Sampson County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 56 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Sampson County, North Carolina — about one every 3.1 years. Of those, 9 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 36 miles away on 6 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 36 mi away, 6 July 2025
- Strongest stormHazel (1954) — 97 kt (112 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAna (2015) — 2.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Hazel (1954) — 5.2 miles
- Passes within 25 miles27 of 56
- Peak monthSeptember — 21 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 3 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- Record span1851–2025
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 6 Jul 2025 | 35.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 20.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 3 Sep 2016 | 46.1 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 2.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | 1 Sep 2006 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 30 Aug 2004 | 34.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 36.6 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 13 Aug 2004 | 48.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 14 Jun 2001 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 36.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Fran (1996) | 6 Sep 1996 | 12.0 mi | Cat 1 | 71 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 12 Jul 1996 | 42.4 mi | Cat 1 | 71 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 8 Sep 1987 | 7.3 mi | TD | — |
| Diana (1984) | 14 Sep 1984 | 14.4 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 16 Sep 1976 | 35.2 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1972) | 12 Jul 1972 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Ginger (1971) | 1 Oct 1971 | 15.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1967) | 18 Jun 1967 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 3.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 34.3 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 17 Aug 1955 | 5.9 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | 15 Oct 1954 | 5.2 mi | Cat 3 | 98 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 14 Sep 1949 | 28.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 6 Jul 1946 | 44.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 11.5 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 43.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 19 Sep 1928 | 11.7 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 23 Sep 1920 | 38.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Sep 1916 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 3 Sep 1913 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 14 Sep 1904 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 23.0 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 25.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 13.0 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 5.3 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 16 Jun 1893 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 8.4 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 25 Aug 1885 | 48.7 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 12 Sep 1883 | 4.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 9 Sep 1881 | 38.1 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 17 Sep 1876 | 49.7 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 11.6 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 25 Oct 1872 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 23 Jun 1867 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 22.7 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 2.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 34.9 mi | 40 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 7 Jun 2013 | 19.5 mi | 40 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 13.4 mi | 35 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 35.6 mi | 20 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 2.3 mi | 50 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 30.7 mi | 45 kt |
| Allison (1995) | Post-tropical | 6 Jun 1995 | 37.1 mi | 40 kt |
| Abby (1968) | Remnant low | 10 Jun 1968 | 19.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 21.0 mi | 60 kt |
How Sampson 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, Sampson County, North Carolina ranks #148 — more exposed than 93.3% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #26 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Hazel (1954) passed 5 miles away on 15 October 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 97 kt (112 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Fran (1996) passed 12 miles away on 6 September 1996 as a hurricane, reaching 88 kt (101 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 13 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Bertha (1996) passed 42 miles away on 12 July 1996 as a hurricane, reaching 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles.
49 of the 56 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 56 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 5 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 11 years, between 1856 and 1867. It has been 0 years since the last one; 48 of the 48 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Sampson County, North Carolina?
9 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Sampson County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 56.
When was the last hurricane in Sampson County, North Carolina?
Fran (1996), on 6 September 1996, passing 12 miles away — 30 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Sampson County, North Carolina?
Hazel (1954), which reached 97 kt (112 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 5 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Sampson County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.1 years — 56 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
Sampson County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Pender County, North Carolina has 70 on record.