Tazewell County, Virginia
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1960 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
0
Tornado reports
99
Hail reports
126
Floods since 1996
567
All events
2
Deaths
$43.3M
Property damage
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Trees were downed county wide by high winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Helene. Over 18,000 customers were reported without power by 6 PM EDT on Friday, the peak of the high winds. There was one confirmed fatality, one man was killed when a tree fell on him while he…
The greatest flood impacts occurred along the Clinch River in Tazewell County, VA where the Richlands gage (RLRV2) crested at 14.33 feet (6205 cfs) which was the 9th highest on record and the highest stage since November, 2003 (14.65 ft.). This was above the Moderate flood stage …
Laurel Creek flooded about half of the town of Pocahontas. 25 homes, 5 businesses and 2 mobile homes were damaged or destroyed. Total damage estimates reached $3.5 million, primarily due to a single business that was uninsured and destroyed. Multiple roads across northeast Tazewe…
Drought Drought
Extreme Drought conditions improved significantly to Moderate Drought conditions in Tazewell county through late June after several rainfall events. Drought conditions still lingered; however, after the previous several months of March, April, and May recorded precipitation total…
Drought Drought
Extreme Drought conditions expanded into Tazewell county in May after the previous several months of February, March, and April recorded precipitation totals of 6.00-8.00 inches, which ended up being 50 to 75 percent of normal for that period. These dry conditions combined with t…
Drought Drought
Severe Drought conditions expanded into Tazewell county in late April after the previous several months of January, February, and March recorded precipitation totals of 8.00-10.00 inches, which ended up being 50 to 75 percent of normal for that period. These dry conditions combin…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow totals ranged from 5.0 to 9.0 inches. Key Impacts: transportation delays.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
A couple mesonet weather stations reported wind chill values dropping to -15F or lower. The lowest wind chill value recorded was -21F at Burkes Garden.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A wintry mix occurred with reports of up to 6.0 inches of snow, up to 1.5 inches of sleet, and up to 0.13 inches of freezing rain. Key Impacts: traffic accidents.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Slow-moving thunderstorms produced a radar-estimated 4 to 4.25 inches of rain within a 2-hour period in the vicinity of the Towns of Richlands and Cedar Bluff, with most of the rain falling in around 90 minutes. Such a rainfall would be a 200-year ARI at the 2-hour duration per N…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees across the towns of Raven and Richlands.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree along Laurel Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree along Wardell Road near the intersections with Route 19 and Whisper Lane.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree along the 5100 block of Burkes Garden Road close to the intersection with Gose Mill Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A couple of trees were downed by thunderstorm winds on Mill Creek Road near Boxwood Lane.
High Wind High Wind
Flood Flood
The Bluestone River at Falls Mills, VA (BRVV2), crested at the Moderate Flood Stage (9.0 feet) of 9.96 feet (1,337 cfs) at 22:30 EST on the 15th above the Minor Flood Stage of 7.0 feet. The flooding was the result of between 2.75 and 3 inches of rain falling in a roughly 9-hour p…
Flood Flood
The Clinch River at Richlands, VA (RLRV2), crested at the Major Flood Stage (16.0 feet) of 16.09 feet at 11:30 pm EST on the 15th above the Minor Flood Stage of 10.0 feet. This is tied for the 4th-highest crest of all-time (Records dating back at least to 1901), and about the hig…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
The Bluestone River was observed overflowing its banks and flooded across portions of both Meredith Street and Tazewell Avenue.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Numerous roads were reported flooded and impassible throughout the Town of Richlands due to flash flooding. This includes Ravens Nest Branch Road and Laurel Road due to flash flooding of Laurel Branch. Burnette Street near the intersection with Cliff Street was also observed floo…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Up to 4 inches of snow fell across Tazewell County from February 11 through February 12. Two tenths of an inch of ice accumulation was also observed near Burkes Garden. Key Impacts: downed trees, road closures, hazardous travel.
Flood Flood
The Clinch River at Richlands (RLRV2) rose to an estimated 11.2 to 11.5 feet on the evening of the 31st, with flooding continuing into the early morning hours of February 1st. An exact crest is uncertain given the gage went out of service during the flooding event. Water was obse…
Flood Flood
The Clinch River at Richlands (RLRV2) rose to an estimated 11.2 to 11.5 feet on the evening of the 31st, though an exact crest is uncertain given the gage went out of service during the flooding event. Water was observed covering the ball fields at Critterville Park. Homes off of…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Around four inches of snow was reported in Tazewell County, with around three quarters of an inch of ice also reported. By the mid morning of January 6th around 2,600 customers were reported to have lost power. Key Impacts: power outages, traffic accidents.
High Wind High Wind
Winds increased significantly in speed behind an exiting cold front on New Year's Eve. At Burkes Garden, a 58 MPH wind gust was measured.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall totals ranged from around four to seven inches across the county. The highest snowfall report was 7.4 inches from a cooperative observer near Burkes Garden. Key Impacts: transportation delays.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A line of thunderstorms downed trees and power lines countywide. Damage values are estimated.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple roads within the Town of Richlands, including Highway 460, were flooded with several inches of flowing water when an intense but brief line of thunderstorms passed across the community, producing 1.25 to 1.5 inches of rainfall within a few minutes time. Shortly after two…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple roads across northern Tazewell County were flooded by several inches of flowing water when a line of thunderstorms produced heavy downpours at rates of three to locally five inches per hour. Crest Unit Streamflow was indicating returns of between 600 and 750 cfs per mi^2…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew a tree and power lines down. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew trees down across the county. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down multiple power lines near the intersection of Baptist Valley Road and Earl's Branch Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
At least two trees were downed by thunderstorm winds around the town of Tazewell.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree in Bluefield, Virginia.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds in a swath from Richlands, VA to four miles ENE of Tiptop, VA. Several fell onto power lines causing scattered power outages. One tree fell onto a house as well.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall accumulations of two to five inches fell across Tazewell county, including a measurement of 5.0 inches near Tiptop. Key impacts: traffic delays and accidents, as well as isolated power outages.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow accumulations of three to six inches were measured across Tazewell county, including a report of 4.5 inches by a trained spotter in Raven. Key impacts: traffic delays and accidents and power outages.
High Wind High Wind
A wind gust of 64 MPH was measured by a personal weather station in Burkes Garden.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Heavy rain caused a debris flow along Tazewell Avenue, blocking both lanes of traffic. Property damage is the estimated cost of clearing the road and stabilizing the hillside.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees downed by thunderstorm winds along Virginia State Route 623.
Flood Flood
The Bluestone River at Falls Mills, VA (BRVV2), crested at 10.96 feet at 11:15 am EST on the 29th above the flood stage of 7.0 feet, and just below the major flood stage of 11.0 feet. This is the new flood-of-record for this gage, exceeding the previous record of 8.66 feet establ…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy runoff from rainfall flowing down a hillside caused the back wall of a building to collapse. No injuries were reported.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 0 |
| 2025 | 15 | 0 |
| 2024 | 17 | 0 |
| 2023 | 25 | 0 |
| 2022 | 30 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 |
| 2020 | 19 | 0 |
| 2019 | 23 | 0 |
| 2018 | 17 | 0 |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 |
| 2016 | 18 | 0 |
| 2015 | 21 | 0 |
| 2014 | 14 | 0 |
| 2013 | 12 | 0 |
| 2012 | 33 | 0 |
| 2011 | 37 | 0 |
| 2010 | 42 | 0 |
| 2009 | 22 | 0 |
| 2008 | 18 | 0 |
| 2007 | 21 | 0 |
| 2006 | 19 | 0 |
| 2005 | 4 | 0 |
| 2004 | 11 | 0 |
| 2003 | 18 | 0 |
| 2002 | 22 | 0 |
| 2001 | 11 | 0 |
| 2000 | 12 | 0 |
| 1999 | 15 | 0 |
| 1998 | 18 | 0 |
| 1997 | 8 | 0 |
| 1996 | 13 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
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See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Tazewell County, measured to its path.
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