Dare County, North Carolina Hurricane History

No active tropical cyclones are within 500 miles of Dare County, North Carolina as of Thursday, 10 September 2026. Official forecasts at nhc.noaa.gov.

Since 1851, 80 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Dare County, North Carolina — about one every 2.2 years. Of those, 32 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2021), which passed 41 miles away on 21 June 2021.

Storms within 50 mi

At hurricane strength

2.2

Avg. years between

Years since the last

Storm tracks within 50 miles

TS / TDCat 1Cat 2Cat 3Cat 4Cat 5

Each line is one storm track, coloured by the strongest category it reached while within 50 miles. The dashed ring marks that 50-mile radius; hairlines are one-degree graticule. Source: NOAA NHC HURDAT2.

How strong they get

Cat 3 · 6Cat 2 · 10Cat 1 · 17TS / TD · 47

The 80 storms by the strongest category each reached while within 50 miles. 6 of them reached Cat 3.

Key facts

Most recentClaudette (2021) — 41 mi away, 21 June 2021
Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1899) — 105 kt (121 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
Closest pass on recordHermine (2016) — 3.1 miles
Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1899) — 10.8 miles
Passes within 25 miles37 of 80
Peak monthSeptember — 27 storms (34% of all)
Most active year1893 — 3 storms
Most active decade1960s — 10 storms
Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi6
Record span1851–2021

When storms arrive

JFMAMJJASOND

Storms by month of closest approach; the peak is highlighted and labelled. In Dare County, North Carolina, September is the most active month, with 27 of the 80 recorded storms (34%). The primary season runs August to October, accounting for 75% of all activity. The 1960s was the most active decade on record, with 10 storms. 6 of the 80 storms were major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger) while within 50 miles.

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
0	0	0	0	2	10	7	22	27	11	1	0

Activity by decade

19002000

Tropical cyclones passing within 50 miles, by decade, 1850s to 2020s. Decades with no storms are shown as empty columns. Comparing two equal 38-year windows inside the aircraft-reconnaissance era: 23 storms in 1950–1987 against 18 in 1988–2025.

1850s	1860s	1870s	1880s	1890s	1900s	1910s	1920s	1930s	1940s	1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
6	4	1	3	8	5	2	0	6	4	4	10	4	5	5	6	5	2

Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles

Storm	Closest approach	Distance	Status	Wind
Claudette (2021)	21 Jun 2021	40.9 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Arthur (2020)	18 May 2020	49.8 mi	TS / TD	45 kt
Dorian (2019)	6 Sep 2019	29.6 mi	Cat 2	85 kt
Hermine (2016)	3 Sep 2016	3.1 mi	TS / TD	59 kt
Bonnie (2016)	2 Jun 2016	39.8 mi	TS / TD	27 kt
Arthur (2014)	4 Jul 2014	4.0 mi	Cat 2	85 kt
Irene (2011)	27 Aug 2011	25.1 mi	Cat 1	65 kt
Gabrielle (2007)	9 Sep 2007	14.2 mi	TS / TD	42 kt
Bonnie (2004)	13 Aug 2004	28.4 mi	TS / TD	25 kt
Alex (2004)	3 Aug 2004	38.3 mi	Cat 2	85 kt
Isabel (2003)	18 Sep 2003	49.9 mi	Cat 2	85 kt
Kyle (2002)	12 Oct 2002	9.4 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Gustav (2002)	10 Sep 2002	45.3 mi	TS / TD	55 kt
Bonnie (1998)	28 Aug 1998	15.3 mi	Cat 1	65 kt
Arthur (1996)	20 Jun 1996	20.0 mi	TS / TD	35 kt
Emily (1993)	31 Aug 1993	45.4 mi	Cat 3	100 kt
Danielle (1992)	25 Sep 1992	36.7 mi	TS / TD	53 kt
Bob (1991)	19 Aug 1991	48.7 mi	Cat 3	97 kt
Charley (1986)	17 Aug 1986	20.1 mi	Cat 1	67 kt
Gloria (1985)	27 Sep 1985	16.7 mi	Cat 2	90 kt
Diana (1984)	14 Sep 1984	6.8 mi	TS / TD	51 kt
Unnamed Storm (1982)	19 Jun 1982	15.0 mi	TS / TD	60 kt
Dennis (1981)	20 Aug 1981	22.4 mi	TS / TD	59 kt
Bob (1979)	15 Jul 1979	19.1 mi	TS / TD	20 kt
Agnes (1972)	22 Jun 1972	13.9 mi	TS / TD	45 kt
Doria (1971)	27 Aug 1971	49.6 mi	TS / TD	55 kt
Unnamed Storm (1970)	17 Aug 1970	11.8 mi	TS / TD	54 kt
Gladys (1968)	20 Oct 1968	45.0 mi	Cat 1	72 kt
Unnamed Storm (1968)	10 Sep 1968	41.9 mi	TS / TD	31 kt
Abby (1968)	13 Jun 1968	13.1 mi	TS / TD	30 kt
Doria (1967)	17 Sep 1967	23.6 mi	TS / TD	42 kt
Cleo (1964)	1 Sep 1964	27.3 mi	TS / TD	39 kt
Unnamed Storm (1964)	24 Jul 1964	36.5 mi	TS / TD	25 kt
Unnamed Storm (1963)	3 Jun 1963	8.0 mi	TS / TD	50 kt
Alma (1962)	28 Aug 1962	38.5 mi	Cat 1	65 kt
Unnamed Storm (1962)	30 Jun 1962	19.3 mi	TS / TD	55 kt
Donna (1960)	12 Sep 1960	23.0 mi	Cat 2	85 kt
Ione (1955)	19 Sep 1955	42.6 mi	Cat 1	68 kt
Connie (1955)	12 Aug 1955	32.9 mi	Cat 1	80 kt
Carol (1954)	31 Aug 1954	40.2 mi	Cat 3	98 kt
Barbara (1953)	14 Aug 1953	13.1 mi	Cat 1	75 kt
Unnamed Storm (1949)	24 Aug 1949	48.7 mi	Cat 2	90 kt
Unnamed Storm (1946)	6 Jul 1946	6.5 mi	TS / TD	45 kt
Unnamed Storm (1945)	26 Jun 1945	3.2 mi	Cat 1	65 kt
Unnamed Storm (1944)	14 Sep 1944	37.6 mi	Cat 3	103 kt
Unnamed Storm (1937)	31 Jul 1937	39.3 mi	TS / TD	58 kt
Unnamed Storm (1934)	8 Sep 1934	35.8 mi	Cat 1	77 kt
Unnamed Storm (1934)	3 Sep 1934	43.2 mi	TS / TD	38 kt
Unnamed Storm (1933)	16 Sep 1933	29.1 mi	Cat 2	88 kt
Unnamed Storm (1933)	23 Aug 1933	16.4 mi	Cat 1	80 kt
Unnamed Storm (1930)	13 Sep 1930	47.4 mi	Cat 1	80 kt
Unnamed Storm (1918)	25 Aug 1918	9.9 mi	TS / TD	60 kt
Unnamed Storm (1910)	20 Oct 1910	39.3 mi	TS / TD	51 kt
Unnamed Storm (1908)	1 Sep 1908	7.7 mi	TS / TD	45 kt
Unnamed Storm (1908)	31 Jul 1908	27.4 mi	TS / TD	60 kt
Unnamed Storm (1908)	29 May 1908	26.6 mi	Cat 1	65 kt
Unnamed Storm (1901)	18 Sep 1901	42.7 mi	TS / TD	38 kt
Unnamed Storm (1901)	11 Jul 1901	18.6 mi	Cat 1	64 kt
Unnamed Storm (1899)	18 Aug 1899	10.8 mi	Cat 2	93 kt
Unnamed Storm (1897)	26 Oct 1897	5.7 mi	TS / TD	48 kt
Unnamed Storm (1897)	20 Oct 1897	31.1 mi	TS / TD	54 kt
Unnamed Storm (1897)	23 Sep 1897	23.2 mi	TS / TD	60 kt
Unnamed Storm (1894)	28 Sep 1894	9.2 mi	TS / TD	60 kt
Unnamed Storm (1893)	23 Oct 1893	19.0 mi	TS / TD	48 kt
Unnamed Storm (1893)	4 Oct 1893	16.4 mi	TS / TD	35 kt
Unnamed Storm (1893)	17 Jun 1893	46.9 mi	TS / TD	52 kt
Unnamed Storm (1888)	11 Oct 1888	28.4 mi	TS / TD	52 kt
Unnamed Storm (1885)	26 Aug 1885	8.7 mi	Cat 1	70 kt
Unnamed Storm (1880)	9 Sep 1880	18.0 mi	Cat 1	70 kt
Unnamed Storm (1879)	18 Aug 1879	27.6 mi	Cat 2	95 kt
Unnamed Storm (1866)	29 Oct 1866	48.7 mi	TS / TD	60 kt
Unnamed Storm (1863)	18 Sep 1863	48.5 mi	TS / TD	52 kt
Unnamed Storm (1861)	2 Nov 1861	14.5 mi	Cat 1	67 kt
Unnamed Storm (1861)	7 Oct 1861	33.8 mi	TS / TD	50 kt
Unnamed Storm (1858)	16 Sep 1858	47.1 mi	Cat 2	90 kt
Unnamed Storm (1857)	13 Sep 1857	33.7 mi	TS / TD	53 kt
Unnamed Storm (1856)	1 Sep 1856	16.7 mi	TS / TD	50 kt
Unnamed Storm (1856)	19 Aug 1856	33.9 mi	TS / TD	50 kt
Unnamed Storm (1852)	11 Oct 1852	16.7 mi	TS / TD	50 kt
Unnamed Storm (1851)	25 Aug 1851	49.5 mi	TS / TD	40 kt

Post-tropical and extratropical passes

A further 24 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
Fay (2020)	Remnant low	9 Jul 2020	42.6 mi	38 kt
Julia (2016)	Post-tropical	20 Sep 2016	30.1 mi	25 kt
Claudette (2015)	Remnant low	12 Jul 2015	25.1 mi	25 kt
Beryl (2012)	Remnant low	30 May 2012	31.0 mi	44 kt
Barry (2007)	Post-tropical	4 Jun 2007	0.7 mi	40 kt
Alberto (2006)	Post-tropical	14 Jun 2006	30.2 mi	38 kt
Earl (1998)	Post-tropical	4 Sep 1998	45.0 mi	50 kt
Josephine (1996)	Post-tropical	8 Oct 1996	30.2 mi	45 kt
Dora (1964)	Post-tropical	13 Sep 1964	14.7 mi	60 kt

About this data. Computed from NOAA's HURDAT2 Atlantic and Northeast Pacific hurricane databases (hurdat2-1851-2025-02272026.txt), covering 1851–2025. Tracks are recorded every six hours and are interpolated to one-hour steps before distances are measured, so closest-approach figures are not distorted by the sampling interval. Distances are measured to the county's Census internal point, not to its nearest boundary, so a storm listed at 55 miles may still have crossed the coastline — see Methodology. Records before about 1900 are sparser and less precise than modern ones, and storms that stayed at sea were less likely to be recorded at all.

Storms that came back

4 named storms in this record passed Dare County, North Carolina more than once.

Arthur — 3 passes (1996, 2014, 2020)
Bonnie — 3 passes (1998, 2004, 2016)
Bob — 2 passes (1979, 1991)
Doria — 2 passes (1967, 1971)

How Dare 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, Dare County, North Carolina ranks #5 — more exposed than 99.8% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #2 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.

Notable storms

Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 11 miles away on 18 August 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles.
Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1944) passed 38 miles away on 14 September 1944 as a hurricane, reaching 103 kt (119 mph) while within 50 miles.
Cat 3 Emily (1993) passed 45 miles away on 31 August 1993 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
Cat 3 Bob (1991) passed 49 miles away on 19 August 1991 as a hurricane, reaching 97 kt (112 mph) while within 50 miles.

67 of the 80 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.

How often to expect a storm

A return interval of 2.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 80 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 15 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 13 years, between 1866 and 1879. It has been 4 years since the last one; 10 of the 60 gaps in this record were longer than that.

Common questions

How many hurricanes have hit Dare County, North Carolina?

32 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Dare County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 80.

When was the last hurricane in Dare County, North Carolina?

Dorian (2019), on 6 September 2019, passing 30 miles away — 7 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Claudette (2021) in 2021.

What was the strongest storm to affect Dare County, North Carolina?

Unnamed Storm (1899), which reached 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 11 miles.

How often do hurricanes hit Dare County, North Carolina?

On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.2 years — 80 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

Dare County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Hyde County, North Carolina has 78 on record.

Hyde County, North Carolina78 storms within 50 mi Washington County, North Carolina68 storms within 50 mi Tyrrell County, North Carolina66 storms within 50 mi Currituck County, North Carolina57 storms within 50 mi