Lenoir County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 59 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lenoir County, North Carolina — about one every 3.0 years. Of those, 9 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ophelia (2023), which passed 27 miles away on 23 September 2023.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentOphelia (2023) — 27 mi away, 23 September 2023
- Strongest stormDonna (1960) — 90 kt (104 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAgnes (1972) — 3.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles26 of 59
- Peak monthSeptember — 26 storms (44% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s, 1960s and 2000s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2023
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophelia (2023) | 23 Sep 2023 | 26.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 20.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 3 Sep 2016 | 34.0 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 26.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | 1 Sep 2006 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 15.7 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 13 Aug 2004 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Kyle (2002) | 12 Oct 2002 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 14 Jun 2001 | 37.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 22.7 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 27.4 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 5 Sep 1999 | 13.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Bonnie (1998) | 27 Aug 1998 | 38.3 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 8.2 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 8 Sep 1987 | 48.9 mi | TD | — |
| Diana (1984) | 14 Sep 1984 | 7.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1972) | 12 Jul 1972 | 31.4 mi | TD | — |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 1 Oct 1971 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 12 Jun 1968 | 47.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 18 Jun 1967 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Isbell (1964) | 16 Oct 1964 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 13.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 14 Sep 1961 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 44.9 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 15.9 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 17 Aug 1955 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 14 Sep 1949 | 42.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 6 Jul 1946 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 32.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 19 Sep 1928 | 15.5 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Sep 1916 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 21.7 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 3 Sep 1913 | 16.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 6.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 16 Jun 1893 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Oct 1888 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 25 Aug 1885 | 38.0 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 12 Sep 1883 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 39.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 10 Sep 1881 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 9 Sep 1880 | 48.1 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 33.0 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 10.8 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 25 Oct 1872 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1857) | 13 Sep 1857 | 38.3 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 10 Sep 1854 | 31.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 30.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia (2016) | Post-tropical | 21 Sep 2016 | 17.3 mi | 20 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2013 | 39.0 mi | 40 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 19.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 16.3 mi | 50 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 18.3 mi | 45 kt |
| Allison (1995) | Post-tropical | 6 Jun 1995 | 29.9 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 18.0 mi | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1956) | Post-tropical | 17 Oct 1956 | 34.0 mi | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 18.2 mi | 61 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Lenoir County, North Carolina more than once.
- Bonnie — 2 passes (1998, 2004)
How Lenoir 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, Lenoir County, North Carolina ranks #124 — more exposed than 94.4% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #19 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Donna (1960) passed 45 miles away on 12 September 1960 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 33 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Bonnie (1998) passed 38 miles away on 27 August 1998 as a hurricane, reaching 83 kt (96 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Floyd (1999) passed 27 miles away on 16 September 1999 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
54 of the 59 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 59 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 7 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 19 years, between 1894 and 1913. It has been 2 years since the last one; 18 of the 51 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Lenoir County, North Carolina?
9 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lenoir County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 59.
When was the last hurricane in Lenoir County, North Carolina?
Floyd (1999), on 16 September 1999, passing 27 miles away — 27 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Ophelia (2023) in 2023.
What was the strongest storm to affect Lenoir County, North Carolina?
Donna (1960), which reached 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 45 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Lenoir County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.0 years — 59 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
Lenoir County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Craven County, North Carolina has 74 on record.