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Winchester City, Virginia

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
89th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$6Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Winchester City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 89th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $215 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (69 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $101,000 on 17 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Winchester City

$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$552,684 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
$503,069 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 820 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low31.9
$3M
HurricaneLow69.9
$553K
EarthquakeLow63.0
$503K
Strong windLow44.3
$436K
TornadoVery Low25.3
$347K
Heat waveLow48.7
$331K
HailLow42.4
$182K
LightningLow29.4
$99K
Cold waveVery Low10.5
$76K
Winter weatherLow50.0
$60K
Ice stormVery Low12.3
$6K
WildfireVery Low5.2
$2K
LandslideVery Low11.8
$34

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Winchester City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm4
Hurricane4
Severe Storm2
Flood1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Mar 7, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Apr 27, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Mar 27, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and MudslideMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Show all 12
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1982

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 80 storm reports in Winchester City since 1982, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $2.8 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
13hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
45damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 23, 1999HailWinchester$3M
Jul 17, 2021Thunderstorm WindWinchester$100K
May 26, 2021Thunderstorm WindWinchester$50K
Jun 22, 2022Thunderstorm WindWinchester$30K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindWinchester$25K
Jun 10, 2008Thunderstorm WindWinchester$15K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1876, 2 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Winchester City, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 90 mph about 54 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
10tropical storms
2003most recent: Isabel

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph54 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph33 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph55 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph53 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph40 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Winchester City

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (69 policies)
4900%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$100,601paid on 17 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $38,672 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Winchester City

$343,000median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
63%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.1%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 12,541 housing units.

Compare in Virginia

All 133 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Fairfax CountyHighInland flooding
Prince William CountyModerateInland flooding
Virginia Beach CityLowHurricane
Loudoun CountyLowInland flooding
Chesterfield CountyModerateInland flooding
Henrico CountyModerateInland flooding
Chesapeake CityLowInland flooding
Arlington CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Frederick CountyLow17

Cities in Winchester City

Common questions about Winchester City

What is the biggest natural hazard in Winchester City?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Winchester City, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $552,684.

How many federal disasters has Winchester City had?

Winchester City has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Winchester City a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 89th highest of 133 in Virginia. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Winchester City?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Winchester City has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Winchester City had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Winchester City since 1950. The weather service has also logged 13 hail reports and 10 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Winchester City?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Winchester City. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 90 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole city, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.