List Of North Carolina Hurricanes (pre-1900)

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 impacting the state during the time period. From the beginning of the official North Atlantic hurricane record in 1851 to 1899, there were 12 years without a known tropical cyclone affecting the state. The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the official record was the San Ciriaco hurricane of 1899, which struck the state with winds of , although the 1821 Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane may have been stronger.

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. 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.

Pre-1700

* June 1526 – A Spanish brigantine is lost off Wilmington.
* June 14, 1566 – Two vessels in the Spanish fleet of Ángel de Villafañe sink off Cape Hatteras, which is believed to have been caused by a hurricane.
* June 23–June 26, 1586 – A powerful hurricane threatens the fleet of Sir Walter Raleigh in Roanoke Island; its passage influences the settlers to return with Raleigh to England.
* August 31, 1587 – A hurricane passes near or over Roanoke Island, causing rough seas for the fleet of Sir Walter Raleigh.
* August 1590 – John White leads a survey to discover the remains of the Roanoke Colony, but is forced to leave due to an approaching hurricane.
* August 26, 1591 – Strong winds from a hurricane prevent a sailing expedition along the coastline.
* September 6, 1667 – Many buildings are destroyed in association with a hurricane that strikes the northern Outer Banks, which also causes some crop damage.
* August 18, 1669 – A hurricane crosses the northern Outer Banks.
* August 6, 1670 – The Outer Banks are affected by a hurricane.

1700s

* September 16, 1713 – A strong hurricane causes shipping damage near Cape Fear, and also opens forms several inlets along the Outer Banks.
* August 13, 1728 – Several ships are lost during a hurricane, with one entire crew killed in one vessel.
* October 18, 1749 – A powerful hurricane remains offshore, which causes high tides that capsize nine ships near Ocracoke.
* August 18, 1750 – Five ships are wrecked or driven ashore due to a hurricane.
* September 30, 1752 – A hurricane strikes near Wilmington with high tides and winds; an unknown number of deaths are reported in the state.
* October 22, 1752 – A hurricane affects the state's coastline.
* September 23, 1761 – A new inlet is formed after a hurricane makes landfall on the state.
* October, 1761 – Cape Hatteras is brushed by a major hurricane.
* September 21, 1767 – Several vessels are lost in an offshore storm.
* September 7–8, 1769 – Great Chesapeake Bay Hurricane of 1769. New Bern is severely damaged by unprecedented tides and winds; the flood waters destroy an entire street of houses, along with some of the inhabitants, while the winds down thousands of trees.
* September 1, 1772 – A tropical cyclone washes 40 vessels ashore along Ocracoke, causing 50 fatalities.
* August 26, 1773 – The state is affected by a hurricane.
* August 29, 1775 – The Mid-Atlantic States are first impacted by the ''Independence Hurricane'', which crosses the eastern portion of the state in early September. The hurricane destroys all of the corn crop in the northeastern portion of the state, and kills 163 people in the state. In the aftermath of the hurricane, the Second Continental Congress provide farmers in the northeastern portion of the state with 40  shillings to purchase corn and other supplies.
* August 10, 1777 – The coastline is affected by a tropical cyclone.
* August 11, 1778 – A hurricane produces heavy rainfall in the New Bern area.
* August 11, 1781 – A gale lasts for forty hours at Wilmington in association with a slow-moving hurricane.
* October 7, 1783 – Heavy damage is reported near Wilmington from a hurricane crossing the eastern portion of the state.
* September 23, 1785 – A hurricane strikes Ocracoke, causing beach erosion and killing several cattle.
* July 23, 1788 – A cyclone known as ''George Washington's Hurricane'' moves through Virginia, while in eastern North Carolina it damages dozens of vessels.
* August 2, 1795 – A Spanish fleet of 18 vessels are driven ashore near Cape Hatteras by a hurricane.
* August 12, 1795 – The state is struck by a major hurricane that produces heavy rainfall along its path.
* September 5, 1797 – A sloop is lost in Currituck Sound

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