NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Granite Falls, 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
17 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Granite Falls, North Carolina since 1851, 1 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 59 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 1
- Tropical storms
- 16
- Tornadoes
- 59
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
5 deaths in all
What the records show for Granite Falls
The strongest storm to pass near Granite Falls was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds when its centre passed 60 miles away. The record near Granite Falls begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a tropical storm 29 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 3 systems. Of the 17 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site, 65% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Granite Falls. The highest rating among the 59 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4, reached 2 times; the most recent, on May 7, 1998, came within 5 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on May 5, 1989, killed 4 people. Of the 59, 8 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 33 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 16. The most recent tornado was on January 9, 2024. Granite Falls has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 49% of the 475 North Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 163 times since 1965, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Granite Falls has more hail reports within 10 miles than 97% of the 475 North Carolina cities.
Compare Granite Falls's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Granite Falls
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1959 | GracieSep 30 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 60 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 56 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 Granite Falls: 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 Granite Falls
By decade
- 2020s5
- 2010s20
- 2000s8
- 1990s10(1 EF3+)
- 1980s4(1 EF3+)
- 1970s9
- 1960s1
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 1989 | F4 | 9 mi | 14 mi | 4 / 52 |
| May 7, 1998 | F4 | 5 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Oct 23, 2017 | EF2 | 5 mi | 4.87 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 11, 2012 | EF2 | 7 mi | 4.15 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Oct 26, 2010 | EF2 | 17 mi | 2.53 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 26, 2010 | EF2 | 17 mi | 2.58 mi | 0 / 11 |
| Jul 7, 2005 | F2 | 15 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1998 | F2 | 18 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | F2 | 9 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 5, 1989 | F2 | 13 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 24, 1979 | F2 | 14 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 4, 1974 | F2 | 4 mi | 5.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 59, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Granite Falls
The Storm Prediction Center has 163 hail reports within 10 miles of Granite Falls since 1965, made on 119 separate days. Of these, 76 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), fell on July 9, 1997. The most recent report is from July 10, 2025. June has the most reports, 51.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Granite Falls
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Hickory Faa Airport, NC, 6 miles southeast of Granite Falls at 1,143 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 87°F and low of 68°F; January is the coolest, at 49°F and 30°F. August is the wettest at 4.6 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.2 inches; the year adds up to 47.3 inches over 76 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (24.3 of 47.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 17 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (7); a normal September there has highs of 80°F and 3.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 33 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 69 nights a year. That 47.3 inches is more than at 36 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (26%). Hudson, 3 miles northwest, has its own station (Lenoir, NC): 49.6 inches a year, 2.3 more than here, and a July average high of 88°F against 87°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49 | 30 | 3.8 | 7 |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 3.2 | 6 |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 4.1 | 7 |
| Apr | 70 | 48 | 4.1 | 7 |
| May | 77 | 56 | 3.9 | 7 |
| Jun | 84 | 64 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Jul | 87 | 68 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Aug | 86 | 67 | 4.6 | 7 |
| Sep | 80 | 61 | 3.9 | 6 |
| Oct | 70 | 49 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Dec | 52 | 33 | 3.9 | 6 |
| Year | 69 | 49 | 47.3 | 76 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Hickory Faa Airport, NC (1,143 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 Granite Falls
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 253 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Granite Falls: 216 thunderstorm wind reports, 24 flash floods, 6 lightning strikes, 5 floods and 2 heavy rain events. They killed 0 people and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $4.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on July 9, 1997. June has had the most flash floods, 9 of 24. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 328 have had fewer than Granite Falls.
June 27, 2010: lightning strike 5 miles from the centre of Granite Falls — 1 injured, $100,000 damage.
May 22, 2011: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Granite Falls — 1 injured.
July 18, 2012: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Granite Falls — 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
Caldwell County, which includes Granite Falls, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1974, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 8 hurricanes, 3 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Helene, on September 28, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Caldwell County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $25.0 million a year, the 48th highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $17.7 million (71%), 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.