Alamance County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1859, 28 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Alamance County, North Carolina — about one every 6.0 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 42 miles away on 7 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 42 mi away, 7 July 2025
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1896) — 70 kt (81 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordCleo (1964) — 3.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 28
- Peak monthSeptember — 13 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1985 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2025
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 7 Jul 2025 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 43.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 30 Aug 2004 | 49.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 5 Sep 1999 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Fran (1996) | 6 Sep 1996 | 29.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 14.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 40.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 16 Sep 1976 | 33.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 31 Aug 1964 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 17 Aug 1955 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 42.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 18 Sep 1945 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 23 Sep 1920 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 44.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 16 Jun 1902 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 30 Sep 1896 | 26.3 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 34.3 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 17.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 32.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 13 Oct 1885 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 8.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 12 Sep 1878 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 9 systems passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here. Showing the 8 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | Post-tropical | 9 Aug 2024 | 31.3 mi | 30 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 44.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Abby (1968) | Remnant low | 10 Jun 1968 | 11.4 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 1944 | 48.9 mi | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 32.7 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 29.7 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 31 Aug 1911 | 6.3 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 47.8 mi | 31 kt |
How Alamance County, North Carolina compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Alamance County, North Carolina ranks #568 — more exposed than 74.3% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #59 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 26 miles away on 30 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 34 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Fran (1996) passed 30 miles away on 6 September 1996 as a hurricane, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 25 miles away on 12 September 1878 as a tropical storm, reaching 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles.
25 of the 28 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 28 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025. 2 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 25 years, between 1920 and 1945. It has been 0 years since the last one; 25 of the 25 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Alamance County, North Carolina?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Alamance County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 28.
When was the last hurricane in Alamance County, North Carolina?
Fran (1996), on 6 September 1996, passing 30 miles away — 30 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Alamance County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1896), which reached 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 26 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Alamance County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.0 years — 28 storms over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Alamance County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Chatham County, North Carolina has 35 on record.