List of North Carolina hurricanes

Hurricane Floyd ten hours prior to its North Carolina landfall; 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 earliest storm to affect the state was Subtropical Storm Andrea on May 7, 2007, and the latest was a tropical storm that moved across the Outer Banks on December 2, 1925. 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]

19001949

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 $328 million in damage (2008 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 $150 million in damage (2008 USD) from flooding and landslides.[13]

19501979

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 $3 billion in damage (2008 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 (2008 USD) and 19 deaths.[14] Most storms affected the state in September, though cyclones lashed the state between May and October.

1980Present

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] The deadliest hurricane during the period was Hurricane Floyd in 1999, which caused 35 fatalities and recordbreaking flooding in the eastern portion of the state.[15][16] Hurricane Irene Hit the Outer banks on August 27th 2011 as a Category 1, making it the first of its kind to make landfall since Hurricane Ike in 2008.

North Carolina major hurricanes

The following major hurricanes either made landfall on the state or brought winds of Category 3 status to the state. Storms are listed since 1851, which is the official start of the Atlantic hurricane database.[2]

Storm Saffir-Simpson
Category
Date of landfall Year Landfall intensity
(in knots)
Landfall location
Unnamed 3 August 19 1879 100 Cape Lookout
San Ciriaco 3 August 18 1899 105 Hatteras
Unnamed 3 September 16 1933 100 Ocracoke
Great Atlantic Hurricane 3 September 14 1944 100 Cape Hatteras
Hurricane Hazel 4 October 15 1954 115 Near South Carolina/
North Carolina border
Hurricane Connie 3 August 12 1955 100 Portsmouth
Hurricane Ione 3 September 19 1955 100 Morehead City
Hurricane Helene 3 September 27 1958 100 Offshore Outer Banks
Hurricane Donna 3 September 12 1960 100 Emerald Isle
Hurricane Diana 3 September 13 1984 100 Cape Fear
Hurricane Gloria 3 September 27 1985 100 Hatteras Island
Hurricane Emily 3 August 31 1993 100 Offshore Hatteras Island
Hurricane Fran 3 September 6 1996 100 Cape Fear

Climatological statistics

Number of recorded storms affecting North Carolina
Month Number of storms
May
8
June
28
July
34
August
101
September
142
October
80
November
9
December
1
Number of recorded storms affecting North Carolina
Period Number of storms
pre-1700
9
18th-century
22
1800–1809
4
1810s
3
1820s
8
1830s
10
1840s
7
1850s
12
1860s
8
1870s
12
1880s
23
1890s
21
1900–1909
14
1910s
17
1920s
12
1930s
15
1940s
17
1950s
24
1960s
23
1970s
32
1980s
32
1990s
36
2000–2008
39

Deadly storms

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
"San Ciriaco" 1899 20+
"Outer Banks Hurricane" 1933 21
Hurricane Matthew 2016 28
Unnamed 1772 50
Unnamed 1883 53
Hurricane Floyd 1999 57
"Racer's Storm" 1837 90
"Independence Hurricane" 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. 1 2 3 4 Hurricane Research Division (2008). "Chronological List of All Hurricanes which Affected the Continental United States: 1851-2005". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  3. Hurricane Research Division (2006). "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. 1 2 State Climate Office of North Carolina (2006). "Hurricanes in North Carolina". Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  5. Roth, David M; Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in the Southeastern United States". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  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. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  9. National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division (July 6, 2016). "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  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". Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  15. U.S. Department of Commerce (2000). "Hurricane Floyd Floods of September 1999" (PDF). NOAA. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  16. National Climatic Data Center (1999). "Climate-Watch, September 1999". Retrieved 2007-12-22.

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/1/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.