Martin County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 52 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Martin County, North Carolina — about one every 3.4 years. Of those, 8 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ophelia (2023), which passed 14 miles away on 23 September 2023.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentOphelia (2023) — 14 mi away, 23 September 2023
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 90 kt (104 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1881) — 1.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles28 of 52
- Peak monthSeptember — 24 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 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 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophelia (2023) | 23 Sep 2023 | 14.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 10.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 30.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 23.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | 1 Sep 2006 | 23.9 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 13 Aug 2004 | 42.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Isabel (2003) | 18 Sep 2003 | 5.3 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 15 Jun 2001 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 5.3 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 20.6 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 5 Sep 1999 | 38.3 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Bonnie (1998) | 27 Aug 1998 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 24.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Diana (1984) | 14 Sep 1984 | 36.2 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 32.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 27 Aug 1971 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 19 Jun 1967 | 14.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 1 Sep 1964 | 31.4 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 7.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 14 Sep 1961 | 21.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 49.0 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 5.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Ione (1955) | 19 Sep 1955 | 34.7 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 12 Aug 1955 | 45.3 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 14 Sep 1949 | 38.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 6 Jul 1946 | 47.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 40.2 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 3 Sep 1934 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Sep 1916 | 26.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 17 Jun 1893 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Oct 1888 | 42.1 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 50.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 10 Sep 1881 | 1.7 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 12.2 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 14.6 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 25 Oct 1872 | 2.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 29.4 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 19.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1857) | 13 Sep 1857 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 19 Aug 1856 | 44.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 10 Sep 1854 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 18 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 | 41.7 mi | 40 kt |
| Julia (2016) | Post-tropical | 21 Sep 2016 | 20.8 mi | 24 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2013 | 35.0 mi | 40 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 21.8 mi | 37 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 5.8 mi | 50 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 36.1 mi | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 12.8 mi | 38 kt |
| Isbell (1964) | Post-tropical | 16 Oct 1964 | 40.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1928 | 21.1 mi | 68 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Martin County, North Carolina more than once.
- Bonnie — 2 passes (1998, 2004)
How Martin 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, Martin County, North Carolina ranks #186 — more exposed than 91.6% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #30 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 12 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Donna (1960) passed 49 miles away on 12 September 1960 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Isabel (2003) passed 5 miles away on 18 September 2003 as a hurricane, reaching 81 kt (93 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Connie (1955) passed 45 miles away on 12 August 1955 as a hurricane, reaching 81 kt (93 mph) while within 50 miles.
48 of the 52 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 52 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 7 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 22 years, between 1894 and 1916. It has been 2 years since the last one; 19 of the 44 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Martin County, North Carolina?
8 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Martin County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 52.
When was the last hurricane in Martin County, North Carolina?
Isabel (2003), on 18 September 2003, passing 5 miles away — 23 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Ophelia (2023) in 2023.
What was the strongest storm to affect Martin County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 12 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Martin County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.4 years — 52 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
Martin County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Beaufort County, North Carolina has 70 on record.