Why Richmond's rainstorms are getting more dangerous
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Rainstorms have gotten more intense in Richmond over the past five decades, a new climate analysis has found.
Why it matters: We've been facing on-and-off showers for nearly the past week. And when rain gets more intense, it can cause flash-flooding, dangerous driving conditions and other potentially deadly hazards.
The big picture: Hourly rainfall intensity in Richmond increased between 1970 and 2024 by nearly 14%, per a new report from Climate Central, a research and communications group.
- It's near the average increase of 15% seen across other cities analyzed.
How it works: The researchers divided each location's total annual rainfall by its total hours of annual rainfall, using NOAA weather station data.
- That approach quantifies how much rain fell for each hour it was raining in a given year, aka rainfall intensity.
Between the lines: Human-driven climate change is resulting in warmer air, which holds more moisture and thus can drive more intense precipitation.
Zoom in: Virginia had several notable intense rainfall events last year that highlight the trend.
- There was Tropical Storm Debby last August, which saw the Richmond area drenched for multiple days. It also threatened half of Virginia with potential tornadoes and flash floods.
- Then Hurricane Helene devastated the southwestern part of the state and wreaked havoc on the Blue Ridge Parkway, destroying people's homes and rendering roads impassable.
Threat level: Climate Central researchers have also found that predominantly Black coastal communities — like Hampton Roads — may be particularly vulnerable to increased flood risk over the coming decades.
- And since 2015, Virginia's flood insurance claims have totaled more than $110 million, per the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation site.
Go deeper: 2025 hurricane season may see "above-normal" storm activity, forecasters say