NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Spotsylvania, 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
33 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Spotsylvania, Virginia since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 70 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 30
- Tornadoes
- 70
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
2 deaths in all
What the records show for Spotsylvania
The strongest storm to pass near Spotsylvania was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 1 hurricane with 94 mph winds when its centre passed 29 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Hazel in 1954, whose centre came within 3 miles. The record near Spotsylvania begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a tropical storm 16 miles away. Of the 33 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Spotsylvania has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 33% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 70 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on September 17, 2004, came within 24 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on April 1, 1998, killed 2 people. Of the 70, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 43 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 20. The most recent tornado was on August 8, 2024. Spotsylvania has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 73% of the 364 Virginia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 47 times since 1990, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Spotsylvania has more hail reports within 10 miles than 54% of the 364 Virginia cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Spotsylvania
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 2 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 19 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 13 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 3 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormOct 1 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 23 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 20 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 12 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 27 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 29 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 18 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Spotsylvania: 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 Spotsylvania
By decade
- 2020s5
- 2010s9
- 2000s29(1 EF3+)
- 1990s14(2 EF3+)
- 1980s4
- 1970s6
- 1960s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 1998 | F3 | 21 mi | 5 mi | 2 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F3 | 24 mi | 9 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | F3 | 17 mi | 3.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 13 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF2 | 15 mi | 3.42 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F2 | 14 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 8, 2004 | F2 | 24 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 1, 1998 | F2 | 23 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Oct 13, 1983 | F2 | 20 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Aug 17, 1965 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 1962 | F2 | 8 mi | 22.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 8, 2024 | EF1 | 18 mi | 6.92 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 70, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Spotsylvania
The Storm Prediction Center has 47 hail reports within 10 miles of Spotsylvania since 1990, made on 33 separate days. Of these, 28 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on February 17, 1998. The most recent report is from August 7, 2023. June has the most reports, 21.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Spotsylvania
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, 14 miles northeast of Spotsylvania at 60 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 68°F; January is the coolest, at 46°F and 25°F. July is the wettest at 4.8 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.5 inches; the year adds up to 43.4 inches over 76 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (23.4 of 43.4 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 33 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (12); a normal September there has highs of 80°F and 4.5 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 41 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 101 nights a year. Snowfall averages 11.3 inches a year, most of it in February. That 43.4 inches is more than at 24 of the 109 Virginia stations used on this site (22%). Partlow, 7 miles south, has its own station (Corbin, VA): 44.8 inches a year, 1.4 more than here, and a July average high of 87°F against 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46 | 25 | 2.7 | 6 | 3.7 |
| Feb | 49 | 27 | 2.5 | 5 | 5.2 |
| Mar | 57 | 34 | 4.0 | 6 | 0.1 |
| Apr | 69 | 44 | 3.4 | 6 | 0.0 |
| May | 76 | 53 | 4.2 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 3.9 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 89 | 68 | 4.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 87 | 66 | 3.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 80 | 59 | 4.5 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 70 | 46 | 3.7 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 59 | 35 | 3.5 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 50 | 28 | 3.2 | 6 | 2.3 |
| Year | 68 | 46 | 43.4 | 76 | 11.3 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Fredericksburg Sewage, VA (60 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 Spotsylvania
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 249 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Spotsylvania: 211 thunderstorm wind reports, 26 floods and 12 flash floods. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $2.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on July 29, 2023. June has had the most flash floods, 6 of 12. Of the 364 Virginia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 101 have had fewer than Spotsylvania.
June 6, 2002: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Spotsylvania — 1 injured, $125,000 damage.
July 29, 2023: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Spotsylvania — $1.0 million damage.
NWS: “Hundreds of trees blew down near Alsop. Trees blew down on VA-612 Catharpin Road near VA-613 Brock Road.”
August 24, 2020: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Spotsylvania — $400,000 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 Spotsylvania's 2 ZIP codes have filed 11 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 2003, and were paid $34,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 18% 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, 10 have fewer than Spotsylvania.
Spotsylvania County, which includes Spotsylvania, has been named in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 5 hurricanes, 5 snowstorms, 3 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, on March 11, 2022. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Spotsylvania County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, inland flooding and heat waves; Very Low for coastal flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $25.3 million a year, the 19th highest of 133 Virginia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $15.8 million (63%), 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 Spotsylvania
- Partlow, VA7 mi
- Locust Grove, VA11 mi
- Fredericksburg, VA12 mi
- Unionville, VA13 mi
- Rhoadesville, VA14 mi
- Woodford, VA14 mi
- Mineral, VA16 mi
- Bumpass, VA16 mi
- Beaverdam, VA18 mi
- Ruther Glen, VA19 mi
- Orange, VA22 mi
- Bowling Green, VA22 mi
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