NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Iron Station, 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
23 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Iron Station, North Carolina since 1851, 1 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 101 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 1
- Tropical storms
- 22
- Tornadoes
- 101
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
6 deaths in all
What the records show for Iron Station
The strongest storm to pass near Iron Station was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 1 hurricane with 76 mph winds when its centre passed 35 miles away. The record near Iron Station begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 75 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 4 systems. Of the 23 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site, 65% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Iron Station. The strongest of the 101 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on May 5, 1989; its path came within 22 miles, and it killed 4 people. Of the 101, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 55 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 28. The most recent tornado was on May 3, 2025. Iron Station has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 92% of the 475 North Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 136 times since 1962, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Iron Station has more hail reports within 10 miles than 93% of the 475 North Carolina cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Iron Station
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DebbyAug 8 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1959 | GracieSep 30 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 35 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 26 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 Iron Station: 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 Iron Station
By decade
- 2020s15
- 2010s20
- 2000s20
- 1990s17(1 EF3+)
- 1980s5(1 EF3+)
- 1970s16
- 1960s4
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 1989 | F4 | 22 mi | 14 mi | 4 / 52 |
| Mar 27, 1994 | F3 | 21 mi | 18.5 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Feb 6, 2020 | EF2 | 20 mi | 8.66 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 23, 2017 | EF2 | 25 mi | 4.87 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 11, 2012 | EF2 | 25 mi | 4.15 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Oct 26, 2010 | EF2 | 17 mi | 2.53 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 26, 2010 | EF2 | 20 mi | 2.58 mi | 0 / 11 |
| May 9, 2008 | EF2 | 13 mi | 18.21 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 15, 2006 | F2 | 5 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1998 | F2 | 17 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | F2 | 22 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 27, 1994 | F2 | 7 mi | 45.4 mi | 0 / 13 |
The strongest 12 of 101, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Iron Station
The Storm Prediction Center has 136 hail reports within 10 miles of Iron Station since 1962, made on 95 separate days. Of these, 68 were 1 inch across or larger, and 7 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently May 11, 2008. The most recent report is from August 1, 2025. May has the most reports, 55.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Iron Station
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Lincolnton 4 W, NC, 12 miles west of Iron Station at 887 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 67°F; January is the coolest, at 51°F and 30°F. August is the wettest at 4.9 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.5 inches; the year adds up to 49.6 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (25.1 of 49.6 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 23 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (9); a normal September there has highs of 82°F and 4.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 35 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 76 nights a year. Snowfall averages 5.6 inches a year, most of it in January. That 49.6 inches is more than at 63 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (45%). Stanley, 6 miles southeast, has its own station (Gastonia, NC): 44.1 inches a year, 5.5 less than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | 30 | 3.9 | 6 | 2.6 |
| Feb | 56 | 33 | 3.5 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Mar | 64 | 39 | 4.5 | 7 | 0.8 |
| Apr | 73 | 47 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 79 | 56 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 86 | 64 | 4.3 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 89 | 67 | 4.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 87 | 67 | 4.9 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 82 | 60 | 4.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 73 | 48 | 3.8 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 62 | 38 | 3.8 | 5 | 0.1 |
| Dec | 54 | 33 | 4.1 | 7 | 1.1 |
| Year | 71 | 48 | 49.6 | 78 | 5.6 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Lincolnton 4 W, NC (887 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 Iron Station
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 155 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Iron Station: 135 thunderstorm wind reports, 10 flash floods, 6 floods, 3 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 2 people and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $2.3 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on July 13, 2010. July has had the most flash floods, 4 of 10. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 124 have had fewer than Iron Station.
June 9, 2019: flood 9 miles from the centre of Iron Station — 1 killed, $10,000 damage.
June 20, 2015: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Iron Station — 1 killed.
May 28, 2010: lightning strike 4 miles from the centre of Iron Station — 2 injured.
NWS: “A father and son were injured when struck by lightning on Old Plank Rd.”
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
Lincoln County, which includes Iron Station, has been named in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1974, 10 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 hurricanes, 4 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 tornadoes). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Helene, on September 28, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Lincoln County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $32.2 million a year, the 40th highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $22.6 million (70%), 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 Iron Station
- Stanley, NC6 mi
- Lincolnton, NC7 mi
- Denver, NC7 mi
- Dallas, NC9 mi
- Maiden, NC9 mi
- Crouse, NC11 mi
- Mount Holly, NC11 mi
- Sherrills Ford, NC12 mi
- Lowell, NC13 mi
- Cornelius, NC13 mi
- Gastonia, NC14 mi
- Bessemer City, NC14 mi
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