152
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
0
Direct injuries
$3.7M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Smyth County, Virginia: 152 recorded events between 1972 and 2025. The strongest on record measured 70. That places the county #1,501 nationally and #51 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Smyth County, Virginia: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Smyth County is the 2010s, when 58 of the county's 152 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 Smyth County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 53.3% of all recorded severe weather across 9 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #1,501 for this hazard and #51 within Virginia, putting it in the 52.2 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jun is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Smyth County with 39 recorded events, while Sep 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.
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 2025 | BROADFORD | 65 | $10K |
| May 17, 2025 | CHILHOWIE | 50 | $500 |
| May 17, 2025 | MARION | 55 | $2K |
| May 17, 2025 | BROADFORD | 50 | $500 |
| May 17, 2025 | QUARRY | 50 | $500 |
| May 17, 2025 | SALTVILLE | 55 | $5K |
| May 16, 2025 | MARION | 50 | $5K |
| Jun 30, 2024 | CHILHOWIE | 50 | $500 |
| Jun 30, 2024 | BROADFORD | 50 | $2K |
| May 27, 2024 | CHILHOWIE | 50 | $2K |
Other hazards here
More from Smyth County
- Hail 55
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Thunderstorm winds caused considerable damage between Chilhowie and Marion. Winds from these storms damaged seven commercial structures, three government buildings, and 24 residential buildings. Numerous trees and power lines were also reported down due to thunderstorm winds.
Several locations, from near Marion to Chilhowie to near|Saltville, experienced numerous snapped and uprooted trees, |several of which fell onto homes. In addition, a few outbuildings|and barns were destroyed in the Chilhowie area. No injuries were|reported. All damage was consistent with straight line winds |as there were no signs of rotation in the damage patterns. Maximum|wind speeds were estimated to be in the 75-80 mph range.
Many trees and branches were downed by thunderstorm winds across northern and central portions of the county. Power lines were also taken down by the falling trees and limbs. A fallen tree also damaged a structure near Marion. Damage values are estimated.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Smyth County, Virginia?
152 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Smyth County between 1972 and 2025, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Smyth County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Smyth County measured 70.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Smyth 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
“Thunderstorm Wind in Smyth County, Virginia.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/virginia/smyth-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.