Yancey County, North Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1896, 10 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Yancey County, North Carolina — about one every 13.0 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 25 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 25 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormHugo (1989) — 55 kt (63 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBeryl (1994) — 7.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles6 of 10
- Peak monthSeptember — 4 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year1896 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1980s and 2000s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1896–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 17 Sep 2018 | 9.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 19.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 2 Jul 2003 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 33.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 18 Aug 1985 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 9 Jun 1968 | 17.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 6 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 | 32.2 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 31 Aug 1911 | 29.4 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 43.7 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1905 | 34.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 37.1 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 7.9 mi | 33 kt |
How Yancey 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, Yancey County, North Carolina ranks #1,265 — more exposed than 42.7% of them. Within North Carolina it ranks #100 of 100, against a state average of 37.9 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Hugo (1989) passed 34 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 25 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Gracie (1959) passed 40 miles away on 30 September 1959 as a tropical storm, reaching 38 kt (44 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 45 miles away on 8 July 1896 as a tropical depression, reaching 30 kt (35 mph) while within 50 miles.
10 of the 10 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 13.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 10 storms spread over the 130 years from 1896 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 63 years, between 1896 and 1959. It has been 5 years since the last one; 5 of the 9 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Yancey County, North Carolina?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Yancey County, North Carolina while at hurricane strength. 10 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1896, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Hugo (1989).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Yancey County, North Carolina?
Zeta (2020), on 29 October 2020, passing 25 miles away — 6 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Yancey County, North Carolina at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Yancey County, North Carolina?
Hugo (1989), which reached 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 34 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Yancey County, North Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 13.0 years — 10 storms over the 130 years from 1896 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Yancey County, North Carolina borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Buncombe County, North Carolina has 11 on record.