Northampton County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 45 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Northampton County, North Carolina — about one every 3.9 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 28 miles away on 7 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 28 mi away, 7 July 2025
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 88 kt (101 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1949) — 3.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles23 of 45
- Peak monthSeptember — 21 storms (47% of all)
- Most active year1916 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 7 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 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 7 Jul 2025 | 28.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ophelia (2023) | 23 Sep 2023 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 5.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 16.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | 1 Sep 2006 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 30 Aug 2004 | 13.6 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Isabel (2003) | 18 Sep 2003 | 4.8 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 15 Jun 2001 | 44.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 61 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 16 Sep 1976 | 49.7 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 2 Oct 1971 | 42.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 27 Aug 1971 | 49.3 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 19 Jun 1967 | 27.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 1 Sep 1964 | 8.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 28.5 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 14 Sep 1949 | 3.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 37.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 9.0 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 3 Sep 1934 | 27.1 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Sep 1916 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 20.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 20.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 33.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 15.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 12 Sep 1883 | 33.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 43.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 10 Sep 1881 | 31.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 23.5 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 6.7 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 25 Oct 1872 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 37.3 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 10 Sep 1854 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 48.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 12 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 8 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 6.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Michael (2018) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 2018 | 16.8 mi | 52 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2013 | 8.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 37.7 mi | 50 kt |
| Danny (1985) | Post-tropical | 19 Aug 1985 | 28.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 44.3 mi | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 1944 | 13.6 mi | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 38.5 mi | 50 kt |
How Northampton 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, Northampton County, North Carolina ranks #256 — more exposed than 88.4% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #39 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 24 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 88 kt (101 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Isabel (2003) passed 5 miles away on 18 September 2003 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1876) passed 7 miles away on 17 September 1876 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Bertha (1996) passed 17 miles away on 13 July 1996 as a hurricane, reaching 62 kt (71 mph) while within 50 miles.
41 of the 45 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 45 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 4 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 20 years, between 1976 and 1996. It has been 0 years since the last one; 40 of the 40 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Northampton County, North Carolina?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Northampton County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 45.
When was the last hurricane in Northampton 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 Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Northampton County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 88 kt (101 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 24 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Northampton County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.9 years — 45 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
Northampton County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Bertie County, North Carolina has 53 on record.