NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Cary, 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
55 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Cary, North Carolina since 1851, 4 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 68 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 4
- Tropical storms
- 51
- Tornadoes
- 68
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
10 deaths in all
What the records show for Cary
The strongest storm to pass near Cary was Hazel in 1954, a Category 2 hurricane with 97 mph winds when its centre passed 25 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 16 miles. The record near Cary begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 5 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 7 systems. Of the 55 systems, 10 have come since 2000. Cary has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 50% of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site. The strongest of the 68 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on November 27, 1988; its path came within 7 miles, and it killed 4 people. The deadliest, an EF3 on April 16, 2011, killed 6 people. Of the 68, 6 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 29 have come since 2000. March and May have had the most tornadoes, 14 each. The most recent tornado was on July 6, 2025. Cary has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 61% of the 475 North Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 225 times since 1955, with stones up to 4 inches (softball size). Cary has more hail reports within 10 miles than any other of the 475 North Carolina cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Cary
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 21 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 1 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2000 | HeleneSep 23 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | DennisSep 5 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 4 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1984 | DianaSep 14 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 21 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | IsbellOct 16 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1959 | CindyJul 10 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 17 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 25 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 25 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 19 | 60 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 23 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormSep 6 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormSep 3 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 22 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 16 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 4 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 12 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 23 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 25 | 60 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 Cary: 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 Cary
By decade
- 2020s6
- 2010s12(1 EF3+)
- 2000s11
- 1990s11(1 EF3+)
- 1980s11(1 EF3+)
- 1970s6
- 1960s4
- 1950s7
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 27, 1988 | F4 | 7 mi | 83 mi | 4 / 154 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF3 | 4 mi | 65.23 mi | 6 / 103 |
| Nov 23, 1992 | F3 | 22 mi | 160 mi | 0 / 44 |
| May 13, 2019 | EF2 | 20 mi | 17.18 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 24 mi | 10.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 20, 1998 | F2 | 10 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Mar 29, 1991 | F2 | 16 mi | 26 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 5, 1989 | F2 | 14 mi | 8.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 4, 1984 | F2 | 18 mi | 1.7 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Jun 16, 1982 | F2 | 14 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 11, 1981 | F2 | 16 mi | 1.9 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Nov 2, 1966 | F2 | 12 mi | 64.5 mi | 0 / 9 |
The strongest 12 of 68, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Cary
The Storm Prediction Center has 225 hail reports within 10 miles of Cary since 1955, made on 115 separate days. Of these, 131 were 1 inch across or larger, and 13 reached 2 inches. The largest, 4 inches (softball size), fell on March 28, 2005. The most recent report is from May 5, 2025. May has the most reports, 92.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Cary
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Apex, NC, 4 miles southwest of Cary at 450 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 51°F and 31°F. September is the wettest at 5.3 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.0 inches; the year adds up to 48.4 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 55% of the year's precipitation (26.5 of 48.4 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 55 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (25); a normal September there has highs of 82°F and 5.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 41 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 67 nights a year. Snowfall averages 4.8 inches a year, most of it in January. That 48.4 inches is more than at 51 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (36%). Morrisville, 6 miles northwest, has its own station (Raleigh Durham International Airport, NC): 46.1 inches a year, 2.3 less than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | 31 | 3.7 | 7 | 2.9 |
| Feb | 54 | 33 | 3.0 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Mar | 62 | 39 | 4.1 | 7 | 0.4 |
| Apr | 72 | 48 | 3.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| May | 79 | 57 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 86 | 65 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 89 | 69 | 5.1 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 87 | 68 | 4.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 82 | 62 | 5.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 72 | 50 | 3.7 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 62 | 40 | 3.5 | 5 | 0.3 |
| Dec | 54 | 34 | 3.7 | 7 | 0.2 |
| Year | 71 | 50 | 48.4 | 77 | 4.8 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Apex, NC (450 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 Cary
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 504 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Cary: 317 thunderstorm wind reports, 152 flash floods, 17 lightning strikes, 16 heavy rain events and 2 floods. They killed 1 person and injured 9, and the NWS estimated $8.7 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on January 11, 2014. July has had the most flash floods, 41 of 152. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 470 have had fewer than Cary.
April 9, 2015: lightning strike 3 miles from the centre of Cary — 1 killed.
NWS: “A 28 year old male was struck and killed by lightning in the parking lot of a shopping center.”
August 21, 2007: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Cary — 8 injured.
June 17, 2022: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Cary — 1 injured, $5,000 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
Flood insurance policyholders in Cary's 4 ZIP codes have filed 197 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $2.9 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Matthew in 2016: 32 claims (16% of all) and $415,000. 26% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 263 North Carolina cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 203 have fewer than Cary.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Matthew2016 | 32 | $415,000 |
Wake County, which includes Cary, has been named in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1968, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 hurricanes, 3 severe storms, 3 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 25, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Wake County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, lightning and heat waves; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes; Relatively Low for strong wind. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $299.1 million a year, the 2nd highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $221.7 million (74%), 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.
Cities near Cary
- Apex, NC3 mi
- Morrisville, NC6 mi
- Raleigh, NC9 mi
- Holly Springs, NC10 mi
- Garner, NC12 mi
- Fuquay Varina, NC14 mi
- New Hill, NC14 mi
- Durham, NC16 mi
- Willow Spring, NC17 mi
- Knightdale, NC17 mi
- Chapel Hill, NC18 mi
- Carrboro, NC19 mi
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