NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lexington, 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
28 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lexington, North Carolina since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 58 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 26
- Tornadoes
- 58
- 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 Lexington
The strongest storm to pass near Lexington was an unnamed storm in 1896, a Category 1 hurricane with 82 mph winds when its centre passed 57 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 1 mile. The record near Lexington begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 66 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 5 systems. Of the 28 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site, 61% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Lexington. The highest rating among the 58 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 5 times; the most recent, on March 28, 2010, came within 18 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on November 16, 2011, killed 2 people. Of the 58, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 25 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 17. The most recent tornado was on August 7, 2023. Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 51% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Lexington. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 68 times since 1975, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Lexington has more hail reports within 10 miles than 53% of the 475 North Carolina cities.
Compare Lexington's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lexington
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | overhead | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | overhead | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1959 | GracieSep 30 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 57 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 1 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 20 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 Lexington: 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 Lexington
By decade
- 2020s4
- 2010s9(1 EF3+)
- 2000s12(1 EF3+)
- 1990s7(1 EF3+)
- 1980s10(2 EF3+)
- 1970s10
- 1960s4
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2010 | EF3 | 18 mi | 3.46 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF3 | 13 mi | 2.9 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 7, 1998 | F3 | 16 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 5 |
| May 5, 1989 | F3 | 20 mi | 10.5 mi | 0 / 30 |
| May 22, 1985 | F3 | 18 mi | 3.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 16, 2011 | EF2 | 6 mi | 12.51 mi | 2 / 15 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF2 | 22 mi | 3.85 mi | 1 / 3 |
| Feb 6, 2020 | EF2 | 25 mi | 6.19 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 24, 2017 | EF2 | 25 mi | 5.94 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 28, 2010 | EF2 | 8 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 5 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF2 | 13 mi | 0.34 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF2 | 14 mi | 3.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 58, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lexington
The Storm Prediction Center has 68 hail reports within 10 miles of Lexington since 1975, made on 50 separate days. Of these, 34 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 May 3, 2003. The most recent report is from August 15, 2023. May has the most reports, 21.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lexington
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Lexington, NC, 2 miles north of Lexington at 760 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 67°F; January is the coolest, at 52°F and 28°F. July is the wettest at 4.7 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.1 inches; the year adds up to 45.7 inches over 75 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (24.1 of 45.7 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 28 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (12); a normal September there has highs of 82°F and 4.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 39 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 83 nights a year. Snowfall averages 3.3 inches a year, most of it in January. That 45.7 inches is more than at 17 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (12%). Linwood, 8 miles southwest, has its own station (Salisbury, NC): 43.7 inches a year, 2.0 less than here, and a July average high of 88°F against 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | 28 | 3.8 | 6 | 2.0 |
| Feb | 56 | 31 | 3.2 | 6 | 0.4 |
| Mar | 64 | 37 | 3.9 | 7 | 0.3 |
| Apr | 73 | 45 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 80 | 55 | 3.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 86 | 63 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 89 | 67 | 4.7 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 88 | 66 | 4.4 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 82 | 60 | 4.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 73 | 47 | 3.1 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 62 | 36 | 3.4 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 54 | 31 | 3.4 | 6 | 0.6 |
| Year | 71 | 47 | 45.7 | 75 | 3.3 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Lexington, NC (760 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 Lexington
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 187 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lexington: 157 thunderstorm wind reports, 25 flash floods, 3 floods and 2 lightning strikes. They killed 1 person and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $2.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on September 23, 2003. August has had the most flash floods, 9 of 25. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 340 have had fewer than Lexington.
July 13, 2010: flash flood in Lexington — 1 killed, $1,000 damage.
NWS: “Numerous roads were flooded in the Lexington area. Water from a swollen creek flooded a home near the intersection of Union Street and Westside Drive.”
July 22, 2018: lightning strike 2 miles from the centre of Lexington — 1 injured.
NWS: “A man of unknown age was struck by lightning at 38 Mill Street in Lexington, North Carolina. The man was transported to the hospital, but later released.”
April 5, 2011: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Lexington — $950,000 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
Flood insurance policyholders in Lexington's 2 ZIP codes have filed 41 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1987, and were paid $302,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 39% 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, 118 have fewer than Lexington.
Davidson County, which includes Lexington, has been named in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 15 of them major disasters (by incident: 14 hurricanes, 4 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 ice storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Eta, on March 3, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Davidson County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $64.3 million a year, the 19th highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $43.8 million (68%), 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.