Catawba County, North Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 21 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Catawba County, North Carolina — about one every 8.0 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 46 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 46 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 66 kt (76 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1952) — 12.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 21
- Peak monthAugust — 8 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1952 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1950s and 1980s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 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 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bertha (2020) | 28 May 2020 | 21.5 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1994) | 21 Jul 1994 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 18.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 29 Aug 1988 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 9 Jun 1968 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 31 Aug 1964 | 34.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 12.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 12.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 44.1 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 34.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 34.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 40.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 5 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.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 7 Jul 2005 | 20.6 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 30.3 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 31 Aug 1911 | 5.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 5.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 16.7 mi | 35 kt |
How Catawba 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, Catawba County, North Carolina ranks #766 — more exposed than 65.3% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #68 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 44 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Hugo (1989) passed 18 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 13 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 46 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
20 of the 21 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 21 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 23 years, between 1859 and 1882. It has been 5 years since the last one; 10 of the 18 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Catawba County, North Carolina?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Catawba County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 21.
When was the last hurricane in Catawba County, North Carolina?
Hugo (1989), on 22 September 1989, passing 18 miles away — 37 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Zeta (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Catawba County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 44 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Catawba County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.0 years — 21 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
Catawba County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Lincoln County, North Carolina has 23 on record.