Onslow County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 73 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Onslow County, North Carolina — about one every 2.4 years. Of those, 22 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ophelia (2023), which passed 23 miles away on 23 September 2023.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentOphelia (2023) — 23 mi away, 23 September 2023
- Strongest stormHelene (1958) — 118 kt (136 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1946) — 0.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1879) — 43.7 miles
- Passes within 25 miles32 of 73
- Peak monthSeptember — 28 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1955 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1880s and 1960s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
- Record span1851–2023
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 28 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophelia (2023) | 23 Sep 2023 | 23.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 37.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 14 Sep 2018 | 39.0 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 3 Sep 2016 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 48.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Arthur (2014) | 4 Jul 2014 | 43.1 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 30 May 2012 | 28.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | 1 Sep 2006 | 23.9 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 16.3 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 13 Aug 2004 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Kyle (2002) | 12 Oct 2002 | 16.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 14 Jun 2001 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 5.7 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 5 Sep 1999 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bonnie (1998) | 27 Aug 1998 | 11.7 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 12 Jul 1996 | 9.6 mi | Cat 1 | 71 kt |
| Arthur (1996) | 19 Jun 1996 | 48.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 32.3 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Diana (1984) | 14 Sep 1984 | 25.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1982) | 19 Jun 1982 | 32.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Dennis (1981) | 20 Aug 1981 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1972) | 12 Jul 1972 | 2.5 mi | TD | — |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 28.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 1 Oct 1971 | 2.5 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 27 Aug 1971 | 39.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 17 Aug 1970 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 12 Jun 1968 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 18 Jun 1967 | 29.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Isbell (1964) | 16 Oct 1964 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 44.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 14 Sep 1961 | 7.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 16.0 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Helene (1958) | 27 Sep 1958 | 49.0 mi | Cat 4 | 118 kt |
| Ione (1955) | 19 Sep 1955 | 45.4 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 17 Aug 1955 | 39.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 12 Aug 1955 | 45.6 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 13 Sep 1949 | 36.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 6 Jul 1946 | 0.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 25 Jun 1945 | 42.4 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 19 Sep 1928 | 39.6 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 24 Aug 1918 | 35.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Sep 1916 | 36.2 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 45.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 3 Sep 1913 | 14.1 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 20 Oct 1910 | 33.9 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 31 Jul 1908 | 25.3 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 18 Sep 1901 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 12 Jul 1901 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 28 Sep 1894 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 28.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 16 Jun 1893 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Oct 1888 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 46.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 25 Aug 1885 | 11.9 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 11 Sep 1883 | 47.3 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 22 Sep 1882 | 28.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 9 Sep 1881 | 13.4 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 9 Sep 1880 | 23.1 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 18 Aug 1879 | 43.7 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 22.8 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 2.9 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 41.2 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 25 Oct 1872 | 4.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 25.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 19.0 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1857) | 13 Sep 1857 | 11.7 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 40.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia (2016) | Post-tropical | 21 Sep 2016 | 44.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Barry (2007) | Post-tropical | 3 Jun 2007 | 24.9 mi | 40 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 47.8 mi | 35 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 45.5 mi | 50 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 16.4 mi | 45 kt |
| Allison (1995) | Post-tropical | 6 Jun 1995 | 10.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Arlene (1987) | Remnant low | 8 Aug 1987 | 32.0 mi | 10 kt |
| Dora (1964) | Post-tropical | 13 Sep 1964 | 20.4 mi | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1925) | Post-tropical | 2 Dec 1925 | 42.3 mi | 65 kt |
Storms that came back
3 named storms in this record passed Onslow County, North Carolina more than once.
- Arthur — 2 passes (1996, 2014)
- Bonnie — 2 passes (1998, 2004)
- Dennis — 2 passes (1981, 1999)
How Onslow 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, Onslow County, North Carolina ranks #23 — more exposed than 99.0% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #8 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Helene (1958) passed 49 miles away on 27 September 1958 as a hurricane, reaching 118 kt (136 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 44 miles away on 18 August 1879 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Bonnie (1998) passed 12 miles away on 27 August 1998 as a hurricane, reaching 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Bertha (1996) passed 10 miles away on 12 July 1996 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
65 of the 73 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 73 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 12 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 16 years, between 1928 and 1944. It has been 2 years since the last one; 19 of the 59 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Onslow County, North Carolina?
22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Onslow County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 73.
When was the last hurricane in Onslow County, North Carolina?
Florence (2018), on 14 September 2018, passing 39 miles away — 8 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Ophelia (2023) in 2023.
What was the strongest storm to affect Onslow County, North Carolina?
Helene (1958), which reached 118 kt (136 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 49 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Onslow County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.4 years — 73 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
Onslow County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Carteret County, North Carolina has 85 on record.