Pender County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 70 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Pender County, North Carolina — about one every 2.5 years. Of those, 22 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ophelia (2023), which passed 45 miles away on 23 September 2023.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentOphelia (2023) — 45 mi away, 23 September 2023
- Strongest stormHelene (1958) — 120 kt (138 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1881) — 1.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Fran (1996) — 23.2 miles
- Passes within 25 miles36 of 70
- Peak monthSeptember — 30 storms (43% of all)
- Most active year1852 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi4
- Record span1851–2023
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 30 | 10 | 1 | 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 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophelia (2023) | 23 Sep 2023 | 45.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 21.3 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 14 Sep 2018 | 22.2 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 3 Sep 2016 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Arthur (2014) | 4 Jul 2014 | 48.8 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 30 May 2012 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | 1 Sep 2006 | 6.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Ophelia (2005) | 14 Sep 2005 | 47.8 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 13 Aug 2004 | 7.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Kyle (2002) | 12 Oct 2002 | 15.6 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 14 Jun 2001 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 17.3 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Bonnie (1998) | 27 Aug 1998 | 13.2 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Fran (1996) | 6 Sep 1996 | 23.2 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 12 Jul 1996 | 8.3 mi | Cat 2 | 84 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 8 Sep 1987 | 35.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Diana (1984) | 14 Sep 1984 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1982) | 19 Jun 1982 | 34.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Dennis (1981) | 20 Aug 1981 | 23.6 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1972) | 12 Jul 1972 | 11.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 30.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 1 Oct 1971 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 17 Aug 1970 | 47.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 12 Jun 1968 | 26.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 18 Jun 1967 | 13.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 14 Sep 1961 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 28.9 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Helene (1958) | 27 Sep 1958 | 45.4 mi | Cat 4 | 120 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 17 Aug 1955 | 14.3 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | 15 Oct 1954 | 44.0 mi | Cat 3 | 98 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 13 Sep 1949 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 6 Jul 1946 | 3.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 25 Jun 1945 | 48.4 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 19 Sep 1928 | 30.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 23 Sep 1920 | 44.5 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Sep 1916 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 37.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 3 Sep 1913 | 37.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 20 Oct 1910 | 32.0 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 31 Jul 1908 | 35.1 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 18 Sep 1901 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 12 Jul 1901 | 35.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 28 Sep 1894 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 16 Jun 1893 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Oct 1888 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 25 Aug 1885 | 7.8 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 11 Sep 1883 | 27.9 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 22 Sep 1882 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 9 Sep 1881 | 1.6 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 9 Sep 1880 | 31.6 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 42.2 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 18.2 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 25 Oct 1872 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 36.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 27.8 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1857) | 13 Sep 1857 | 19.0 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 11.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 28 Aug 1852 | 47.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 40.3 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 8 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry (2007) | Post-tropical | 3 Jun 2007 | 25.3 mi | 40 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 42.8 mi | 50 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 12.4 mi | 45 kt |
| Allison (1995) | Post-tropical | 6 Jun 1995 | 12.1 mi | 40 kt |
| Arlene (1987) | Remnant low | 8 Aug 1987 | 26.6 mi | 10 kt |
| Dora (1964) | Post-tropical | 13 Sep 1964 | 17.0 mi | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1956) | Post-tropical | 17 Oct 1956 | 25.3 mi | 48 kt |
| Flossy (1956) | Post-tropical | 26 Sep 1956 | 19.0 mi | 48 kt |
Storms that came back
2 named storms in this record passed Pender County, North Carolina more than once.
- Bonnie — 2 passes (1998, 2004)
- Ophelia — 2 passes (2005, 2023)
How Pender 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, Pender County, North Carolina ranks #43 — more exposed than 98.0% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #11 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Helene (1958) passed 45 miles away on 27 September 1958 as a hurricane, reaching 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Diana (1984) passed 29 miles away on 14 September 1984 as a tropical storm, reaching 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Fran (1996) passed 23 miles away on 6 September 1996 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Hazel (1954) passed 44 miles away on 15 October 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 97 kt (112 mph) while within 50 miles.
62 of the 70 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 70 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 9 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; 21 of the 60 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Pender County, North Carolina?
22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Pender County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 70.
When was the last hurricane in Pender County, North Carolina?
Isaias (2020), on 4 August 2020, passing 21 miles away — 6 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Ophelia (2023) in 2023.
What was the strongest storm to affect Pender County, North Carolina?
Helene (1958), which reached 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 45 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Pender County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.5 years — 70 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
Pender County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. New Hanover County, North Carolina has 79 on record.