How long it's been since the last tornado in each part of the Richmond region
Tornadoes can hit any part of central Virginia at any time of day, and any time of year.
As of March 2021, most counties saw their most recent strike during tornado outbreaks in 2018 or 2019. But some smaller cities have been spared for over a decade.
But these storms don't happen on an orderly schedule. The next tornado could appear in a place that was recently hit. Suffolk, for instance, dealt with six tornadoes in the past four years. Meanwhile, Charlotte County is nearly the same size and just as exposed to severe thunderstorms, but has not experienced a tornado in 38 years.
No matter how long it's been for your area, it's just as important to have a safety plan in place. Virginia's severe weather preparedness week is coming up from March 15 to 19, and the statewide tornado drill is scheduled for March 16 at 9:45 a.m.
After Richmond, other cities and counties are listed in alphabetical order.
Details come from post-storm damage surveys conducted by the National Weather Service in Wakefield.
Richmond: Sept. 17, 2018
Richmond last saw tornadoes on Sept. 17, 2018 during a mini-outbreak spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Florence. Five separate tornadoes tracked within the city limits. Most of the damage consisted of snapped trees and power poles.
This funnel cloud appeared west of downtown Richmond.
Amelia County: Oct. 11, 2018
Amelia County's last tornado was spawned by Tropical Storm Michael on Oct. 11, 2018, one of seven tornadoes to hit Virginia that day in addition to flooding rains. The storm downed trees along a three-mile path near Military Road.
Caroline County: June 20, 2015
This radar map shows the hook-shaped storm that caused the last tornado in Caroline County on June 20, 2015. The severe weather was associated with the leftovers of Tropical Storm Bill and resulted in relatively minor damage.
Charles City County: April 19, 2019
Charles City County had not seen a tornado for 26 years until the outbreak of April 2019. It blew the roof off the Ruthville Gun and Rod Club, but there were no injuries. A survey estimated its winds at up to 135 mph, or EF-2.
Chesterfield County: Sept. 17, 2018
A pair of tornadoes ripped across western Chesterfield County on Sept. 17, 2018, triggered by the remnants of Hurricane Florence. Each left a damage path for nearly 8 miles in Chesterfield County. The first blew from Winterpock to Swift Creek Reservoir as an EF-1 with 90 to 100 mph winds. The second tornado had peak wind speeds of 125 mph (EF-2) as it crossed Hull Street Road, where one person was killed in a business and another was injured. The tornado dissipated near Midlothian Turnpike, but the storms went on to spawn several other tornadoes in the Richmond area that afternoon.
Colonial Heights: April 28, 2008
Colonial Heights last saw a tornado on April 28, 2008, which injured 21 people. The storm damaged Dimmock Square shopping center near Southpark Mall, the same area devastated by a major tornado in 1993.
Dinwiddie County: May 5, 2017
Dinwiddie County was hit by an EF-1 tornado on the morning of May 5, 2017. It caused this damage at Roberts Farm Center on Route 40 near Baskerville Mill Road.
Goochland County: June 25, 2012
A three-dimensional radar view shows the powerful storm that spawned a tornado in the Hadensville area of Goochland County on June 25, 2012.
Hanover County: Sept. 17, 2018
These hay bales scattered across a field in western Hanover County were due to an EF-1 tornado from the remnants of Florence on Sept. 17, 2018. The damage near Rockville was relatively minor compared with other parts of the metro area.
Henrico County: Sept. 17, 2018
One tornado from the Florence outbreak on Sept. 17, 2018 began in the Stony Point area of Richmond, then crossed the James River and left a path of damage in Tuckahoe. With EF-1 winds of nearly 95 mph, it downed trees and power lines at Glendale Road near Ridge Road.
Hopewell: Aug. 30, 2004
Hopewell last saw a tornado on Aug. 30, 2004 as Tropical Depression Gaston swept into Virginia. It was one of 14 tornadoes that touched down in the region that day, but the wind damage was minor compared to the devastating flooding.
King William County: Oct. 24, 2017
This radar map reveals an early-morning tornado in King William County on Oct. 24, 2017. No deaths or injuries occurred. A strong autumn cold front also touched off tornadoes in the mountains of Virginia the prior evening.
Louisa County: April 19, 2019
A tornado in Louisa County on April 19, 2019 left approximately $200,000 in damage to homes east of Mineral, near Lake Anna.
New Kent County: Oct. 11, 2018
The rain bands of Tropical Storm Michael contained many areas of rotation and possible tornado activity. New Kent County was hit by an EF-0 tornado on Oct. 11, 2018. This radar map shows overlapping tornado warnings across the county (red and purple boxes), along with the tracks of strong rotation (in yellow).
Nottoway County: Oct. 11, 2018
A tornado spawned by Tropical Storm Michael damaged several homes and businesses in Burkeville on Oct. 11, 2018. But no injuries were reported during Nottoway County's most recent tornado.
Petersburg: June 1, 2012
The last tornado in Petersburg happened on June 1, 2012. It swept through the Oakhurst neighborhood, where it toppled this tree and smashed vehicles. That storm injured five people.
Powhatan County: Sept. 17, 2018
Powhatan County's most recent tornado was also amid the Sept. 17, 2018 outbreak from Florence. This one left minor damage across a small area southwest of Moseley.
Prince George County: April 19, 2019
The outbreak of April 19, 2019 left a 4-mile path of damage in rural Prince George County east of Disputanta. At least 16 tornadoes tracked across the region that day, many in southeastern Virginia.
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