Wilkes County, North Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1915, 13 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Wilkes County, North Carolina — about one every 8.5 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 28 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 28 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormHugo (1989) — 55 kt (63 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAbby (1968) — 12.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles5 of 13
- Peak monthSeptember — 5 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1920s, 1950s, 1980s, 2000s and 2020s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1915–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bertha (2020) | 28 May 2020 | 15.6 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 47.8 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 19.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 9 Jun 1968 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 25.6 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 37.3 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 23 Sep 1920 | 41.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 7 Jul 2005 | 7.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Bill (2003) | Post-tropical | 2 Jul 2003 | 37.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 42.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 31 Aug 1911 | 29.7 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 24.0 mi | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1905 | 41.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 16.3 mi | 35 kt |
How Wilkes 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, Wilkes County, North Carolina ranks #1,095 — more exposed than 50.4% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #89 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Hugo (1989) passed 32 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 18 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 28 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Gracie (1959) passed 26 miles away on 30 September 1959 as a tropical storm, reaching 38 kt (44 mph) while within 50 miles.
13 of the 13 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 13 storms spread over the 111 years from 1915 to 2025. 2 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 22 years, between 1927 and 1949. It has been 5 years since the last one; 7 of the 10 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Wilkes County, North Carolina?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Wilkes County, North Carolina while at hurricane strength. 13 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1915, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Hugo (1989).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Wilkes County, North Carolina?
Zeta (2020), on 29 October 2020, passing 28 miles away — 6 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Wilkes County, North Carolina at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Wilkes County, North Carolina?
Hugo (1989), which reached 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 32 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Wilkes County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.5 years — 13 storms over the 111 years from 1915 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Wilkes County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 8 other counties with a published storm record. Iredell County, North Carolina has 21 on record.