Storms near New Hanover County
The record holds 70 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of New Hanover County, North Carolina between 1852 and 2023. The busiest month is September, with 28 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 4 strength. 1 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 70storms within 50 km
- 5major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 28at 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 New Hanover County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 6 | 9% |
| Tropical storm | 35 | 50% |
| Category 1 | 13 | 19% |
| Category 2 | 10 | 14% |
| Category 3 | 2 | 3% |
| Category 4 | 3 | 4% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 1 | 1% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
New Hanover County storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2023, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1852, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 3 |
| 1860s | 1 |
| 1870s | 5 |
| 1880s | 6 |
| 1890s | 4 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 2 |
| 1920s | 2 |
| 1940s | 4 |
| 1950s | 4 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 4 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 7 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 2 |
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 | 1 |
| Jun | 10 |
| Jul | 7 |
| Aug | 12 |
| Sep | 28 |
| Oct | 10 |
| Nov | 2 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near New Hanover County
- Helene (1958)21 September 1958 to 4 October 1958, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 933 hPa
- Hazel (1954)5 October 1954 to 18 October 1954, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 938 hPa
- Diana (1984)8 September 1984 to 16 September 1984, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 949 hPa
- Fran (1996)23 August 1996 to 10 September 1996, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 946 hPa
- Bonnie (1998)19 August 1998 to 31 August 1998, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 954 hPa
Most recent storms near New Hanover County
- Idalia (2023)26 August 2023 to 8 September 2023, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 945 hPa
- Isaias (2020)28 July 2020 to 5 August 2020, peak Category 1 (80 kt), 986 hPa
- Dorian (2019)24 August 2019 to 9 September 2019, Category 2 (90 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (160 kt), 910 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 New Hanover County
- Dorian (2019)24 August 2019 to 9 September 2019, peak Category 5 (160 kt), 910 hPa
- Matthew (2016)28 September 2016 to 10 October 2016, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 934 hPa
- Floyd (1999)7 September 1999 to 19 September 1999, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 921 hPa
- Florence (2018)30 August 2018 to 18 September 2018, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 937 hPa
- Charley (2004)9 August 2004 to 15 August 2004, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 947 hPa
- Donna (1960)29 August 1960 to 14 September 1960, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 930 hPa
- Helene (1958)21 September 1958 to 4 October 1958, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 933 hPa
- Diana (1984)8 September 1984 to 16 September 1984, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 949 hPa
- Hazel (1954)5 October 1954 to 18 October 1954, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 938 hPa
- Fran (1996)23 August 1996 to 10 September 1996, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 946 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