Strong Wind Risk in Virginia
All Virginia counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index strong wind score
Strong Wind risk — damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes — is rated for 133 of 133 Virginia counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Fairfax County carries the state's highest strong wind score at 95.5, with $4M in expected annual strong wind losses.
10 Virginia counties are rated High or Very High for strong wind, and expected annual losses from strong wind total roughly $79M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Strong Wind
| # | County | Strong Wind Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax County | High | 7.78 / yr | $4M | |
| 2 | Northampton County | High | 0.60 / yr | $1M | |
| 3 | Albemarle County | High | 3.25 / yr | $2M | |
| 4 | Alexandria City | High | 8.04 / yr | $3M | |
| 5 | Roanoke City | High | 3.38 / yr | $1M | |
| 6 | Alleghany County | High | 2.38 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Prince William County | High | 7.13 / yr | $3M | |
| 8 | Loudoun County | High | 7.69 / yr | $3M | |
| 9 | Northumberland County | High | 2.24 / yr | $1M | |
| 10 | Charlottesville City | High | 2.95 / yr | $2M | |
| 11 | Stafford County | Medium | 6.34 / yr | $2M | |
| 12 | Henrico County | Medium | 1.73 / yr | $2M | |
| 13 | Arlington County | Medium | 8.20 / yr | $2M | |
| 14 | Roanoke County | Medium | 3.38 / yr | $2M | |
| 15 | Covington City | Medium | 2.58 / yr | $1M | |
| 16 | Newport News City | Medium | 0.63 / yr | $1M | |
| 17 | Lynchburg City | Medium | 3.10 / yr | $1M | |
| 18 | Augusta County | Medium | 2.75 / yr | $1M | |
| 19 | Shenandoah County | Medium | 4.55 / yr | $1M | |
| 20 | Spotsylvania County | Medium | 4.97 / yr | $2M | |
| 21 | Washington County | Medium | 2.82 / yr | $934K | |
| 22 | Franklin County | Medium | 3.30 / yr | $862K | |
| 23 | Halifax County | Medium | 2.47 / yr | $624K | |
| 24 | Rockingham County | Medium | 3.15 / yr | $1M | |
| 25 | Norfolk City | Medium | 0.50 / yr | $1M | |
| 26 | Wythe County | Medium | 2.53 / yr | $750K | |
| 27 | Chesterfield County | Medium | 1.23 / yr | $1M | |
| 28 | Henry County | Medium | 3.19 / yr | $534K | |
| 29 | Fauquier County | Medium | 6.85 / yr | $1M | |
| 30 | Hampton City | Medium | 0.54 / yr | $822K | |
| 31 | Nottoway County | Medium | 1.51 / yr | $510K | |
| 32 | Campbell County | Medium | 2.91 / yr | $676K | |
| 33 | Harrisonburg City | Medium | 3.51 / yr | $775K | |
| 34 | Bedford County | Medium | 3.22 / yr | $796K | |
| 35 | Suffolk City | Medium | 0.66 / yr | $897K | |
| 36 | Dickenson County | Medium | 3.29 / yr | $543K | |
| 37 | Culpeper County | Medium | 5.80 / yr | $742K | |
| 38 | Lunenburg County | Medium | 1.58 / yr | $408K | |
| 39 | Page County | Medium | 4.30 / yr | $558K | |
| 40 | Lee County | Medium | 4.66 / yr | $396K | |
| 41 | Amherst County | Medium | 3.01 / yr | $578K | |
| 42 | Tazewell County | Medium | 2.34 / yr | $471K | |
| 43 | Wise County | Medium | 3.93 / yr | $505K | |
| 44 | Frederick County | Medium | 5.04 / yr | $879K | |
| 45 | Scott County | Low | 3.76 / yr | $365K | |
| 46 | Buckingham County | Low | 2.67 / yr | $392K | |
| 47 | Louisa County | Low | 3.48 / yr | $551K | |
| 48 | Smyth County | Low | 2.53 / yr | $402K | |
| 49 | Manassas City | Low | 7.07 / yr | $602K | |
| 50 | Orange County | Low | 4.69 / yr | $636K | |
| 51 | Gloucester County | Low | 1.03 / yr | $552K | |
| 52 | Pulaski County | Low | 2.71 / yr | $369K | |
| 53 | Warren County | Low | 5.82 / yr | $594K | |
| 54 | Pittsylvania County | Low | 3.00 / yr | $328K | |
| 55 | Winchester City | Low | 4.70 / yr | $436K | |
| 56 | Russell County | Low | 3.01 / yr | $346K | |
| 57 | Goochland County | Low | 2.77 / yr | $584K | |
| 58 | Westmoreland County | Low | 3.45 / yr | $342K | |
| 59 | Danville City | Low | 3.06 / yr | $301K | |
| 60 | James City County | Low | 0.78 / yr | $559K | |
| 61 | Bristol City | Low | 3.31 / yr | $284K | |
| 62 | Hanover County | Low | 2.27 / yr | $680K | |
| 63 | Rockbridge County | Low | 2.89 / yr | $360K | |
| 64 | Botetourt County | Low | 2.73 / yr | $553K | |
| 65 | Montgomery County | Low | 2.80 / yr | $457K | |
| 66 | Portsmouth City | Low | 0.54 / yr | $408K | |
| 67 | Middlesex County | Low | 1.13 / yr | $276K | |
| 68 | Salem City | Low | 3.38 / yr | $479K | |
| 69 | Fredericksburg City | Low | 5.00 / yr | $573K | |
| 70 | Greene County | Low | 3.67 / yr | $376K | |
| 71 | Staunton City | Low | 2.69 / yr | $389K | |
| 72 | Fluvanna County | Low | 3.04 / yr | $395K | |
| 73 | Carroll County | Low | 2.87 / yr | $237K | |
| 74 | Rappahannock County | Low | 6.38 / yr | $305K | |
| 75 | Madison County | Low | 4.51 / yr | $353K | |
| 76 | Clarke County | Low | 7.35 / yr | $490K | |
| 77 | Martinsville City | Low | 3.16 / yr | $236K | |
| 78 | Lancaster County | Low | 1.40 / yr | $221K | |
| 79 | Manassas Park City | Low | 7.07 / yr | $333K | |
| 80 | Nelson County | Low | 2.92 / yr | $246K | |
| 81 | Accomack County | Low | 0.65 / yr | $211K | |
| 82 | Richmond County | Low | 3.06 / yr | $229K | |
| 83 | Prince Edward County | Low | 2.14 / yr | $196K | |
| 84 | Richmond City | Low | 2.16 / yr | $288K | |
| 85 | Waynesboro City | Low | 2.95 / yr | $347K | |
| 86 | Caroline County | Low | 4.22 / yr | $306K | |
| 87 | Buchanan County | Low | 2.65 / yr | $174K | |
| 88 | York County | Low | 0.64 / yr | $453K | |
| 89 | Fairfax City | Low | 8.29 / yr | $397K | |
| 90 | Mathews County | Low | 1.02 / yr | $190K | |
| 91 | Mecklenburg County | Low | 1.35 / yr | $182K | |
| 92 | King George County | Low | 4.52 / yr | $353K | |
| 93 | New Kent County | Low | 1.61 / yr | $289K | |
| 94 | Powhatan County | Low | 2.08 / yr | $287K | |
| 95 | Appomattox County | Low | 2.87 / yr | $226K | |
| 96 | Williamsburg City | Low | 0.64 / yr | $335K | |
| 97 | Grayson County | Low | 2.61 / yr | $150K | |
| 98 | Essex County | Low | 3.37 / yr | $157K | |
| 99 | Charlotte County | Low | 2.20 / yr | $124K | |
| 100 | Southampton County | Low | 0.62 / yr | $187K | |
| 101 | Patrick County | Low | 3.19 / yr | $168K | |
| 102 | Dinwiddie County | Low | 0.98 / yr | $200K | |
| 103 | Sussex County | Low | 0.60 / yr | $141K | |
| 104 | Petersburg City | Low | 0.65 / yr | $157K | |
| 105 | Brunswick County | Low | 0.86 / yr | $143K | |
| 106 | Isle of Wight County | Low | 0.65 / yr | $213K | |
| 107 | Galax City | Low | 2.88 / yr | $127K | |
| 108 | Radford City | Low | 2.52 / yr | $182K | |
| 109 | Floyd County | Low | 3.13 / yr | $178K | |
| 110 | Prince George County | Low | 0.65 / yr | $225K | |
| 111 | Cumberland County | Low | 2.44 / yr | $110K | |
| 112 | Giles County | Low | 2.42 / yr | $127K | |
| 113 | Falls Church City | Low | 8.29 / yr | $280K | |
| 114 | Hopewell City | Low | 0.65 / yr | $100K | |
| 115 | King and Queen County | Very Low | 1.81 / yr | $102K | |
| 116 | Lexington City | Very Low | 2.94 / yr | $115K | |
| 117 | Greensville County | Very Low | 0.67 / yr | $78K | |
| 118 | Buena Vista City | Very Low | 3.13 / yr | $111K | |
| 119 | Craig County | Very Low | 2.59 / yr | $93K | |
| 120 | Virginia Beach City | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $179K | |
| 121 | Franklin City | Very Low | 0.66 / yr | $87K | |
| 122 | Amelia County | Very Low | 1.67 / yr | $101K | |
| 123 | King William County | Very Low | 1.68 / yr | $152K | |
| 124 | Norton City | Very Low | 3.84 / yr | $62K | |
| 125 | Bath County | Very Low | 2.12 / yr | $76K | |
| 126 | Colonial Heights City | Very Low | 0.65 / yr | $89K | |
| 127 | Chesapeake City | Very Low | 0.55 / yr | $87K | |
| 128 | Bland County | Very Low | 2.03 / yr | $59K | |
| 129 | Charles City County | Very Low | 0.71 / yr | $42K | |
| 130 | Surry County | Very Low | 0.64 / yr | $47K | |
| 131 | Highland County | Very Low | 1.74 / yr | $47K | |
| 132 | Poquoson City | Very Low | 0.54 / yr | $78K | |
| 133 | Emporia City | Very Low | 0.59 / yr | $30K |
133 Virginia counties with measurable strong wind risk. See the national strong wind ranking or all Virginia counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Virginia county has the highest strong wind risk?
Fairfax County has the highest FEMA strong wind risk score in Virginia at 95.5 (High), with $4M in expected annual losses and about 7.78 events per year.
How many Virginia counties face significant strong wind risk?
133 Virginia counties record measurable strong wind risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 10 of them are rated High or Very High.