Polk County, North Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 16 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Polk County, North Carolina — about one every 10.4 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 43 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 43 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormHugo (1989) — 60 kt (69 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAbby (1968) — 3.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles3 of 16
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (56% of all)
- Most active year1859 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1910s and 1980s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 42.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 17 Sep 2018 | 6.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 42.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 34.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 8 Jun 1968 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 41.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 24.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 Jul 1916 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 30.7 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 40.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 45.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 7 Jul 2005 | 10.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 31 Aug 1911 | 13.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 5.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 11.3 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 25.9 mi | 34 kt |
How Polk 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, Polk County, North Carolina ranks #954 — more exposed than 56.8% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #82 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Hugo (1989) passed 42 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a hurricane, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 24 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 43 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 31 miles away on 15 July 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 43 kt (49 mph) while within 50 miles.
15 of the 16 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 10.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 16 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 33 years, between 1916 and 1949. It has been 5 years since the last one; 11 of the 15 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Polk County, North Carolina?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Polk County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 16.
When was the last hurricane in Polk County, North Carolina?
Hugo (1989), on 22 September 1989, passing 42 miles away — 37 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Zeta (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Polk County, North Carolina?
Hugo (1989), which reached 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 42 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Polk County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 10.4 years — 16 storms over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Polk County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Spartanburg County, South Carolina has 18 on record.