Virginia averages 3 hurricane impacts per decade. Peak season runs August – October. Know your risk, know your zone, and sign up for alerts before the season starts.
Norfolk, VA is one of the fastest-sinking cities in the U.S. due to land subsidence, making it increasingly vulnerable to storm surge flooding.
Virginia's coastal localities (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton Roads) issue evacuation orders by zone. Hampton Roads has limited evacuation routes.
Prep tip: Hampton Roads has some of the worst traffic in the country. Plan to evacuate 48+ hours before landfall to avoid gridlock.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 – November 30. Peak activity in Virginia typically occurs during August – October. The statistical peak of the season is September 10.
Up to 10 feet in Hampton Roads and the Chesapeake Bay area. Storm surge is the deadliest aspect of a hurricane — it can arrive hours before the storm's center. Use our storm surge lookup at /storm-surge to check your specific ZIP code.
Virginia has a moderate hurricane risk. Standard homeowner's insurance covers wind damage but not flooding. Consider a separate NFIP flood policy if you're in a flood zone. See our full guide at /hurricane-insurance.
Start before the season: know your evacuation zone, build a 7-day emergency kit, have a family communication plan, and sign up for local emergency alerts. Use our preparedness checklist builder at /preparedness for a personalized list.