Richmond County, North Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1851, 41 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Richmond County, North Carolina — about one every 4.3 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 42 miles away on 6 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 42 mi away, 6 July 2025
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1896) — 75 kt (86 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordDanny (1997) — 3.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles17 of 41
- Peak monthSeptember — 16 storms (39% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 5 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 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 6 Jul 2025 | 41.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Debby (2024) | 8 Aug 2024 | 25.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 10.7 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 7 Jun 2013 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 30 Aug 2004 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 3.2 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 43.7 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 9 Sep 1977 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 15 Sep 1976 | 30.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 37.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 18.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 44.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 14 Sep 1949 | 37.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 18 Sep 1945 | 8.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 23 Sep 1920 | 28.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 10 Oct 1913 | 36.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 14 Sep 1904 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 16 Jun 1902 | 3.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 13 Jul 1901 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 14.8 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 28.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 48.8 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 3.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 13 Oct 1885 | 8.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 12 Sep 1878 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 17.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 23 Jun 1867 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 43.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 21.3 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ian (2022) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 2022 | 10.7 mi | 37 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 20.7 mi | 40 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 22.2 mi | 35 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 36.1 mi | 21 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 17.6 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | Post-tropical | 9 Oct 1946 | 35.0 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 1944 | 18.7 mi | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 6.1 mi | 50 kt |
How Richmond 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, Richmond County, North Carolina ranks #306 — more exposed than 86.1% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #43 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 15 miles away on 29 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 49 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1904) passed 32 miles away on 14 September 1904 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 18 miles away on 12 September 1878 as a tropical storm, reaching 58 kt (67 mph) while within 50 miles.
36 of the 41 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 41 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 4 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 15 years, between 1920 and 1935. It has been 0 years since the last one; 36 of the 36 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Richmond County, North Carolina?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Richmond County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 41.
When was the last hurricane in Richmond County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1896), on 29 September 1896, passing 15 miles away — 130 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Richmond County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1896), which reached 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 15 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Richmond County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.3 years — 41 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
Richmond County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 8 other counties with a published storm record. Marlboro County, South Carolina has 46 on record.