County Hazards

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Winter in Smyth County, Virginia

67 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.

67 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month January · county share of state 0.6%

Winter event locations in and around Smyth County. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.

NCEI records 67 winter events in Smyth County, Virginia, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 27 years.

January is the busiest month, with 24 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 41 events against 26 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 0.6% of the 10,408 winter events recorded in Virginia; its 14.8 per 100 square miles compares with 26.4 statewide.

Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.

Compared with Virginia

MeasureSmyth CountyVirginiaUS
Winter events since 19506710,408287,339
Per 100 square miles14.826.48.1
Per 10,000 residents22.712.08.7
Deaths recorded0312,509
Busiest monthJanuaryJanuaryJanuary

By year

195019882026
Winter events recorded in Smyth County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
24
Feb
21
Mar
5
Apr
2
May
0
Jun
0
Jul
0
Aug
0
Sep
0
Oct
1
Nov
2
Dec
12
Winter events in Smyth County by month of occurrence, all years.

Recorded events

All 67 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
30 Jan 2026Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
24 Jan 2026Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
11 Feb 2025Winter Storm—$10K———Forecast zone
10 Jan 2025Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
5 Jan 2025Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
3 Jan 2025Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
15 Jan 2024Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
16 Jan 2022Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
3 Jan 2022Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
18 Feb 2021Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
24 Dec 2020Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
12 Jan 2019Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
8 Dec 2018Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
24 Mar 2018Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
14 Feb 2016Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
22 Jan 2016Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
25 Feb 2015Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
21 Feb 2015Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
16 Feb 2015Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
26 Nov 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Nov 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
12 Feb 2014Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
25 Jan 2014Winter Weather—$50K——1Forecast zone
4 Apr 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
2 Feb 2013Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
17 Jan 2013Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
28 Oct 2012Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2012Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
26 Jan 2011Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
11 Jan 2011Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
7 Jan 2011Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
25 Dec 2010Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
16 Dec 2010Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
12 Dec 2010Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
4 Dec 2010Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
9 Feb 2010Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
4 Feb 2010Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
29 Jan 2010Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
18 Dec 2009Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
3 Feb 2009Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
17 Feb 2007Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
28 Feb 2005Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
29 Jan 2005Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
15 Feb 2004Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
18 Dec 2003Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
30 Mar 2003Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
26 Feb 2003Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
6 Feb 2003Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
4 Dec 2002Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
22 Feb 2001Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
30 Dec 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
29 Jan 2000Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
17 Jan 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
15 Mar 1999Winter Storm—$1K———Forecast zone
3 Mar 1999Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
23 Dec 1998Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
27 Jan 1998Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
29 Dec 1997Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
10 Jan 1997Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
8 Apr 1996Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
19 Mar 1996Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
16 Feb 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
2 Feb 1996Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
1 Feb 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
11 Jan 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
6 Jan 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
5 Jan 1996Winter Storm—————Forecast zone

Questions and answers

How many winter events has Smyth County had?

67 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.

When was the last recorded winter event in Smyth County?

30 Jan 2026 (Winter Storm). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Smyth County?

The winter weather of 25 Jan 2014, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $50K.

How does Smyth County compare with Virginia for winter?

14.8 events per 100 square miles against 26.4 statewide; the county holds 67 of the state's 10,408 recorded events.

Provenance

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Winter hub and the county page.