County: Nelson
ZIP Codes: 22958
Nellysford, Virginia, located in Nelson County along the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is considerably inland from the coast, so the primary hurricane impact of concern is generally from heavy rainfall leading to potential flooding. This area is particularly susceptible to such rainfall-driven flood events, with its higher elevation and hilly terrain causing water to pool in valleys and lower-standing areas. Historically, Nelson county, specifically, has faced devastating floods from hurricane-frequency rainfall, the most devastating event occurred during Hurricane Camille in 1969. Over the past 30 years, the most significant hurricane events to impact Nellysford have been hurricanes Fran (1996) and Isabel (2003). While these storms had weakened significantly by the time they reached Nellysford, heavy rainfall from the storm system nevertheless resulted in significant flash flooding and caused damage to properties and infrastructure. Hurricane remnants from the last decade, such as Floyd (2019) and Matthew (2016), brought substantial rainfall to the area, underscoring the flood risk for Nellysford. Consequently, residents in this area need to remain cognizant of not only the immediate coastal impacts of hurricanes, but also the inland flooding potential, which can persist days after the initial storm.