Chowan County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 64 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Chowan County, North Carolina — about one every 2.7 years. Of those, 17 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ophelia (2023), which passed 46 miles away on 23 September 2023.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentOphelia (2023) — 46 mi away, 23 September 2023
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1879) — 95 kt (109 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordCharley (2004) — 2.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles26 of 64
- Peak monthSeptember — 25 storms (39% of all)
- Most active year1861 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1960s — 9 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2023
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophelia (2023) | 23 Sep 2023 | 45.5 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 27 Aug 2011 | 32.2 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Gabrielle (2007) | 9 Sep 2007 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | 1 Sep 2006 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 2.6 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 13 Aug 2004 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Isabel (2003) | 18 Sep 2003 | 29.6 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 15 Jun 2001 | 4.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 8.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 4.3 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Bonnie (1998) | 27 Aug 1998 | 41.4 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 19.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 33.3 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Charley (1986) | 17 Aug 1986 | 35.9 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Diana (1984) | 14 Sep 1984 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 15 Jul 1979 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 27 Aug 1971 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 27 May 1970 | 33.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 13 Jun 1968 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Doria (1967) | 17 Sep 1967 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 19 Jun 1967 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 1 Sep 1964 | 12.0 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 24 Jul 1964 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 40.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 14 Sep 1961 | 8.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 36.3 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Ione (1955) | 20 Sep 1955 | 14.4 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 12 Aug 1955 | 23.6 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Barbara (1953) | 14 Aug 1953 | 39.3 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 6 Jul 1946 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 3 Sep 1934 | 9.9 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Aug 1933 | 38.6 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 25 Aug 1918 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 7 Sep 1916 | 33.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 11 Jul 1901 | 40.5 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 18 Aug 1899 | 42.3 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 25 Oct 1897 | 44.9 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 13.1 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 28 Sep 1894 | 50.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 17 Jun 1893 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Oct 1888 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 10 Sep 1881 | 16.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 9 Sep 1880 | 46.0 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 18 Aug 1879 | 32.2 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 25.4 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 40.0 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 25 Oct 1872 | 23.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 2 Nov 1861 | 47.0 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1857) | 14 Sep 1857 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 19 Aug 1856 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 10 Sep 1854 | 16.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 18 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 9 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 47.2 mi | 40 kt |
| Michael (2018) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 2018 | 45.4 mi | 53 kt |
| Julia (2016) | Post-tropical | 20 Sep 2016 | 39.2 mi | 25 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2013 | 43.2 mi | 40 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 27.4 mi | 37 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 7.9 mi | 50 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 32.5 mi | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 20.9 mi | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1928 | 46.0 mi | 65 kt |
Storms that came back
3 named storms in this record passed Chowan County, North Carolina more than once.
- Bonnie — 2 passes (1998, 2004)
- Charley — 2 passes (1986, 2004)
- Doria — 2 passes (1967, 1971)
How Chowan 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, Chowan County, North Carolina ranks #85 — more exposed than 96.1% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #14 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 32 miles away on 18 August 1879 as a hurricane, reaching 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 42 miles away on 18 August 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 25 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Donna (1960) passed 36 miles away on 12 September 1960 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
59 of the 64 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 64 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 8 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 15 years, between 1901 and 1916. It has been 2 years since the last one; 18 of the 55 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Chowan County, North Carolina?
17 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Chowan County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 64.
When was the last hurricane in Chowan County, North Carolina?
Irene (2011), on 27 August 2011, passing 32 miles away — 15 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Ophelia (2023) in 2023.
What was the strongest storm to affect Chowan County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1879), which reached 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 32 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Chowan County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.7 years — 64 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Chowan County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Washington County, North Carolina has 68 on record.