NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Pamplin, 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
31 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Pamplin, Virginia since 1851, 4 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 23 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 4
- Tropical storms
- 27
- Tornadoes
- 23
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
2 deaths in all
What the records show for Pamplin
The strongest storm to pass near Pamplin was Hazel in 1954, a Category 1 hurricane with 89 mph winds when its centre passed 38 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 13 miles. The record near Pamplin begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 72 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 5 systems. Of the 31 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Pamplin has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 69% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 23 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on February 24, 2016, came within 6 miles. Of the 23, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 13 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 5. The most recent tornado was on May 27, 2022. Of the 364 Virginia cities, 69% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Pamplin. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 28 times since 1962, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 364 Virginia cities, 74% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Pamplin.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Pamplin
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 19 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 38 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 19 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 11 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | overhead | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 13 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 20 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 12 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 13 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 17 | 75 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Pamplin: 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 Pamplin
By decade
- 2020s1
- 2010s6(1 EF3+)
- 2000s6
- 1990s1
- 1980s2
- 1970s2
- 1960s2(1 EF3+)
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 24, 2016 | EF3 | 6 mi | 16.89 mi | 1 / 7 |
| Jun 16, 1966 | F3 | 19 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF2 | 23 mi | 18.1 mi | 1 / 7 |
| Oct 13, 1983 | F2 | 17 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 10, 1960 | F2 | 4 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 1957 | F2 | 4 mi | 9.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 2022 | EF1 | 18 mi | 0.06 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 11, 2019 | EF1 | 11 mi | 4.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 2018 | EF1 | 18 mi | 1.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | 16 mi | 5.54 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF1 | 5 mi | 0.68 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F1 | 21 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 23, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Pamplin
The Storm Prediction Center has 28 hail reports within 10 miles of Pamplin since 1962, made on 22 separate days. Of these, 18 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 3 days, most recently June 13, 1998. The most recent report is from April 6, 2023.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Pamplin
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Appomattox, VA, 10 miles northwest of Pamplin at 850 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 86°F and low of 67°F; January is the coolest, at 45°F and 27°F. May is the wettest at 4.7 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 46.3 inches over 75 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (23.6 of 46.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 31 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (14); a normal September there has highs of 78°F and 4.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 27 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 94 nights a year. Snowfall averages 11.3 inches a year, most of it in January and February. That 46.3 inches is more than at 58 of the 109 Virginia stations used on this site (53%). Prospect, 7 miles northeast, has its own station (Farmville 2 N, VA): 44.4 inches a year, 1.9 less 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 | 45 | 27 | 3.5 | 6 | 3.2 |
| Feb | 49 | 29 | 2.8 | 5 | 3.2 |
| Mar | 57 | 35 | 4.0 | 7 | 2.8 |
| Apr | 68 | 44 | 3.6 | 7 | 0.1 |
| May | 75 | 53 | 4.7 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 82 | 63 | 3.8 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 86 | 67 | 4.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 84 | 65 | 3.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 78 | 59 | 4.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 68 | 47 | 3.9 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 57 | 36 | 3.6 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 48 | 30 | 4.1 | 7 | 2.0 |
| Year | 67 | 46 | 46.3 | 75 | 11.3 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Appomattox, VA (850 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 Pamplin
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 185 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Pamplin: 134 thunderstorm wind reports, 25 heavy rain events, 18 flash floods, 7 floods and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $531,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 69 mph, on August 16, 2003. August has had the most flash floods, 9 of 18. Of the 364 Virginia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 162 have had fewer than Pamplin.
June 29, 2012: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Pamplin — $140,000 damage.
May 5, 1996: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Pamplin — $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
Prince Edward County, which includes Pamplin, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 14 of them major disasters (by incident: 6 hurricanes, 6 severe storms, 3 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storms and Flooding, on April 4, 2025. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Prince Edward County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Very Low for hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $7.1 million a year, the 79th highest of 133 Virginia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $2.0 million (28%), 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 Pamplin
- Prospect, VA7 mi
- Appomattox, VA11 mi
- Charlotte Court House, VA13 mi
- Spout Spring, VA14 mi
- Farmville, VA15 mi
- Concord, VA17 mi
- Brookneal, VA18 mi
- Meherrin, VA20 mi
- Keysville, VA20 mi
- Dillwyn, VA21 mi
- Buckingham, VA22 mi
- Drakes Branch, VA22 mi
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