County Hazards

Storm events on record through

Newport News city, Virginia Storm events, disaster declarations and flood insurance claims on record

This page is a county record of past events and claims. It does not show the flood zone or the risk of an address. For the flood map of an address, use FEMA's address search (opens in a new tab).

NCEI has 349 storm events on record for Newport News city, Virginia, from 1950 through 30 Jun 2026.

The newest event on record is a hail event on 23 Jun 2026.

FEMA has 21 disaster declarations on record for the county from 1964 through 1 Oct 2026. The newest is EM-3631 of 23 Jan 2026.

OpenFEMA has 1,065 NFIP claims on record for the county from 1978 through 8 Sep 2026. The NFIP paid $24 million on these claims.

The NWS collects event reports from a variety of sources, which include (but are not limited to): county, state, and federal emergency management officials, local law enforcement officials, SKYWARN spotters, NWS damage surveys, newspaper clipping services, the insurance industry, and the general public, among others.

The National Weather Service reports property and crop damage estimates using available data at the time of event reporting. These values should therefore be considered broad estimates. Damage amounts are not adjusted for inflation.

Zone (NWS Forecast Zone): A zone is a geographic area defined by the NWS for issuing forecasts, watches, and warnings. While zones often align with counties, they can also represent smaller or subdivided areas within a county to account for differences in weather conditions, such as elevation or proximity to water. Larger-scale events—such as heat, cold, drought, and winter storms—are typically recorded by zone.

The words of the agency. Source: NOAA NCEI, Storm Events Database, page "Frequently Asked Questions", copied on .

This is raw, unedited data from FEMA's National Emergency Management Information System (NEMIS) and as such is subject to a small percentage of human error.

The words of the agency. Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset "Disaster Declarations Summaries - v2", copied on . The page gives: last data refresh 2026-10-01.

It is derived from the National Flood Insurance Program system of record, staged in the program's reporting platform and redacted to protect policy holder personally identifiable information.

The words of the agency. Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset "NFIP Redacted Claims - v3", copied on . The page gives: last data refresh 2026-09-09.

Dates of the data: NCEI storm events through . OpenFEMA disaster declarations through . NFIP claims through .

Since the last update: no change is on record for Newport News city. The site compares the agency data at each update. Updates of the data

The five hazards

Storm events on record for Newport News city by hazard and period (NCEI, through 30 Jun 2026)
Hazard1950 to 20262000 to 20092010 to 20192020 to 2026Newest event
Hail26777
Tornado7110
Flood59131525
Wind123273728
Winter6322288
Other event types71Heat, cold, drought, wildfire, lightning, fog, tropical and other types
All storm events3497812685

A hazard name opens the page of that hazard for the county. A hazard has a page from 10 events. The year 2026 has the events through 30 Jun 2026 only.

Forecast zones with the name of the county give 105 of the 349 events. A county count has the events that NCEI gives to the county. It also has the events of a forecast zone that has the name of the county. A zone with another name counts for the state only.

Rates of Newport News city beside the total of the counties of Virginia and of the United States
MeasureNewport News cityAll counties of VirginiaAll counties of the United States
Storm events for each 100 square miles, 1950 to 2026505.9136.849.3
Storm events for each 10,000 residents, 1950 to 202618.962.552.5
NFIP claims for each 1,000 policies in force, 2016 to 202574.081.0185.3

The columns for the state and the United States total the counties. They count the events of each county in the same way as the county column. The site gives a rate for each 10,000 residents only from 10,000 residents. Residents and area: Census Bureau, 2021.

Newest storm events on record

Hail1.00 in, quarter size

1 mile NNE of OYSTER PT

Hail1.00 in, quarter size

2 miles NNW of OYSTER PT. Damage estimate: $1 thousand

Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)

1 mile E of (PHF)NEWPORT NEWS. Damage estimate: $500

Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)

2 miles SSW of HARPERSVILLE. Damage estimate: $5 thousand

Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)

1 mile NE of (PHF)NEWPORT NEWS. Damage estimate: $2 thousand

Thunderstorm Wind78 mph (68 knots, estimated gust)

1 mile SW of (PHF)NEWPORT NEWS. Damage estimate: $15 thousand

Hail1.50 in, ping-pong ball size

1 mile N of (PHF)NEWPORT NEWS

Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)

1 mile N of (PHF)NEWPORT NEWS. Damage estimate: $5 thousand

Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)

1 mile SSE of NORTH NEWPORT NEWS. Damage estimate: $1 thousand

Thunderstorm Wind61 mph (53 knots, measured gust)

At PATRICK HENRY FLD

Coastal Flood

On record for the forecast zone

Coastal Flood

On record for the forecast zone

Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)

1 mile N of MENCHVILLE. Damage estimate: $2 thousand

Coastal Flood

On record for the forecast zone

Coastal Flood

On record for the forecast zone

Flash Flood

At LEE HALL

Flash Flood

At LEE HALL

Flash Flood

1 mile NE of LEE HALL

Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)

1 mile WSW of PATRICK HENRY FLD. Damage estimate: $1 thousand

Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)

1 mile S of DENBIGH. Damage estimate: $1 thousand

Flash Flood

1 mile WSW of HARPERSVILLE

Flash Flood

1 mile E of DENBIGH

Flash Flood

1 mile NE of DENBIGH

Excessive Heat

On record for the forecast zone

Excessive Heat

On record for the forecast zone

The 25 events above are the newest in the NCEI record. A place is the text of the NCEI record: a distance and a direction from a reference place. Wind speed is in miles per hour, with the knots that NCEI gives. The site does not show a place text that names a private property or reads as a person. Download these events (CSV)

Storm events on record for Newport News city by year, 1950 to 2026
DecadeYear that ends in 0Year that ends in 1Year that ends in 2Year that ends in 3Year that ends in 4Year that ends in 5Year that ends in 6Year that ends in 7Year that ends in 8Year that ends in 9All
1950s01000000102
1960s01000100103
1970s101020061213
1980s312040001011
1990s1020008310731
2000s72714954681678
2010s14102211991217913126
2020s1311101052610 (part of the year)85

A darker cell has a larger count. The number is in each cell.

NCEI recorded tornado events from 1950, and hail and thunderstorm wind events from 1955. It recorded all event types from 1996. A count before 1996 has fewer event types.

FEMA disaster declarations

FEMA has 21 disaster declarations on record for Newport News city from 1964 through 1 Oct 2026. The newest is EM-3631: SEVERE WINTER STORM.

Disaster declarations that name Newport News city (OpenFEMA, through 1 Oct 2026)
DeclaredNumberTypeIncident typeTitle in the FEMA recordAssistance
EM-3631EmergencyWinter StormSEVERE WINTER STORMPublic
DR-4512Major disasterBiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMICIndividual, Public
EM-3448EmergencyBiologicalCOVID-19Public
DR-4401Major disasterHurricaneHURRICANE FLORENCEPublic
EM-3403EmergencyHurricaneHURRICANE FLORENCEPublic
DR-4291Major disasterHurricaneHURRICANE MATTHEWIndividual
EM-3359EmergencyHurricaneHURRICANE SANDYPublic
DR-4024Major disasterHurricaneHURRICANE IRENEPublic
EM-3329EmergencyHurricaneHURRICANE IRENEPublic
DR-1862Major disasterSevere StormSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL DEPRESSION IDA AND A NOR'EASTPublic
DR-1661Major disasterSevere StormTROPICAL DEPRESSION ERNESTO, SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODINGPublic
EM-3240EmergencyHurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATIONPublic
DR-1491Major disasterHurricaneHURRICANE ISABELIndividual, Public
DR-1318Major disasterSevere StormSEVERE WINTER STORMSPublic
DR-1293Major disasterHurricaneHURRICANE FLOYD MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATIONSIndividual, Public
EM-3147EmergencyHurricaneHURRICANE FLOYD EMERGENCY DECLARATIONSPublic
DR-1135Major disasterHurricaneHURRICANE FRAN AND ASSOCIATED SEVERE STORM CONDIndividual
DR-1086Major disasterSnowstormBLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)Public
EM-3112EmergencySnowstormSEVERE WINTER STORMPublic
DR-525Major disasterFreezingICE CONDITIONSIndividual
DR-339Major disasterFloodTROPICAL STORM AGNESIndividual, Public

DR is a major disaster declaration. EM is an emergency declaration. FM is a fire management assistance declaration. A declaration for the whole state is on the Virginia page. What a disaster declaration is

The dataset includes declared recovery programs and geographic areas (county not available before 1964; Fire Management records are considered partial due to historical nature of the dataset).

The words of the agency. Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset "Disaster Declarations Summaries - v2", copied on . The page gives: last data refresh 2026-10-01.

Flood insurance claims (NFIP)

OpenFEMA has 1,065 NFIP claims on record for Newport News city from 1978 through 8 Sep 2026.

The NFIP paid $23,923,938 on 804 claims.

The county has 74.0 NFIP claims for each 1,000 policies in force. The rate uses 105 claims with a year of loss from 2016 to 2025. FEMA counts 1,418 residential policies in force on 3 Aug 2026. The claims have every type of building. FEMA counts residential policies only.

NFIP claims in Newport News city by year of loss, 1978 to 2026
DecadeYear that ends in 0Year that ends in 1Year that ends in 2Year that ends in 3Year that ends in 4Year that ends in 5Year that ends in 6Year that ends in 7Year that ends in 8Year that ends in 9All
1970s61319
1980s2610013012227
1990s3040001323146180
2000s6241681046300117374
2010s24701861734602111432
2020s16424232 (part of the year)33

A darker cell has a larger count. The number is in each cell.

NFIP claims by year of loss with the amount paid: 41 years
NFIP claims in Newport News city by year of loss, with the amount paid (OpenFEMA, through 8 Sep 2026)
Year of lossClaimsClaims with a paymentAmount paid
20262not shownnot shown
20253not shownnot shown
20242not shownnot shown
20234not shownnot shown
20222not shownnot shown
20214not shownnot shown
20201615$123,884
20191not shownnot shown
2018117$214,952
20172not shownnot shown
20166055$3,597,647
20154not shownnot shown
20147351$3,465,865
20131not shownnot shown
2012186150$5,866,767
20117039$1,174,258
20102413$126,394
2009117100$3,223,389
20066355$2,052,969
20054not shownnot shown
2004108$81,731
2003168139$2,507,680
20024not shownnot shown
20012not shownnot shown
20006not shownnot shown
1999146110$1,030,497
19982319$61,450
19973not shownnot shown
19961not shownnot shown
19924not shownnot shown
19903not shownnot shown
19892not shownnot shown
19882not shownnot shown
19871not shownnot shown
19853not shownnot shown
19841not shownnot shown
1982107$94,787
19816not shownnot shown
19802not shownnot shown
1979136$26,227
19786not shownnot shown

A year with fewer than 5 claims shows the count of claims and no amount. A year with 1 to 4 claims with a payment shows no amount either. Such an amount could point to one property. The amount is the sum of the building, contents and increased cost of compliance payments. FEMA counts 129 multiple-loss properties in the county (2 Aug 2026). How FEMA redacts NFIP claims

This dataset is not intended to be an official federal report, and should not be considered an official federal report.

Note, the County Code field may not reflect the individual county the property is located as projects can be associated with more than one county

The words of the agency. Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset "NFIP Redacted Claims - v3", copied on . The page gives: last data refresh 2026-09-09.

FEMA cannot verify the quality and/or timeliness of any data or any analysis derived therefrom after the data has been retrieved from FEMA.gov.

The words of the agency. Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Terms and Conditions, copied on . The page gives: last updated 2025-01-22.

National Risk Index

Risk Index rating
Relatively Low
Risk Index score
72.2 of 100
Expected Annual Loss rating
Relatively Low
Expected Annual Loss
$32 million
Social Vulnerability rating
Relatively Low
Community Resilience rating
Relatively High
National Risk Index of Newport News city by hazard type (FEMA, December 2025 release)
Hazard typeRisk Index ratingExpected Annual Loss
Coastal floodingRelatively Low$527,119
Cold waveRelatively Low$1,734,030
EarthquakeRelatively Low$1,278,402
HailRelatively Low$396,599
Heat waveRelatively Moderate$1,925,195
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$5,864,431
Ice stormRelatively Moderate$445,825
Inland floodingRelatively Low$14,260,047
LandslideVery Low$122
LightningRelatively Moderate$642,363
Strong windRelatively Moderate$1,284,754
TornadoRelatively Moderate$3,048,279
WildfireVery Low$19,198
Winter weatherRelatively High$295,800

The National Risk Index dataset leverages available source data for natural hazard and community risk factors to develop a baseline relative risk measurement for each United States county and Census tract.

The rating is a qualitative categorization that describes the community in comparison to all other communities at the same level, ranging from “Very Low” to “Very High.”

The National Risk Index data are meant for planning purposes only.

The words of the agency. Source: FEMA, National Risk Index Data: Frequently Asked Questions (December 2025, v1.20), copied on .

The labels and the ratings are those of FEMA. Expected Annual Loss is a figure for a whole county. It is not a figure for a property. How to read the National Risk Index

Tropical storm and hurricane tracks

The HURDAT2 record of the National Hurricane Center has 89 tracks within 100 miles of the centre point of the county, through the 2025 season. 1 of them was within 50 miles at hurricane strength.

Storm names, years and distances: 40 tracks
Tropical storm and hurricane tracks within 100 miles of the centre point of Newport News city (NHC HURDAT2)
Storm nameYearNearest point of the trackHighest wind within 100 miles
Ophelia202376 miles46 mph
Claudette202174 miles46 mph
Elsa202152 miles52 mph
Fay202097 miles52 mph
Isaias202046 miles69 mph
Nestor201911 miles46 mph
Michael201876 miles69 mph
Andrea201329 miles46 mph
Irene201152 miles75 mph
Hanna200851 miles52 mph
Gabrielle200784 miles46 mph
Ernesto200626 miles46 mph
Charley200436 miles46 mph
Gaston200410 miles40 mph
Isabel200370 miles75 mph
Helene200052 miles46 mph
Floyd199993 miles81 mph
Bonnie199895 miles86 mph
Earl199890 miles58 mph
Danny199748 miles46 mph
Bertha199637 miles69 mph
Josephine199680 miles52 mph
Danielle199262 miles63 mph
Charley198656 miles81 mph
Dean198349 miles63 mph
Agnes197299 miles52 mph
Doria197140 miles63 mph
Alma197048 miles40 mph
Camille196968 miles52 mph
Doria196753 miles69 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm196576 miles46 mph
Cleo196454 miles40 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm196358 miles58 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm196129 miles52 mph
Brenda19605 miles58 mph
Donna196096 miles98 mph
Cindy195914 miles46 mph
Flossy195670 miles58 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm195658 miles52 mph
Connie195547 miles86 mph

A name is the storm name that the National Hurricane Center gave. The distance is from the centre line of the track. It does not show how far the wind, the rain or the surge of a storm went.

ZIP Codes, cities and towns of Newport News city

Each ZIP Code below has a page with its NFIP claims by year. 1 more ZIP Code has fewer than 5 claims and no page.

A city or town has no page of its own. This page is the record for the whole county, which has these places:

  • Newport News

Official channels

These links open the pages of the agencies. The site checked the links on .

Cite this page

County Hazards. "Newport News city, Virginia: storm events, disaster declarations and flood insurance claims on record". https://countyhazards.com/county/va/newport-news-city/. Data: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database through 30 Jun 2026; FEMA OpenFEMA disaster declarations through 1 Oct 2026; FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP claims through 8 Sep 2026. Page made on .

Where the data comes from

  • Storm events: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026.
  • Disaster declarations: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, read on 1 Oct 2026.
  • NFIP claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims, as of 8 Sep 2026. Multiple-loss properties: 2 Aug 2026. Policies in force: 3 Aug 2026.
  • National Risk Index: FEMA, December 2025 release. Storm tracks: NHC HURDAT2 through the 2025 season.
  • Residents, area, places and adjacent counties: US Census Bureau, 2021 vintage.

How the counts are made · Corrections · Hazards in all states: hail, tornado, flood, wind, winter

Questions

How many tornado events are on record for Newport News city?
NCEI has 7 tornado events on record for Newport News city from 1950 through 30 Jun 2026. 1 event has a rating of EF2 or F2, or a higher rating.
How large is the hail on record for Newport News city?
NCEI has 26 hail events on record from 1955 through 30 Jun 2026. 4 events have a hail size of 1.75 inches or more. NCEI names 1.75 inches a golf ball.
Which month has the most storm events on record for Newport News city?
August has 56 of the 349 storm events on record from 1950 through 30 Jun 2026.
How many NFIP claims are there for each 1,000 policies in force in Newport News city?
The county has 74.0 NFIP claims for each 1,000 policies in force. The rate uses 105 claims with a year of loss from 2016 to 2025. FEMA counts 1,418 residential policies in force on 3 Aug 2026. The claims have every type of building. FEMA counts residential policies only.