Greene County
Population 21,958 (2025) 156 sq mi
Property owners in Greene County have filed 28 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, 94th most of 133 counties in Virginia.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 19505
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger22
At a glance
The record for Greene County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
10
91st of 133 in Virginia
1 at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsStrongest tornado
F3
September 30, 1959, 2.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 1
Hurricane (unnamed), 1893, 12.3 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 15 years since 1950, 2 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
September 30, 1959
F3, 2.0 mile path
100 yards wide; 1 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Friday, September 17, 2004
F2, 5.0 mile path
22 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Sep 17, 2004 | F2 | 5.0 | 3 | 0 |
| May 19, 2000 | F1 | 11.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 25, 1985 | F3 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 30, 1959 | F3 | 2.0 | 9 | 1 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Greene County: 1.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
10 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 1 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
October 13, 1893
Unnamed storm, Category 1
12.3 miles at closest approach, winds near 78 mph.
Most recent
October 29, 2020
Zeta, Post-tropical
28.1 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Zeta | 2020 | 28.1 | Post-tropical |
| Isaias | 2020 | 90.2 | Tropical storm |
| Hanna | 2008 | 92.4 | Tropical storm |
| Ernesto | 2006 | 86.2 | Post-tropical |
| Isabel | 2003 | 2.1 | Tropical storm |
| David | 1979 | 20.1 | Tropical storm |
| Diane | 1955 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Hazel | 1954 | 31.6 | Post-tropical |
| Able | 1952 | 1.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 4.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 53.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 58.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1943 | 92.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1934 | 27.2 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 65.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 62.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 38.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 64.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 5.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 45.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 94.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 63.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 5.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 92.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 12.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 5.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 87.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 6.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 90.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 62.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 48.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 97.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1876 | 52.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 94.6 | Tropical storm |
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire and smoke
No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 49 days
Heavy smoke on 13 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
11.5 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
12 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 29 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
28 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $231,000 paid.
Most claims in one year
2018: 7 claims
$69,000 paid.
2nd most
1995: 6 claims
$25,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 22973 | 18 | $98,000 |
| 22968 | 9 | $133,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flood72
- Flash Flood67
- Heavy Rain6
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
River crests
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for 2 gauges here but lists no crests for them.
River gauges
| Conway River At Kinderhook Road | 8.0 | — | 0 |
| South River AT McMullen Mill | 7.0 | — | 0 |
- Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 80 of 1,581 months since 1895 (5%); the longest spell lasted 11 months.
80
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
14
Months in extreme drought
5%
Share of all months, severe or worse
9
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
January 1931
−5.60, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
11 months
July 1930 to May 1931.
Latest month
September 2026
−2.58, moderate drought
Last severe month: July 2026.
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes
7 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 5.8 in 2011.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
16
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
7
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
1
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
August 23, 2011
11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia; 30.2 miles away, 3.7 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
May 21, 2014
Magnitude 3.1
15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia; 48.1 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Aug 25, 2011 | 4.5 | 27.3 |
| Aug 23, 2011 | 4.2 | 29.2 |
| Aug 23, 2011 | 5.8 | 30.2 |
| Dec 9, 2003 | 4.5 | 31.9 |
| Aug 17, 1984 | 4.2 | 21.7 |
| Apr 9, 1918 | 4.6 | 15.8 |
| Feb 11, 1907 | 4.0 | 33.7 |
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the county boundary (or inside the county).
- Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
798 events in the National Weather Service record, 786 of them since 1996.
17
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
3
Hail, 2 inches or larger
97
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
267
Winter weather events since 1996
38
Heat events since 1996
93
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
June 16, 2008
3.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 29, 2012
76 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 1 | 0 |
| Dense fog and smoke | 75 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- May 31, 2018Flash Flood$4.1 million
National Weather Service narrative
At least five mudslides were reported in the Swift Run Gap area in Greene County. The slopes gave way, forcing the closure of US Route 33.
- Sep 17, 2004Tornado$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A tornadic thunderstorm touched down near Standardsville. A roof was torn off a building just south of U.S. Highway 33. The roof was also torn off a house just north of U.S. Highway 33. The most extensive damage occurred around Highway 621. Four dwellings and a mobile home were destroyed. Approximately 50 other structures were damaged, including a nearby country club and a concrete block building. A trailer filled with cattle gates was also destroyed.
- Jun 16, 2008Hail$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Trained spotters and broadcast media reported a significant hail storm across Greene County. Hail ranging from golf ball to baseball-sized was reported in Stanardsville, Quince and Ruckersville. Several vehicles were damages. Nearly 30 horse trailers were destroyed at two companies. Some reported baseball-sized holes in roofs of homes and businesses. The storm left several inches of hail on the ground and snowplows were called to clear the roadways. Several crops were severely damaged to destroyed.
- May 30, 2018Flash Flood$677,000
National Weather Service narrative
The southbound lane of Dyke Road in the 10000 block was washed out with a sinkhole reported.
- Sep 18, 2003High Wind, Greene$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
By 9 pm on September 18, a rain band associated with Isabel had set up over the Shenandoah Valley and showers were training southward into the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east side of Augusta County. The rain gauge located at Upper Sherando had recorded over 6 inches of rain and more was to come. County officials quickly began evacuations of homes downstream. In all 350 people in the South River area would be evacuated and 21 of those ended up being by boat. Water flowed down the Black Creek at 60 mph washing out the bridge and several hundred feet of asphalt along Route 608. Four spillways to dams flooded causing damage but none of them failed. There was $125,000 damage to the…
- Sep 6, 1996Flood, Greene$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
The rapid runoff produced by the heavy rains from Fran caused substantial, damaging, and in some cases record river flooding across much of the northern Virginia watershed from late on the 6th until early on the 10th. Flash flooding on the 6th rapidly became river flooding late on the 6th along the headwaters of the Potomac, Shenandoah, and Rappahannock River basins, and continued throughout the basins over the weekend and into early the following week. Crests at gaging points in these basins were similar to those in January 1996 across the Lower Main Stem of the Potomac. Levels were 1 to 5 feet higher across the Upper Main Stem Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers. The Shenandoah…
- Jun 27, 2006Flash Flood$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
Saturated grounds due to heavy rains brought down trees countywide. Streams and rivers lifted out of their banks and flooded several roads.
- Jan 14, 2006High Wind, Greene$60,000
National Weather Service narrative
Numerous trees and powerlines down countywide.
- Sep 6, 1996Flash Flood$50,000
- Aug 12, 2001Thunderstorm Wind$30,000
National Weather Service narrative
A shed, car, home, and several trees were damaged.
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, 8 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1955.
- All-time high
- 106°FJul 8, 2012
- All-time low
- −6°FJan 17, 1982
- Warmest night
- 88°FJul 21, 1957
- Coldest day
- 10°FFeb 18, 1979
- Wettest day
- 9.21 inOct 5, 1972
- Snowiest day
- 11.0 inJan 29, 1966
- Hottest year
- 2023mean 60.7°F
- Coldest year
- 1967mean 54.9°F
- Wettest year
- 200368.68 in
- Driest year
- 198814.90 in
Station Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (USW00093736), 631 ft elevation, 8.0 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1955 to October 26, 2026; 99.8% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
26 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 23, 2026.
| Jan 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631-VA |
| Oct 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831-VA |
| Mar 11, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4644-VA |
| Apr 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512-VA |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448-VA |
| Sep 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403-VA |
| Mar 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262-VA |
| Nov 26, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4092-VA |
| Oct 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359-VA |
| Jul 27, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4072-VA |
| Apr 27, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1905-VA |
| Feb 16, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1874-VA |
| Sep 12, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3240-VA |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Hurricane | DR-1491-VA |
| Feb 28, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1318-VA |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Hurricane | DR-1135-VA |
| Jan 27, 1996 | Flood | DR-1098-VA |
| Jan 13, 1996 | Snowstorm | DR-1086-VA |
| Jul 1, 1995 | Severe Storm | DR-1059-VA |
| Apr 11, 1994 | Severe Storm | DR-1021-VA |
| Mar 25, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3112-VA |
| May 19, 1992 | Flood | DR-944-VA |
| Nov 9, 1985 | Flood | DR-755-VA |
| Jul 23, 1977 | Drought | EM-3046-VA |
| Oct 10, 1972 | Flood | DR-359-VA |
| Jun 23, 1972 | Flood | DR-339-VA |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
How this compares
Where Greene County stands among 133 counties in Virginia and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 5 | 66 / 133 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 2 | 2 / 133 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 10 | 91 / 133 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 1 | 76 / 133 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 28 | 94 / 133 |
| Flood insurance paid | $231,000 | 100 / 133 |
| Disaster declarations | 26 | 7 / 133 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 145 | 17 / 133 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 155 | 73 / 133 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 267 | 9 / 133 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $10.1 million | 64 / 133 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 0 | — |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 80 | 115 / 133 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 11.5 | 45 / 133 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 7 | 4 / 133 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Albemarle County | 11 | 12 |
| Madison County | 9 | 10 |
| Orange County | 14 | 13 |
| Page County | 4 | 11 |
| Rockingham County | 10 | 10 |
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00093736.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.