Rockingham County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1859, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rockingham County, North Carolina — about one every 7.0 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 42 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 42 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1896) — 68 kt (78 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordJeanne (2004) — 5.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 24
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1985 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 4 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 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 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 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 42.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 5.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Dennis (1999) | 5 Sep 1999 | 12.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Fran (1996) | 6 Sep 1996 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 14.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 9 Jun 1968 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 31 Aug 1964 | 30.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 13.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 29 Aug 1949 | 35.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 18 Sep 1945 | 49.4 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 23 Sep 1920 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 13.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 30 Sep 1896 | 39.1 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 7.3 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 48.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 13 Oct 1885 | 44.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 29.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 13 Sep 1878 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | Post-tropical | 9 Aug 2024 | 8.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 7 Jul 2005 | 43.2 mi | 20 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 23.7 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 4.8 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 31 Aug 1911 | 28.7 mi | 21 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 17.2 mi | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 1902 | 22.5 mi | 35 kt |
How Rockingham 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, Rockingham County, North Carolina ranks #663 — more exposed than 70.0% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #63 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 39 miles away on 30 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 7 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 8 miles away on 13 September 1878 as a tropical storm, reaching 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 35 miles away on 29 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
23 of the 24 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 24 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025. 1 separate year 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 19 years, between 1859 and 1878. It has been 5 years since the last one; 9 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Rockingham County, North Carolina?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rockingham County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 24.
When was the last hurricane in Rockingham County, North Carolina?
Fran (1996), on 6 September 1996, passing 47 miles away — 30 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Zeta (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Rockingham County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1896), which reached 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 39 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Rockingham County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.0 years — 24 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
Rockingham County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 9 other counties with a published storm record. Alamance County, North Carolina has 28 on record.