Storms near Beaufort County
The record holds 80 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Beaufort County, North Carolina between 1851 and 2023. The busiest month is September, with 29 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 3 strength. 2 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 80storms within 50 km
- 2major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 26at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Beaufort County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 9 | 11% |
| Tropical storm | 43 | 54% |
| Category 1 | 16 | 20% |
| Category 2 | 8 | 10% |
| Category 3 | 2 | 3% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 2 | 3% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Beaufort County storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2023, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1851, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 6 |
| 1860s | 3 |
| 1870s | 6 |
| 1880s | 7 |
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 3 |
| 1910s | 4 |
| 1920s | 1 |
| 1930s | 1 |
| 1940s | 2 |
| 1950s | 4 |
| 1960s | 9 |
| 1970s | 4 |
| 1980s | 4 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 8 |
| 2010s | 4 |
| 2020s | 3 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 2 |
| Jun | 9 |
| Jul | 9 |
| Aug | 21 |
| Sep | 29 |
| Oct | 9 |
| Nov | 1 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Beaufort County
- Unnamed storm of August 1899 (North Atlantic)3 August 1899 to 4 September 1899, Category 3 (105 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 930 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1879 (North Atlantic)12 August 1879 to 20 August 1879, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 971 hPa
- Ione (1955)10 September 1955 to 27 September 1955, Category 2 (95 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 938 hPa
- Unnamed storm of October 1878 (North Atlantic)13 October 1878 to 25 October 1878, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 963 hPa
- Donna (1960)29 August 1960 to 14 September 1960, Category 2 (90 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 930 hPa
Most recent storms near Beaufort County
- Ophelia (2023)21 September 2023 to 24 September 2023, peak Tropical storm (60 kt), 981 hPa
- Claudette (2021)17 June 2021 to 23 June 2021, peak Tropical storm (40 kt), 1,003 hPa
- Isaias (2020)28 July 2020 to 5 August 2020, Tropical storm (60 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (80 kt), 986 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
A storm that came near several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
Notable storms near Beaufort County
- Isabel (2003)6 September 2003 to 20 September 2003, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 915 hPa
- Floyd (1999)7 September 1999 to 19 September 1999, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 921 hPa
- Donna (1960)29 August 1960 to 14 September 1960, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 930 hPa
- Connie (1955)3 August 1955 to 15 August 1955, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 944 hPa
- Ione (1955)10 September 1955 to 27 September 1955, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 938 hPa
- Diana (1984)8 September 1984 to 16 September 1984, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 949 hPa
- Irene (2011)21 August 2011 to 30 August 2011, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 942 hPa
- Bertha (1996)5 July 1996 to 17 July 1996, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 960 hPa
- Bonnie (1998)19 August 1998 to 31 August 1998, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 954 hPa
- Isbell (1964)9 October 1964 to 16 October 1964, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 964 hPa