Annual Virginia rainfall, severe weather and climate data

Driest location ranked by lowest annual precipitation: Timberville, northern Virginia, 35.18"

Wettest location ranked by highest annual precipitation: Big Meadows, northern Virginia, 54.88"

Snowiest location ranked by highest annual snowfall: Burkes Garden, western Virginia, 51.8"

State precipitation record for 24 hours - Massies Mill, north-central Virginia, 8/20/1969, 27.35"

State precipitation record for 1 year - Philpott Dam, southern Virginia, 1996, 83.70"

State snowfall record for 24 hours - Luray, northern Virginia, 3/2-3/1994, 33.5"

State snow record for 1 season - Wise, western Virginia, 1995-1996, 124.2"

Hurricanes and tropical storms that cross Virginia, including immediately offshore, occur most frequently
in early August and September and rarely appear before June or after November. During the month of 
September, 10 to 40 percent of Virginia’s rainfall comes from tropical systems or their remnants

The majority of thunderstorms in Virginia occur during the summer months. The State averages only one
thunderstorm every ten years during January compared with nine thunderstorms each July

Virginia temperature averages and extremes, precipitation and temperature data for all U.S. states and
interesting Top 10 U.S. climate extremes

Data sources: National Climatic Data Center, Severe thunderstorm / tornado watch data period is 1999 - 2008, NOAA Storm Prediction Center, Tornado climate data - NOAA Storm Prediction Center, State lightning flash density average - 1997-2011, Vaisala

City	Avg Annual Precip	Avg Snow Annual	Avg. days of Precip	Avg # thunderstorm days	Avg # hail days	Avg # severe thunderstorm watches per year	Avg # tornado watches per year	# of tornadoes reported in county, 1960-2010
Lynchburg	43.31	18.1	119	42	1	1	7	0
Norfolk	45.74	7.9	115	37	1	5	7	10
Richmond	43.91	13.8	113	43	1	4	9	6
Roanoke	40.6	23.2	101	35	1	1	7	1
Virginia Annual Precipitation Average - 44.39", 19th wettest in the U.S. Virginia Tornado Average - 6.3 per year - 29th most in the U.S. Largest reported Tornado in Virginia from 1950-2011, 4/4/1974 - 2,500 yards / 1.4 miles wide Date with highest number of reported Tornadoes in Virginia from 1950-2011, September 17th - 39 tornadoes Average time of occurrence of reported Tornadoes in Virginia from 1950-2011 - 3:17 pm Virginia Annual Lightning Density - 8.7 flashes per square mile - 20th highest in U.S. Record Driest year in Virginia from 1895-2012 - 1930, avg precipitation 25.15 inches Record Wettest year in Virginia from 1895-2012 - 2003, avg precipitation 62.63 inches