mi
- Cumberland, VA24 mi
- Dillwyn, VA26 mi
- Ruckersville, VA26 mi
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