NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Camp Lejeune, 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
127 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina since 1851, 40 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ophelia in 2023. Since 1950, 77 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 40
- Tropical storms
- 87
- Tornadoes
- 77
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Camp Lejeune
The strongest storm to pass near Camp Lejeune was Helene in 1958, a Category 4 hurricane with 136 mph winds when its centre passed 37 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1861, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Camp Lejeune begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ophelia in 2023, a tropical storm 13 miles away. The 1960s and the 2000s were the busiest decades, with 11 systems each. Of the 127 systems, 23 have come since 2000. Camp Lejeune has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 96% of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site. The strongest of the 77 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF3 on April 16, 2011; its path came within 7 miles. The deadliest, an F2 on July 2, 1986, killed 3 people. Of the 77, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 45 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 13. The most recent tornado was on September 16, 2024. Camp Lejeune has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 72% of the 475 North Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 86 times since 1978, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Camp Lejeune has more hail reports within 10 miles than 73% of the 475 North Carolina cities.
Compare Camp Lejeune's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Camp Lejeune
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | OpheliaSep 23 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 31 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 21 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | DorianSep 6 | 44 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 14 | 30 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2016 | MatthewOct 9 | 42 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 3 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2016 | ColinJun 7 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2014 | ArthurJul 4 | 30 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2012 | BerylMay 30 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2011 | IreneAug 27 | 41 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2008 | CristobalJul 20 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2007 | GabrielleSep 9 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2007 | BarryJun 3 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 1 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | OpheliaSep 14 | 39 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | AlexAug 3 | 61 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 18 | 62 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2000 | HeleneSep 23 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | IreneOct 18 | 66 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 7 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1999 | DennisSep 5 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 4 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1998 | BonnieAug 27 | 1 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 55 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 12 | 20 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1996 | ArthurJun 19 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1986 | CharleyAug 17 | 45 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1984 | DianaSep 14 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 19 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 20 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1975 | HallieOct 27 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1975 | AmyJun 28 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 21 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | GingerOct 1 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 27 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1970 | Unnamed 1970 stormAug 17 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | GladysOct 20 | 47 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1967 | Unnamed 1967 stormJun 18 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 11 | 74 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | IsbellOct 16 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 13 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1962 | AlmaAug 28 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1962 | Unnamed 1962 stormJun 30 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 14 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 3 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1958 | HeleneSep 27 | 37 mi | Category 4 (136 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormOct 17 | overhead | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 27 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | IoneSep 19 | 36 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 17 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 12 | 35 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 65 mi | Category 3 (116 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 30 | 74 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1954 | Unnamed 1954 stormMay 29 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | BarbaraAug 13 | 64 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 13 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 24 | 74 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 25 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormJul 6 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormJun 25 | 30 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormJul 31 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 3 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 16 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1930 | Unnamed 1930 stormSep 12 | 74 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 19 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormDec 2 | 30 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 17 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1918 | Unnamed 1918 stormAug 24 | 24 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormSep 6 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormSep 3 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 20 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormAug 28 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormSep 1 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormJul 31 | 13 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 29 | 64 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormNov 4 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormJul 12 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 13 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 6 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 23 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 28 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 4 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 18 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 20 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 25 | 6 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 11 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 12 | 52 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 22 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormSep 9 | 26 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 9 | 9 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 18 | 31 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 12 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 17 | 12 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 20 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 25 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 7 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 5 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 18 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 2 | 38 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 27 | overhead | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1857 | Unnamed 1857 stormSep 13 | 1 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 19 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 10 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 28 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 25 | 52 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 Camp Lejeune: 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 Camp Lejeune
By decade
- 2020s8
- 2010s12(1 EF3+)
- 2000s25
- 1990s16
- 1980s7
- 1970s4
- 1960s3
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF3 | 7 mi | 3.76 mi | 0 / 30 |
| Jul 2, 1986 | F2 | 9 mi | 1.5 mi | 3 / 10 |
| Sep 5, 2019 | EF2 | 12 mi | 13 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 24, 2018 | EF2 | 24 mi | 2.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 11, 2008 | EF2 | 17 mi | 4.98 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Sep 15, 1999 | F2 | 24 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 26, 1982 | F2 | 18 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 24, 1972 | F2 | 8 mi | 0.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 24, 2024 | EF1 | in town | 8.84 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 12 mi | 5.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 15, 2018 | EF1 | 5 mi | 2.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 14, 2018 | EF1 | 16 mi | 4.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 77, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Camp Lejeune
The Storm Prediction Center has 86 hail reports within 10 miles of Camp Lejeune since 1978, made on 55 separate days. Of these, 35 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 15 days, most recently March 22, 2014. The most recent report is from April 11, 2025. May has the most reports, 29.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Camp Lejeune
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is New River Mcaf, NC, 5 miles northwest of Camp Lejeune at 26 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 56°F and 35°F. August and September are the wettest at 7.5 inches of precipitation on average and April the driest at 3.4 inches; the year adds up to 56.7 inches over 81 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 60% of the year's precipitation (34.1 of 56.7 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 127 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (47); a normal September there has highs of 83°F and 7.5 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 44 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 43 nights a year. Snowfall averages 0.6 inches a year, most of it in January. That 56.7 inches is more than at 111 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (79%). Swansboro, 14 miles east, has its own station (Newport/Morehead City WFO, NC): 60.7 inches a year, 4.0 more than here, and a July average high of 87°F against 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 35 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.4 |
| Feb | 59 | 38 | 3.5 | 7 | 0.2 |
| Mar | 66 | 43 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Apr | 74 | 52 | 3.4 | 5 | 0.0 |
| May | 80 | 61 | 4.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 87 | 69 | 5.2 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 89 | 73 | 6.2 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 88 | 71 | 7.5 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 83 | 67 | 7.5 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 75 | 55 | 4.1 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 66 | 44 | 3.6 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 59 | 38 | 3.7 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Year | 74 | 54 | 56.7 | 81 | 0.6 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at New River Mcaf, NC (26 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 Camp Lejeune
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 97 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Camp Lejeune: 76 thunderstorm wind reports, 13 flash floods, 6 floods and 2 lightning strikes. They killed 2 people and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $148,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 78 mph, on January 9, 2024. May has had the most flash floods, 5 of 13. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 186 have had fewer than Camp Lejeune.
July 11, 2017: lightning strike 6 miles from the centre of Camp Lejeune — 1 killed, 1 injured.
April 11, 2025: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Camp Lejeune — 1 killed, 1 injured.
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
Onslow County, which includes Camp Lejeune, has been named in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1996, 15 of them major disasters (by incident: 22 hurricanes, 3 tropical storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight, on October 19, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Onslow County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes; Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding, coastal flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $215.7 million a year, the 4th highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $170.6 million (79%), is from hurricanes.
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).
Camp Lejeune in the notable storm records: Hurricane Irene (2011)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Camp Lejeune
- Midway Park, NC6 mi
- Tarawa Terrace, NC7 mi
- Hubert, NC8 mi
- Sneads Ferry, NC10 mi
- Jacksonville, NC10 mi
- Swansboro, NC14 mi
- Holly Ridge, NC17 mi
- Maysville, NC18 mi
- Maple Hill, NC18 mi
- Emerald Isle, NC19 mi
- Richlands, NC22 mi
- Hampstead, NC24 mi
All North Carolina cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Camp Lejeune with another place →