Virginia Power Outage Season
When outages happen most in Virginia, and what to expect.
July is historically Virginia's busiest month for recorded power outages, part of a summer season (June–August) that accounts for about 34% of all recorded outages statewide, averaging 3.4 hours per event. 47 of Virginia's 128 tracked counties currently carry a Reliability Grade of F.
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Virginia outages by month
Total recorded events and average duration per event, summed across every tracked county in Virginia.
Peak season insight
Virginia's outage season runs June–August, accounting for 34% of all recorded outages. July has the highest frequency.
Month-by-month data table
| Month | Events | Avg duration |
|---|---|---|
| January | 7,125 | 3.8 hrs |
| February | 6,463 | 5.3 hrs |
| March | 7,059 | 4.1 hrs |
| April | 7,944 | 3.0 hrs |
| May | 9,672 | 3.1 hrs |
| June | 11,711 | 3.3 hrs |
| July | 13,024 | 3.2 hrs |
| August | 10,681 | 3.1 hrs |
| September | 8,783 | 3.4 hrs |
| October | 7,722 | 3.8 hrs |
| November | 6,639 | 2.8 hrs |
| December | 6,898 | 3.4 hrs |
This month in Virginia
October has historically recorded 7,722 outage events across Virginia, below the state's typical monthly average. Outages that start in October have averaged 3.8 hours.
Main causes by season
Named storms behind Virginia's worst recorded outages, from the NOAA Storm Events Database.
Winter (December–February)
- Winter Weather
- Winter Storm
- Ice Storm
- Flood
- Thunderstorm Wind
Spring (March–May)
- Thunderstorm Wind
- High Wind
- Dense Fog
- Winter Weather
- Wildfire
Summer (June–August)
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Tornado
- Tropical Storm Isaias
- Flash Flood
- Excessive Heat
Fall (September–November)
- Heavy Rain
- Tropical Storm Hermine
- Winter Storm
- Hurricane Ian
- Hurricane Michael
Virginia's worst outage events on record
The five largest outages in Virginia by duration and customers affected.
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2018 | 91 hrs | 136,046 (95%) | Dense Fog |
| Oct 9, 2016 | 112 hrs | 77,449 (38%) | Heavy Rain |
| Jun 18, 2016 | 66 hrs | 116,190 (74%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Feb 13, 2021 | 125 hrs | 57,010 (33%) | Winter Weather |
| Oct 11, 2018 | 101 hrs | 66,946 (43%) | Heavy Rain |
Highest-risk counties in Virginia
Lowest reliability percentile among Virginia's tracked counties.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Bland County | F | 1st |
| Floyd County | F | 1st |
| Grayson County | F | 2nd |
| Carroll County | F | 3rd |
| Scott County | F | 3rd |
Live weather alerts for Virginia
There are no active National Weather Service alerts for Virginia right now.
These live alerts come from the National Weather Service. They are public-safety information, not an outage prediction.
Virginia power outage FAQ
When do power outages happen most in Virginia?
July is historically the busiest single month for recorded outages in Virginia, and Summer (June–August) accounts for about 34% of all recorded outages across the state.
How long do power outages in Virginia typically last?
Across Virginia's tracked counties, the average recorded outage lasts about 3.4 hours, though individual events -- especially named storms -- can run much longer.
Which counties in Virginia have the highest outage risk?
Bland County, Floyd County, Grayson County, Carroll County, Scott County currently rank lowest for reliability in Virginia. See each county's page for its full history.
Does this page predict a power outage in Virginia?
No. It describes patterns in recorded county-level outage history, not a guaranteed future event. Check the live National Weather Service alerts below for current conditions.
Prepare for Virginia's outage season
Sized for Virginia's recorded outage frequency and duration.
