Greensville County
Population 11,181 (2025) 295 sq mi
32 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Greensville County since 1851, 4 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1878 (Category 2).
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 19508
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger76
- Wildfire burn scars since 19841
At a glance
The record for Greensville County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
32
23rd of 133 in Virginia
4 at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsAcres burned since 1984
930
27th of 133 in Virginia
1 large fire; the largest was Pocahontas Road, 2008
DetailsStrongest tornado
EF1
April 28, 2008, 16.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 2
Hurricane (unnamed), 1878, 20.8 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 9.5 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 28, 2008
EF1, 16.0 mile path
250 yards wide.
Most recent
Friday, April 19, 2019
EF1, 8.6 mile path
7 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF1 | 8.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF0 | 6.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF1 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 28, 2008 | EF1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 28, 2008 | EF1 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 28, 2002 | F1 | 6.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Feb 13, 1966 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Greensville County: 0.
- 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
32 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 4 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
October 23, 1878
Unnamed storm, Category 2
20.8 miles at closest approach, winds near 100 mph.
Most recent
September 23, 2023
Ophelia, Tropical storm
0.0 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Ophelia | 2023 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Elsa | 2021 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Claudette | 2021 | 53.2 | Tropical storm |
| Zeta | 2020 | 69.2 | Post-tropical |
| Isaias | 2020 | 12.7 | Tropical storm |
| Nestor | 2019 | 14.5 | Post-tropical |
| Michael | 2018 | 4.9 | Post-tropical |
| Hermine | 2016 | 98.1 | Tropical storm |
| Andrea | 2013 | 17.7 | Post-tropical |
| Irene | 2011 | 78.5 | Category 1 |
| Hanna | 2008 | 3.4 | Tropical storm |
| Gabrielle | 2007 | 91.5 | Tropical storm |
| Ernesto | 2006 | 5.6 | Tropical storm |
| Alberto | 2006 | 62.8 | Post-tropical |
| Charley | 2004 | 48.0 | Tropical storm |
| Isabel | 2003 | 2.6 | Category 1 |
| Helene | 2000 | 45.6 | Tropical storm |
| Floyd | 1999 | 52.4 | Category 1 |
| Earl | 1998 | 44.9 | Post-tropical |
| Bonnie | 1998 | 87.1 | Tropical storm |
| Danny | 1997 | 25.8 | Tropical storm |
| Josephine | 1996 | 75.2 | Post-tropical |
| Fran | 1996 | 66.0 | Tropical storm |
| Bertha | 1996 | 14.1 | Tropical storm |
| Allison | 1995 | 96.9 | Post-tropical |
| Charley | 1986 | 81.0 | Category 1 |
| Diana | 1984 | 85.1 | Tropical storm |
| Agnes | 1972 | 73.3 | Tropical storm |
| Doria | 1971 | 49.0 | Tropical storm |
| Alma | 1970 | 12.3 | Tropical storm |
| Doria | 1967 | 76.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1965 | 59.9 | Post-tropical |
| Isbell | 1964 | 72.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1963 | 75.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1961 | 51.3 | Tropical storm |
| Donna | 1960 | 84.4 | Category 2 |
| Brenda | 1960 | 30.1 | Tropical storm |
| Cindy | 1959 | 12.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1956 | 68.6 | Post-tropical |
| Flossy | 1956 | 74.2 | Post-tropical |
| Ione | 1955 | 62.5 | Category 1 |
| Diane | 1955 | 51.9 | Tropical storm |
| Connie | 1955 | 65.5 | Category 1 |
| Hazel | 1954 | 22.1 | Post-tropical |
| Barbara | 1953 | 83.6 | Category 1 |
| Able | 1952 | 90.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 99.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 68.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1946 | 93.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 33.8 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 9.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 16.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 14.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 54.8 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 11.2 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 2.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 32.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1925 | 90.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 30.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1918 | 97.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 19.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 82.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1913 | 99.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 87.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 62.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1904 | 9.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 52.2 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 10.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 88.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 14.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 88.8 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 88.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 72.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 47.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 97.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 38.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 91.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 84.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 59.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 80.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 5.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1887 | 53.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 51.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1883 | 13.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 50.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 7.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 32.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 92.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 80.2 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 20.8 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 0.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1876 | 7.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1874 | 7.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1872 | 22.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1867 | 92.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1863 | 53.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 94.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 48.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 9.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1857 | 71.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 62.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1854 | 31.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1851 | 52.6 | 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
930 acres burned in 1 large fire since 1984, equal to 0.5% of the land.
Largest
February 10, 2008
Pocahontas Road Fire, 1,145 acres
929 acres inside Greensville County.
Most recent
February 10, 2008
Pocahontas Road Fire
1,145 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Pocahontas Road | 2008 | 929 | 1,145 |
- Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.
Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 43 days
Heavy smoke on 8 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
10.0 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
8 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
5 federal flood insurance claims since 2003, with $39,000 paid.
Flood events since 1996
- Heavy Rain31
- Flash Flood7
- Flood3
1 death recorded in flood events since 1996.
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.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 100 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 8 months.
100
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
16
Months in extreme drought
6%
Share of all months, severe or worse
Lowest reading
February 1931
−4.55, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
8 months
September 1930 to April 1931.
Latest month
September 2026
−4.55, extreme drought
- 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
5 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1908; none reached magnitude 4.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
1
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
0
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
August 23, 1908
Magnitude 3.5
Near Powhatan, Virginia; 43.8 miles away.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
May 21, 2014
Magnitude 3.1
15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia; 49.4 miles away.
- 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
208 events in the National Weather Service record, 190 of them since 1996.
9
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
0
Hail, 2 inches or larger
46
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
64
Winter weather events since 1996
6
Heat events since 1996
3
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
June 2, 1989
1.50 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
July 10, 2014
69 mph
Costliest events since 1996
- Sep 16, 1999Flash Flood$1.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
Very heavy rain from Hurricane Floyd produced widespread flooding and flash flooding across much of central and eastern Virginia, and northeast North Carolina. Rainfall amounts generally ranged from near 7 inches from eastern Caroline county to Richmond City to Brunswick, Lunenburg and Mecklenburg counties, to 12 to 18 inches in much of the Virginia Tidewater. Numerous roads were washed out due to flooding. Many areas normally prone only to flooding of poor drainage and low lying areas experienced significant flash flooding. Primary routes out of service included US 460 near Wakefield, US 58 near Emporia and Franklin, and Interstate 95 south of Petersburg to Emporia. River…
- Apr 28, 2002Tornado$750,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tornado (F1) destroyed 3 mobile homes, damaged 50 other homes, one business, and an apartment complex. Also, numerous trees were uprooted and snapped off.
- Oct 8, 2016Flood$450,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain caused an extended period of significant flooding across much of the county. Numerous roads were impassable or closed for several days, and many homes and businesses were impacted.
- Aug 27, 2011Tropical Storm, Greensville$219,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tropical storm force winds knocked down several trees and power lines, as well as caused some structural damage. In addition, heavy rains contributed to minor crop damage. Storm total rainfall generally ranged from five to eight inches.
- Feb 13, 2021Ice Storm, Greensville$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
Freezing rain or freezing drizzle resulted in significant ice accretion between 0.25 inch and 0.35 inch across the county. Numerous trees and power lines were downed, with widespread power outages reported due to the ice accretion.
- Feb 18, 2021Winter Storm, Greensville$30,000
National Weather Service narrative
Ice accretions between 0.20 inch and 0.25 inch were reported. Several trees and power lines were downed, with numerous power outages reported.
- Jul 10, 2014Thunderstorm Wind$20,000
National Weather Service narrative
Straight line wind damage occurred in Greensville county and south southeast of Emporia. The initial damage was on Interstate 95 where a couple of trees were downed on the roadway. The damage then continued eastward south of Emporia where trees were downed and snapped off, and some minor property damage occurred, especially in the area of Low Ground Road and Little Low Ground Road.
- Apr 28, 2008Tornado$15,000
National Weather Service narrative
A tornado touched down in the Low Ground Road area of the southeat part of Greensville County. Numerous trees were downed or snapped off, and a couple of outbuildings were damaged.
- May 11, 1996Thunderstorm Wind$15,000
National Weather Service narrative
ROOF OF GEORGIA-PACIFIC PLANT PARTIALLY DAMAGED.
- Apr 19, 2019Tornado$15,000
National Weather Service narrative
The same tornado that started in Northampton county North Carolina, shifted its track slightly east within Greensville county Virginia and touched down again near Taylor`s Mill Road. From there, the tornado continued northeast crossing Caney Swamp and causing EF1 damage to numerous trees along Little Low Ground Road. The tornado then continued into extreme southwest Southampton county.
- 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 Emporia 1 Wnw, 2.2 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1893.
- All-time high
- 109°FJul 30, 1893
- All-time low
- −24°FJan 17, 1893
- Warmest night
- 88°F3 times, most recently Jun 25, 2016
- Coldest day
- 13°FDec 26, 1983
- Wettest day
- 7.40 inSep 19, 2003
- Snowiest day
- 14.2 inJan 24, 1940
- Hottest year
- 2020mean 61.5°F
- Coldest year
- 1988mean 56.0°F
- Wettest year
- 202063.44 in
- Driest year
- 196524.92 in
- Snowiest season
- 29.8 in1979-80
Median first snow
January 2
Earliest: November 6, 1953
Median last snow
February 7
Latest: April 11, 1989
18 of 59 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Emporia 1 Wnw (USC00442790), 100 ft elevation, 2.2 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1893 to October 23, 2026; 92.4% 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
17 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 23, 2026.
| Jan 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631-VA |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602-VA |
| Apr 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512-VA |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448-VA |
| Sep 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403-VA |
| Oct 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359-VA |
| Sep 3, 2011 | Hurricane | DR-4024-VA |
| Sep 22, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1661-VA |
| Sep 12, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3240-VA |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Hurricane | DR-1491-VA |
| May 5, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1411-VA |
| Feb 28, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1318-VA |
| Sep 18, 1999 | Hurricane | DR-1293-VA |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Hurricane | DR-1135-VA |
| Jan 13, 1996 | Snowstorm | DR-1086-VA |
| Mar 25, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3112-VA |
| Jul 23, 1977 | Drought | EM-3046-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 Greensville County stands among 133 counties in Virginia and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 8 | 49 / 133 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 0 | — |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 32 | 23 / 133 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 4 | 22 / 133 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 930 | 27 / 133 |
| Flood insurance claims | 5 | 125 / 133 |
| Flood insurance paid | $39,000 | 121 / 133 |
| Disaster declarations | 17 | 105 / 133 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 41 | 98 / 133 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 66 | 115 / 133 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 64 | 104 / 133 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $2.9 million | 105 / 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 | 100 | 54 / 133 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 10.0 | 125 / 133 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Brunswick County | 13 | 26 |
| Dinwiddie County | 13 | 26 |
| Emporia city | 3 | 26 |
| Northampton County NC | 18 | 44 |
| Southampton County | 17 | 44 |
| Sussex County | 10 | 36 |
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 USC00442790.
- 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.