Poquoson city
Population 13,292 (2025) 15 sq mi
Poquoson city has recorded 2 tornadoes since 1950, 94th most of 133 counties in Virginia; the most recent was on August 30, 2004.
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 19502
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger78
- Major flood years since 19785
At a glance
The record for Poquoson city in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes since 1950
2
94th of 133 in Virginia
Fewer than the typical Virginia county, which has had 5
DetailsTropical cyclones within 50 mi
42
12th of 133 in Virginia
11 at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsStrongest tornado
F0
August 30, 2004, 1.7 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 2
Hurricane (unnamed), 1879, 41.3 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 38 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
August 30, 2004
F0, 1.7 mile path
40 yards wide.
Most recent
Monday, August 30, 2004
F0, 1.7 mile path
22 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Aug 30, 2004 | F0 | 1.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 30, 2004 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Poquoson city: 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
42 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 11 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 18, 1879
Unnamed storm, Category 2
41.3 miles at closest approach, winds near 106 mph.
Most recent
July 9, 2021
Elsa, Tropical storm
23.2 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Elsa | 2021 | 23.2 | Tropical storm |
| Claudette | 2021 | 67.1 | Tropical storm |
| Zeta | 2020 | 74.7 | Post-tropical |
| Isaias | 2020 | 34.1 | Tropical storm |
| Fay | 2020 | 84.2 | Tropical storm |
| Nestor | 2019 | 1.1 | Post-tropical |
| Michael | 2018 | 13.6 | Post-tropical |
| Arthur | 2014 | 93.2 | Category 1 |
| Andrea | 2013 | 12.4 | Post-tropical |
| Irene | 2011 | 41.2 | Category 1 |
| Hanna | 2008 | 35.3 | Tropical storm |
| Gabrielle | 2007 | 72.2 | Tropical storm |
| Barry | 2007 | 77.6 | Post-tropical |
| Ernesto | 2006 | 29.9 | Post-tropical |
| Alberto | 2006 | 78.2 | Post-tropical |
| Gaston | 2004 | 11.1 | Tropical storm |
| Charley | 2004 | 26.2 | Post-tropical |
| Isabel | 2003 | 76.1 | Category 1 |
| Helene | 2000 | 46.4 | Tropical storm |
| Floyd | 1999 | 22.5 | Category 1 |
| Earl | 1998 | 63.4 | Post-tropical |
| Bonnie | 1998 | 88.5 | Category 1 |
| Danny | 1997 | 36.8 | Tropical storm |
| Josephine | 1996 | 66.6 | Post-tropical |
| Bertha | 1996 | 17.0 | Tropical storm |
| Allison | 1995 | 95.0 | Post-tropical |
| Danielle | 1992 | 48.4 | Tropical storm |
| Charley | 1986 | 44.0 | Category 1 |
| Gloria | 1985 | 72.3 | Category 2 |
| Dean | 1983 | 33.6 | Tropical storm |
| Agnes | 1972 | 75.8 | Post-tropical |
| Doria | 1971 | 13.7 | Tropical storm |
| Alma | 1970 | 53.6 | Tropical storm |
| Camille | 1969 | 0.7 | Tropical storm |
| Doria | 1967 | 40.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1965 | 76.2 | Post-tropical |
| Cleo | 1964 | 55.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1963 | 18.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1961 | 16.3 | Tropical storm |
| Donna | 1960 | 60.7 | Category 2 |
| Brenda | 1960 | 8.4 | Tropical storm |
| Cindy | 1959 | 11.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1956 | 50.3 | Post-tropical |
| Flossy | 1956 | 61.7 | Post-tropical |
| Ione | 1955 | 48.2 | Category 1 |
| Connie | 1955 | 10.2 | Category 1 |
| Hazel | 1954 | 85.5 | Post-tropical |
| Barbara | 1953 | 46.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 73.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1946 | 97.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 74.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 94.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 13.8 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 87.3 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 68.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1943 | 51.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1936 | 82.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 13.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1934 | 98.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 93.8 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 8.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 64.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 51.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 47.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1925 | 65.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 6.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1918 | 83.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 0.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 42.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1904 | 23.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1903 | 96.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 57.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 33.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 79.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1900 | 77.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 63.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 64.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 61.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 93.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 99.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 26.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 64.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 52.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 48.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 5.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 99.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 61.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 40.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1887 | 52.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 22.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1883 | 77.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 13.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 29.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 18.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 82.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 41.3 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 40.4 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 33.2 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1876 | 49.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1874 | 18.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1872 | 12.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1866 | 91.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1863 | 16.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 66.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 10.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 24.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1857 | 62.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 18.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1854 | 30.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1851 | 54.3 | 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: 46 days
Heavy smoke on 12 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
11.1 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
10 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 36 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
4,290 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $72.9 million paid.
Most claims in one year
2003: 2,046 claims
$50.9 million paid.
2nd most
2009: 1,141 claims
$14.6 million paid.
3rd most
2011: 348 claims
$3.8 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 23662 | 4,272 | $72.2 million |
| 23666 | 8 | $171,000 |
| 23693 | 5 | $78,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Coastal Flood10
- Flash Flood5
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 102 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 17 months.
102
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
26
Months in extreme drought
6%
Share of all months, severe or worse
Lowest reading
February 1931
−6.07, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
17 months
November 1931 to March 1933.
Latest month
September 2026
−3.16, severe 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
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1995; none reached magnitude 4.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
0
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 3, 1995
Magnitude 2.9
13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia; 22.6 miles away, 0.6 miles deep.
- 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
48 events in the National Weather Service record, 48 of them since 1996.
0
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
0
Hail, 2 inches or larger
4
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
16
Winter weather events since 1996
3
Heat events since 1996
1
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
May 10, 2000
0.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 14, 2026
69 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 1 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Aug 4, 2020Tropical Storm, York$150,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tropical storm winds downed and uprooted several trees and power lines, produced significant structural damage, and caused power outages across the county. Wind gusts averaged between 35 and 45 knots.
- Sep 15, 1999Flash Flood$35,000
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…
- Mar 2, 2018High Wind, York$25,000
National Weather Service narrative
The very strong winds downed trees and caused scattered power outages.
- Feb 13, 2021Winter Weather, York$20,000
National Weather Service narrative
Light freezing rain or freezing drizzle resulted in ice accretion between a trace and 0.20 inch across the county. A few trees and power lines were downed, with scattered power outages reported due to the ice accretion.
- Sep 5, 2019Tropical Storm, York$15,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tropical storm winds downed a few trees and power lines, produced minor structural damage, and caused power outages across the county.
- Jul 8, 2021Tropical Storm, York$15,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tropical storm winds downed several trees and power lines, produced minor structural damage, and caused scattered power outages across the county. Wind gusts averaged between 35 and 45 knots. Wind gust of 35 knots (40 mph) was measured at Seaford.
- Oct 11, 2018High Wind, York$5,000
National Weather Service narrative
Numerous trees were downed and there was minor structural damage.
- Aug 17, 2003Thunderstorm Wind$2,000
- May 13, 2002Thunderstorm Wind$2,000
- Jan 10, 2025Winter Storm, York$1,000
National Weather Service narrative
Snowfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches across York county. Public measured 3.5 inches of snow 1 ENE of Skimino Virginia.
- 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 Norfolk International Airport, 18.9 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1946.
- All-time high
- 105°F2 times, most recently Jul 25, 2010
- All-time low
- −3°FJan 21, 1985
- Warmest night
- 83°FJul 8, 2012
- Coldest day
- 13°F2 times, most recently Jan 19, 1994
- Wettest day
- 8.93 inSep 1, 2006
- Snowiest day
- 13.6 inFeb 18, 1989
- Hottest year
- 2020mean 64.0°F
- Coldest year
- 1966mean 57.2°F
- Wettest year
- 201668.86 in
- Driest year
- 198626.48 in
- Snowiest season
- 41.9 in1979-80
Median first snow
January 9
Earliest: November 11, 1987
Median last snow
February 20
Latest: April 11, 1989
9 of 80 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Norfolk International Airport (USW00013737), 11 ft elevation, 18.9 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1946 to October 28, 2026; 100.0% 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
18 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 23, 2026.
| Jan 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631-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 |
| Aug 26, 2011 | Hurricane | EM-3329-VA |
| Dec 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1862-VA |
| Sep 22, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1661-VA |
| Sep 12, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3240-VA |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Hurricane | DR-1491-VA |
| Sep 18, 1999 | Hurricane | DR-1293-VA |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Hurricane | EM-3147-VA |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Hurricane | DR-1135-VA |
| Jan 13, 1996 | Snowstorm | DR-1086-VA |
| Mar 25, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3112-VA |
| Nov 9, 1985 | Flood | DR-755-VA |
| Jan 26, 1977 | Freezing | DR-525-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 Poquoson city stands among 133 counties in Virginia and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 2 | 94 / 133 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 0 | — |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 42 | 12 / 133 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 11 | 5 / 133 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 4,290 | 4 / 133 |
| Flood insurance paid | $72.9 million | 3 / 133 |
| Disaster declarations | 18 | 94 / 133 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 15 | 127 / 133 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 9 | 132 / 133 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 16 | 129 / 133 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $271,000 | 132 / 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 | 102 | 46 / 133 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 11.1 | 64 / 133 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Hampton city | 8 | 45 |
| York County | 9 | 40 |
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 USW00013737.
- 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 November 1, 2026.