Hail and tornadoes in Richmond City, VA

Since October 2020, radar estimated hail somewhere in Richmond City, VA on 12 days. The biggest estimate: 2 in or larger (hen egg), on Mon, Sep 13, 2021. Hail was reported to the National Weather Service inside the county on 3 days.

Days with hail
13
since October 2020
1 inch or larger
6
days, estimated or reported
Largest radar estimate
2+ in
Mon, Sep 13, 2021
Largest reported
1 in
Mon, May 5, 2025

Radar estimates are NOAA's MESH: the largest hail the radar estimates aloft, on cells about 0.7 mile across, shown as the lower bound of a size band (“1.5+”). They often run larger than what reached the ground, and they aren't evidence of damage at any address.

Radar-estimated hail on Mon, Sep 13, 2021 around the place, with the hail reported that day
Mon, Sep 13, 2021: radar-estimated hail around Richmond City, VA, with the hail reported that day.

Hail on record since 1955

NOAA's Storm Events database lists 25 hail reports in Richmond City, VA on 22 days, 0 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest: 1.75 in, on Wed, Jun 17, 1981.

By decade: 1970s: 1 · 1980s: 4 · 1990s: 8 · 2000s: 9 · 2020s: 3. Reporting has grown over the decades, so these aren't a trend.

Tornadoes since 1950

NOAA has recorded 14 tornadoes in Richmond City, VA since 1950, none of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger. A tornado that crossed county lines is recorded in each county it touched, so this counts the ones that reached this city. The county's reports record 0 deaths and 14 injuries.

Strongest

  • Mon, Mar 24, 1969 · F2 · 0.3 mi long, 17 yd wide · 1 injury
  • Wed, Jun 13, 1951 · F2 · 4.1 mi long, 350 yd wide · 12 injuries
  • Mon, Sep 17, 2018 · EF1 · 4 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Richmond
  • Wed, Oct 27, 2010 · EF1 · 2.36 mi long, 200 yd wide · near Richmond · 1 injury
  • Tue, Sep 23, 2003 · F1 · 2 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Richmond

Most recent

  • Mon, Sep 17, 2018 · EF0 · 1.05 mi long, 75 yd wide · near Richmond
  • Mon, Sep 17, 2018 · EF0 · 1.38 mi long, 75 yd wide · near Richmond
  • Mon, Sep 17, 2018 · EF0 · 1.3 mi long, 75 yd wide · near Richmond
  • Mon, Sep 17, 2018 · EF0 · 0.25 mi long, 75 yd wide · near Richmond
  • Mon, Sep 17, 2018 · EF1 · 4 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Richmond
  • Wed, Oct 27, 2010 · EF1 · 2.36 mi long, 200 yd wide · near Richmond · 1 injury
  • Wed, Sep 8, 2004 · F0 · 0.2 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Richmond
  • Mon, Aug 30, 2004 · F0 · 0.5 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Richmond
  • Tue, Sep 23, 2003 · F1 · 2 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Richmond
  • Sun, Apr 27, 1980 · F0 · 33 yd wide

By decade: 1950s: 3 · 1960s: 1 · 1980s: 1 · 2000s: 3 · 2010s: 6. How tornadoes were found and reported has changed, so decades don't compare directly.

Every hail day since October 2020

  • Fri, Sep 4, 2026

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Thu, Jun 26, 2025

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Sun, Jun 15, 2025

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Mon, May 5, 2025

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    Reported in the county
    • 1 in (1 W Richmond, VA)
  • Thu, Sep 7, 2023

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Tue, May 16, 2023

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Sat, Apr 1, 2023
    Reported in the county
    • 1 in (2 ESE DOWNTOWN RICHMOND, VA)
  • Mon, Oct 17, 2022

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Fri, Aug 5, 2022

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Sun, Jun 12, 2022

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Tue, Apr 26, 2022

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    Reported in the county
    • 1 in (1 WSW RICHMOND, VA)
  • Mon, Sep 13, 2021

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Sat, Aug 14, 2021

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

Radar estimates and reports are for anywhere inside the county's boundary. Radar estimates come from NOAA's MRMS estimated hail size (MESH), the largest hail the radar estimates aloft on a ~1 km grid. They often run larger than the hail that reached the ground, and they aren't an observation at any address. Reports are what people reported to the National Weather Service. Neither is proof of damage or an official record for an insurance claim. From NOAA's Storm Events Database (NCEI): tornadoes from 1950, hail and thunderstorm wind from 1955, and every kind of storm from 1996, with a partial transition in 1993-95 (June and July 1993 are missing). These are recorded reports, and how storms were reported has changed over the decades, so earlier counts aren't directly comparable with recent ones. A tornado that crossed county lines is recorded in each county it touched. Recent months are added as NCEI publishes them, a few months behind.