4,274
Recorded events
133
Counties affected
43
Direct deaths
$491.2M
Property damage
Virginia flash flood history: 4,274 recorded events across 133 counties between 1996 and 2026.
Decade by decade
Virginia flash flood history by decade
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record with 1,399 reported flash flood events across Virginia. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.
County ranking
Counties with the most flash flood events in Virginia
| Rank | County | Events | Deaths | Damage | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fairfax County | 238 | 2 | $11.4M | 1996–2025 |
| #2 | Chesterfield County | 96 | 1 | $5.2M | 1999–2025 |
| #3 | Franklin County | 94 | 0 | $1.5M | 1996–2025 |
| #4 | Albemarle County | 89 | 4 | $260K | 1996–2025 |
| #5 | Tazewell County | 85 | 0 | $24.3M | 1996–2025 |
| #6 | Prince William County | 84 | 0 | $315K | 1996–2025 |
| #7 | Norfolk city | 82 | 0 | $0 | 1996–2026 |
| #8 | Montgomery County | 71 | 0 | $2.7M | 1996–2025 |
| #9 | Richmond city | 70 | 3 | $20.2M | 1999–2025 |
| #10 | Loudoun County | 70 | 0 | $2.0M | 1996–2025 |
| #11 | Virginia Beach city | 69 | 0 | $0 | 1996–2025 |
| #12 | Campbell County | 68 | 0 | $2.1M | 1996–2025 |
| #13 | Greene County | 67 | 0 | $5.0M | 1996–2025 |
| #14 | Nelson County | 65 | 0 | $1.6M | 1996–2025 |
| #15 | Henry County | 63 | 2 | $14.5M | 1996–2024 |
| #16 | Carroll County | 62 | 0 | $1.1M | 1996–2025 |
| #17 | Patrick County | 61 | 1 | $5.0M | 1996–2023 |
| #18 | Bedford County | 59 | 0 | $711K | 1996–2025 |
| #19 | Henrico County | 57 | 1 | $2.6M | 1999–2025 |
| #20 | Rockingham County | 57 | 0 | $12.6M | 1996–2025 |
| #21 | Roanoke County | 56 | 0 | $3.1M | 1996–2025 |
| #22 | Augusta County | 55 | 2 | $4.5M | 1996–2025 |
| #23 | Pittsylvania County | 55 | 2 | $8.2M | 1996–2024 |
| #24 | Fauquier County | 53 | 0 | $298K | 1996–2025 |
| #25 | Culpeper County | 53 | 0 | $283K | 1996–2025 |
Significant events
Deadliest flash flood events in Virginia
| Date | County | Scale | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2004 | Richmond city | — | 3 | 0 |
| Oct 11, 2018 | Danville city | — | 2 | 0 |
| May 2, 2002 | Buchanan County | — | 2 | 0 |
| May 31, 2018 | Albemarle County | — | 2 | 0 |
| Oct 12, 2018 | Charlotte County | — | 2 | 0 |
| Aug 30, 2004 | Hanover County | — | 2 | 0 |
| Jun 16, 2004 | Henry County | — | 2 | 0 |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Augusta County | — | 2 | 0 |
| May 16, 2014 | Frederick County | — | 1 | 1 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | Mecklenburg County | — | 1 | 0 |