Wise County, Virginia
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1957 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
3
Tornado reports
31
Hail reports
46
Floods since 1996
347
All events
1
Deaths
$4.9M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Wise County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 3 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
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.
Tornado struck Big Stone Gap destroying six homes and producing major damage to fifteen homes and minor damage to twenty five homes. Two minor injuries were reported. Also, numerous large diameter trees were reported down.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
One structure in the Coeburn area was evacuated due to flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Several roads were closed in the Appalachia and Big Stone Gap area due to flooding.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down by powerful thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees were blown down across the county by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Heavy snow fell in Wise County, with the Co-op observer at the University of Virginia Wise campus recording 4.5 inches of snow.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Light snow fell in Wise County, with 3.6 inches of snow measured in Wise.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Nine inches of snow was measured outside of Coeburn, with drifting observed. Additionally three inches of snow was observed in Big Stone Gap.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Two inches of snow fell near Wise, VA along with 1.5 inches of snow at the North Fork Lake cooperative observer station.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Heavy snow fell in Wise County, with 5.1 inches of snow measured.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Several roadways had high water on them, including water across Highway 23 just south of Pound.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were felled by severe thunderstorm winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees were felled by severe thunderstorm winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were felled by powerful thunderstorm winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down by powerful thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down by powerful thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A few trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Light to heavy snow fell across Wise County, with the CO-OP observer in Wise reporting 4.7 inches of snow and a trained spotter in Coeburn reporting 5.5 inches of snow.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Reports of 3 to 4 foot deep water over the intersection of Turkey Branch Road and Hurricane Road. Also several reports of water over the road on Highway 58 between Coeburn and Norton.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Numerous reports of flooding affecting roads and structures in Pound and other locations in Wise County.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water rescues, flooding around homes, and road closures have been reported in Wise County.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Two inches of snow measured on snow board at 2600 feet of elevation in Coeburn during a heavy snow band at 4 AM LST. Spotter reported local roads were snow covered.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A trained spotter in Coeburn reported heavy snowfall totaling 7.2 inches of snow shortly before midnight. Snow bands became increasingly lighter and spotty thereafter. Additionally, the COOP observer at North Fork Lake recorded 2.5 inches of snow, and the COOP observer in Big Sto…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Heavy snow fell on January 10th, with 3 inches of snow measured in Wise by the cooperative observer, 5 inches of snow measured in Big Stone Gap, and 8 inches of snow measured in Coeburn.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A complex winter event occurred in Wise County. Heavy snowfall during the late morning and early afternoon resulted in 4 to 5 inches across the county, with 4.2 measured just outside of the city of Wise, 4.5 inches of snow measured in Norton, and 5 inches measured in Coeburn. Aft…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A light snow event yielded 2 inches of snowfall in Coeburn.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A light but steady snow led to a CO-OP observer reporting 3.3 inches of snow in Wise, and 2.5 inches of snow reported near Saint Paul.
High Wind High Wind
Extreme forest damage noted especially at higher elevations of Wise County including High Knob Mountain, where hundreds to thousands of trees were felled through the forest by a high end, long duration wind event from Helene. Drone video and pictures show bursts of tree damage, f…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Minor flooding reported south of Pound. Streams nearing top of banks in the area.
Flood Flood
Portions of the Orby Cantrell Hwy were covered with water.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree was felled in Big Stone Gap by severe thunderstorm wind gusts. Additionally, a local measured wind of 55 mph was reported 50 minutes prior in Ewing, Virginia.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Member of the public measured 2 inches of snow near Wise.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple reports of trees blown down by powerful thunderstorm wind gusts across the county. Additionally, a 48 mph thunderstorm wind gust was recorded in Coeburn.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Public reported an event total snowfall of four inches at 2,370 foot elevation in Big Stone gap, Virginia.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Heavy snow resulted in an event total of 7 inches in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A few trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down by severe winds.
Flood Flood
Properties and vehicles flooded near the intersection of Hwy 58 and Route 706 near Tacoma. Most of the homes in the area were mobile homes whose elevated living spaces seemed to remain above the flood waters that inundated the ground beneath them. Captured by drone video displaye…
Flood Flood
The South Fork Powell River inundated Proctor Street on both sides of the bridge that crosses the river near Wallens Ridge Blvd.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A measurement of 4 inches of snow was taken on the northwest slopes of High Knob.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
A wind chill of -22 was recorded at the KLNP AWOS in Wise.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flooding closed roadways near the intersection of Big Branch Rd and South Fork Rd, and a home was flooded. Minor flooding of businesses and the river gage house on Main Street. Flooding was also beginning in the Pound Bottom community, which was being monitored for potential evac…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
US-23 Business Route south of Pound was flooded in several places. Riverside Drive in the Pound Bottom community was flooded near the hairpin turn.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Rock Switch Rd near Guest River Rd was impassable due to flood waters of the Guest River.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Route 23 was closed between Pound and Wise because of flooding. Shelter was being opened for those who had been evacuated.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Swift water rescues occurred, including along Business Route 23 at Kanawha Rd.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water rescue needed along the Guest River near Coeburn.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 0 |
| 2025 | 19 | 0 |
| 2024 | 10 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 | 15 | 0 |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 |
| 2018 | 17 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 22 | 0 |
| 2015 | 16 | 0 |
| 2014 | 12 | 0 |
| 2013 | 14 | 0 |
| 2012 | 20 | 0 |
| 2011 | 15 | 0 |
| 2010 | 19 | 0 |
| 2009 | 19 | 1 |
| 2008 | 9 | 1 |
| 2007 | 6 | 0 |
| 2006 | 8 | 0 |
| 2005 | 8 | 0 |
| 2004 | 11 | 0 |
| 2003 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 | 12 | 0 |
| 2001 | 11 | 0 |
| 2000 | 5 | 0 |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | 13 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Wise County, measured to its path.
We couldn’t get your location. Check that location access is allowed for this site, or type an address.