NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Elon, 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
33 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Elon, North Carolina since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 44 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 30
- Tornadoes
- 44
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
2 deaths in all
What the records show for Elon
The strongest storm to pass near Elon was Hazel in 1954, a Category 1 hurricane with 92 mph winds when its centre passed 68 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 22 miles. The record near Elon begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 52 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 6 systems. Of the 33 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site, 50% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Elon. The strongest of the 44 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on November 23, 1992; its path came within 19 miles, and it killed 2 people. Of the 44, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 18 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 10. The most recent tornado was on July 6, 2025. Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 73% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Elon. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 69 times since 1982, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Elon has more hail reports within 10 miles than 54% of the 475 North Carolina cities.
Compare Elon's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Elon
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 17 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 68 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 22 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 59 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | overhead | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 23 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Elon: 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 Elon
By decade
- 2020s10
- 2010s6
- 2000s2
- 1990s10(1 EF3+)
- 1980s2
- 1970s6
- 1960s6
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 23, 1992 | F3 | 19 mi | 5.5 mi | 2 / 10 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 24 mi | 10.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 2018 | EF2 | 10 mi | 32.75 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Mar 29, 1991 | F2 | 21 mi | 28 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 1, 1977 | F2 | 22 mi | 9.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | F2 | 20 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jul 12, 1964 | F2 | 20 mi | 13.6 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jun 16, 1954 | F2 | 11 mi | 6.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jul 6, 2025 | EF1 | 15 mi | 0.25 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 6, 2025 | EF1 | 14 mi | 0.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 2022 | EF1 | 18 mi | 7.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 2022 | EF1 | 15 mi | 3.55 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 44, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Elon
The Storm Prediction Center has 69 hail reports within 10 miles of Elon since 1982, made on 47 separate days. Of these, 40 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on April 2, 1983. The most recent report is from August 3, 2024. May has the most reports, 27.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Elon
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Burlington Alamance Airport, NC, 8 miles south of Elon at 617 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 52°F and 30°F. July is the wettest at 4.7 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 43.4 inches over 72 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (23.3 of 43.4 inches); the other six months are drier. Highs reach 90°F on about 48 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 78 nights a year. That 43.4 inches is more than at 7 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (5%). Mc Leansville, 10 miles west, has its own station (Greensboro Wtp, NC): 45.9 inches a year, 2.5 more than here, and a July average high of 89°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | 30 | 3.1 | 6 |
| Feb | 56 | 33 | 2.8 | 6 |
| Mar | 64 | 39 | 3.9 | 7 |
| Apr | 74 | 48 | 3.8 | 6 |
| May | 80 | 57 | 3.4 | 7 |
| Jun | 88 | 65 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 4.7 | 7 |
| Aug | 89 | 68 | 3.5 | 6 |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Oct | 73 | 49 | 3.1 | 4 |
| Nov | 63 | 38 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Dec | 55 | 33 | 3.1 | 6 |
| Year | 72 | 49 | 43.4 | 72 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Burlington Alamance Airport, NC (617 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 Elon
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 193 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Elon: 162 thunderstorm wind reports, 27 flash floods, 3 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 1 person and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $1.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on May 25, 2000. August has had the most flash floods, 9 of 27. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 358 have had fewer than Elon.
June 15, 2010: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Elon — 1 killed, 1 injured.
July 27, 2012: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Elon — $313,000 damage.
July 13, 2005: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Elon — $150,000 damage.
NWS: “Several trees were blown down and a tobacco crop was severely damaged in downburst winds.”
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 Elon's ZIP code 27244 have filed 17 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $256,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 29% 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, 50 have fewer than Elon.
Alamance County, which includes Elon, has been named in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 hurricanes, 3 ice storms, 3 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Depression Chantal, on September 11, 2025. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Alamance County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, inland flooding and strong wind; Relatively Low for heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $41.4 million a year, the 31st highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $26.7 million (64%), 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 Elon
- Gibsonville, NC4 mi
- Burlington, NC5 mi
- Whitsett, NC9 mi
- Mc Leansville, NC10 mi
- Haw River, NC11 mi
- Graham, NC11 mi
- Browns Summit, NC11 mi
- Mebane, NC14 mi
- Reidsville, NC16 mi
- Julian, NC16 mi
- Greensboro, NC18 mi
- Snow Camp, NC18 mi
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