1 advisory is in effect for Essex County, VA. The most serious is a frost advisory.
Since 2016 the National Weather Service has issued about 731 alerts that included Essex County, roughly 73 a year. The most common is the severe thunderstorm warning (182 from 2016 to 2025). The last tornado warning was issued on May 30, 2025. 3 tornadoes have touched down in the county since 1950.
Updated from the National Weather Service · lists refresh hourly; the live map loads current alerts directly from the NWS
FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM EST SUNDAY
* WHAT...Temperatures as low as 33 will result in frost formation. * WHERE...Portions of northeast North Carolina and east central, eastern, and southeast Virginia. * WHEN...From 1 AM to 8 AM EST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.
What to do: Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
| Issued | Alert | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 1:09 PM EST | Frost Advisory | Gates; Pasquotank; Camden; Bertie; Chowan; Perquimans; Richmond; Gloucester; Middlesex; James City; Chesapeake; Western King William; Easter |
Alert events that included Essex County or its forecast zones, from the NWS warning archive.
| Alert type | 2016–2025 | 2026 | Last issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severe Thunderstorm Warning | 182 | 31 | September 4, 2026 |
| Severe Thunderstorm Watch | 70 | 15 | September 4, 2026 |
| Flood Advisory | 63 | 10 | September 13, 2026 |
| Flood Watch | 53 | 3 | July 21, 2026 |
| Heat Advisory | 47 | 7 | September 2, 2026 |
| Coastal Flood Advisory | 32 | 4 | October 19, 2026 |
| Flash Flood Warning | 30 | 3 | July 22, 2026 |
| Winter Weather Advisory | 29 | 4 | February 23, 2026 |
| Dense Fog Advisory | 27 | 4 | March 9, 2026 |
| Tornado Watch | 21 | 1 | March 16, 2026 |
| Tornado Warning | 21 | 0 | May 30, 2025 |
| Frost Advisory | 19 | 2 | April 21, 2026 |
| Freeze Warning | 15 | 2 | November 14, 2026 |
| Winter Storm Warning | 15 | 2 | February 22, 2026 |
| Wind Advisory | 14 | 1 | February 7, 2026 |
| Winter Storm Watch | 14 | 3 | February 22, 2026 |
| Coastal Flood Warning | 14 | 1 | September 22, 2026 |
| Cold Weather Advisory | 12 | 7 | February 7, 2026 |
| Flood Warning | 11 | 0 | May 15, 2025 |
| Freeze Watch | 10 | 2 | November 14, 2026 |
| Red Flag Warning | 8 | 0 | November 16, 2025 |
| Fire Weather Watch | 7 | 0 | November 16, 2025 |
| Extreme Heat Warning | 6 | 1 | July 2, 2026 |
| High Wind Warning | 3 | 0 | February 16, 2025 |
| Extreme Heat Watch | 3 | 1 | July 2, 2026 |
| Tropical Storm Watch | 2 | 0 | August 2, 2020 |
| Tropical Storm Warning | 2 | 0 | August 3, 2020 |
| Ice Storm Warning | 1 | 0 | February 13, 2021 |
| Extreme Cold Watch | 0 | 1 | February 1, 2026 |
3 tornadoes have been recorded in Essex County since 1950, injuring 25 people. That ranks 83 of 133 counties in Virginia. The most recent was on February 24, 2016 (rated EF3).
| Date | Rating | County | Path length | Width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 24, 2016 | EF3 | King and Queen County | 30.3 mi | 500 yd | 0 | 25 |
| June 26, 1954 | F1 | Essex County | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2003 | F0 | Essex County | 0.2 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Date | Rating | County | Path length | Width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 24, 2016 | EF3 | King and Queen County | 30.3 mi | 500 yd | 0 | 25 |
| May 8, 2003 | F0 | Essex County | 0.2 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 |
| June 26, 1954 | F1 | Essex County | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 |