 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Hurricanes and Virginia |
| The following are some of Virginia's significant tropical cyclones: 1667 On Sept. 6, a severe hurricane tracked through the Chesapeake Bay region. "The nearest computation is at least 10,000 houses blown down ..." according to an official account. The valuable tobacco crop was largely destroyed. This hurricane remained a benchmark for generations. 1724 The Great August Gust. A hurricane with winds that left a long-term impression swept southeastern Virginia on Aug. 23. 1749 A destructive coastal storm passed just off the coast on Oct. 18-19. "The tide (at Norfolk) rose 15 feet perpendicular," according to the Virginia Gazette. Many ships lost in the vicinity. Waterfronts devastated in the lower Chesapeake Bay region. 1769 On Sept. 7-8, a hurricane lashed the lower Chesapeake region with high winds and tides, as well as torrential rain. Extensive crop losses. Widespread structural damage. One of the area's most destructive hurricanes of the century. 1775 The Independence Hurricane on Sept. 2-3 . Wind and rain created havoc throughout eastern Virginia. Many boats sunk or grounded in the Chesapeake Bay. Heavy crop and tree losses. Widespread minor to moderate structural damage. 1788 George Washington's Hurricane. The remnants of a hurricane passed through Washington's estate at Mount Vernon on July 23-24. The storm whipped eastern Virginia with strong gales and heavy rain. 1795 Two remnant systems, on Aug. 2-3 and Aug. 13, caused tremendous flooding, particularly in the Blue Ridge region. Thomas Jefferson bemoaned crop losses at Monticello. 1821 A hurricane tracked inside the coast on Sept. 3. One of eastern Virginia's most destructive windstorms. A "tidal wave" was observed at Chincoteague. Damage to Norfolk "incalculable," according to one account. 1825 Virginia's earliest significant tropical cyclone struck on June 3-4. Notable along the coast, with prolonged gales and damaging tides. 1876 The Centennial Gale caused the highest tide in generations through the Chesapeake Bay region and swept damaging winds throughout the eastern half of Virginia on Sept. 16-17. Considerable crop losses and uprooted trees--a pruning similar to that from Hurricane Isabel in 2003. 1877 A remnant system on Oct. 4 caused severe flooding in the Shenandoah Valley. One of the valley's historic floods. Loss of forest because of the Civil War, agricultural practices and the widespread use of wood likely added to the runoff and subsequent destruction. 1878 A strong hurricane raced through eastern Virginia on Oct. 23. Crop losses and considerable structural damage. Hurricane-force gusts on the Chesapeake Bay. The schooner A.S. Davis foundered off Virginia Beach, with the loss of 19 crew members. 1879 Norfolk was battered by an intense hurricane on Aug. 19. Hurricane-force winds and considerable property losses. The storm was severe throughout the Tidewater region. 150 buildings damaged in Portsmouth. 1896 One of Virginia's most destructive windstorms. On Sept. 29, a band of hurricane-force winds, about 50 miles wide, swept through central sections of the state from North Carolina to Maryland. Richmond, Fredericksburg and Alexandria were hard-hit. Massive tree and crop losses in areas of ferocious winds. Widespread structural damage, as peak gusts likely exceeded 100 mph. Flash flooding in the Shenandoah Valley. 1925 Dec. 2-3. The latest hurricane on record to strike the United States (Dec.1) tracked offshore. It pelted southeastern Virginia with several inches of rain. Cape Henry clocked a 5-minute windspeed of 60 mph. 1928 Two tropical systems, on Aug. 11-12 and Aug. 16-17, brought Virginia one of its wettest months. Heavy crop damage and flooding throughout the eastern two-thirds of the state. 1933 The storied Chesapeake and Potomac Hurricane. Hurricane-force gusts in southeastern Virginia and gusts of 50 to 70 mph throughout the eastern half of the state on Aug. 23. Significant coastal and Chesapeake Bay flooding. Additional flooding from heavy rains. A second significant hurricane brushed the coast on Sept. 16, causing modest damage. 1935 The Great Labor Day Hurricane raked the Old Dominion with gales, tornadoes and flooding rain on Sept. 6. It was particularly severe in southeastern and east central Virginia. Rainfall totals included: Tappahannock, 12.24 inches, Dahlgren, 11.85 inches, and Fredericksburg, 8.13 inches. 1936 A Category 2 hurricane passed 25 miles east of Virginia Beach. Damaging winds and tides on Sept. 8. 1940 A remnant system caused tremendous flooding in western sections and Southside Virginia as it meandered through from Aug. 13-15. Rainfall totals included: Clarksville, 14.63 inches, Kenbridge, 12.75 inches, and Emporia, 10.44 inches. 1942 Record flooding in northwestern Virginia as a dying tropical storm stalled over the area in mid-October. Nearly 17 inches of rain at Riverton. Ranks as one of Fredericksburg's and the northern Shenandoah Valley's worst floods. 1944 The Great Atlantic Hurricane stayed just offshore on Sept. 14. A sustained wind of 134 mph recorded at Cape Henry, with a gust estimated at 150 mph. A state and Mid-Atlantic wind record. Heavy rain east of the Blue Ridge. 1954 On Oct. 15, Hurricane Hazel raced through the state bringing hurricane-force winds to the eastern third and flooding rains to the Blue Ridge. 108 mph gust at Suffolk. 100+ mph in Norfolk. A gust of 79 mph in Richmond. A record sustained wind of 78 mph at Washington (D.C.) National Airport, with a record gust of 98 mph. 1955 In August, hurricanes Connie and Diane swept through the state bringing flooding rains to the eastern half of Virginia. Connie tracked over the Chesapeake Bay with tropical storm-force winds on Aug. 12. A daily record rainfall of 8.79 inches in Richmond that day. Diane dumped up to 10 inches of rain on the Shenandoah Valley on the 18th. 1960 Hurricane Donna brought hurricane-force winds to the Virginia coast on Sept. 12. An estimated gust of 138 mph reported 17 miles off Virginia Beach from Chesapeake Lightship. An 89 mph gust at Virginia Beach. 1964 The remnants of Hurricane Cleo dropped over 10 inches of rain on the Virginia coast. Norfolk collected 11.40 in 20 hours on Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Virginia Beach tallied a 24-hour rainfall of 13.70 inches. 1969 The remnants of Hurricane Camille on Aug. 19-20 dumped at least 27 inches of rain in about five hours on part of Nelson County. Deadly flash flooding and mudslides. Flooding was severe along the James River and elsewhere throughout central Virginia. More than 150 people died in the state's deadliest storm disaster. 1972 Hurricane Agnes brought extreme flooding throughout much of the state on June 21-22. One of Virginia's most destructive floods. An environmental calamity for the state's waterways, particularly the Chesapeake Bay. 1975 The remnants of Hurricane Eloise (Sept. 23-26) caused widespread flooding in Northern Virginia. The Washington, D.C., suburbs were severely impacted. 1979 Hurricane David tracked through on Sept. 5. Gales from the Blue Ridge east and heavy rains. A tornado outbreak caused several deaths and significant damage, especially in the Tidewater and Northern Virginia regions. 1985 Hurricane Gloria on Sept. 27 pummeled coastal areas. An offshoot of Hurricane Juan brought tidal flooding on the Chesapeake Bay , as well as severe stream and river flooding in northwestern Virginia and sections of West Virginia on Nov. 4-5. An exceptional year for tropical cyclone activity during a generally quiet decade. 1996 Hurricane Fran caused widespread power outages, gales and heavy rain throughout much of the state on Sept. 5. Earlier, on July 12, Hurricane Bertha swept through the state causing modest damage. 1998 Hurricane Bonnie on Aug. 27 lashed the Tidewater region with hours of 50+ mph gusts. Widespread power outages and property losses. 1999 Hurricane Floyd brought more than 10 inches of rain to part of the Tidewater region and Eastern Shore on Sept. 16. The town of Franklin in southeastern Virginia was devastated. Epic rainfall caused one of the state's historic natural disasters. 16.57 inches of rain at Newport News from Sept. 14-16. 2003 Hurricane Isabel struck on Sept. 18. Record power outages. Widespread tree losses in the eastern third of the state. Many hours of strong gales. Isolated gusts of near-hurricane and hurricane force. Peak gusts included Norfolk Naval Station, 83 mph, Quantico 78 mph, Langley AFB 76 mph and Richmond International Airport, 73 mph. 2004 Numerous remnant systems brought record tornado outbreaks. Hurricane Ivan on Sept. 17 was the most prolific. Touchdowns in many places from Martinsville in Southside Virginia to the Washington, D.C., area. Hurricanes Frances (Sept. 8), Ivan and Jeanne (Sept. 28) also brought heavy rain and localized flooding to various sections of the state. The remnants of Hurricane Gaston dumped up to 14 inches of rain in the Richmond area on Aug. 30, causing calamitous flash flooding. |
Hurricane Camille icaused Virginia's deadliest storm disaster. Most casualties occurred in Nelson County. This
house tumbled down a hillside after about two feet of rain fell within five hours on August 19-20, 1969.
house tumbled down a hillside after about two feet of rain fell within five hours on August 19-20, 1969.
Virginia Weather Links Office of the Virginia state climatologist: http://climate.virginia.edu/ Virginia hurricane history: www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/vahur.htm Unisys offers maps of hurricane tracks beginning in 1851: http://weather.unisys.com Capital Weather Gang (Washington Post). This site features ongoing information and discussions about weather affecting the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area: www.capitalweathergang.com |
To learn more, order Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States. Send a check or money order for $25.95, postpaid. (Internet special-- The regular price is $32.95.) Virginia residents add $1.00 sales tax. Make checks payable to Blue Diamond Books. Mail to: 6516 China Grove Ct., Alexandria, VA 22310 Or pay by credit card through the convenience of PayPal (see Home Page). |
| For West Virginia weather: www.wvweather.net |