North Carolina is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the Southeastern United States. Tropical cyclonesstorms characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain—regularly affect the state. According to statistical hurricane research between 1886 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% of all North Atlantic tropical cyclones have affected the state.[1]

This list documents 79 tropical cyclones known to have affected the state between 2000 and the present. The most active month is September, with 31 total storms, while November is the least active month with three storms. The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the time period was Hurricane Isabel in 2003, producing maximum sustained winds equivalent to Category 2 status on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. In terms of impacts, Hurricane Helene in 2024 was the most destructive and the deadliest. The first storm to impact the state during the period was Hurricane Florence in September 2000, and the most recent was Hurricane Erin in August 2025.

2000–2004

2005–2009

2010–2019

2020–present

Monthly statistics

Number of recorded storms affecting North Carolina
Month Number of storms
May 5
June 4
July 13
August 17
September 33
October 7
November 3

Deadly storms

Total deaths
Name Year Number of deaths
Helene 2024 107
Florence 2018 43
Matthew 2016 28
Eta 2020 11
Allison 2001 9
Ivan 2004 8
Irene 2011 7
Fred 2021 6
Ian 2022 5
Andrea 2007 4
Isaias 2020 4
Florence 2000 3
Bonnie 2004 3
Michael 2018 3
Dorian 2019 2
Henri 2021 2
Debby 2024 2
Bill 2003 1
Fabian 2003 1
Jeanne 2004 1
Alberto 2006 1
Danny 2009 1
Colin 2010 1
Igor 2010 1
Humberto 2019 1
Colin 2022 1

See also

References

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