NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Bear Creek, NC
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
46 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Bear Creek, North Carolina since 1851, 4 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 41 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 4
- Tropical storms
- 42
- Tornadoes
- 41
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
7 deaths in all
What the records show for Bear Creek
The strongest storm to pass near Bear Creek was Hazel in 1954, a Category 2 hurricane with 101 mph winds when its centre passed 58 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 7 miles. The record near Bear Creek begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 21 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 7 systems. Of the 46 systems, 7 have come since 2000. Bear Creek has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 50% of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site. The highest rating among the 41 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on April 16, 2011, came within 17 miles. Of the 41, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 19 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 8. The most recent tornado was on July 6, 2025. Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 78% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Bear Creek. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 35 times since 1985, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 84% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Bear Creek.
Compare Bear Creek's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Bear Creek
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 21 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | EarlSep 4 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | DianeAug 17 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 58 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormAug 28 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 23 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormSep 3 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 45 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 7 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 49 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 4 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 12 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 23 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 25 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Bear Creek: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Bear Creek
By decade
- 2020s6
- 2010s5(1 EF3+)
- 2000s8
- 1990s8
- 1980s3
- 1970s6
- 1960s3(1 EF3+)
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF3 | 17 mi | 65.23 mi | 6 / 103 |
| Oct 7, 1965 | F3 | 25 mi | 1 mi | 1 / 4 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 24 mi | 10.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 29, 1991 | F2 | 7 mi | 26 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 29, 1991 | F2 | 20 mi | 28 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | F2 | 21 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Oct 7, 1965 | F2 | 3 mi | 6.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 6, 1956 | F2 | 20 mi | 14.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 17, 1954 | F2 | 15 mi | 2.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 6, 2025 | EF1 | 23 mi | 0.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 6, 2025 | EF1 | 13 mi | 1.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 6, 2025 | EF1 | 15 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 41, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Bear Creek
The Storm Prediction Center has 35 hail reports within 10 miles of Bear Creek since 1985, made on 31 separate days. Of these, 19 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 3 days, most recently July 28, 2005. The most recent report is from May 31, 2019. June has the most reports, 9.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Bear Creek
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Siler City 2 N, NC, 11 miles north of Bear Creek at 610 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 50°F and 30°F. September is the wettest at 5.1 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.2 inches; the year adds up to 45.9 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (23.5 of 45.9 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 46 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (17); a normal September there has highs of 81°F and 5.1 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 35 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 73 nights a year. Snowfall averages 1.5 inches a year, most of it in March. That 45.9 inches is more than at 18 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (13%). Pittsboro, 15 miles northeast, has its own station (Chapel Hill 2 W, NC): 49.0 inches a year, 3.1 more than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50 | 30 | 3.9 | 7 | 0.4 |
| Feb | 54 | 32 | 3.2 | 6 | 0.1 |
| Mar | 62 | 39 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.6 |
| Apr | 71 | 47 | 3.9 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 78 | 56 | 3.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 85 | 65 | 3.7 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 89 | 69 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 87 | 67 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 81 | 61 | 5.1 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 71 | 48 | 3.4 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 61 | 38 | 3.5 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 53 | 33 | 3.6 | 6 | 0.4 |
| Year | 70 | 49 | 45.9 | 77 | 1.5 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Siler City 2 N, NC (610 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Bear Creek
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 122 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Bear Creek: 112 thunderstorm wind reports, 8 flash floods and 2 heavy rain events. They killed 0 people and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $2.6 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 69 mph, on June 1, 2001. July has had the most flash floods, 4 of 8. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 81 have had fewer than Bear Creek.
March 8, 2005: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Bear Creek — 2 injured.
NWS: “A barn collapsed, injuring two people.”
July 6, 2025: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Bear Creek — $1.6 million damage.
October 8, 2016: flash flood 10 miles from the centre of Bear Creek — $535,000 damage.
NWS: “Widespread heavy rainfall of 6 to 8 inches caused flash flooding on several roads across the county. Flooding damaged approximately 36 structures throughout the county, resulting in $535 thousand in property damage.”
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Chatham County, which includes Bear Creek, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 10 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 tropical storms, 1 drought). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Depression Chantal, on September 11, 2025. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Chatham County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, inland flooding and lightning; Relatively Low for hail, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $24.8 million a year, the 49th highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $14.9 million (60%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.