Clay County, North Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1896, 18 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Clay County, North Carolina — about one every 7.2 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 10 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 10 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 47 kt (54 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFrances (2004) — 10.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 18
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (39% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2020s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1896–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Nicole (2022) | 11 Nov 2022 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 2 Jul 2003 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 28 Aug 1992 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 17 Aug 1985 | 31.6 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 24 Sep 1975 | 43.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 16 Aug 1928 | 23.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 Jul 1916 | 25.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 13.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 42.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 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 | 19.9 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1911 | 22.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 43.8 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1905 | 48.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 41.5 mi | 35 kt |
How Clay 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, Clay County, North Carolina ranks #861 — more exposed than 61.0% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #76 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 19 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 47 kt (54 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Helene (2024) passed 10 miles away on 27 September 2024 as a tropical storm, reaching 44 kt (51 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Eloise (1975) passed 44 miles away on 24 September 1975 as a tropical depression, reaching 34 kt (39 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 25 miles away on 15 July 1916 as a tropical depression, reaching 33 kt (38 mph) while within 50 miles.
16 of the 18 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 18 storms spread over the 130 years from 1896 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 31 years, between 1928 and 1959. It has been 1 year since the last one; 13 of the 16 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Clay County, North Carolina?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Clay County, North Carolina while at hurricane strength. 18 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1896, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Zeta (2020).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Clay County, North Carolina?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 10 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Clay County, North Carolina at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Clay County, North Carolina?
Zeta (2020), which reached 47 kt (54 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 19 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Clay County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.2 years — 18 storms over the 130 years from 1896 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Clay County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Union County, Georgia has 20 on record.