North Carolina is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. Tropical cyclones—storms characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain—regularly affect the state. According to statistical hurricane research between 1886 and 1996 by the North Carolina State Climatology Office, a tropical cyclone makes landfall along the coastline about once every four years. An estimated 17.5% of all North Atlantic tropical cyclones have affected the state.[1]
This list documents 79 tropical cyclones known to have affected the state between 2000 and the present. The most active month is September, with 31 total storms, while November is the least active month with three storms. The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the time period was Hurricane Isabel in 2003, producing maximum sustained winds equivalent to Category 2 status on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. In terms of impacts, Hurricane Florence in 2018 was the most destructive, and Hurricane Helene in 2024 was the deadliest. The first storm to impact the state during the period was Florence in September 2000, and the most recent was Helene in September 2024.[2]
September 12, 2000– Rip currents from Hurricane Florence kill three people due to drowning.[3]
September 19, 2000– The extratropical remnants of Hurricane Gordon track through the state, dropping light to moderate rainfall.[4]
September 23, 2000– Tropical Depression Helene re-intensifies into a tropical storm over the northeastern portion of the state, producing moderate rainfall across much of the state which peaks at 8.31inches (211mm) in Longwood.[4]
June 13, 2001– The remnants of Tropical Storm Allison enter the state as a subtropical depression and drop over 10inches (250mm) of rainfall in the northeastern portion of the state; the rainfall results in nine indirect deaths due to traffic accidents on slick roads.[5]
August 8, 2001– The remnants of Tropical Storm Barry drop light rainfall in the state's mountainous region.[6]
July 14, 2002– Tropical Storm Arthur forms just offshore and drops light rainfall near the coast.[4]
September 10, 2002– Tropical Storm Gustav strikes the Outer Banks with a 6-foot (1.8m) storm surge, ocean swells up to 15ft (4.6m) ocean swells, and wind gusts up to 78mph (126km/h), causing about $100,000 in damage.[7][8]
September 15, 2002– The remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna drop moderate rainfall across much of the state, causing some flooding in Wilmington.[9]
September 27, 2002– The large wind field of what was once Hurricane Isidore downs trees and power lines across the western portion of the state, which blocks numerous roads.[10]
October 11, 2002– Tropical Storm Kyle makes landfall near Long Beach, spawning an F2 tornado in Pantego and a few weaker tornadoes. The passage of the storm results in about a dozen damaged or destroyed houses, but no deaths or injuries in the state.[11]
July 2, 2003– Tropical Depression Bill crosses the extreme western portion of the state. The storm drops locally heavy rainfall peaking at 9.7inches (246mm) in Transylvania County, with one fatality reported due to drowning.[12]
September 12, 2003– The remnants of Tropical Storm Henri move across the eastern portion of the state, dropping light rainfall.[4]
September 18, 2003– Hurricane Isabel makes landfall at Drum Inlet with winds of 105mph (170km/h) and causes three deaths in the state, one of which directly.[16] Damage in the state totals $450million, most of which in Dare County where some homes are washed away.[17] The storm surge produces a 2,000-foot (600m) wide inlet on Hatteras Island, isolating Hatteras by road for two months.[18]
August 3, 2004– Hurricane Alex brushes the Outer Banks, producing strong waves and moderate storm surge flooding; one person is killed from the surf, and hundreds of vehicles and homes are flooded.[19]
August 13, 2004– The remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie spawn an F2 tornado near Rocky Point, killing three people; the tornado also destroys 17houses and severely damages 27buildings.[20]
August 14, 2004– Hurricane Charley moves ashore just southwest of the North Carolina– South Carolina border, resulting in moderate winds and about $25million in damage as it tracks across the eastern portion of the state.[21]
August 30, 2004– Tropical Depression Gaston traverses the state, bringing moderate precipitation which causes some flooding.[22]
September 8, 2004– Former Hurricane Frances crosses the western portion of the state, dropping very heavy rainfall peaking at 23.6inches (599mm) on Mount Mitchell.[4] The rainfall causes widespread flooding, with many creeks and rivers surpassing flood stage; hundreds of homes and businesses are damaged or destroyed.[23]
September 17, 2004– Former Hurricane Ivan tracks along the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, dropping heavy rainfall that peaks at 17.0inches (432mm) in Cruso, as well as producing 4tornadoes in the state. The hurricane kills eight people in the state,[24] and causes severe flooding just nine days after the previous cyclone tracked through the area; the flooding damages or destroy hundreds of buildings, and washes away several bridges.[25]
September 25, 2004– Heavy surf from Hurricane Jeanne kills a man to the east of Oak Island after he is thrown overboard from his boat.[26] Three days later the storm's remnants cross the western portion of the state, causing the third flood in a month; the flood from Jeanne is less severe and shorter in duration than that from Ivan and Frances.[27]
July 7, 2005– The remnants of Hurricane Cindy spawn eight tornadoes in the state, including one near Harmony that damages or destroys over a dozen structures.[28][29]
July 11, 2005– Tropical Depression Dennis passes through Tennessee, with its large circulation dropping moderate to heavy precipitation in western North Carolina.[4]
August 30, 2005– The remnants of Hurricane Katrina produce moderate rainfall and gusty winds in the western portion of the state.[4][30]
September 14– September 16, 2005– Hurricane Ophelia drifts just offshore of the Outer Banks, dropping heavy rainfall peaking at 17.5inches (445mm) and causing $70million in damage.[31]
October 7, 2005– Tropical Storm Tammy drops light rainfall in the southern portion of the state,[4] and later combines with another disturbance to cause widespread flooding.[32]
October 23, 2005– The outer rainbands of Hurricane Wilma drop over 3inches (75mm) of precipitation in the Outer Banks.[33]
June 14, 2006– The remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto cross the state, producing heavy rainfall peaking at 7.16inches (182mm) in Raleigh;[4] the rain causes one indirect death when a boy runs into a flooded drainage system and drowns.[34]
September 1, 2006– Tropical Storm Ernesto makes landfall on Oak Island and floods dozens of houses due to heavy rainfall; damage is estimated at over $80million, primarily from crop damage.[35]
May 7, 2007– The precursor to Subtropical Storm Andrea produces rough waves along the state's coastline, causing moderate damage along the Outer Banks and killing four people in a boat offshore.[36]
June 3, 2007– The extratropical remnants of Tropical Storm Barry crosses the eastern portion of the state and drops light rainfall.[4]
August 22, 2007– Light rainfall occurs in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin passing through the area.[37]
November 3, 2007– Moderate winds from the extratropical remnants of Hurricane Noel leave about 6,000people without power in the state.[40]
July 12, 2008 – Offshore Hurricane Bertha contributes to rip currents along the coast, leading to dozens of lifeguard rescues.[41]
July 20, 2008 – Tropical Storm Cristobal passes just offshore, dropping light rainfall and causing minor flooding.[42]
September 5, 2008 – Hurricane Hanna moves ashore near the South Carolina– North Carolina border, packing strong winds and torrential rains.[43] Aside from minor structural damage, the storm's effects were generally minor.[44]
May 27, 2009 – The precursor to Tropical Depression One passes just to the east of the state's coastline, triggering shower activity and increased wind.[45]
August 22, 2009 – Category4 Hurricane Bill churns the Atlantic and generates long periods of rough surf and rip currents throughout the region. In North Carolina, numerous rescues are performed.[46]
August 28, 2009 – Rip currents from Tropical Storm Danny result in the death of a 12-year-old boy.[47]
November 12, 2009 – The remnants of Hurricane Ida contribute to the formation of a strong and damaging extratropical cyclone along the U.S. East Coast.[48] Heavy rainfall, up to 14.03in (356mm) in Manteo, occurs in portions of the state.[4]
Hurricane Florence shortly after making landfall in North Carolina on September 14
September 3, 2010 – Hurricane Earl passes just east of the Outer Banks, inundating portions of North Carolina Highway 12 with storm surge and producing hurricane-force wind gusts that severely damaged six houses. Moderate crop damage was reported further inland, and monetary damage in the state reached $2.5million (2010USD).[50]
October 26–30, 2012 – Hurricane Sandy passed by the state, dropping heavy rains and making storm surge.
July 3–4, 2014 – Hurricane Arthur hits eastern North Carolina, in particular the Outer Banks, with 100mph (160km/h).
May 7, 2015 – Tropical Storm Ana produced heavy rainfall and indirectly caused a fatality.
July 13, 2015 – The precursor to Tropical Storm Claudette produced moderate rainfall across the state.
May 30, 2016 – The remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie produce moderate rainfall across the central and eastern part of the state.
September 2, 2016 – Tropical Storm Hermine produces sustained tropical storm-force winds across the state. Over 200,000 households lose power, with damages in Dare County totaling US$5.4 million.
September 15, 2016 – Tropical Storm Julia passes to the south of the state and erratically drifts offshore. Parts of the state receive up to a foot of rain. A state of emergency is declared in 11 counties.
October 8, 2016 – Hurricane Matthew hugged the NC coast after making landfall in South Carolina, causing torrential rains, with as much as 15.65in (398mm) recorded at William O. Huske Locke 3. Wilmington set a new storm tide (water level measured relative to high tide) record at 3.53ft (1.08m), beating the previous one of 3.47ft (1.06m) set during Hurricane Hazel on October 15, 1954. Matthew caused total devastation in Robeson County especially Lumberton. At least 28 people were killed, making Matthew the deadliest hurricane in North Carolina since Floyd killed 35 in 1999.
Late September 2017 – Hurricane Maria brushes eastern North Carolina, producing some coastal floods, light rain and gusty winds. Damage is limited to the coastline; there is some beach erosion.[54]
Early July 2018 – Tropical Storm Chris meanders to the southeast of the state, causing rough seas and rip currents, which were blamed for one fatality in Kill Devil Hills.
October 11, 2018 – Tropical Storm Michael moves through the state, leaving 428,000 homes without power and killed 3 people after trees struck their cars.[55]
July 9, 2020 – Tropical Storm Fay forms 40 miles east northeast of Cape Hatteras.[58] Some waterspouts were reported offshore Hatteras, including one that moved ashore and lofted an umbrella as an EF0 tornado.
August 3–4, 2020 – Hurricane Isaias makes landfall on the coast of North Carolina. Four people are killed in the state, with a large and destructive EF3 tornado causing half the fatalities.
October 29-30, 2020 - Hurricane Zeta damaged hundreds of homes, uprooted trees, and caused flash flooding in certain areas in the state. Tropical storm force winds are documented in Cashiers.
November 13, 2020 - Hurricane Eta interacted with a cold front as an extratropical storm and dropped heavy rainfall in the state. The heavy rains caused flash flooding, which is to blame for 9 deaths.
July 8, 2021 – Hurricane Elsa impacted the central and eastern part of the state. It dropped 5 inches of rain in Raleigh, and spawns multiple tornadoes in eastern North Carolina.
August 16-17, 2021 – Tropical Storm Fred dumps up to 12 inches of rain in the mountain region in the state. 6 deaths were caused by the Cruso flood. Buncombe and Haywood counties were hotspots for flash flooding. Tornadoes spawned in the central part of the state.
August 21, 2021 – Rip currents from Hurricane Henri kill 2 people.
September 22-23, 2022 – Hurricane Fiona generates rip currents along the NC coast, there were no fatalities.
September 30, 2022 – Hurricane Ian crosses into NC as an extratropical cyclone with heavy rain and flooding, causing 4 people to die, 3 from car crashes and one from carbon monoxide poisoning.
August 30-31, 2023 – Hurricane Idalia brings heavy rain to NC, after making landfall as a category 3 in Florida. Some areas experienced 4-5 feet of storm surge.
September 23, 2023 – Tropical Storm Ophelia makes landfall near Emerald Isle as a high-end tropical storm with winds of 70 mph (115 km/h), producing heavy rainfall and strong winds across much of the region.
August 6-8, 2024 - Hurricane Debby crosses into North Carolina as a weak tropical storm and dumps heavy rain and spawns tornadoes. A low-end EF3 tornado kills a person near Lucama. Another person is killed in Greensboro when a tree falls inside a home.
September 27, 2024 – Hurricane Helene crosses into far western North Carolina as a tropical storm, producing heavy rain and high winds. The storm exacerbated flooding that was ongoing as a result of a stalled frontal system, causing catastrophic damage across the region.[60][61][62] In total, at least 102 people were killed across the state.[63][64]
More information Month, Number of storms ...
Number of recorded storms affecting North Carolina
North Carolina Event Report: Flood (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2002. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.{{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
Lixion A. Avila and John Cangialosi (2009). "Hurricane Ida Tropical Cyclone Report"(PDF). National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
McGee, Kendall (September 19, 2017). "62-year-old man drowns in Topsail Beach". wect.com. Topsail Beach, North Carolina. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
Davis, Corey (July 5, 2022). "The Tropics Come A-Colin". Raleigh, North Carolina: North Carolina State Climate Office. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
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