Durham County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1859, 35 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Durham County, North Carolina — about one every 4.8 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 16 miles away on 7 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 16 mi away, 7 July 2025
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 77 kt (89 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordMichael (2018) — 1.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles18 of 35
- Peak monthSeptember — 16 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1886 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2025
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 7 Jul 2025 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 1.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 49.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 48.8 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 30 Aug 2004 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 5 Sep 1999 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 41.5 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Fran (1996) | 6 Sep 1996 | 6.0 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 8 Sep 1987 | 21.3 mi | TD | — |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 16 Sep 1976 | 5.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 2 Oct 1971 | 36.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 31 Aug 1964 | 7.3 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 41.2 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 17 Aug 1955 | 15.5 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 14 Sep 1949 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 18 Sep 1945 | 9.0 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 40.9 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 14 Sep 1904 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 16 Jun 1902 | 9.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 30 Sep 1896 | 23.6 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 28.4 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 36.8 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 29.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 13 Oct 1885 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 12 Sep 1883 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 19.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 23 Jun 1867 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 16.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 38.5 mi | 40 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2013 | 49.9 mi | 40 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 15.7 mi | 20 kt |
| Abby (1968) | Remnant low | 10 Jun 1968 | 26.2 mi | 25 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 32.4 mi | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 1944 | 27.4 mi | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 9.2 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 47.0 mi | 31 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Durham County, North Carolina more than once.
- Danny — 2 passes (1985, 1997)
How Durham 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, Durham County, North Carolina ranks #418 — more exposed than 81.1% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #53 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 28 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 24 miles away on 30 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 27 miles away on 31 October 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Fran (1996) passed 6 miles away on 6 September 1996 as a hurricane, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
31 of the 35 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 35 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 31 years, between 1904 and 1935. It has been 0 years since the last one; 32 of the 32 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Durham County, North Carolina?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Durham County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 35.
When was the last hurricane in Durham County, North Carolina?
Fran (1996), on 6 September 1996, passing 6 miles away — 30 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Durham County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 28 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Durham County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.8 years — 35 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
Durham County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Wake County, North Carolina has 40 on record.