List of North Carolina hurricanes
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
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
Pre-1900
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
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
1950–1979
A total of 79
1980–Present
The period from 1980 to the present encompasses 120
The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the time period was Hurricane Fran in 1996, which struck near
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.
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
- Climate of North Carolina
- Geography of North Carolina
- Hazard mitigation in the Outer Banks
- List of United States hurricanes
- List of wettest known tropical cyclones in North Carolina
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ National Hurricane Center (2006). "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ 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.
- ^ JG. "The Lost Colony of Roanoke, 1588". Retrieved 2007-12-18.
- ^ Mary Souder (1933). "Severe Local Storms, September 1933" (PDF). U.S. Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
- ^ Millsboro Daily News (1940-08-16). "Floods Surge Toward Surge". Archived from the original on 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ National Climatic Data Center (1999). "Climate-Watch, September 1999". Archived from the original on 2001-10-24. Retrieved 2007-12-22.