NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit High Point, 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
27 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of High Point, North Carolina since 1851, 1 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 54 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 1
- Tropical storms
- 26
- Tornadoes
- 54
- EF3 or stronger
- 5
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for High Point
The strongest storm to pass near High Point was an unnamed storm in 1896, a Category 1 hurricane with 81 mph winds when its centre passed 48 miles away. The record near High Point begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 64 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 5 systems. Of the 27 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site, 65% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than High Point. The highest rating among the 54 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 5 times; the most recent, on March 28, 2010, came within 2 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on November 16, 2011, killed 2 people. Of the 54, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 19 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 17. The most recent tornado was on March 18, 2021. Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 57% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than High Point. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 96 times since 1956, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). High Point has more hail reports within 10 miles than 80% of the 475 North Carolina cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near High Point
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 48 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in High Point: 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 High Point
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s6(1 EF3+)
- 2000s11(1 EF3+)
- 1990s7(1 EF3+)
- 1980s11(2 EF3+)
- 1970s8
- 1960s4
- 1950s5
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2010 | EF3 | 2 mi | 3.46 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF3 | 18 mi | 2.9 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 7, 1998 | F3 | 21 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 5 |
| May 5, 1989 | F3 | 15 mi | 10.5 mi | 0 / 30 |
| May 22, 1985 | F3 | 13 mi | 3.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 16, 2011 | EF2 | 13 mi | 12.51 mi | 2 / 15 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF2 | 5 mi | 3.85 mi | 1 / 3 |
| Apr 15, 2018 | EF2 | 14 mi | 32.75 mi | 0 / 5 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF2 | 22 mi | 0.34 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF2 | 22 mi | 3.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 29, 1991 | F2 | 21 mi | 28 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 5, 1989 | F2 | 15 mi | 5.5 mi | 0 / 10 |
The strongest 12 of 54, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in High Point
The Storm Prediction Center has 96 hail reports within 10 miles of High Point since 1956, made on 71 separate days. Of these, 52 were 1 inch across or larger, and 4 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on June 4, 1985. The most recent report is from March 16, 2025. May has the most reports, 34.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in High Point
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is High Pt, NC, 2 miles southeast of High Point at 900 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 52°F and 32°F. August is the wettest at 5.1 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.2 inches; the year adds up to 48.6 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (25.8 of 48.6 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 27 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (11); a normal September there has highs of 82°F and 4.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 45 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 69 nights a year. Snowfall averages 1.9 inches a year, most of it in January. That 48.6 inches is more than at 52 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (37%). Colfax, 7 miles north, has its own station (Piedmont Triad International Airport, NC): 44.1 inches a year, 4.5 less than here, and the same July average high, 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | 32 | 3.8 | 7 | 1.3 |
| Feb | 56 | 34 | 3.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 64 | 41 | 4.1 | 8 | 0.1 |
| Apr | 74 | 49 | 4.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 80 | 58 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 4.4 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 89 | 69 | 4.6 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 5.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 82 | 62 | 4.8 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 73 | 50 | 3.3 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 62 | 41 | 3.6 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 54 | 34 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.5 |
| Year | 72 | 50 | 48.6 | 78 | 1.9 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at High Pt, NC (900 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 High Point
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 235 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of High Point: 177 thunderstorm wind reports, 51 flash floods, 5 lightning strikes and 2 floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $22.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 82 mph, on May 25, 2000. July has had the most flash floods, 15 of 51. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 443 have had fewer than High Point.
September 17, 2018: flood 5 miles from the centre of High Point — $19.6 million damage.
September 29, 2015: flood 2 miles from the centre of High Point — $500,000 damage.
NWS: “Numerous roads were closed due to flooding, which includes Elm, Lindsay, Gatewood, Ferndale, Chestnut, Green, Orlando and Ray. Emergency responders performed several water rescues.”
April 5, 2011: thunderstorm wind 1 mile from the centre of High Point — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “Widespread trees were blown down across all of Guilford County. Numerous homes sustained significant damage from falling trees and strong winds across the county, with 32 structures receiving at least minor damage within the city of Greensboro.”
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 High Point's 3 ZIP codes have filed 115 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $919,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The year with the most claims was 2003, with 22. 31% 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, 186 have fewer than High Point.
Guilford County, which includes High Point, has been named in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 14 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 hurricanes, 4 snowstorms, 3 ice storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 25, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Guilford County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for inland flooding and lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $134.6 million a year, the 6th highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $100.5 million (75%), 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 High Point
- Jamestown, NC4 mi
- Archdale, NC6 mi
- Colfax, NC7 mi
- Thomasville, NC9 mi
- Trinity, NC10 mi
- Kernersville, NC10 mi
- Greensboro, NC12 mi
- Oak Ridge, NC13 mi
- Sophia, NC14 mi
- Pleasant Garden, NC15 mi
- Walkertown, NC16 mi
- Winston Salem, NC16 mi
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