Hurricanes | Ready NC

North Carolina is especially at risk of a hurricane hitting the state. Below is a list of tropical storms and hurricanes that have caused problems in the state in recent years.

2016

Hurricane Matthew – October 8 Hurricane Matthew hugged the NC coast after making landfall in South Carolina, causing torrential rains. Seventeen counties set rainfall records, with up to 18 inches in some areas. Matthew’s flooding hit Robeson, Edgecombe, Cumberland and Wayne counties especially hard. Fifty counties received a federal disaster declaration. Thirty-one people were killed, making Matthew the deadliest hurricane in North Carolina since Floyd in 1999. Damage estimates topped $4.8 billion. Tropical Storm Julia – September 22 The remnants of Julia dumped 10 to 17 inches of rain across northeastern North Carolina within a 72-hour period. Swift water rescue teams pulled 130+ people from flooded houses and cars. Tropical Storm Hermine – September 6 Hermine dumped between 5 and 10 inches of rain across much of eastern North Carolina and caused nearly 30,000 power outages, but otherwise left the state fairly unscathed.

2015

Hurricane Joaquin – September 25-October 5 Several back-to-back low pressure systems combined with a coastal front and a hurricane dumping 5 to 20 inches of rain across many coastal counties. The storm caused an estimated $31 million in damages to roads and infrastructure including costs of emergency protective measures and debris removal.

2011

Hurricane Irene – August 27 Hurricane Irene made landfall near Cape Lookout as a Category 1. It brought two to four feet of storm surge along parts of the Outer Banks and up to 15 feet along parts of the Pamlico Sound. Irene caused seven deaths and prompted more than 10,000 people to seek shelter in one of 86 shelters.

2010

Hurricane Earl - September 3

Tropical Storm Nicole – September 27 – October 1 Nicole dumped between five and 24 inches of rain on eastern North Carolina over many days. This caused major flooding along the Cashie, Cape Fear, Lumber, Trent, Neuse and Dan rivers. Eight deaths were linked to Nicole. It damaged hundreds of homes and dozens of businesses.

2008

Tropical Storm Fay - August 23

Tropical Storm Hanna - September 6

2006

Tropical Storm Ernesto - August 31

2005

Hurricane Ophelia - September 14 -15 Hurricane Ophelia was a slow-moving Category 1 storm. It dropped more than 10 inches of rain on the coast. Oak Island recorded the highest rainfall with 17.5 inches. Storm surges of 7-12 feet were listed in low-lying inlets of Pamlico Sound. Damage was worst in Salter Path and along the Outer Banks. Ophelia caused $70 million worth of damage and beach erosion along the North Carolina coast. At the storm's peak, more than 240,000 users were without power. One indirect death was reported because of a traffic accident.

Tropical Storm Tammy - October 8-9 Tropical Storm Tammy made landfall in Florida before traveling north through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and into New England. The remains of Tammy dumped 13.8 inches of rain on Wilmington over five days.

2004

Hurricane Alex - August 3 A Category 2 hurricane, Alex never made landfall. Its center came within 10 miles of the North Carolina coast. Alex caused about $7.5 million in damages. Most of that damage was to houses along the Outer Banks and flooded cars. The Outer Banks saw the strongest impacts. A 6-foot storm surge flooded the sound side of Buxton and Ocracoke Village. More than 5 inches of rain was recorded along the coast, while Ocracoke received 7.5 inches. Water levels along the Outer Banks were two to four feet above normal.

Tropical Storm Bonnie - August 13 Bonnie made landfall as a tropical storm in Florida on August 12. Then, it traveled north entering North Carolina near Charlotte impacting the Piedmont region of the state. The storm caused moderate damage. A tornado caused by Bonnie struck Pender County. The tornado caused three deaths, destroyed 17 homes, damaged 59 houses and caused $1.27 million in damage.

Tropical Storm Charley - August 14th Charley first made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida. Then, it traveled back out to sea before making a second landfall as a Category 1 near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For North Carolina, Charley caused two to three feet of storm surge. It dumped four to six inches of rain, causing minor beach erosion along the coast and flooding in seven counties. Damage was greatest in Brunswick County. Charley caused crop damage, destroyed 40 houses and damaged 2,231 others. Strong winds made trees and power lines fall, leaving 65,000 people without power. The hurricane caused five weak tornadoes across the state, including one in Nags Head that damaged 20 structures. In North Carolina, damages from Charley totaled $25 million.

Tropical Depression Frances - September 8 Frances made landfall as a Category 2 on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, then crossed the state and came out near Tampa as a tropical storm. As Frances headed inland, the storm weakened to a tropical depression causing heavy rainfall over the southern United States. Tropical Depression Francis dropped as much as 15 inches of rain in the North Carolina mountains. Thirty-four North Carolina counties were declared federal disaster areas, allowing residents to get federal disaster assistance.

Tropical Storm Ivan - September 16 Hurricane Ivan struck Alabama as a Category 3 hurricane and continued inland as a tropical storm. It soaked the North Carolina mountains. It caused landslides and severe flooding. More than 18 inches of rain was dumped on Linville Falls. Many streams and rivers reached well above flood stage causing many road closings. The Blue Ridge Parkway and Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River gorge, had major damage. Twenty-nine western North Carolina counties were declared federal disaster areas from Tropical Storm Ivan. Ivan was blamed for eight deaths in North Carolina. In Macon County, a landslide destroyed 15 homes and killed three people in the Peeks Creek community. Downtown Canton was crippled when the Pigeon River overflowed its banks. In nearby Clyde, more than 170 homes were damaged.

Tropical Storm Jeanne - September 27 Jeanne was a Category 3 hurricane when it came ashore in Florida on Sept. 25. By the time it reached North Carolina, Jeanne was downgraded to a tropical depression and brought heavy rain to the Piedmont section of the state.

2003

Hurricane Isabel - September 18 Hurricane Isabel came ashore near Drum Inlet along the Outer Banks. It caused flooding and very bad damage in eastern and central North Carolina. More than 16,000 people searched for safe haven in 127 shelters. More than 700,000 were left without power. Qualified residents and businesses in 47 counties got more than $155 million in state/federal disaster aid.

1999

Hurricane Dennis - August 30 - September 4 Dubbed Dennis the Mennis, the Category 2 storm threatened southeastern North Carolina for many days, before heading out to sea, looping back around and coming ashore. Dennis made landfall just below hurricane strength at Cape Lookout on Sept. 4. The storm then moved through eastern and central North Carolina. It dumped 10 to 15 inches of rain, causing a lot of flooding in southeastern North Carolina. Because the storm had stayed off the coast for many days, there was a lot of beach erosion and damage to coastal highways. Residents of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands were stranded for many days due to damage to Highway 12. Two traffic deaths were credited to the storm.

Hurricane Floyd - September 16 Tropical storm-force winds spanning 580 miles made Floyd one of the largest Atlantic hurricanes of its intensity ever recorded. Floyd's loss of strength from a Category 5 to a Category 2 by the time it made landfall at Cape Fear lowered the amount of wind-related damages. The 10-foot storm surge and torrential rains – combined with the 15 inches of rain left by Dennis two weeks before – caused record floods for more than half the state. Wilmington got 19 inches of rain.

For many areas, flooding occurred slowly as rain added up in rivers and moved downstream. Some areas did not reach peak flood levels until weeks after the storm. As much as 30 percent of Rocky Mount was underwater for many days. Much of downtown Tarboro also was under many feet of water. Princeville was largely destroyed when the Tar River poured over the town's levee, covering the town with more than 20 feet of floodwater for 10 days. Greenville suffered very heavy flooding as did Washington. In fact, widespread flooding over a number of weeks in nearly every river basin in the eastern part of the state topped 500-year flood levels.

More than 7,000 homes were destroyed, 17,000 were uninhabitable, and 56,000 were damaged. The N.C. Department of Transportation reported that 1,400 state or interstate roads were blocked. Thousands of residents in more than a dozen counties were trapped in their homes by rising water. Many awaited rescue from rooftops or trees.

In all, Hurricane Floyd caused 52 deaths and $5.5 billion in damage. More than 1.5 million customers were without power.

Hurricane Irene - October 17-18 Hurricane Irene skirted the North Carolina coast, bringing up to 12 inches of rain in eastern North Carolina. This caused more flooding because of the problems from Hurricane Floyd.

1998

Hurricane Bonnie - August 26-27 Hurricane Bonnie made landfall near Wilmington as a Category 3. It overwhelmed the city with 20 inches of rain and maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour. Bonnie moved slowly north-northwest causing many tornadoes, then was downgraded to a tropical storm. As the storm turned northeast, it regained hurricane strength then exited the state over Currituck County. The hurricane caused power outages and flooding that were worsened 12 days later as the remnants of Tropical Storm Earl deposited another four inches of rain in the Wilmington area. One death was credited to the storm. It caused an about $480 million in damages.

Tropical Depression Earl - September 4 Tropical Depression Earl moved rapidly through the state and produced tornadoes.

1996

Tropical Storm Arthur - June 20 Arthur reached tropical storm strength, making landfall near Cape Lookout. Arthur turned to the east and back out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Hurricane Bertha - July 12 Hurricane Bertha made landfall near Wrightsville Beach as a Category 2 storm, then weakened to a tropical storm as it travelled up the east coast. Bertha was the first July hurricane to hit the state since 1908. Eight people were killed. There was $270 million in damages. Bertha caused flooding, beach erosion, falling trees, and major damage to roofs and piers. North Topsail Beach was hit hardest by the storm surge. The highest storm surge – between five and eight feet – was in Pender and Onslow counties.

Hurricane Fran - Sept. 5-6 With a 25-mile wide eye, Fran made landfall as a Category 3 storm near Bald Head Island in Brunswick County. Fran was downgraded to a tropical storm just before it reached Raleigh, packing winds of 79 miles per hour. It dropped nearly nine inches of rain on the capitol city. Major wind damage and flooding were reported along the North Carolina coast. Major damage was reported inland through Raleigh. Damages topped $5 billion. Thirty-seven people died from Fran.

1993

Hurricane Emily - August 31 Hurricane Emily came ashore as a Category 3 hurricane, but the 30-mile-wide eye stayed just offshore of Cape Hatteras. Damage estimates were nearly $13 million. No lives were lost.

1989

Tropical Storm Hugo - September 22 Hurricane Hugo made landfall just north of Charleston, S.C. as a Category 4 storm. From there, Hugo moved northward to Charlotte, where sustained winds were reported at 69 miles per hour with gusts up to 99 miles per hour. Hugo caused seven deaths. Damage was reported in 29 counties. Charlotte alone lost more than 80,000 trees – many of which were large oaks more than 70 years old. It took two weeks to fully restore power in Charlotte. Damage from Hugo cost North Carolina about $1 billion.

1954

Hurricane Hazel - October 15 Hurricane Hazel made landfall at the South Carolina/North Carolina border as a Category 4 storm. Hazel caused 19 deaths in North Carolina. It also caused an about $136 million in damage. It was thought to be the most destructive hurricane to hit North Carolina until Floyd in 1999. With an 18-foot storm surge recorded in Calabash, Hurricane Hazel caused major damage to the beaches of New Hanover and Brunswick counties. About 15,000 homes and structures were ruined and 39,000 structures damaged. The towns of Southport and Wrightsville Beach were wrecked. Hazel brought a record rainfall. Her path of destruction spread over 2,000 miles. Hazel passed over Raleigh and up through Virginia, northward. It weakened below hurricane strength after about 18 hours on land, miles north of Toronto, Canada.