NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Rustburg, 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
25 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Rustburg, Virginia since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 31 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 22
- Tornadoes
- 31
- 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 Rustburg
The strongest storm to pass near Rustburg was Hazel in 1954, a Category 1 hurricane with 89 mph winds when its centre passed 62 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 11 miles. The record near Rustburg begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a tropical storm 6 miles away. The 1880s and the 1890s were the busiest decades, with 4 systems each. Of the 25 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Rustburg has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 33% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 31 tornadoes within 25 miles is EF3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on April 15, 2018, came within 8 miles. The deadliest, an EF3 on February 24, 2016, killed 1 person. Of the 31, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 19 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 7. The most recent tornado was on September 27, 2024. Of the 364 Virginia cities, 57% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Rustburg. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 93 times since 1965, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Rustburg has more hail reports within 10 miles than 81% of the 364 Virginia cities.
Compare Rustburg's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Rustburg
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 19 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 62 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 12 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 11 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 45 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 12 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 13 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Rustburg: 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 Rustburg
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s7(2 EF3+)
- 2000s10
- 1990s4
- 1980s2
- 1970s3
- 1960s1
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 24, 2016 | EF3 | 15 mi | 16.89 mi | 1 / 7 |
| Apr 15, 2018 | EF3 | 8 mi | 20.4 mi | 0 / 12 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF2 | 24 mi | 18.1 mi | 1 / 7 |
| May 27, 2022 | EF2 | 16 mi | 6.3 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Apr 28, 2002 | F2 | 6 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 12 |
| Jul 15, 1996 | F2 | 24 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 25, 1977 | F2 | 19 mi | 3.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 12, 1964 | F2 | 23 mi | 4.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 1957 | F2 | 19 mi | 9.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 27, 2024 | EF1 | 25 mi | 1.24 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 11, 2019 | EF1 | 14 mi | 4.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 19, 2018 | EF1 | 24 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 31, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Rustburg
The Storm Prediction Center has 93 hail reports within 10 miles of Rustburg since 1965, made on 60 separate days. Of these, 47 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), fell on April 6, 2023. The most recent report is from September 21, 2024. May and June have the most reports, 23 each.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Rustburg
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Lynchburg Regional Airport, VA, 6 miles northwest of Rustburg at 940 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 87°F and low of 65°F; January is the coolest, at 46°F and 26°F. July is the wettest at 4.2 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.9 inches; the year adds up to 42.9 inches over 74 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (21.7 of 42.9 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 25 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (10); a normal September there has highs of 79°F and 4.0 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 11.6 inches a year, most of it in February. That 42.9 inches is more than at 19 of the 109 Virginia stations used on this site (17%). Gladys, 9 miles south, has its own station (Brookneal, VA): 46.0 inches a year, 3.1 more than here, and a July average high of 88°F against 87°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46 | 26 | 3.5 | 6 | 3.5 |
| Feb | 50 | 28 | 2.9 | 6 | 3.6 |
| Mar | 58 | 35 | 3.8 | 7 | 2.4 |
| Apr | 69 | 44 | 3.5 | 6 | 0.1 |
| May | 76 | 53 | 4.0 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 83 | 61 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 87 | 65 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 85 | 64 | 3.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 79 | 57 | 4.0 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 69 | 45 | 3.1 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 58 | 35 | 3.4 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 49 | 29 | 3.5 | 6 | 2.0 |
| Year | 67 | 45 | 42.9 | 74 | 11.6 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Lynchburg Regional Airport, VA (940 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 Rustburg
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 328 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Rustburg: 227 thunderstorm wind reports, 55 flash floods, 18 heavy rain events, 17 lightning strikes and 11 floods. They killed 1 person and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $22.3 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on November 11, 2002. July has had the most flash floods, 22 of 55. Of the 364 Virginia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 312 have had fewer than Rustburg.
June 9, 2007: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Rustburg — 1 killed.
August 2, 2018: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Rustburg — $18.0 million damage.
June 9, 2018: heavy rain event 8 miles from the centre of Rustburg — $1.0 million 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
Campbell County, which includes Rustburg, has been named in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 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 Campbell County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, inland flooding and heat waves; Very Low for tornadoes and hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $9.1 million a year, the 58th highest of 133 Virginia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $5.8 million (64%), 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.