NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Strasburg, 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
19 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Strasburg, Virginia since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Isabel in 2003. Since 1950, 34 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 16
- Tornadoes
- 34
- EF3 or stronger
- 0
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Strasburg
The strongest storm to pass near Strasburg was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 1 hurricane with 92 mph winds when its centre passed 63 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 16 miles. The record near Strasburg begins with an unnamed storm in 1876; the most recent system was Isabel in 2003, a tropical storm 38 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 4 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 19 systems, one has come since 2000. Strasburg has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 33% of the 364 Virginia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 34 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2 or EF2, reached 5 times; the most recent, on April 28, 2011, came within 7 miles. Of the 34, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 18 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 9. The most recent tornado was on May 30, 2025. Of the 364 Virginia cities, 54% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Strasburg. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 40 times since 1992, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 364 Virginia cities, 55% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Strasburg.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Strasburg
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | IsabelSep 19 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 45 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 24 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 20 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 23 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 14 | 16 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 21 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 63 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 13 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 18 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Strasburg: 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 Strasburg
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s3
- 2000s13
- 1990s10
- 1980s1
- 1970s3
- 1960s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2011 | EF2 | 7 mi | 33.51 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F2 | 16 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 2002 | F2 | 25 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Aug 4, 1975 | F2 | 24 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 13, 1961 | F2 | 24 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jun 4, 2008 | EF1 | 18 mi | 0.54 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F1 | 6 mi | 9 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 27, 2001 | F1 | 12 mi | 5.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 1998 | F1 | 22 mi | 3.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 1997 | F1 | 5 mi | 0.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1993 | F1 | 14 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 1993 | F1 | 22 mi | 1.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 34, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Strasburg
The Storm Prediction Center has 40 hail reports within 10 miles of Strasburg since 1992, made on 23 separate days. Of these, 30 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 4 days, most recently June 1, 2015. The most recent report is from May 23, 2024. May has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Strasburg
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Star Tannery, VA, 7 miles northwest of Strasburg at 950 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 85°F and low of 62°F; January is the coolest, at 41°F and 21°F. June is the wettest at 4.4 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.3 inches; the year adds up to 40.0 inches over 73 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (20.9 of 40.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 19 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (7); a normal September there has highs of 77°F and 3.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 20 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 126 nights a year. Snowfall averages 25.1 inches a year, most of it in February. That 40.0 inches is more than at 5 of the 109 Virginia stations used on this site (5%). Maurertown, 7 miles southwest, has its own station (Woodstock 2 NE, VA): 39.4 inches a year, 0.6 less than here, and a July average high of 86°F against 85°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41 | 21 | 2.7 | 5 | 7.9 |
| Feb | 44 | 23 | 2.3 | 4 | 9.6 |
| Mar | 52 | 30 | 3.6 | 7 | 2.7 |
| Apr | 65 | 39 | 3.6 | 7 | 0.1 |
| May | 72 | 49 | 4.0 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 80 | 58 | 4.4 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 85 | 62 | 3.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 84 | 60 | 3.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 77 | 53 | 3.9 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 65 | 41 | 3.2 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 54 | 32 | 2.9 | 5 | 0.6 |
| Dec | 45 | 25 | 2.9 | 5 | 4.2 |
| Year | 64 | 41 | 40.0 | 73 | 25.1 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Star Tannery, VA (950 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 Strasburg
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 245 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Strasburg: 165 thunderstorm wind reports, 69 floods and 11 flash floods. They killed 1 person and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $1.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on August 7, 2019. Of the 364 Virginia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 81 have had fewer than Strasburg.
September 29, 2016: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Strasburg — 1 killed.
June 4, 2008: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Strasburg — 2 injured, $22,000 damage.
June 15, 2000: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Strasburg — 1 injured, $40,000 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 Strasburg's ZIP code 22657 have filed 45 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1985, and were paid $1.6 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Flooding in 1996: 23 claims (51% of all) and $572,000, then Hurricane Fran in 1996 with 21. 98% 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, 89 have fewer than Strasburg.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding1996 | 23 | $572,000 |
| Hurricane Fran1996 | 21 | $1.0 million |
Shenandoah County, which includes Strasburg, has been named in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 15 of them major disasters (by incident: 6 hurricanes, 4 floods, 4 severe storms, 4 snowstorms). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on April 2, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Shenandoah County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for inland flooding and strong wind; Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, lightning and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $18.7 million a year, the 28th highest of 133 Virginia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $13.7 million (73%), 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 Strasburg
- Middletown, VA5 mi
- Maurertown, VA7 mi
- Stephens City, VA10 mi
- Front Royal, VA11 mi
- Woodstock, VA12 mi
- Winchester, VA16 mi
- Gore, VA17 mi
- Linden, VA17 mi
- Edinburg, VA18 mi
- Boyce, VA18 mi
- Capon Bridge, WV21 mi
- Stephenson, VA21 mi
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