Skip to content

NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Salemburg, 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

87 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Salemburg, North Carolina since 1851, 15 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ian in 2022. Since 1950, 53 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 7 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
15

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
72

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
53

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
7

35 deaths in all

What the records show for Salemburg

The strongest storm to pass near Salemburg was Hazel in 1954, a Category 3 hurricane with 110 mph winds when its centre passed 4 miles away. The record near Salemburg begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ian in 2022, a tropical storm 58 miles away. The 1880s and the 1990s were the busiest decades, with 8 systems each. Of the 87 systems, 15 have come since 2000. Salemburg has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 75% of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site. The highest rating among the 53 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4, reached 3 times; the most recent, on March 28, 1984, came within 23 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on March 28, 1984, killed 12 people. Of the 53, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 21 have come since 2000. March has had the most tornadoes, 10. The most recent tornado was on May 4, 2025. Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 58% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Salemburg. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 46 times since 1974, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 71% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Salemburg.

Compare Salemburg's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Salemburg

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Salemburg, North Carolina, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2022IanOct 158 miTropical storm (48 mph)Category 5
2021ElsaJul 842 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
2021ClaudetteJun 2111 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2020IsaiasAug 423 miTropical storm (70 mph)Category 1
2019NestorOct 2026 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2018MichaelOct 1171 miTropical storm (54 mph)Category 5
2018FlorenceSep 1471 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 4
2016HermineSep 354 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 1
2013AndreaJun 711 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2012BerylMay 3071 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2008HannaSep 611 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
2006ErnestoSep 137 miTropical storm (49 mph)Category 1
2006AlbertoJun 145 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2004CharleyAug 1441 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 4
2000HeleneSep 2337 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1999FloydSep 1665 miCategory 1 (93 mph)Category 4
1999DennisSep 551 miTropical storm (39 mph)Category 2
1998EarlSep 48 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1998BonnieAug 2764 miCategory 2 (109 mph)Category 3
1996JosephineOct 839 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1996FranSep 66 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 3
1996BerthaJul 1250 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 3
1995AllisonJun 644 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1985KateNov 2272 miTropical storm (49 mph)Category 3
1984DianaSep 1422 miTropical storm (48 mph)Category 4
1981DennisAug 2074 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 1
1972AgnesJun 2122 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 1
1971GingerOct 136 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1970AlmaMay 2638 miTropical storm (41 mph)Category 1
1965Unnamed 1965 stormJun 1610 miTropical storm (41 mph)Tropical storm
1964IsbellOct 1655 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 3
1964DoraSep 1365 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 4
1961Unnamed 1961 stormSep 1466 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1960DonnaSep 1275 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 4
1960BrendaJul 3044 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1959CindyJul 1068 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1956Unnamed 1956 stormOct 1772 miTropical storm (54 mph)Tropical storm
1956FlossySep 2632 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 1
1955DianeAug 176 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 2
1954HazelOct 154 miCategory 3 (110 mph)Category 4
1952Unnamed 1952 stormAug 2872 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1949Unnamed 1949 stormSep 1365 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1947Unnamed 1947 stormSep 2517 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1946Unnamed 1946 stormJul 653 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
1945Unnamed 1945 stormSep 1856 miTropical storm (53 mph)Category 4
1944Unnamed 1944 stormOct 2037 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 4
1944Unnamed 1944 stormAug 217 miTropical storm (59 mph)Category 1
1935Unnamed 1935 stormSep 634 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 5
1929Unnamed 1929 stormOct 250 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
1928Unnamed 1928 stormSep 1919 miTropical storm (70 mph)Category 5
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 3022 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 1765 miTropical storm (47 mph)Category 1
1920Unnamed 1920 stormSep 2333 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1916Unnamed 1916 stormSep 623 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1916Unnamed 1916 stormMay 1613 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1913Unnamed 1913 stormSep 310 miTropical storm (45 mph)Category 1
1912Unnamed 1912 stormJun 144 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1907Unnamed 1907 stormJun 2964 miTropical storm (56 mph)Tropical storm
1904Unnamed 1904 stormSep 1424 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 1
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 1650 miTropical storm (41 mph)Tropical storm
1901Unnamed 1901 stormJul 1360 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1899Unnamed 1899 stormOct 3115 miCategory 1 (78 mph)Category 2
1896Unnamed 1896 stormSep 2955 miCategory 1 (82 mph)Category 3
1894Unnamed 1894 stormOct 932 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1894Unnamed 1894 stormSep 2864 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormOct 135 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormOct 47 miTropical storm (41 mph)Category 4
1893Unnamed 1893 stormJun 1639 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1889Unnamed 1889 stormSep 2468 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormOct 1168 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 1050 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1886Unnamed 1886 stormJul 221 miTropical storm (45 mph)Category 2
1885Unnamed 1885 stormOct 1366 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1885Unnamed 1885 stormAug 2556 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 2
1883Unnamed 1883 stormSep 1212 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 3
1881Unnamed 1881 stormSep 946 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 2
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 433 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 3
1876Unnamed 1876 stormSep 1757 miCategory 1 (89 mph)Category 3
1874Unnamed 1874 stormSep 2918 miTropical storm (71 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormOct 2556 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1867Unnamed 1867 stormJun 2326 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1861Unnamed 1861 stormSep 2771 miCategory 1 (77 mph)Category 1
1857Unnamed 1857 stormSep 1368 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 2
1856Unnamed 1856 stormSep 137 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 3
1854Unnamed 1854 stormSep 915 miTropical storm (48 mph)Category 3
1852Unnamed 1852 stormOct 1041 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1851Unnamed 1851 stormAug 2511 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Salemburg: 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 Salemburg

By decade

  • 2020s4
  • 2010s10(1 EF3+)
  • 2000s7
  • 1990s9
  • 1980s7(3 EF3+)
  • 1970s6(1 EF3+)
  • 1960s8(1 EF3+)
  • 1950s2(1 EF3+)
Strongest tornadoes near Salemburg, North Carolina
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Mar 28, 1984F423 mi40 mi4 / 395
Apr 8, 1957F47 mi121.4 mi4 / 70
Mar 28, 1984F414 mi21 mi3 / 149
Mar 28, 1984F32 mi40 mi12 / 101
Apr 16, 2011EF319 mi52.86 mi2 / 176
Feb 22, 1971F313 mi85.7 mi2 / 60
Apr 18, 1969F36 mi25.8 mi0 / 1
Apr 16, 2011EF27 mi29.88 mi3 / 13
Sep 29, 1963F24 mi85.8 mi3 / 12
Feb 11, 1981F223 mi12.4 mi1 / 0
Sep 16, 1996F214 mi1.4 mi0 / 0
Jun 2, 1976F219 mi0.3 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 53, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Salemburg

The Storm Prediction Center has 46 hail reports within 10 miles of Salemburg since 1974, made on 41 separate days. Of these, 24 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on May 30, 1986. The most recent report is from May 15, 2024. May has the most reports, 12.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Weather by month in Salemburg

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Clinton 2 NE, NC, 13 miles east of Salemburg at 158 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 53°F and 32°F. September is the wettest at 6.6 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.1 inches; the year adds up to 51.0 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 58% of the year's precipitation (29.7 of 51.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 87 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (37); a normal September there has highs of 83°F and 6.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 49 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 58 nights a year. Snowfall averages 1.8 inches a year, most of it in January. That 51.0 inches is more than at 79 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (56%). Autryville, 7 miles west, has its own station (Fayetteville (Pwc), NC): 47.9 inches a year, 3.1 less than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 90°F.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Clinton 2 NE, NC
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Snow in
Jan53323.570.8
Feb56343.160.5
Mar64403.770.0
Apr73493.460.0
May80584.170.0
Jun87674.670.0
Jul90715.880.0
Aug88696.080.0
Sep83636.670.0
Oct74513.350.0
Nov64413.450.0
Dec56353.560.5
Year725151.0781.8

Averages for 1991–2020 at Clinton 2 NE, NC (158 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.

North Carolina weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Salemburg

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 109 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Salemburg: 95 thunderstorm wind reports, 12 flash floods, 1 heavy rain event and 1 lightning strike. They killed 0 people and injured 16, and the NWS estimated $4.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on June 1, 2022. July has had the most flash floods, 6 of 12. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 166 have had fewer than Salemburg.

  • May 29, 2017: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Salemburg — 12 injured, $3.5 million damage.

    NWS: “A large, 5 mile, north to south swath of straight line wind damage occurred across |northern Sampson County North Carolina. All damage observed was consistently west to east oriented, unambiguously indicating that damage resulted from straight line winds.”

  • March 9, 1998: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Salemburg — 3 injured, $90,000 damage.

    NWS: “A thunderstorm produced a pair of microbursts 5 miles east of Salemburg in Sampson county. On Bearskin Road, a double-wide trailer was rolled over and off the foundation.”

  • March 8, 2005: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Salemburg — 1 injured.

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

Sampson County, which includes Salemburg, has been named in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1984, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 17 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 severe storms, 2 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Eta, on March 3, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Sampson County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes and strong wind; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail, lightning and heat waves; Relatively Low for inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $54.8 million a year, the 23rd highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $35.1 million (64%), is from hurricanes.

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 Salemburg