NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Sandston, 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
50 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Sandston, Virginia since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 87 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 6 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 47
- Tornadoes
- 87
- EF3 or stronger
- 6
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
6 deaths in all
What the records show for Sandston
The strongest storm to pass near Sandston was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 2 hurricane with 97 mph winds when its centre passed 10 miles away. The record near Sandston begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 29 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 7 systems. Of the 50 systems, 10 have come since 2000. Sandston has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 33% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The strongest of the 87 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on August 6, 1993; its path came within 14 miles, and it killed 4 people. Of the 87, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 51 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 19. The most recent tornado was on April 19, 2019. Sandston has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 87% of the 364 Virginia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 75 times since 1960, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Sandston has more hail reports within 10 miles than 72% of the 364 Virginia cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Sandston
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 12 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 2 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | GastonAug 30 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 19 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 27 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1963 | Unnamed 1963 stormJun 3 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 10 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 13 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 33 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 21 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormOct 1 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 23 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 19 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 12 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 53 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 12 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 23 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 10 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 17 | overhead | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 25 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 18 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 27 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Sandston: 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 Sandston
By decade
- 2010s19
- 2000s32
- 1990s9(3 EF3+)
- 1980s12(3 EF3+)
- 1970s5
- 1960s3
- 1950s7
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 1993 | F4 | 14 mi | 1 mi | 4 / 246 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | F3 | 12 mi | 5 mi | 1 / 0 |
| May 4, 1990 | F3 | 21 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 14, 1986 | F3 | 24 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 1984 | F3 | 14 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 15 |
| May 8, 1984 | F3 | 22 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2018 | EF2 | 15 mi | 7.5 mi | 1 / 1 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 17 mi | 3.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 6, 1993 | F2 | 21 mi | 38 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 2, 1990 | F2 | 15 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 14, 1986 | F2 | 17 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1984 | F2 | 9 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 87, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Sandston
The Storm Prediction Center has 75 hail reports within 10 miles of Sandston since 1960, made on 51 separate days. Of these, 48 were 1 inch across or larger, and 5 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on May 5, 2004. The most recent report is from May 26, 2024. May has the most reports, 17.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Sandston
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Richmond International Airport, VA, 2 miles southwest of Sandston at 164 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 48°F and 29°F. August is the wettest at 4.9 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 45.5 inches over 75 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 55% of the year's precipitation (25.0 of 45.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 50 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (18); a normal September there has highs of 81°F and 4.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 45 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 74 nights a year. Snowfall averages 8.8 inches a year, most of it in January. That 45.5 inches is more than at 49 of the 109 Virginia stations used on this site (45%). Mechanicsville, 8 miles north, has its own station (Ashland Hanover Co Municipal Airport, VA): 45.8 inches a year, 0.3 more 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 | 48 | 29 | 3.2 | 6 | 3.7 |
| Feb | 52 | 30 | 2.6 | 6 | 2.2 |
| Mar | 60 | 37 | 4.0 | 7 | 1.1 |
| Apr | 70 | 46 | 3.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 78 | 56 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 86 | 65 | 4.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 4.4 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 4.9 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 81 | 61 | 4.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 71 | 49 | 3.4 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.1 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 52 | 32 | 3.5 | 6 | 1.8 |
| Year | 69 | 48 | 45.5 | 75 | 8.8 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Richmond International Airport, VA (164 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 Sandston
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 446 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Sandston: 250 thunderstorm wind reports, 105 flash floods, 72 heavy rain events, 15 floods and 4 lightning strikes. They killed 1 person and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $826,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on August 10, 2013. June has had the most flash floods, 28 of 105. Of the 364 Virginia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 336 have had fewer than Sandston.
May 5, 2017: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Sandston — 1 killed, $10,000 damage.
June 1, 2015: lightning strike 9 miles from the centre of Sandston — 1 injured, $5,000 damage.
July 26, 2021: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Sandston — 1 injured, $5,000 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
Henrico County, which includes Sandston, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 14 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 hurricanes, 4 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on April 2, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Henrico County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail; Very Low for coastal flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $57.8 million a year, the 5th highest of 133 Virginia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $30.8 million (53%), 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 Sandston
- Highland Springs, VA3 mi
- Quinton, VA7 mi
- Mechanicsville, VA8 mi
- Richmond, VA12 mi
- New Kent, VA12 mi
- North Chesterfield, VA13 mi
- Chester, VA14 mi
- Providence Forge, VA15 mi
- Hopewell, VA16 mi
- Hanover, VA17 mi
- King William, VA17 mi
- Charles City, VA17 mi
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