NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Kinston, AL
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
57 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Kinston, Alabama since 1851, 11 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Fred in 2021. Since 1950, 99 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 11
- Tropical storms
- 46
- Tornadoes
- 99
- 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 Kinston
The strongest storm to pass near Kinston was Michael in 2018, a Category 4 hurricane with 132 mph winds when its centre passed 73 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Eloise in 1975, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near Kinston begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Fred in 2021, a tropical storm 44 miles away. The 1880s and the 1900s were the busiest decades, with 6 systems each. Of the 57 systems, 9 have come since 2000. Kinston has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 85% of the 323 Alabama cities on this site. The strongest of the 99 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF4 on March 1, 2007; its path came within 15 miles, and it killed 9 people. Of the 99, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 38 have come since 2000. May and October have had the most tornadoes, 14 each. The most recent tornado was on December 10, 2024. Of the 323 Alabama cities, 77% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Kinston. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 34 times since 1987, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 323 Alabama cities, 76% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Kinston.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Kinston
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | FredAug 17 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | SallySep 17 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 10 | 73 mi | Category 4 (132 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | AlbertoMay 28 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2009 | ClaudetteAug 17 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 23 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | DennisJul 10 | 74 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2001 | BarryAug 6 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2000 | HeleneSep 22 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | OpalOct 5 | 34 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1994 | BerylAug 16 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1994 | AlbertoJul 3 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | JuanOct 31 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 23 | 2 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 20 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1969 | Unnamed 1969 stormOct 1 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1957 | DebbieSep 8 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 26 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1953 | AliceJun 6 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormJul 9 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 13 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 31 | 52 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormOct 6 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 15 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormJul 4 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 22 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 18 | 65 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 4 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 18 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 28 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormJun 13 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormNov 3 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 14 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 17 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormAug 2 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 3 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 7 | 20 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJul 27 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 28 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 7 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 31 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 16 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 19 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 60 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 23 | 70 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Kinston: 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 Kinston
By decade
- 2020s9
- 2010s11
- 2000s18(1 EF3+)
- 1990s27
- 1980s10(2 EF3+)
- 1970s14(2 EF3+)
- 1960s5
- 1950s5
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF4 | 15 mi | 10.33 mi | 9 / 50 |
| Nov 25, 1986 | F3 | 18 mi | 44 mi | 0 / 4 |
| May 16, 1983 | F3 | 18 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Dec 29, 1973 | F3 | 17 mi | 11.6 mi | 0 / 11 |
| Sep 17, 1971 | F3 | 15 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 13, 1972 | F2 | 22 mi | 6.3 mi | 4 / 88 |
| Dec 16, 2000 | F2 | 20 mi | 4.5 mi | 1 / 9 |
| May 26, 1973 | F2 | 21 mi | 105.4 mi | 1 / 4 |
| Apr 19, 2020 | EF2 | 16 mi | 1.21 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 2011 | EF2 | 20 mi | 22.95 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 15, 2006 | F2 | 11 mi | 15.81 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 28, 1983 | F2 | 25 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 99, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Kinston
The Storm Prediction Center has 34 hail reports within 10 miles of Kinston since 1987, made on 26 separate days. Of these, 22 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently March 27, 2011. The most recent report is from March 13, 2025. March has the most reports, 12.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Kinston
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Enterprise 4 W, AL, 16 miles northeast of Kinston at 337 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 61°F and 38°F. July is the wettest at 7.0 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.0 inches; the year adds up to 58.0 inches over 73 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (30.4 of 58.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 57 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (16); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 4.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 72 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 25 nights a year. That 58.0 inches is more than at 63 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (59%). Opp, 8 miles northwest, has its own station (Andalusia 3 W, AL): 60.3 inches a year, 2.3 more than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 38 | 5.5 | 7 |
| Feb | 65 | 41 | 4.7 | 6 |
| Mar | 72 | 47 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Apr | 78 | 53 | 4.5 | 6 |
| May | 86 | 62 | 3.1 | 5 |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 5.6 | 9 |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 7.0 | 9 |
| Aug | 91 | 71 | 5.6 | 8 |
| Sep | 88 | 66 | 4.8 | 5 |
| Oct | 81 | 56 | 3.0 | 3 |
| Nov | 71 | 46 | 4.4 | 5 |
| Dec | 63 | 40 | 4.8 | 5 |
| Year | 78 | 55 | 58.0 | 73 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Enterprise 4 W, AL (337 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 Kinston
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 134 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Kinston: 111 thunderstorm wind reports, 15 flash floods, 5 floods and 3 lightning strikes. They killed 2 people and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $3.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 98 mph, on July 22, 2000. April has had the most flash floods, 5 of 15. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 183 have had fewer than Kinston.
June 23, 2015: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Kinston — 2 killed.
February 11, 2013: flood 3 miles from the centre of Kinston — $2.4 million damage.
NWS: “Flash flooding transitioned to widespread areal flooding across the county with numerous roads and bridges damaged. 4 million.”
December 24, 2015: flood 2 miles from the centre of Kinston — $451,000 damage.
NWS: “Significant river flooding along the Pea and Choctawhatchee Rivers and heavy rainfall in the county resulted in flood damages estimated at $451,038 in Geneva county. Of that amount, $148,538 came from the city of Geneva and the remaining $302,500 came from other areas in the county, mainly in the form of road damage.”
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
Coffee County, which includes Kinston, has been named in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1975, 18 of them major disasters (by incident: 13 hurricanes, 11 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Sally, on September 20, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Coffee County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, inland flooding and strong wind; Relatively Low for heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $43.0 million a year, the 15th highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $21.2 million (49%), 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 Kinston
- Opp, AL8 mi
- Samson, AL10 mi
- Florala, AL16 mi
- Elba, AL16 mi
- Chancellor, AL17 mi
- Geneva, AL20 mi
- New Brockton, AL20 mi
- Enterprise, AL20 mi
- Andalusia, AL21 mi
- Laurel Hill, FL25 mi
- Westville, FL25 mi
- Daleville, AL26 mi
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