Gaston County, North Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 23 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Gaston County, North Carolina — about one every 7.3 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Bertha (2020), which passed 23 miles away on 28 May 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBertha (2020) — 23 mi away, 28 May 2020
- Strongest stormHugo (1989) — 70 kt (81 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordJeanne (2004) — 8.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles13 of 23
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (39% of all)
- Most active year1952 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1980s — 4 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 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 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 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertha (2020) | 28 May 2020 | 23.2 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 35.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1994) | 21 Jul 1994 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 13.7 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 29 Aug 1988 | 23.5 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 39.2 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 34.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 31 Aug 1964 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 14.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 27.4 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 26.1 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 9.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 34.0 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 39.6 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 21.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 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 | 41.0 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 11.9 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 31 Aug 1911 | 30.7 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 28.3 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 36.3 mi | 35 kt |
How Gaston 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, Gaston County, North Carolina ranks #694 — more exposed than 68.6% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #65 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Hugo (1989) passed 14 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 34 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 22 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Gracie (1959) passed 14 miles away on 30 September 1959 as a tropical storm, reaching 48 kt (55 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 23 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 23 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 23 years, between 1859 and 1882. It has been 5 years since the last one; 9 of the 20 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Gaston County, North Carolina?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Gaston County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 23.
When was the last hurricane in Gaston County, North Carolina?
Hugo (1989), on 22 September 1989, passing 14 miles away — 37 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Bertha (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Gaston County, North Carolina?
Hugo (1989), which reached 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 14 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Gaston County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.3 years — 23 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
Gaston County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina has 27 on record.