NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Spout Spring, 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
26 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Spout Spring, Virginia since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 24 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 23
- Tornadoes
- 24
- 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 Spout Spring
The strongest storm to pass near Spout Spring was Hazel in 1954, a Category 1 hurricane with 89 mph winds when its centre passed 51 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Spout Spring begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a tropical storm 9 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 5 systems. Of the 26 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Spout Spring has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 33% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 24 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on April 15, 2018, came within 18 miles. The deadliest, an EF3 on February 24, 2016, killed 1 person. Of the 24, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 15 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 6. The most recent tornado was on May 27, 2022. Of the 364 Virginia cities, 67% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Spout Spring. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 46 times since 1959, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Spout Spring has more hail reports within 10 miles than 52% of the 364 Virginia cities.
Compare Spout Spring's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Spout Spring
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 19 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 51 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 11 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | overhead | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 34 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 12 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 13 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Spout Spring: 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 Spout Spring
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s6(2 EF3+)
- 2000s7
- 1990s1
- 1980s1
- 1970s3
- 1960s2(1 EF3+)
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 24, 2016 | EF3 | 6 mi | 16.89 mi | 1 / 7 |
| Apr 15, 2018 | EF3 | 18 mi | 20.4 mi | 0 / 12 |
| Jun 16, 1966 | F3 | 16 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF2 | 24 mi | 18.1 mi | 1 / 7 |
| May 27, 2022 | EF2 | 24 mi | 6.3 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Apr 28, 2002 | F2 | 16 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 12 |
| Sep 10, 1960 | F2 | 15 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 1957 | F2 | 13 mi | 9.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 2022 | EF1 | 25 mi | 0.06 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 11, 2019 | EF1 | 10 mi | 4.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 2018 | EF1 | 6 mi | 1.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF1 | 12 mi | 0.68 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 24, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Spout Spring
The Storm Prediction Center has 46 hail reports within 10 miles of Spout Spring since 1959, made on 30 separate days. Of these, 24 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on May 26, 1962. The most recent report is from March 16, 2025. May has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Spout Spring
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Appomattox, VA, 5 miles east of Spout Spring 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 26 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (11); 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%). Rustburg, 12 miles west, has its own station (Lynchburg Regional Airport, VA): 42.9 inches a year, 3.4 less than here, and a July average high of 87°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 Spout Spring
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 241 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Spout Spring: 185 thunderstorm wind reports, 36 flash floods, 10 heavy rain events, 6 floods and 4 lightning strikes. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $827,000 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, 11 of 36. Of the 364 Virginia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 275 have had fewer than Spout Spring.
June 29, 2012: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Spout Spring — $150,000 damage.
January 25, 2010: flash flood 5 miles from the centre of Spout Spring — $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
Appomattox County, which includes Spout Spring, has been named in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 18 of them major disasters (by incident: 6 hurricanes, 6 severe storms, 4 snowstorms, 3 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storms and Flooding, on April 4, 2025. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Appomattox County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes and strong wind; Very Low for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, lightning and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $3.2 million a year, the 120th highest of 133 Virginia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $1.8 million (58%), 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.