Scotland County, North Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 40 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Scotland County, North Carolina — about one every 4.4 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 24 miles away on 6 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 24 mi away, 6 July 2025
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 85 kt (98 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordClaudette (2021) — 2.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles29 of 40
- Peak monthSeptember — 15 storms (38% 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 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 7 | 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 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 6 Jul 2025 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Debby (2024) | 8 Aug 2024 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 15.5 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 2.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 7 Jun 2013 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 30 Aug 2004 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 16.8 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 9 Sep 1977 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 15 Sep 1976 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 40.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 8.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 20.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 4.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 13 Sep 1949 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 18 Sep 1945 | 12.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 23 Sep 1920 | 21.0 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 10 Oct 1913 | 23.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 3 Sep 1913 | 19.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 14 Sep 1904 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 16 Jun 1902 | 16.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 13 Jul 1901 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 33.9 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 19.4 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 42.9 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 16.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 15.6 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 13 Oct 1885 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 12 Sep 1878 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 4.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 23 Jun 1867 | 22.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 10.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ian (2022) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 2022 | 1.5 mi | 40 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 6.0 mi | 40 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 13.1 mi | 35 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 16.9 mi | 21 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 35.9 mi | 50 kt |
| Abby (1968) | Remnant low | 10 Jun 1968 | 43.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 8.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1947 | 37.8 mi | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 48.0 mi | 58 kt |
How Scotland 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, Scotland County, North Carolina ranks #324 — more exposed than 85.3% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #44 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 43 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 34 miles away on 31 October 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 19 miles away on 29 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1904) passed 17 miles away on 14 September 1904 as a tropical storm, reaching 62 kt (71 mph) while within 50 miles.
35 of the 40 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 40 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 4 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 20 years, between 1977 and 1997. It has been 0 years since the last one; 35 of the 35 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Scotland County, North Carolina?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Scotland County, North Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 40.
When was the last hurricane in Scotland County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1899), on 31 October 1899, passing 34 miles away — 127 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Scotland County, North Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 43 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Scotland County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.4 years — 40 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
Scotland County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Robeson County, North Carolina has 49 on record.