Roanoke City County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Virginia Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Roanoke City County is higher than Virginia average and is lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Roanoke City County is lower than Virginia average and is much lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #4
| Roanoke City County | 1.07 |
| Virginia | 0.20 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Roanoke City County | 0.0000 |
| Virginia | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #84
| Roanoke City County | 47.11 |
| Virginia | 88.66 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 11,584 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Roanoke City County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 4 | Cold: | 104 | Dense Fog: | 10 | Drought: | 103 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,669 | Hail: | 3,072 | Heat: | 61 | Heavy Snow: | 340 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 4 | Ice Storm: | 58 | Landslide: | 1 | Strong Wind: | 249 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 5,034 | Tropical Storm: | 4 | Wildfire: | 20 | Winter Storm: | 151 | Winter Weather: | 191 |
| Other: | 509 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Roanoke City County.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 2 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Roanoke City County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 35.4 | 1968-03-08 | 3.9 | N/A | 37 | -80.5 |
| 26.3 | 1974-05-30 | 3.6 | 8 | 37.38 | -80.42 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 17 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Roanoke City County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 2.3 | 1974-04-04 | 2 | 37°18'N / 80°02'W | 37°19'N / 79°55'W | 6.50 Miles | 177 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Roanoke |
| 5.8 | 1953-05-17 | 2 | 37°12'N / 80°00'W | 1.00 Mile | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Roanoke | |
| 10.1 | 2004-09-17 | 2 | 37°15'N / 79°47'W | 37°17'N / 79°46'W | 3.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Bedford |
| Brief Description: At 1212 EST, an F0 tornado touched down near Dickerson Road, and the width was less than 50 yards. The tornado damage path widened and varied from 100 yards to as much as 300 yards, as it did moderate to strong F1 damage to trees. A few homes suffered only minor damage to shingles and roofs, mainly due to trees falling on them. As the F1 tornado crossed Highway 24 at 1215 EST, it continued to damage trees, and was about 75 yards wide. A poorly constructed building was demolished. As the tornado moved north, it continued to down trees. Also, a car was pivoted in a driveway but undamaged. Minor structural and roof damage to homes occurred, as the tornado increased to a weak F2. The tornado weakened to F0 by 1217 EST, downing more trees along County Road 619. | |||||||||||
| 13.8 | 1996-06-09 | 2 | 37°10'N / 79°45'W | 37°10'N / 79°45'W | 0.10 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Franklin |
| 22.5 | 1996-07-15 | 2 | 37°21'N / 79°34'W | 37°21'N / 79°33'W | 0.50 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 140K | 0 | Bedford |
| 33.0 | 2002-04-28 | 2 | 37°17'N / 79°24'W | 37°16'N / 79°19'W | 5.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 1 | 3.0M | 0 | Bedford |
| Brief Description: A second tornado developed 8 miles east-southeast of Bedford City in Bedford County and remained on the ground for 5 miles before crossing over into Campbell County. This tornado injured one person, destroyed seven homes, three businesses, and about two dozen farm buildings. The tornado damaged about 129 other homes, 39 businesses, and a tractor trailer. Numerous trees were toppled. Thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of the 28th produced two tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail up to golfball size. A tornado formed in Bedford City and traveled east one half mile before dissipating. The storm then produced sporatic wind damage for about the next 7.5 miles or from .5 east-southeast of Bedford City to 8 east-southeast of Bedford City, causing mainly damage to trees and power lines. A second tornado developed 8 miles east-southeast of Bedford City in Bedford County and remained on the ground for 10 miles before lifting about 5.5 miles west-northwest of Rustburg in Campbell County. Sporatic wind damage then occurred from 5.5 west-northwest of Rustburg to Rustburg. These winds destroyed several mobile homes, damaged about two dozen other mobile homes and knocked down trees. Many vehicles had windows broken out by hail in New Castle. Thunderstorm winds downed trees onto Route 40 in Keysville, downed trees in Halifax, snapped a power pole in Danville, downed trees in Clover, and downed trees onto Reed Lane in Willis. | |||||||||||
| 34.4 | 1964-07-12 | 2 | 36°59'N / 79°28'W | 37°02'N / 79°24'W | 4.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Pittsylvania |
| 35.3 | 2004-09-17 | 2 | 36°43'N / 79°57'W | 36°49'N / 79°56'W | 7.10 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 4 | 53.8M | 0 | Henry |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down near Fieldale at 1104 EST. The F1 tornado crossed U.S. Highway 220 turning over 2 tractor-trailer trucks and 2 passenger vehicles. All 4 drivers suffered minor injuries. The tornado damage patch widened to a quarter mile, and strengthened to F2 as it approached and struck a factory. At this location, around 40 vehicles were severely damaged or destroyed. The factory experienced significant damage. The tornado then proceeded north and entered a residential subdivision, but only minor roof and tree damage occurred here. The tornado path became intermittent as it continued north and the damage was limited to trees. The tornado crossed into Franklin County at 1114 EST. | |||||||||||
| 38.0 | 1976-07-11 | 2 | 37°36'N / 80°34'W | 37°33'N / 80°31'W | 4.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Monroe |
| 38.2 | 1977-06-25 | 2 | 37°04'N / 79°21'W | 37°02'N / 79°18'W | 3.60 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Pittsylvania |
| 39.0 | 1990-06-22 | 2 | 37°38'N / 80°28'W | 37°41'N / 80°30'W | 4.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Monroe |
| 39.5 | 2002-04-28 | 2 | 37°20'N / 79°17'W | 37°19'N / 79°12'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 11 | 3.0M | 0 | Campbell |
| Brief Description: The second tornado continued in Campbell County for about 5 miles before lifting about 5.5 miles west-northwest of Rustburg in Campbell County. This tornado injured 11 people, destroyed 15 homes, three businesses, and a church. The tornado damaged over 200 other homes, six businesses, two churches, 20 recreational vehicles, and several automobiles. Numerous trees were toppled, Some of the trees landed on homes, and two landed on vehicles. Thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of the 28th produced two tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail up to golfball size. A tornado formed in Bedford City and traveled east one half mile before dissipating. The storm then produced sporatic wind damage for about the next 7.5 miles or from .5 east-southeast of Bedford City to 8 east-southeast of Bedford City, causing mainly damage to trees and power lines. A second tornado developed 8 miles east-southeast of Bedford City in Bedford County and remained on the ground for 10 miles before lifting about 5.5 miles west-northwest of Rustburg in Campbell County. Sporatic wind damage then occurred from 5.5 west-northwest of Rustburg to Rustburg. These winds destroyed several mobile homes, damaged about two dozen other mobile homes and knocked down trees. Many vehicles had windows broken out by hail in New Castle. Thunderstorm winds downed trees onto Route 40 in Keysville, downed trees in Halifax, snapped a power pole in Danville, downed trees in Clover, and downed trees onto Reed Lane in Willis. | |||||||||||
| 40.1 | 1964-07-12 | 2 | 36°42'N / 79°53'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Henry | |
| 40.9 | 1990-06-22 | 2 | 37°41'N / 80°30'W | 37°42'N / 80°29'W | 1.00 Mile | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Greenbrier |
| 44.6 | 1975-04-24 | 2 | 37°47'N / 80°28'W | 6.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Greenbrier | |
| 49.2 | 1977-08-21 | 2 | 36°44'N / 80°32'W | 1.00 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Carroll | |
| 49.5 | 1965-04-08 | 2 | 37°30'N / 80°49'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Summers | |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.