Brunswick County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1852, 76 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Brunswick County, North Carolina — about one every 2.3 years. Of those, 27 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 50 miles away on 6 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 50 mi away, 6 July 2025
- Strongest stormHelene (1958) — 120 kt (138 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFlorence (2018) — 0.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Diana (1984) — 4.1 miles
- Passes within 25 miles40 of 76
- Peak monthSeptember — 30 storms (39% of all)
- Most active year1996 — 3 storms
- Most active decade2000s and 2010s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi5
- Record span1852–2025
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 30 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 6 Jul 2025 | 50.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Idalia (2023) | 31 Aug 2023 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Colin (2022) | 2 Jul 2022 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 17.6 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Dorian (2019) | 6 Sep 2019 | 45.9 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 14 Sep 2018 | 0.5 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Matthew (2016) | 8 Oct 2016 | 23.8 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 3 Sep 2016 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 10 May 2015 | 30.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Arthur (2014) | 3 Jul 2014 | 44.1 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 30 May 2012 | 6.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | 1 Sep 2006 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Ophelia (2005) | 14 Sep 2005 | 42.7 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 12.5 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 13 Aug 2004 | 9.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Kyle (2002) | 11 Oct 2002 | 1.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 14 Jun 2001 | 23.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 21.0 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Bonnie (1998) | 27 Aug 1998 | 30.3 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Fran (1996) | 6 Sep 1996 | 8.3 mi | Cat 2 | 94 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 12 Jul 1996 | 17.1 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Arthur (1996) | 19 Jun 1996 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 8 Sep 1987 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 1.6 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Diana (1984) | 13 Sep 1984 | 4.1 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1982) | 19 Jun 1982 | 26.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Dennis (1981) | 20 Aug 1981 | 14.3 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Clara (1977) | 6 Sep 1977 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Amy (1975) | 28 Jun 1975 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1972) | 12 Jul 1972 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 46.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 17 Aug 1970 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 12 Jun 1968 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 18 Jun 1967 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 14 Sep 1961 | 27.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 29.6 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 29 Jul 1960 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Helene (1958) | 27 Sep 1958 | 33.2 mi | Cat 4 | 120 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 17 Aug 1955 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 59 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | 15 Oct 1954 | 23.4 mi | Cat 4 | 115 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 35.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 13 Sep 1949 | 21.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 6 Jul 1946 | 4.5 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 25 Jun 1945 | 42.7 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 4.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 19 Sep 1928 | 34.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 23 Sep 1920 | 12.3 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Sep 1916 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 39.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 20 Oct 1910 | 16.3 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 31 Jul 1908 | 41.5 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 18 Sep 1901 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 13 Jul 1901 | 0.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 45.3 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 31.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 28 Sep 1894 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 43.3 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 16 Jun 1893 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Oct 1888 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 25 Aug 1885 | 11.2 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 11 Sep 1883 | 13.9 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 12 Oct 1882 | 37.3 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 9 Sep 1881 | 7.4 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 9 Sep 1880 | 27.2 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 30.9 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 35.4 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1873) | 20 Sep 1873 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 24 Oct 1872 | 25.3 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 7 Oct 1871 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 41.1 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1857) | 13 Sep 1857 | 16.2 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 28 Aug 1852 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 8 Jul 2020 | 28.7 mi | 24 kt |
| Colin (2016) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2016 | 39.3 mi | 46 kt |
| Barry (2007) | Post-tropical | 3 Jun 2007 | 14.0 mi | 40 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 25.6 mi | 45 kt |
| Allison (1995) | Post-tropical | 6 Jun 1995 | 24.1 mi | 39 kt |
| Arlene (1987) | Remnant low | 8 Aug 1987 | 45.4 mi | 10 kt |
| Dora (1964) | Post-tropical | 13 Sep 1964 | 4.5 mi | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1956) | Post-tropical | 17 Oct 1956 | 28.1 mi | 49 kt |
Storms that came back
2 named storms in this record passed Brunswick County, North Carolina more than once.
- Arthur — 2 passes (1996, 2014)
- Bonnie — 2 passes (1998, 2004)
How Brunswick 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, Brunswick County, North Carolina ranks #13 — more exposed than 99.4% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #5 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Helene (1958) passed 33 miles away on 27 September 1958 as a hurricane, reaching 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Diana (1984) passed 4 miles away on 13 September 1984 as a hurricane, reaching 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Hazel (1954) passed 23 miles away on 15 October 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Fran (1996) passed 8 miles away on 6 September 1996 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
68 of the 76 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 76 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 10 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 16 years, between 1928 and 1944. It has been 0 years since the last one; 64 of the 64 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Brunswick County, North Carolina?
27 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Brunswick County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 76.
When was the last hurricane in Brunswick County, North Carolina?
Isaias (2020), on 4 August 2020, passing 18 miles away — 6 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Brunswick County, North Carolina?
Helene (1958), which reached 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 33 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Brunswick County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.3 years — 76 storms over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Brunswick County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. New Hanover County, North Carolina has 79 on record.