NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Roxboro, 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
40 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Roxboro, North Carolina since 1851, 4 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 47 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 4
- Tropical storms
- 36
- Tornadoes
- 47
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Roxboro
The strongest storm to pass near Roxboro was Hazel in 1954, a Category 1 hurricane with 91 mph winds when its centre passed 42 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Roxboro begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 43 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 7 systems. Of the 40 systems, 7 have come since 2000. Roxboro has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 50% of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site. The highest rating among the 47 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on November 23, 1992, came within 21 miles. Of the 47, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 24 have come since 2000. October has had the most tornadoes, 10. The most recent tornado was on September 4, 2025. Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 70% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Roxboro. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 71 times since 1975, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Roxboro has more hail reports within 10 miles than 58% of the 475 North Carolina cities.
Compare Roxboro's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Roxboro
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 19 | 72 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1959 | CindyJul 10 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 17 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 42 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 12 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 5 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 31 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 12 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 23 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Roxboro: 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 Roxboro
By decade
- 2020s6
- 2010s14
- 2000s4
- 1990s10(1 EF3+)
- 1980s2
- 1970s2
- 1960s4(1 EF3+)
- 1950s5
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 23, 1992 | F3 | 21 mi | 5.5 mi | 2 / 10 |
| Mar 24, 1969 | F3 | 18 mi | 0.1 mi | 1 / 4 |
| Feb 24, 2016 | EF2 | 24 mi | 5.07 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF2 | 3 mi | 26.24 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Oct 27, 2010 | EF2 | 12 mi | 3.89 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 20, 1998 | F2 | 15 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 20, 1998 | F2 | 16 mi | 2.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Oct 27, 1995 | F2 | 6 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 12, 1964 | F2 | 11 mi | 13.6 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jan 6, 1962 | F2 | 18 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 19, 1952 | F2 | 14 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Sep 4, 2025 | EF1 | 16 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 47, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Roxboro
The Storm Prediction Center has 71 hail reports within 10 miles of Roxboro since 1975, made on 44 separate days. Of these, 44 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), fell on June 23, 2016. The most recent report is from May 16, 2023.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Roxboro
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Roxboro 7 ESE, NC, 7 miles southeast of Roxboro at 710 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 66°F; January is the coolest, at 51°F and 26°F. September is the wettest at 5.2 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.9 inches; the year adds up to 47.2 inches over 72 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (24.3 of 47.2 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 40 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (15); a normal September there has highs of 82°F and 5.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 34 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 106 nights a year. Snowfall averages 3.4 inches a year, most of it in January. That 47.2 inches is more than at 35 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (25%). Alton, VA, 11 miles northwest, has its own station (S Boston, VA): 46.5 inches a year, 0.7 less than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | 26 | 4.0 | 6 | 1.7 |
| Feb | 55 | 28 | 2.9 | 6 | 0.7 |
| Mar | 63 | 34 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.3 |
| Apr | 73 | 43 | 4.0 | 6 | 0.0 |
| May | 79 | 53 | 3.7 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 86 | 62 | 4.4 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 89 | 66 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 88 | 64 | 3.8 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 82 | 57 | 5.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 73 | 45 | 3.6 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 63 | 34 | 3.5 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 55 | 29 | 4.0 | 6 | 0.7 |
| Year | 71 | 45 | 47.2 | 72 | 3.4 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Roxboro 7 ESE, NC (710 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 Roxboro
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 159 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Roxboro: 142 thunderstorm wind reports, 15 flash floods and 2 heavy rain events. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $1.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 64 mph, on July 6, 2011. September has had the most flash floods, 5 of 15. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 216 have had fewer than Roxboro.
September 6, 2008: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Roxboro — $500,000 damage.
September 6, 2008: flash flood 8 miles from the centre of Roxboro — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “Flood waters washed away three large steal culverts causing a section of Rolling Hills Road between Charlie Carr Road and Yarborough Road to collapse.”
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
Person County, which includes Roxboro, has been named in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 hurricanes, 3 ice storms, 3 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Depression Chantal, on September 11, 2025. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Person County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind, lightning and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $9.8 million a year, the 84th highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $5.7 million (59%), 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.