The list of North Carolina hurricanes from 1980 to 1999 encompasses approximately 68

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

subtropical cyclone A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of both tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were uncertain whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclon ...

s that affected the US state of

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

. Collectively, cyclones in North Carolina during the time period resulted in around $10 billion in damage (2007

USD The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...

), primarily from hurricanes Fran and Floyd. Additionally,

tropical cyclone A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depen ...

s in North Carolina were responsible for about 56 direct fatalities and at least 47 indirect casualties during the period. Eight cyclones affected the state in the 1985 season, which was the year with the most tropical cyclones impacting the state. Every year included at least one tropical cyclone affecting the state. All but two storms were

North Atlantic hurricane An Atlantic hurricane, also known as tropical storm or simply hurricane, is a tropical cyclone that forms in the Atlantic Ocean, primarily between the months of June and November. A hurricane differs from a cyclone or typhoon only on the basis of ...

s; the exceptions were Eastern

Pacific hurricane A Pacific hurricane is a mature tropical cyclone that develops within the northeastern and central Pacific Ocean to the east of 180°W, north of the equator. For tropical cyclone warning purposes, the northern Pacific is divided into three regio ...

s Tico in 1983 and Roslyn in 1986. 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 The name Emily has been used for fourteen tropical cyclones worldwide, seven in the Atlantic Ocean, five in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and two in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Atlantic: * Hurricane Emily (1981) – crossed Bermuda *Hurricane Emi ...

in 1993 brushed the

Outer Banks The Outer Banks (frequently abbreviated OBX) are a string of barrier islands and spits off the coast of North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, on the east coast of the United States. They line most of the North Carolina coastline, separating ...

also as a Category 3 hurricane. The deadliest hurricane during the period was Hurricane Floyd in 1999, which caused 35 fatalities and record-breaking flooding in the eastern portion of the state. Cyclones affected the state in each month of the hurricane season from June to November, primarily in September.

1980–1984

* August 27, 1980 – Northeasterly winds from Hurricane Charley contribute to six deaths from strong rip currents. * June 7, 1981 – The remnants of a tropical depression bring light precipitation to the state. * July 1, 1981 –

Tropical Storm Bret The name Bret has been used for seven tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean. * Tropical Storm Bret (1981), made landfall in southern Maryland, no real damage * Tropical Storm Bret (1987), short-lived storm, remained in the eastern Atlantic Ocean ...

moves ashore on

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

, with its outer rainbands dropping light rainfall across North Carolina. * August 20, 1981 – Tropical Storm Dennis brushes the

with moderate rainfall peaking at 10.7 inches (271 mm) near Wilmington; scattered power outages and road closures from flooding are reported, but damage is minimal. * November 12, 1981 – A subtropical storm produces

coastal flooding Coastal flooding normally occurs when dry and low-lying land is submerged by seawater. The range of a coastal flooding is a result of the elevation of floodwater that penetrates the inland which is controlled by the topography of the coastal land ...

and beach erosion along the East Coast of the United States. * June 19, 1982 – Subtropical Storm One brushes the coastline and causes some minor flooding due to locally moderate precipitation. * September 11, 1982 – Tropical Storm Chris makes landfall on

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

, and several days later its moisture drops light rainfall in western North Carolina. * September 30, 1983 – Tropical Storm Dean hits the eastern Virginia coastline and produces scattered rainfall across North Carolina. * October 24, 1983 – The remnants of Eastern Pacific Hurricane Tico drop moderate precipitation across the state. * September 13, 1984 – Hurricane Diana strikes near Cape Fear with winds of about after weakening from peak winds of Category 4 status on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. Rainfall in the state peaks at , and the hurricane causes three indirect fatalities and about $70 million in damage. * September 29, 1984 – Tropical Storm Isidore parallels the coastline and drops locally heavy rainfall near the coast. * October 14, 1984 – High surf from

Hurricane Josephine The name Josephine has been used for six tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean. * Hurricane Josephine (1984) - long-lived Category 2 hurricane that threatened the East Coast of the United States. * Hurricane Josephine (1990) - wandered around ...

causes minor damage and overwash along the Outer Banks. * October 29, 1984 – A tropical depression dissipates after bringing light rainfall to the western portion of the state.

1985–1989

Hurricane Gloria south of North Carolina

* July 25, 1985 –

Hurricane Bob Hurricane Bob was one of the costliest hurricanes in New England history. The second named storm and first hurricane of the 1991 Atlantic hurricane season, Bob developed from an area of low pressure near The Bahamas on August 16. The depressi ...

hits

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

, causing one traffic fatality in North Carolina. * August 18, 1985 – The remnants of Hurricane Danny drop moderate precipitation while crossing the state. * September 1, 1985 –

Hurricane Elena Hurricane Elena was a tropical cyclone that affected eastern and central portions of the United States Gulf Coast in late August and early September 1985. Threatening popular tourist destinations during Labor Day weekend, Elena repeatedly de ...

attains major hurricane status in the

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United ...

, with its outer rainbands dropping light rainfall in the southern portion of the state. * September 23, 1985 – A tropical depression intensifies into Tropical Storm Henri to the east of the state, dropping light rainfall near the coastline. * September 27, 1985 –

Hurricane Gloria Hurricane Gloria was a powerful hurricane that caused significant damage along the east coast of the United States and in Atlantic Canada during the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the first significant tropical cyclone to strike the n ...

makes landfall on southern

Hatteras Island Hatteras Island (historically Croatoan Island) is a barrier island located off the North Carolina coast. Dividing the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound, it runs parallel to the coast, forming a bend at Cape Hatteras. It is part of North Carol ...

, causing severe coastal flooding and one death in the state. * October 15, 1985 – Tropical Depression Isabel produces light rainfall along the coastline before dissipating. * November 1, 1985 – Tropical Storm Juan becomes extratropical over

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

and produces heavy rainfall in western North Carolina; the precipitation causes a mudslide that blocked a portion of

Interstate 40 Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west Interstate Highway running through the south-central portion of the United States. At a length of , it is the third-longest Interstate Highway in the country, after I-90 and I-80. From west to ea ...

near

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. * November 22, 1985 – Tropical Storm Kate crosses the extreme southern portion of the state and drops moderate rainfall across the state. * June 1986 – Surf from Tropical Storm Andrew causes one death in the state. * August 17, 1986 – Hurricane Charley makes landfall along the state and causes one indirect death; damage is minor and is mostly from tidal flooding and downed trees. * October 1986 – The remnants of Eastern Pacific Hurricane Roslyn drop moderate precipitation in the western portion of the state. * August 27, 1987 – The remnants of an unnamed tropical storm produce rainfall along the coastline. * September 1987 – Tropical Depression Nine produces light to moderate rainfall as it crosses the state. * August 29, 1988 – Tropical Depression Chris produces light precipitation while crossing the western portion of the state. * September 5, 1988 – The remnants of Tropical Depression Ten drop rainfall across much of the state. * September 10, 1988 –

Hurricane Florence Hurricane Florence was a powerful and long-lived Cape Verde hurricane that caused catastrophic damage in the Carolinas in September 2018, primarily as a result of freshwater flooding due to torrential rain. The sixth named storm, third h ...

strikes

, with its outer rainbands producing light amounts of rainfall in the state. * November 24, 1988 – The outskirts of Tropical Storm Keith produce light rainfall along the coastline. * July 1989 – The remnants of

Tropical Storm Allison Tropical Storm Allison was a tropical storm that devastated southeast Texas in June of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season. An arguable example of the " brown ocean effect", Allison lasted unusually long for a June storm, remaining tropical or s ...

drop heavy rainfall in the state's western region. * September 22, 1989 – Hurricane Hugo crosses the western portion of the state, with its strong winds destroying or severely damaging many homes across the state. More than 200,000 people are left without power, and the winds flatten about 4200 mi² (11,000 km²) of trees. Damage is estimated at $1 billion (1989 USD, $1.7 billion 2007 USD), and there are 7 deaths in the state, of which one directly.

1990–1994

* July 31, 1990 –

Hurricane Bertha The name Bertha has been used for ten tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean. * Tropical Storm Bertha (1957), a moderate tropical storm that threatened areas devastated by Hurricane Audrey two months earlier, but did not become a hurricane and ca ...

passes east of the state, causing some rough surf. * October 11, 1990 – The remnants of

Hurricane Klaus The name Klaus has been used for two tropical cyclones and one extratropical cyclone worldwide. Tropical cyclones In the Atlantic Ocean: * Hurricane Klaus (1984) Hurricane Klaus was a North Atlantic hurricane that hit the Leeward Islands fr ...

drop heavy rainfall in the state's interior section. * October 13, 1990 – The extratropical remnants of

Tropical Storm Marco The name Marco has been used for four tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean. * Tropical Storm Marco (1990), hugged west coast of Florida, making landfall as a tropical depression, causing heavy rain and moderate damage * Hurricane Marco (1996), f ...

bring additional heavy rainfall to the state, causing two direct deaths and two indirect traffic deaths. * October 13, 1990 –

Hurricane Lili Hurricane Lili was the second costliest, deadliest, and strongest hurricane of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season, only surpassed by Hurricane Isidore, which affected the same areas around a week before Lili. Lili was the twelfth named storm, f ...

weakens to tropical storm status to the east of the state, and causes minor beach erosion. * July 3, 1991 – Light rainfall in the center of the state occurs due to the tropical depression that later becomes Tropical Storm Ana. * August 19, 1991 –

brushes the Outer Banks with gusty winds and a light storm surge, causing one death and $4 million in damage (1991 USD, $7 million 2007 USD). * October 28, 1991 – A subtropical storm becomes Hurricane Grace, and its interaction with a high-pressure system produces heavy surf and gale-force winds along the Outer Banks. * October 31, 1991 – The

1991 Perfect Storm The 1991 Perfect Storm, also known as The No-Name Storm (especially in the years immediately after it took place) and the Halloween Gale/Storm, was a nor'easter that absorbed Hurricane Grace, and ultimately evolved into a small unnamed hurricane ...

transitions into a subtropical storm, resulting in additional high surf and causing severe flooding along the Outer Banks; damage amounts to over $5 million (1991 USD, $8 million 2007 USD), which includes the destruction or damage of hundreds of buildings. * August 28, 1992 – Former Hurricane Andrew dissipates in the western portion of the state, dropping light to moderate precipitation. * September 25, 1992 – Tropical Storm Danielle brushes the outer banks, causing light flooding which destroys three houses. * September 29, 1992 – Tropical Storm Earl produces light rainfall near the southeast coastline. * August 31, 1993 – The western

eyewall The eye is a region of mostly calm weather at the center of tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area, typically in diameter. It is surrounded by the ''eyewall'', a ring of towering thunderstorms where the most severe weat ...

crosses the northeastern Outer Banks, with its strong winds leaving 553 dwellings uninhabitable. Damage amounts to about $35 million, primarily on

, and the hurricane causes two deaths from rough surf. * July 5, 1994 – Tropical Depression Alberto moves into

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, bringing moisture that causes light rainfall in North Carolina. * July 21, 1994 – Tropical Depression Two degenerates into a remnant low-pressure area near

Charlotte Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...

, dropping light rainfall along its path. * August 17, 1994 – While crossing the western portion of the state, Tropical Depression Beryl spawns nine tornadoes and drops heavy rainfall, peaking at 13.8 inches (351 mm) in

Transylvania County Transylvania County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census the population is 32,986. Its county seat is Brevard. Transylvania County comprises the Brevard Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included i ...

which causes some flooding. * November 17, 1994 – Hurricane Gordon causes significant flooding and strong winds along the Outer Banks, with some beachfront homes in Kitty Hawk being destroyed or severely damaged.

1995–1999

* June 6, 1995 – The extratropical remnants of

Hurricane Allison The name Allison has been used for three tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean, and the alternative spelling Alison has been used for two tropical cyclones in the Australian region of the Indian Ocean, one in the South-West Indian Ocean, and one i ...

produce heavy rainfall in the eastern portion of the state, causing flooding which results in $5 million (1995 USD, $7 million 2007 USD) in crop damage. * August 7, 1995 – Tropical Depression Erin dissipates over the

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...

and drops light rainfall in the state's western portion. * August 17, 1995 –

Hurricane Felix Hurricane Felix was an extremely powerful Category 5 Atlantic hurricane which was the southernmost-landfalling Category 5 storm on record, surpassing Hurricane Edith of 1971. It was the sixth named storm, second hurricane, and second Category ...

makes its closest point of approach to the state, which causes high surf and rip currents; three people are killed from the surf, and severe beach erosion is reported. * August 28, 1995 – Tropical Depression Jerry degenerates into a remnant low over Georgia, dropping heavy rainfall that causes localized serious flooding. Dozens of homes sustain flood damage, and monetary damage in the state totals over $7.5 million (1995 USD, $10.2 million 2007 USD). * September 7, 1995 – Rip currents from

Hurricane Luis Hurricane Luis was a long lived and powerful Category 4 hurricane. It was the strongest hurricane to make landfall and the third-most intense hurricane recorded during the 1995 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm, along with Humberto, Iris, an ...

kill a fisherman in Brunswick County. * October 5, 1995 – Former

Hurricane Opal Hurricane Opal was a large and powerful Category 4 hurricane that caused severe and extensive damage along the northern Gulf Coast of the United States in October 1995. The fifteenth named storm, ninth hurricane and strongest tropical cyclon ...

produces moderate rainfall across and gusty winds across much of the state; a falling tree, as a result of the winds, kills a man when it strikes a mobile home, and also causes one indirect death. Damage amounts to over $15 million. * June 20, 1996 – Minimal Tropical Storm Arthur crosses the Outer Banks with moderate surf and light rainfall, causing no significant damage. * July 12, 1996 –

makes landfall near Wilmington, destroying hundreds of structures and damaging thousands more, mostly from storm surge. Damage amounts to over $250 million (1996 USD, $325 million 2007 USD), about half of which from crop damage, and there is each one direct and one indirect death in the state. * August 29, 1996 – Hurricane Edouard begins impacting the state with high surf, which causes some overwash. * September 6, 1996 –

Hurricane Fran Hurricane Fran caused extensive damage in the United States in early September 1996. The sixth named storm, fifth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season, Fran developed from a tropical wave near Cape Verde on ...

makes landfall near Wilmington with winds gusts peaking at 137 mph and a 10-foot storm surge. In North Topsail Beach and Carteret County alone, the hurricane damages or destroys 6,688 structures, while further inland, heavy rainfall causes river flooding. Across the state damage amounts to about $2.55 billion (1996 USD, $3.35 billion 2007 USD), becoming, at the time, the state's worst natural economic disaster. The hurricane causes a total of 14 deaths in the state, of which eight were indirect. * October 8, 1996 – The extratropical remnants of Tropical Storm Josephine cause some flooding after dropping light to moderate precipitation across the state. * July 24, 1997 – The remnants of Hurricane Danny re-intensify into a tropical storm over the northeastern portion of the state, producing moderate precipitation up to 12.3 inches (312 mm) in Albemarle. The rainfall causes two deaths from drowning in the western portion of the state. * August 27, 1998 – Hurricane Bonnie moves ashore near Wilmington as a strong Category 2 hurricane with a moderate storm surge and heavy rainfall from its slow movement across the state. A girl in Currituck County was killed when a large tree fell onto her home. The winds and rainfall cause heavy crop damage, and monetary damage in the state is estimated at $480 million (1998 USD, $610 million 2007 USD). * September 4, 1998 – The extratropical remnants of Hurricane Earl drop moderate rainfall while crossing the state. * September 22, 1998 – The remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine produces light rainfall in the state. * September 29, 1998 – Former

Hurricane Georges Hurricane Georges () was a powerful and long-lived Cape Verde Category 4 hurricane which caused severe destruction as it traversed the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in September 1998, making eight landfalls along its path. Georges was the seve ...

weakens to tropical depression status, later dropping light rainfall in the state. Floyd- Property Damage

* August 30, 1999 –

Hurricane Dennis Hurricane Dennis was an early-forming major hurricane in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico during the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Dennis was the fourth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season. F ...

parallels the state offshore, and five days later it executes a loop and makes landfall along

Cape Lookout National Seashore Cape Lookout National Seashore preserves a 56-mile (90-km) long section of the Southern Outer Banks, or Crystal Coast, of North Carolina, USA, running from Ocracoke Inlet on the northeast to Beaufort Inlet on the southeast. Three undeveloped barrie ...

as a strong tropical storm. The hurricane drops heavy rainfall peaking at 19.9 inches (506 mm) in Ocracoke, while its extended duration offshore causes localized severe beach erosion. The rainfall causes flooding along several rivers, which is compounded by the effects of

Hurricane Floyd Hurricane Floyd was a very powerful Cape Verde hurricane which struck the Bahamas and the East Coast of the United States. It was the sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Floyd tr ...

just weeks later. Damage in the state amounts to over $50 million. * September 16, 1999 –

strikes near Cape Fear with a 10-foot (3 m) storm surge and wind gusts of up to ; the hurricane drops heavy rainfall of over 20 inches (500 mm), which causes record-breaking river flooding that is considered a 1 in 500 year event. Damage amounts to over $3 billion (1999 USD, $3.7 billion 2007 USD), with over 7,000 homes destroyed and another 56,000 damaged. The passage of the hurricane causes 35 direct deaths and 16 indirect deaths in the state, primarily from flooding.

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Jim Hunt considers the hurricane "the worst disaster to hit North Carolina in modern times." * September 21, 1999 – Tropical Storm Harvey crosses southern Florida, with its moisture producing light rainfall along the North Carolina coastline. * October 18, 1999 –

Hurricane Irene Hurricane Irene was a large and destructive tropical cyclone which affected much of the Caribbean and East Coast of the United States during late August 2011. The ninth named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2011 ...

parallels the state's coastline just offshore, dropping further heavy rainfall to coastal regions. Some additional flooding is reported, and one indirect death occurs due to a traffic accident.

Monthly statistics

Deadly storms

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:North Carolina Hurricanes 1980-1999 North Carolina 1980 1980 North Carolina 1980 Hurricanes 1980