NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Gates, 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
87 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Gates, North Carolina since 1851, 18 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ophelia in 2023. Since 1950, 77 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 18
- Tropical storms
- 69
- Tornadoes
- 77
- EF3 or stronger
- 5
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
15 deaths in all
What the records show for Gates
The strongest storm to pass near Gates was an unnamed storm in 1879, a Category 2 hurricane with 108 mph winds when its centre passed 51 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1878, whose centre came within 15 miles. The record near Gates begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ophelia in 2023, a tropical storm 42 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 10 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 87 systems, 16 have come since 2000. Gates has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 76% of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site. The highest rating among the 77 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 5 times; the most recent, on April 16, 2011, came within 15 miles. Of the 77, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 47 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 14. The most recent tornado was on September 23, 2023. Gates has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 72% of the 475 North Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 30 times since 1985, with stones up to 3.5 inches. Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 89% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Gates.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Gates
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | OpheliaSep 23 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 21 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 12 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2011 | IreneAug 27 | 51 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | GabrielleSep 10 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 1 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | GastonAug 31 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 18 | 35 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2000 | HeleneSep 23 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 25 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 4 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1998 | BonnieAug 27 | 68 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1997 | DannyJul 24 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1986 | CharleyAug 17 | 52 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | DianaSep 14 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 21 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 27 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 27 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 20 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1967 | DoriaSep 17 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | CleoSep 1 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1963 | Unnamed 1963 stormJun 3 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 14 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 59 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | overhead | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 10 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormOct 18 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 27 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | IoneSep 20 | 39 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 13 | 37 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1953 | BarbaraAug 14 | 55 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 25 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1942 | Unnamed 1942 stormOct 12 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 23 | 34 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 19 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormDec 3 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1918 | Unnamed 1918 stormAug 25 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormJul 11 | 64 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormAug 18 | 61 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormOct 25 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 29 | 70 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 17 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 21 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 12 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 23 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormSep 10 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 9 | 71 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 18 | 51 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 15 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 17 | 29 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 25 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 18 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 2 | 68 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 27 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1857 | Unnamed 1857 stormSep 14 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 19 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 10 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 25 | 34 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 Gates: 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 Gates
By decade
- 2020s15
- 2010s13(1 EF3+)
- 2000s19(1 EF3+)
- 1990s10(1 EF3+)
- 1980s12(1 EF3+)
- 1970s4
- 1960s4(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF3 | 15 mi | 17.88 mi | 12 / 58 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | F3 | 10 mi | 14 mi | 2 / 10 |
| Apr 28, 2008 | EF3 | 15 mi | 24 mi | 0 / 200 |
| Nov 23, 1992 | F3 | 23 mi | 160 mi | 0 / 44 |
| Jul 4, 1967 | F3 | 12 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Mar 30, 1981 | F2 | 4 mi | 21.9 mi | 1 / 1 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 15 mi | 15.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF2 | 18 mi | 22.61 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF2 | 12 mi | 17.51 mi | 0 / 8 |
| May 11, 2008 | EF2 | 22 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 9, 2008 | EF2 | 16 mi | 11.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 30, 1989 | F2 | 19 mi | 22 mi | 0 / 11 |
The strongest 12 of 77, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Gates
The Storm Prediction Center has 30 hail reports within 10 miles of Gates since 1985, made on 28 separate days. Of these, 11 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 3.5 inches, fell on June 4, 1985. The most recent report is from April 22, 2025. June has the most reports, 9.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Gates
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Holland 1 E, VA, 13 miles north of Gates at 80 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 29°F. September is the wettest at 5.6 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.9 inches; the year adds up to 48.0 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 56% of the year's precipitation (26.8 of 48.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 87 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (35); a normal September there has highs of 82°F and 5.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 47 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 84 nights a year. Snowfall averages 4.1 inches a year, most of it in January. That 48.0 inches is more than at 46 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (33%). Ahoskie, 18 miles southwest, has its own station (Murfreesboro, NC): 49.6 inches a year, 1.6 more than here, and a July average high of 88°F against 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50 | 29 | 3.6 | 7 | 2.1 |
| Feb | 53 | 32 | 2.9 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Mar | 60 | 38 | 4.0 | 8 | 0.1 |
| Apr | 70 | 47 | 3.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| May | 78 | 56 | 4.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 85 | 64 | 3.7 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 89 | 69 | 5.2 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 87 | 67 | 5.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 82 | 61 | 5.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 72 | 49 | 4.0 | 4 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 62 | 39 | 3.2 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 54 | 33 | 3.4 | 7 | 1.4 |
| Year | 70 | 49 | 48.0 | 77 | 4.1 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Holland 1 E, VA (80 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 Gates
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 82 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Gates: 62 thunderstorm wind reports, 13 heavy rain events, 4 flash floods and 3 floods. They killed 1 person and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $1.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 60 mph, on July 23, 2008.
May 1, 2012: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Gates — 1 killed, $2,000 damage.
NWS: “Tree was downed on a vehicle on Middle Swamp Road. A man was killed when the tree fell on his car.”
October 8, 2016: flood 7 miles from the centre of Gates — $1.0 million damage.
NWS: “Heavy rain caused an extended period of significant flooding across much of the county. Numerous roads were impassable or closed for several days, and many homes and businesses were impacted.”
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
Gates County, which includes Gates, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1984, 8 of them major disasters (by incident: 14 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 snowstorms, 2 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 25, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Gates County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for strong wind; Relatively Low for hurricanes and lightning; Very Low for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, coastal flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $4.7 million a year, the 99th highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $1.6 million (34%), 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 Gates
- Franklin, VA15 mi
- Ahoskie, NC18 mi
- Murfreesboro, NC19 mi
- Colerain, NC22 mi
- Suffolk, VA22 mi
- Windsor, VA23 mi
- Courtland, VA23 mi
- Zuni, VA23 mi
- Conway, NC26 mi
- Aulander, NC26 mi
- South Mills, NC27 mi
- Capron, VA29 mi
All North Carolina cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Gates with another place →