NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Prince George, 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
56 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Prince George, Virginia since 1851, 7 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ophelia in 2023. Since 1950, 81 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 6 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 7
- Tropical storms
- 49
- Tornadoes
- 81
- EF3 or stronger
- 6
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
8 deaths in all
What the records show for Prince George
The strongest storm to pass near Prince George was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 2 hurricane with 98 mph winds when its centre passed 12 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1876, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Prince George begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Ophelia in 2023, a tropical storm 66 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 8 systems. Of the 56 systems, 11 have come since 2000. Prince George has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 87% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The strongest of the 81 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on August 6, 1993; its path came within 3 miles, and it killed 4 people. Of the 81, 10 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 41 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 15. The most recent tornado was on August 4, 2020. Prince George has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 81% of the 364 Virginia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 86 times since 1976, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Prince George has more hail reports within 10 miles than 77% of the 364 Virginia cities.
Compare Prince George's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Prince George
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | OpheliaSep 23 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 12 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 2 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | GastonAug 31 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 19 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 73 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1997 | DannyJul 24 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 27 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1963 | Unnamed 1963 stormJun 3 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 14 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 10 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 13 | 62 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 36 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 23 | 35 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 19 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 12 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 54 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | overhead | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 15 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 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 23 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormSep 10 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 12 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 17 | overhead | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 25 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 18 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 27 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 19 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 10 | 70 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 Prince George: 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 Prince George
By decade
- 2020s1
- 2010s17
- 2000s23
- 1990s12(2 EF3+)
- 1980s11(3 EF3+)
- 1970s8(1 EF3+)
- 1960s3
- 1950s6
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 1993 | F4 | 3 mi | 1 mi | 4 / 246 |
| May 4, 1990 | F3 | 7 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 14, 1986 | F3 | 20 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 1984 | F3 | 4 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 15 |
| May 8, 1984 | F3 | 7 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 1978 | F3 | 17 mi | 35.6 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Sep 17, 2018 | EF2 | 21 mi | 7.5 mi | 1 / 1 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 16 mi | 3.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 6, 1993 | F2 | 9 mi | 38 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 2, 1990 | F2 | 11 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 14, 1986 | F2 | 2 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 14, 1986 | F2 | 10 mi | 16 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 81, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Prince George
The Storm Prediction Center has 86 hail reports within 10 miles of Prince George since 1976, made on 43 separate days. Of these, 62 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on August 18, 2001. The most recent report is from June 8, 2023. June has the most reports, 23.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Prince George
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Hopewell, VA, 5 miles north of Prince George at 40 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 50°F and 31°F. August is the wettest at 5.6 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.0 inches; the year adds up to 50.1 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 (27.7 of 50.1 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 56 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (23); a normal September there has highs of 82°F and 5.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 55 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 58 nights a year. Snowfall averages 3.5 inches a year, most of it in January. That 50.1 inches is more than at 95 of the 109 Virginia stations used on this site (87%). Fort Lee, 3 miles west, has its own station (Petersburg, VA): 47.0 inches a year, 3.1 less 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 | 50 | 31 | 3.5 | 6 | 2.1 |
| Feb | 54 | 33 | 3.0 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Mar | 62 | 40 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 79 | 58 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 86 | 66 | 4.6 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 90 | 71 | 5.2 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 88 | 69 | 5.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 82 | 63 | 5.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 73 | 51 | 3.7 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 62 | 41 | 3.4 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 53 | 35 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.4 |
| Year | 71 | 51 | 50.1 | 78 | 3.5 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Hopewell, VA (40 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 Prince George
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 513 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Prince George: 271 thunderstorm wind reports, 114 flash floods, 107 heavy rain events, 17 floods and 4 lightning strikes. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $6.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on June 16, 2023. July has had the most flash floods, 59 of 114. Of the 364 Virginia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 342 have had fewer than Prince George.
July 15, 2025: flash flood 5 miles from the centre of Prince George — $4.8 million damage.
October 7, 2006: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Prince George — $425,000 damage.
July 15, 2025: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Prince George — $165,000 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 Prince George's ZIP code 23875 have filed 10 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1999, and were paid $75,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 20% 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, 0 have fewer than Prince George.
Prince George County, which includes Prince George, has been named in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 hurricanes, 3 severe storms, 3 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storms, on May 10, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Prince George County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, strong wind, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for hail, inland flooding and coastal flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $8.1 million a year, the 72nd highest of 133 Virginia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.1 million (38%), 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 Prince George
- Fort Lee, VA3 mi
- Hopewell, VA4 mi
- Colonial Heights, VA6 mi
- Petersburg, VA7 mi
- Disputanta, VA8 mi
- Chester, VA10 mi
- Charles City, VA15 mi
- Sutherland, VA15 mi
- Spring Grove, VA17 mi
- Chesterfield, VA19 mi
- Dinwiddie, VA19 mi
- Waverly, VA19 mi
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