Jackson County, North Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1896, 16 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Jackson County, North Carolina — about one every 8.1 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 37 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 37 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 45 kt (52 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1916) — 6.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles5 of 16
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (44% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s and 2020s — 3 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 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 36.7 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 42.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 17 Sep 2018 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 31.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 2 Jul 2003 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 18.0 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 28 Aug 1992 | 50.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 16 Aug 1928 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 Jul 1916 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 15.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole (2022) | Remnant low | 11 Nov 2022 | 38.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 7 Jul 2005 | 16.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1911 | 14.6 mi | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 37.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 32.3 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 27.1 mi | 35 kt |
How Jackson 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, Jackson County, North Carolina ranks #952 — more exposed than 56.9% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #80 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 27 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Helene (2024) passed 37 miles away on 27 September 2024 as a tropical storm, reaching 44 kt (51 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 6 miles away on 15 July 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 36 kt (41 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1906) passed 16 miles away on 18 September 1906 as a tropical depression, reaching 31 kt (36 mph) while within 50 miles.
15 of the 16 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 16 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 49 years, between 1928 and 1977. It has been 1 year since the last one; 12 of the 14 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Jackson County, North Carolina?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Jackson County, North Carolina while at hurricane strength. 16 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 Jackson County, North Carolina?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 37 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Jackson County, North Carolina at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Jackson County, North Carolina?
Zeta (2020), which reached 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 27 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Jackson County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.1 years — 16 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
Jackson County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Rabun County, Georgia has 18 on record.