Forsyth County, North Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 20 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Forsyth County, North Carolina — about one every 8.3 years. Of those, 1 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) — 64 kt (74 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1915) — 4.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles12 of 20
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (35% of all)
- Most active year1985 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s, 1920s, 1960s, 1980s and 2020s — 2 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 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 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 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 46.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bertha (2020) | 28 May 2020 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 6 Sep 1999 | 18.4 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 7.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 9.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 9.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 9 Jun 1968 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 31 Aug 1964 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 29 Aug 1949 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 23 Sep 1920 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 25.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 12 Sep 1878 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | Post-tropical | 9 Aug 2024 | 18.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 7 Jul 2005 | 37.5 mi | 20 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 9.5 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 11.5 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 31 Aug 1911 | 16.1 mi | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 13.5 mi | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 1902 | 22.9 mi | 35 kt |
How Forsyth 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, Forsyth County, North Carolina ranks #796 — more exposed than 63.9% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #72 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 12 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 64 kt (74 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 23 miles away on 12 September 1878 as a tropical storm, reaching 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 27 miles away on 29 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.
19 of the 20 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 20 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 22 years, between 1893 and 1915. It has been 5 years since the last one; 10 of the 17 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Forsyth County, North Carolina?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Forsyth County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 20.
When was the last hurricane in Forsyth County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1893), on 28 August 1893, passing 12 miles away — 133 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Zeta (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Forsyth County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 64 kt (74 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 12 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Forsyth County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.3 years — 20 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
Forsyth County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Rockingham County, North Carolina has 24 on record.