List of North Carolina hurricanes

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Hurricane Floyd ten hours prior to its North Carolina landfall in mid September 1999; Floyd caused the worst modern disaster in the state[1]

The list of North Carolina hurricanes includes 413 known tropical or subtropical cyclones that have affected the U.S. state of North Carolina. Due to its location, many hurricanes have hit the state directly, and numerous hurricanes have passed near or through North Carolina in its history; the state is ranked fourth, after Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, in the number of cyclones that produced hurricane-force winds in a U.S. state.[2][3] Hurricanes in North Carolina history are responsible for over $11 billion in damage (2008 USD) and almost 1,000 total fatalities.

Climatology

As to statistical hurricane research between 1883 and 1996 by the North Carolina State Climatology Office, a tropical cyclone makes landfall along the coastline about once every four years. An estimated 17.5 percent of all North Atlantic tropical cyclones have affected the state.[4] Additionally, the remnants of a few Pacific tropical cyclones struck the state.[5] Cape Hatteras is most affected by storms within the state, though Cape Lookout and Cape Fear are also regularly affected; the increased activity in three areas is because it protrudes from elsewhere along the Atlantic coastline.[4] After Southern Florida, Cape Hatteras has the lowest return period, or the frequency at which a certain intensity or category of hurricane can be expected within 86 mi (139 km) of a given location, in the country.[6] As the Outer Banks are a narrow strip of low-lying land, hurricanes occasionally leave portions of the land partially or fully submerged.[7] Additionally, the remnants of inland tropical cyclones have produced flooding and landslides in the state's western region.[8]

Tropical cyclones have affected North Carolina in every month between May and December; about 35 percent of the storms struck the state in September, and 80 percent affected the state between August and October, which coincides with the peak of the hurricane season. The most recent storm to affect the state was Hurricane Isaias. Isaias made landfall near Ocean Isle Beach on August 4, 2020. The storm spawned the Hurricane Isaias tornado outbreak, which produced one of the strongest tornadoes produced by a tropical system in the United States in over 15 years. The strongest storm to strike the state was Hurricane Hazel on October 15, 1954, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale.[9]

Pre-1900

Topographic map of North Carolina

The list of North Carolina hurricanes before 1900 encompasses 139 tropical cyclones that affected the U.S. state of North Carolina. Collectively, cyclones in North Carolina during the time period resulted in over 775 direct fatalities during the period. Seven cyclones affected the state in the 1893 season, which was the year with the most tropical cyclones devastating the state during the time period. From the beginning of the official Atlantic hurricane record in 1851 to 1899, there were 12 years without a known tropical cyclone affecting the state.

Historical data prior to 1700 is sparse due to lack of significant European settlements along the coastline; the few storms listed are largely records from Roanoke Colony and later the Province of Carolina. Modern meteorologists believe early storms were tropical cyclones, though due to the time period confirmation is impossible.[10] One theory explaining the disappearance of Roanoke Colony suggests a hurricane destroyed the village, though there is no evidence to prove the theory. It is considered unlikely due to lack of damage to a fence around the village, on which the villagers left an inscription.[11]

1900–1949

Damage from 1933 Outer Banks hurricane

Between 1900 and 1949, 75 tropical cyclones or their remnants affected the state. Collectively, cyclones in North Carolina during that time period resulted in 53 total fatalities during the period, as well as about $393 million in damage (2020 USD). Tropical cyclone affected the state in all but nine seasons. In the 1916 season, five storms affected the state, which was the season with the most storms devastating the state. The strongest hurricanes to affect the state during the time period were the 1933 Outer Banks hurricane and the 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane, which produced winds of Category 3 status on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale within the state.[2] The 1933 Outer Banks hurricane was the deadliest hurricane in the state during the time period, which killed 21 people.[12] The remnants of a hurricane in 1940 dropped heavy rainfall in the state, which caused over $180 million in damage (2020 USD) from flooding and landslides.[13]

1950–1979

Radar image of Hurricane Connie near North Carolina

A total of 79 tropical or subtropical cyclones affected North Carolina between 1950 and 1979. Collectively, cyclones during the time period resulted in 37 total fatalities during the period, as well as about $4 billion in damage (2020 USD). A cyclone affected the state in every year during the time period, and in three seasons a total of five cyclones assailed the state. The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the time period was Hurricane Hazel, which struck the state as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. Hazel was both the costliest and deadliest cyclone during the period, causing over $1 billion in damage (2020 USD) and 19 deaths.[14] Most storms affected the state in September, though cyclones lashed the state between May and October.

1980–Present

New inlet created by Hurricane Isabel (USGS)

The period from 1980 to the present encompasses 120 tropical or subtropical cyclones that affected the state. Collectively, cyclones in North Carolina during the time period resulted in over $10 billion in damage (2010 USD), primarily from hurricanes Fran and Floyd. Additionally, tropical cyclones in North Carolina were responsible for 77 direct fatalities and at least 44 indirect casualties during the period. Eight cyclones affected the state in the 1985 season, which was the year with the most tropical cyclones striking the state. Every year included at least one tropical cyclone affecting the state.

The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the time period was Hurricane Fran in 1996, which struck near Wilmington as a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale; Hurricane Emily in 1993 brushed the Outer Banks also as a Category 3 hurricane.[2] Onslow County was hit on August 27, 1998, by category two Hurricane Bonnie causing heavy rains, flooding, an estimated $480 mil damage and a few deaths. The deadliest hurricane during the period was Hurricane Floyd in 1999, which caused 35 fatalities and record–breaking flooding in the eastern portion of the state.[15][16] Hurricane Irene hit the Outer Banks on August 27, 2011, as a Category 1, making it the first of its kind to make landfall since Hurricane Ike in 2008. In 2018, Hurricane Florence made landfall in Wrightsville Beach as a Category 1 storm, causing catastrophic flooding across the state. Dropping almost three feet of rain, it is North Carolina's wettest hurricane. In 2019, Hurricane Dorian made landfall on Cape Hatteras as a Category 2 storm, causing large storm surges to sweep across some islands, particularly Ocracoke.

Ranked storms (based on death)

The table lists hurricanes by death tolls of over 20 fatalities. Direct deaths are those that are directly caused by the storm passage, such as drownings or deaths from being struck by windblown objects. Indirect deaths, which are not included in the toll of Hurricane Floyd, are those that are related to the storm, but not directly from its storm effects. Due to lack of data, many early hurricanes have overall death tolls that do not specify indirect or direct.

Total deaths
Name Year Number of deaths
Fran 1996 13
"San Ciriaco" 1899 20+
"Outer Banks" 1933 21
Matthew 2016 28
Florence 2018 43
Unnamed 1772 50
Unnamed 1883 53
Floyd 1999 57
"Racer's Storm" 1837 90
"Independence" 1775 163
Unnamed 1857 424

See also

References

  1. ^ Federal Emergency Management Agency (2000). "Approaching One Year, North Carolina Floyd Assistance More Than $1.9 Billion". Archived from the original on 2007-10-31. Retrieved 2007-12-14.
  2. ^ a b c Hurricane Research Division (2008). "Chronological List of All Hurricanes which Affected the Continental United States: 1851–2005". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  3. ^ Hurricane Research Division (2006). "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ a b State Climate Office of North Carolina (2006). "Hurricanes in North Carolina". Archived from the original on 2010-03-30. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  5. ^ Roth, David M (May 12, 2022). "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in the Southeastern United States". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 6, 2023. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ National Hurricane Center (2006). "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  7. ^ Sprol.com (2005-09-15). "When will a Category Five Hurricane strike the Outer Banks?". Archived from the original on 2007-10-14. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  8. ^ William Haggard; Thaddeus Bilton & Harold Crutcher (1973). "Maximum Rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Stems which Cross the Appalachians" (PDF). Journal of Applied Meteorology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-03-25. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  9. ^ "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ^ James E. Hudgins (2000). "Tropical Cyclones Affecting North Carolina since 1566 – An Historical Perspective". Blacksburg, Virginia National Weather Service. Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  11. ^ JG. "The Lost Colony of Roanoke, 1588". Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  12. ^ Mary Souder (1933). "Severe Local Storms, September 1933" (PDF). U.S. Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  13. ^ Millsboro Daily News (1940-08-16). "Floods Surge Toward Surge". Archived from the original on 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  14. ^ NOAA Coastal Services Center (1999). "New Hanover County, North Carolina Case Study on Hurricane Hazel". Archived from the original on 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  15. ^ U.S. Department of Commerce (2000). "Hurricane Floyd Floods of September 1999" (PDF). NOAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  16. ^ National Climatic Data Center (1999). "Climate-Watch, September 1999". Archived from the original on 2001-10-24. Retrieved 2007-12-22.