NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Bostic, 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
18 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Bostic, North Carolina since 1851, 1 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 68 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 1
- Tropical storms
- 17
- Tornadoes
- 68
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
6 deaths in all
What the records show for Bostic
The strongest storm to pass near Bostic was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 1 hurricane with 77 mph winds when its centre passed 70 miles away. The record near Bostic begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a tropical storm 42 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1900s, with 4 systems. Of the 18 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site, 65% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Bostic. The highest rating among the 68 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4, reached 2 times; the most recent, on May 5, 1989, came within 13 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on May 5, 1989, killed 4 people. Of the 68, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 41 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 19. The most recent tornado was on December 29, 2024. Bostic has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 61% of the 475 North Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 63 times since 1985, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 51% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Bostic.
Compare Bostic's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Bostic
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1959 | GracieSep 30 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 70 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Bostic: 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 Bostic
By decade
- 2020s9
- 2010s17
- 2000s15
- 1990s14
- 1980s4(2 EF3+)
- 1970s8(1 EF3+)
- 1960s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 1989 | F4 | 13 mi | 14 mi | 4 / 52 |
| May 5, 1989 | F4 | 13 mi | 15 mi | 2 / 35 |
| May 27, 1973 | F3 | 15 mi | 60.2 mi | 0 / 40 |
| Oct 23, 2017 | EF2 | 19 mi | 4.86 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 11, 2012 | EF2 | 23 mi | 4.15 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Jan 11, 2012 | EF2 | 4 mi | 3.8 mi | 0 / 10 |
| Oct 26, 2010 | EF2 | 19 mi | 2.58 mi | 0 / 11 |
| May 7, 1998 | F2 | 23 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1998 | F2 | 16 mi | 3.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | F2 | 24 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 27, 1994 | F2 | 17 mi | 45.4 mi | 0 / 13 |
| Feb 10, 1990 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 68, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Bostic
The Storm Prediction Center has 63 hail reports within 10 miles of Bostic since 1985, made on 44 separate days. Of these, 30 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently April 9, 2011. The most recent report is from June 25, 2025. May has the most reports, 22.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Bostic
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Forest City 8 W, NC, 14 miles southwest of Bostic at 849 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 67°F; January is the coolest, at 52°F and 27°F. June is the wettest at 5.0 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.6 inches; the year adds up to 52.1 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (26.4 of 52.1 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 18 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (8); a normal September there has highs of 82°F and 4.5 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 45 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 99 nights a year. That 52.1 inches is more than at 87 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (62%). Ellenboro, 7 miles south, has its own station (Shelby 2 NW, NC): 50.5 inches a year, 1.6 less than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | 27 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Feb | 55 | 30 | 3.9 | 6 |
| Mar | 63 | 35 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Apr | 72 | 44 | 4.4 | 6 |
| May | 79 | 53 | 3.9 | 7 |
| Jun | 86 | 63 | 5.0 | 7 |
| Jul | 89 | 67 | 4.9 | 8 |
| Aug | 87 | 66 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Sep | 82 | 60 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Oct | 73 | 46 | 3.6 | 5 |
| Nov | 63 | 34 | 3.9 | 5 |
| Dec | 55 | 30 | 4.8 | 8 |
| Year | 71 | 46 | 52.1 | 80 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Forest City 8 W, NC (849 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 Bostic
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 107 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Bostic: 103 thunderstorm wind reports, 2 flash floods, 1 heavy rain event and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $698,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on June 22, 1998.
August 5, 1997: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Bostic — $300,000 damage.
May 2, 2003: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Bostic — $200,000 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
Rutherford County, which includes Bostic, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 11 of them major disasters (by incident: 8 hurricanes, 3 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Helene, on September 28, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Rutherford County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for strong wind; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes and hail; Very Low for heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $24.0 million a year, the 52nd highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $14.4 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.