238
Recorded events
2
Direct deaths
0
Direct injuries
$11.4M
Property damage
Flash Flood in Fairfax County, Virginia: 238 recorded events between 1996 and 2025. The strongest on record measured 0. That places the county #24 nationally and #1 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Flash Flood in Fairfax County, Virginia: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for flash flood in Fairfax County is the 2010s, when 130 of the county's 238 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Fairfax County archive, flash flood makes up 16.0% of all recorded severe weather across 10 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #24 for this hazard and #1 within Virginia, putting it in the 99.2 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jul is the peak month for flash flood in Fairfax County with 98 recorded events, while Dec is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 8, 2011 | FT BELVOIR | 0 | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| Sep 8, 2011 | GREAT FALLS | 0 | 1 | 0 | $0 |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2025 | CHESTERBROOK WOODS | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 19, 2025 | GREAT FALLS | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 19, 2025 | RESTON | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 19, 2025 | RESTON | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 19, 2025 | GREAT FALLS | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 19, 2025 | GREAT FALLS | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 15, 2025 | TREMONT | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 14, 2025 | MERRIFIELD | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 14, 2025 | KENMORE | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 14, 2025 | LEWINSVILLE | 0 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Fairfax County
- Thunderstorm Wind 727
- Flood 279
- Hail 182
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Flash flooding occurred when Cameron Run came out of its banks. 158 homes were declared uninhabitable by building inspectors due to contamination and/or lack of utilities. Another two homes and one business were condemned. Estimated damage $11 million.
The stream gauge on Accotink Creek at Strathmeade Springs reached minor flood stage. Woodburn Road was covered by approximately six inches of water at its lowest point. Portions of the Cross County Trail were also flooded.
The water level rapidly rose above minor flood stage along Difficult Run at Wolf Trap, cresting at 196.24 feet. Browns Mills Road was covered by at least six inches of flowing water at its lowest point. The water level remained above flood stage until 12:22 AM on the 11th.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many flash flood events are on record in Fairfax County, Virginia?
238 flash flood events are recorded in Fairfax County between 1996 and 2025, causing 2 direct deaths.
What is the strongest flash flood recorded in Fairfax County?
The strongest flash flood on record in Fairfax County measured 0.
Where does the flash flood data for Fairfax County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Flash Flood in Fairfax County, Virginia.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/virginia/fairfax-county/flash-flood/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.