Madison County, North Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1896, 10 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Madison County, North Carolina — about one every 13.0 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 10 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 10 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 45 kt (52 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordIvan (2004) — 9.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 10
- Peak monthAugust and September — 3 storms (30% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1896–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 17 Sep 2018 | 14.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 9.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 31.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 2 Jul 2003 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 16.7 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 9 Jun 1968 | 38.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 16 Aug 1928 | 48.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 22.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred (2021) | Remnant low | 18 Aug 2021 | 44.1 mi | 24 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 7 Jul 2005 | 42.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 18 Oct 1932 | 49.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 31 Aug 1911 | 34.2 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1905 | 25.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 49.8 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 25.2 mi | 34 kt |
How Madison 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, Madison County, North Carolina ranks #1,263 — more exposed than 42.8% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #98 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 10 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 23 miles away on 8 July 1896 as a tropical depression, reaching 30 kt (35 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1928) passed 49 miles away on 16 August 1928 as a tropical depression, reaching 26 kt (30 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Florence (2018) passed 15 miles away on 17 September 2018 as a tropical depression, reaching 25 kt (29 mph) while within 50 miles.
10 of the 10 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 13.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 10 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 40 years, between 1928 and 1968. It has been 5 years since the last one; 6 of the 8 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Madison County, North Carolina?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Madison County, North Carolina while at hurricane strength. 10 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 Madison County, North Carolina?
Zeta (2020), on 29 October 2020, passing 10 miles away — 6 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Madison County, North Carolina at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Madison County, North Carolina?
Zeta (2020), which reached 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 10 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Madison County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 13.0 years — 10 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
Madison County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Haywood County, North Carolina has 12 on record.