NHC AL051986 · Atlantic basin
Hurricane Charley (1986)
August 13, 1986 – August 30, 1986
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
Hurricane Charley peaked at Category 1 with 81 mph sustained winds and passed within 75 miles of 149 US cities, 109 of them while still at hurricane strength.
Charley in the record
HURDAT2 tracks Charley from August 13, 1986 to August 30, 1986; its peak was 81 mph (Category 1). HURDAT2 marks a landfall within 50 miles of a US city on this site: on August 17 at 75 mph (Category 1), 10 miles from Beaufort, NC. Its centre passed within 75 miles of 149 US cities, in 5 states, most in North Carolina (77) and Virginia (37). The strongest pass was 81 mph (Category 1) 8 miles from Currituck, NC; the centre came closest to Grandy, NC, 1 mile away.
- Peak strength
- Category 1
- Cities within 75 mi
- 149
- At hurricane strength
- 109
- States
- 5
81 mph
when closest
Cities Charley passed near, strongest first
North Carolina (77)
- CurrituckCategory 1 · 8 mi
- MoyockCategory 1 · 18 mi
- GrandyCategory 1 · 1 mi
- CamdenCategory 1 · 17 mi
- Elizabeth CityCategory 1 · 19 mi
- South MillsCategory 1 · 26 mi
- GatesCategory 1 · 52 mi
- Kitty HawkCategory 1 · 11 mi
- Kill Devil HillsCategory 1 · 16 mi
- ManteoCategory 1 · 18 mi
- Nags HeadCategory 1 · 21 mi
- HertfordCategory 1 · 27 mi
- ColerainCategory 1 · 49 mi
- AhoskieCategory 1 · 59 mi
- AulanderCategory 1 · 64 mi
- MurfreesboroCategory 1 · 68 mi
- ConwayCategory 1 · 75 mi
- ColumbiaCategory 1 · 11 mi
- RoperCategory 1 · 30 mi
- EdentonCategory 1 · 36 mi
- WindsorCategory 1 · 51 mi
- PlymouthCategory 1 · 37 mi
- JamesvilleCategory 1 · 45 mi
- WilliamstonCategory 1 · 56 mi
- RobersonvilleCategory 1 · 65 mi
- BeaufortCategory 1 · 10 mi
- Morehead CityCategory 1 · 14 mi
- Atlantic BeachCategory 1 · 16 mi
- OrientalCategory 1 · 18 mi
- NewportCategory 1 · 22 mi
- BayboroCategory 1 · 23 mi
- BelhavenCategory 1 · 24 mi
- HavelockCategory 1 · 25 mi
- Cherry PointCategory 1 · 26 mi
- Emerald IsleCategory 1 · 27 mi
- GrantsboroCategory 1 · 28 mi
- AuroraCategory 1 · 29 mi
- SwansboroCategory 1 · 33 mi
- PinetownCategory 1 · 38 mi
- HubertCategory 1 · 39 mi
- New BernCategory 1 · 39 mi
- MaysvilleCategory 1 · 43 mi
- Camp LejeuneCategory 1 · 45 mi
- Midway ParkCategory 1 · 45 mi
- WashingtonCategory 1 · 48 mi
- Tarawa TerraceCategory 1 · 48 mi
- VanceboroCategory 1 · 49 mi
- ChocowinityCategory 1 · 49 mi
- JacksonvilleCategory 1 · 51 mi
- Cove CityCategory 1 · 55 mi
- GrimeslandCategory 1 · 56 mi
- TrentonCategory 1 · 58 mi
- RichlandsCategory 1 · 62 mi
- Maple HillCategory 1 · 63 mi
- GriftonCategory 1 · 64 mi
- GreenvilleCategory 1 · 66 mi
- AydenCategory 1 · 66 mi
- WintervilleCategory 1 · 67 mi
- BethelCategory 1 · 71 mi
- KinstonCategory 1 · 71 mi
and 17 more
Virginia (37)
- ChesapeakeCategory 1 · 32 mi
- PortsmouthCategory 1 · 38 mi
- SuffolkCategory 1 · 46 mi
- WindsorCategory 1 · 56 mi
- ZuniCategory 1 · 62 mi
- FranklinCategory 1 · 64 mi
- CourtlandCategory 1 · 72 mi
- WakefieldCategory 1 · 73 mi
- Virginia BeachCategory 1 · 25 mi
- NorfolkCategory 1 · 35 mi
- HamptonCategory 1 · 45 mi
- CarrolltonCategory 1 · 50 mi
- Newport NewsCategory 1 · 53 mi
- SmithfieldCategory 1 · 56 mi
- Fort EustisCategory 1 · 59 mi
- PoquosonCategory 1 · 49 mi
- SeafordCategory 1 · 53 mi
- YorktownCategory 1 · 53 mi
- HayesCategory 1 · 58 mi
- WilliamsburgCategory 1 · 70 mi
- Cape CharlesCategory 1 · 33 mi
- MathewsCategory 1 · 55 mi
- GloucesterCategory 1 · 65 mi
- SaludaCategory 1 · 74 mi
- ExmoreCategory 1 · 36 mi
- White StoneCategory 1 · 64 mi
- KilmarnockCategory 1 · 66 mi
- LancasterCategory 1 · 74 mi
- AccomacCategory 1 · 34 mi
- MelfaCategory 1 · 34 mi
- PainterCategory 1 · 35 mi
- ParksleyCategory 1 · 36 mi
- BloxomCategory 1 · 37 mi
- OnancockCategory 1 · 37 mi
- HeathsvilleCategory 1 · 72 mi
- ChincoteagueCategory 1 · 33 mi
- New ChurchCategory 1 · 41 mi
Maryland (16)
- CrisfieldCategory 1 · 54 mi
- WestoverCategory 1 · 61 mi
- Pocomoke CityCategory 1 · 47 mi
- Princess AnneCategory 1 · 59 mi
- EdenCategory 1 · 61 mi
- Snow HillTropical storm · 48 mi
- PittsvilleTropical storm · 57 mi
- ParsonsburgTropical storm · 58 mi
- FruitlandTropical storm · 62 mi
- SalisburyTropical storm · 63 mi
- DelmarTropical storm · 66 mi
- HebronTropical storm · 69 mi
- Mardela SpringsTropical storm · 74 mi
- Ocean CityTropical storm · 45 mi
- BerlinTropical storm · 47 mi
- BishopvilleTropical storm · 52 mi
Delaware (13)
- DelmarTropical storm · 68 mi
- LaurelTropical storm · 71 mi
- SelbyvilleTropical storm · 52 mi
- FrankfordTropical storm · 56 mi
- DagsboroTropical storm · 59 mi
- MillsboroTropical storm · 62 mi
- GeorgetownTropical storm · 72 mi
- Bethany BeachTropical storm · 52 mi
- Ocean ViewTropical storm · 54 mi
- MillvilleTropical storm · 55 mi
- Rehoboth BeachTropical storm · 62 mi
- LewesTropical storm · 67 mi
- MiltonTropical storm · 72 mi
New Jersey (6)
- WildwoodTropical storm · 67 mi
- Cape MayTropical storm · 69 mi
- Rio GrandeTropical storm · 70 mi
- Sea Isle CityTropical storm · 72 mi
- VillasTropical storm · 72 mi
- Cape May Court HouseTropical storm · 73 mi
Other storms of the 1986 season
- BonnieCategory 1 · 110 cities
About this record
The track is the National Hurricane Center's best-track record, revised after the season with every observation available. Strength at a city is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, not the wind that city measured.