Johnston County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 47 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Johnston County, North Carolina — about one every 3.7 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 27 miles away on 7 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 27 mi away, 7 July 2025
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 80 kt (92 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1949) — 2.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles25 of 47
- Peak monthSeptember — 21 storms (45% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2025
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 7 Jul 2025 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 14.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 27.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 15.7 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | 1 Sep 2006 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 30 Aug 2004 | 18.3 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 19.4 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 5 Sep 1999 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 6.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Fran (1996) | 6 Sep 1996 | 22.0 mi | TS / TD | 61 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 8 Sep 1987 | 9.6 mi | TD | — |
| Diana (1984) | 14 Sep 1984 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 16 Sep 1976 | 29.4 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 1 Oct 1971 | 4.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 22.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 18 Jun 1967 | 31.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 31 Aug 1964 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 26.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 8.5 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 17 Aug 1955 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 14 Sep 1949 | 2.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 18 Sep 1945 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 10.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 19 Sep 1928 | 30.2 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Sep 1916 | 26.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 26.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 3 Sep 1913 | 21.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 14 Sep 1904 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 16 Jun 1902 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 12.5 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 30 Sep 1896 | 48.5 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 11.0 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 34.6 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 36.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 12 Sep 1883 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 23 Jun 1867 | 24.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 10 Sep 1854 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 15.7 mi | 40 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2013 | 10.1 mi | 40 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 23.9 mi | 35 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 23.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 26.4 mi | 50 kt |
| Abby (1968) | Remnant low | 10 Jun 1968 | 28.1 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 18.1 mi | 37 kt |
| Isbell (1964) | Post-tropical | 16 Oct 1964 | 37.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 33.8 mi | 80 kt |
How Johnston 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, Johnston County, North Carolina ranks #235 — more exposed than 89.4% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #36 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 11 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Fran (1996) passed 22 miles away on 6 September 1996 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 49 miles away on 30 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1928) passed 30 miles away on 19 September 1928 as a tropical storm, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
41 of the 47 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 47 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 4 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 1854 and 1867. It has been 0 years since the last one; 42 of the 42 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Johnston County, North Carolina?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Johnston County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 47.
When was the last hurricane in Johnston County, North Carolina?
Fran (1996), on 6 September 1996, passing 22 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 Johnston County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 11 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Johnston County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.7 years — 47 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
Johnston County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Sampson County, North Carolina has 56 on record.