Historic Crests

By Justin Doyle – JRA’s Outreach Manager

The Atlantic Hurricane Season ends November 30th and fortunately Virginia has been spared the wrath of a hurricane or tropical storm so far this year. Historically, tropical systems have been the catalysts for record-breaking crests on the James River. In fact, the top three historic crests on the James River were the result of tropical systems.

Historic James River Crests at the Richmond Locks:

Rank	Event	Date	Crest (feet)
1	Hurricane Agnes	6/23/72	36.50
2	Hurricane Juan (Election Day Flood)	11/7/85	30.76
3	Hurricane Camille	8/22/69	28.60

Source: National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

Hurricane Agnes

Hurricane Agnes made landfall in the United States near Panama City, Florida on June 19, 1972. The tropical system drenched the eastern United States and flooded Shockoe Bottom and Manchester in Richmond, Virginia. The James River crested at 36.5 feet in Richmond on June 23. Thirteen fatalities and over $125 million in losses were reported in Virginia.

Hurricane Juan (Election Day Flood)

The remnants of Hurricane Juan combined with another low-pressure system and dropped significant rainfall across the Appalachian Mountains and Mid-Atlantic in late October 1985. The James River crested at 30.76 feet and flooded several blocks of Downtown Richmond on November 7. President Ronald Reagan signed legislation authorizing the construction of Richmond’s floodwall the following year. Construction of the floodwall system was completed in 1994 and to date has not been fully tested by Mother Nature.

Hurricane Camille, a Category 5 hurricane, made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River on August 17, 1969. On the evening of August 19 and 20, the remnants of Camille crossed the Appalachian Mountains and devastated Nelson County, Virginia. Flash floods, mudslides, and debris flows significantly altered the landscape of Nelson County overnight. Rainfall in excess of 27 inches, mostly falling in a five-hour period, overwhelmed the James River and its Central Virginia tributaries. The James River crested at 41.3 feet at Columbia and 28.6 feet at Richmond.  As a result of this storm, 114 people died and 37 remain missing. Numerous roads, bridges, and structures were washed away. Damage totaled more than $100 million and Virginia was declared a disaster area.